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Last broadcast on Thu, 5 Nov 2009, 00:20 on BBC Four (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
Documentary telling the story of what happened to blues music on its journey from the southern states of America to the heart of British pop and rock culture, providing an in-depth look at what this music really meant to a generation of kids desperate for an antidote to their experiences of living in post-war suburban Britain.
Narrated by Nigel Planer and structured in three parts, the first, Born Under a Bad Sign, focuses on the arrival of American blues in Britain in the late 50s and the first performances here by such legends as Muddy Waters, Sonnie Terry and Brownie McGhee.
Part two, Sittin' on Top of the World, charts the birth of the first British blues boom in the early 60s, spearheaded by the Rolling Stones and groups such as the Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, the Animals and the Pretty Things.
The final section, Crossroads, looks at the next, more hardcore British blues boom of the mid-to-late 60s, with guitarists Eric Clapton and Peter Green and the international dominance of their respective bands, Cream and Fleetwood Mac.
Featuring archive performances and interviews with Keith Richards, Paul Jones, Chris Dreja, Bill Wyman, Phil May, John Mayall, Jack Bruce, Mick Fleetwood, Ian Anderson, Tony McPhee, Mike Vernon, Tom McGuinness, Mick Abrahams, Dick Taylor, Val Wilmer, Chris Barber, Pete Brown, Bob Brunning, Dave Kelly and Phil Ryan.
Photo Gallery
Why I Love The Blues?
British blues pioneers discuss their love of the Blues.
Keith Richards on... wanting to play the Blues
Keith Richards dicusses his hunger to adopt the skills of the classic bluesmen.
Keith Richards on... British Blues fanatics
Keith Richards talks about record collections and what he went through to find his favourite artists.
Keith Richards on... finally hearing the lyrics
Keith Richards discovers how to become "what is".
Find out more about the artists - The American Influence
From Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon and Joe Turner to Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson and Champion Jack Dupree - find out more about the American Blues artists who influenced their British counterparts.
Find out more about the artists - The British Bluesmen
Alexis Korner and John Mayall to Brian Jones and Eric Clapton - learn more about the early British blues fans and the bands they went on to create.
Credits
- Director
- Chris Rodley
- Producer
- Chris Rodley
- Executive Producer
- Mark Cooper
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