05/05/2012 - Concert Photos & Videoclips pages updated with photos & videos from the second-last-ever Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin gig at The Keys, Huddersfield on 22nd April.

  05/05/2012 - Website Links pages updated. Videoclips page updated with videos from the second-last-ever Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin gig at The Keys, Huddersfield on 22nd April and videos of The Orchestra live in Chichester 2010 and Roy Wood's Rock & Roll Band with 'See My Baby Jive' live at Holmfirth Picturedrome in December 2011.

  05/05/2012 - The final BBBV UK tour took place in April 2012. Tina & Phil will be touring their Eclectic Collection later in 2012. Click here for more details.

  05/05/2012 - The Acoustic cafe is a brand new venture opening up in Tamworth and will be featuring top artists once per month including the likes of Martin Stephenson, Phil Bates and Steve Gibbons (who will be the star attraction on opening night on July 29th).

  05/05/2012 - The Orchestra continue to tour around the world. Check out their gig dates here.

  19/03/2012 - Concert Photos & Videoclips pages updated with photos & videos from the Abbey Road Experience (ft Phil Bates) gig at The Diamond, Sutton-In-Ashfield on 16th March. It was a wonderful gig with quality musicianship throughout, the band performing the complete Beatles 'Abbey Road' album note-for-note. The second half of the show featured the guys playing a wide selection of Beatles songs superbly. For any lover of Beatles music this really is a must-see show. Check out the bands official website for news, gig details and soundclips.

  25/02/2012 - The final Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin UK tour will be taking place in April 2012. There are only four gigs on this short final tour including a concert & meal at the wonderful Keys Restaurant in Huddersfield on Sunday 22nd April. Full details at the Keys website.

Friday 6th April - Folk In The Barn, Kingston, Nr Canterbury
Friday 13th April - The West Country Inn, Bideford, Devon
Sunday 22nd April - The Keys Restaurant, Huddersfield, Yorkshire
Saturday 28th April - The Crown, Otford, Kent

  25/02/2012 - Phil Bates and Tina McBain Eclectic Collection is a new project that will be touring in late October and early November 2012. As Tina comments "The idea behind the Eclectic Collection is it is just songs that me and Phil love to sing. That might be blues, folk, jazz, covers, originals, just stuff we like". Full details of the project including ticket ordering can be found at the new Bates & McBain Website.

Thursday 25th October - Warwick Cavern, Warwick
Friday 26th October - Korks, Otley, Yorkshire
Thursday 1st November - The Crows Nest, The Waterfront, Barton Uner Needwood, Burton on Trent
Friday 2nd November - Farncombe Cavern, Farncombe, Surrey
Saturday 3rd November - The Crypt, St Editha's Church, Tamworth

  25/02/2012 - Following quickly on the heels of the Hooked On Classics live shows, Lou Clark and the English Pops Orchestra have announced dates for Beaphonic - Symphonic Beatles. Gig details below but check out the Official Hooked On Live website for all the latest news.

  25/02/2012 - Lou Clark will be conducting the English Pops Orchestra for the upcoming Hooked On Classics 2012 tour towards the end of May. Gig details below but check out the Official Hooked On Live website for all the latest news.

  25/02/2012 - Videoclips page updated with footage of ELO Part 2 featuring the Lithuanian State Orchestra performing 'Midnight Blue' in Vilnius, Lithuania on March 16th 1999.

  12/02/2012 - Check out the Birmingham Mail story about Roy Wood at the Debra Dee painting exhibition last week.

  12/02/2012 - Check out this Youtube video produced by Martin Kinch and made up of a short chat with Roy Wood and photos taken on the preview night of an exhibition of paintings by the artist Debra Dee. The exhibition runs until the 23rd February at St Pauls Gallery in Birmingham. As well as the paintings (which are for sale) they are also displaying a some of Martin's own Woody memorabilia in a couple of glass cabinets in the gallery.

  12/02/2012 - Jeff Lynne attended the Paul McCartney Walk Of Fame ceremony in Hollywood on 9th February. The images below are (c) Steve Granitz / WireImage.....

  12/02/2012 - Check out the following Youtube footage of Orkestra ft Kelly Groucutt and Mik Kaminski filmed at Leeds City Varieties in 1988.....

  12/02/2012 - Check out this superb Youtube footage of ELO Klassik ft Phil Bates & The Berlin String Quartet.........

  12/02/2012 - The Orchestra will be playing at Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, Florida on Friday 17th February (click here for ticket details) and they have a private gig in Boca Raton, Florida on Saturday 18th February.

  12/02/2012 - Parthenon Huxley has just released a new album called 'Tracks & Treasures Volume 1'. Track listing : Things Could Be Worse / The Air Gets Colder (ft Mik Kaminski & Gordon Townsend) / Perfection / Mercy / My Girlfriend / Mister Stoneface / Pop Dreams / Kifissia Girls / Drag You Down / She Must Be From Heaven.

Full details can be found at Hux's Official Website.

  21/01/2012 - Mik Kaminski and Phil Bates begin their German 'Blue Violin' tour this weekend. Check out Phil's website for full gig details.

  21/01/2012 - Parthenon Huxley performed a house concert in Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA on 17th December 2011 - Eddie Huff has uploaded a couple of songs from the acoustic gig to his Youtube channel - '(I'm A-Lookin' for a) Sputnik' and 'I Loved Everything'...............

  21/01/2012 - Check out the Stourbridge News to read and view a nice interview with Roy Wood from July 2011.

  21/01/2012 - Check out the Don Kirshner website which features a full page about Roy Wood and Wizzard's 1974 appearance on the show.

 20/01/2012 - The Abbey Road Experience is a new project featuring Phil Bates which aims to cover note-for-note The Beatles album 'Abbey Road'. The band line-up is Chris Brighton & Steve James (current members of Eagles tribute band 'Desperado'), Pete Hughes, Phil Bates and Derek Holt (former founder member of 'Climax Blues Band'). The band have just launched their new website (click here) with full details about the band, latest news, media info and upcoming gigs including the following during March 2012 just announced -

Thursday 8th March - Academy Thetare, Birdwell, Barnsley. Tel : 01226 744442
Friday 9th March - Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford. Tel : 01785 253595
Friday 16th March - The Diamond, Sutton In Ashfield, Notts. Tel : 01623 456617
Friday 23rd March - Feathers Inn, Beacon Street, Lichfield. Tel : 01543 417029
Saturday 24th March - Taverners Arms, Walsall Wood. Tel : 01543 360703
Sunday 25th March - Roadhouse Rocks, Lifford Lane, Stirchley. Tel : 0121 246 2273

 20/01/2012 - March 12th sees the release of the first E.L.O. album 'Electric Light Orchestra (40th Anniversary Edition)' and is a CD/DVD release and a 180 gram vinyl release is also planned. 

Track Listing CD:

1. 10538 Overture (5.31)
2. Look At Me Now (3.23)
3. Nellie Takes Her Bow (6.02)
4. Battle Of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644) (6.05)
5. 1st Movement (Jumping Biz) (3.02)
6. Mr. Radio (5.08)
7. Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre) (4.25)
8. Queen Of The Hours (3.25)
9. Whisper In The Night (4.50)
Bonus tracks:
10. 10538 Overture (acetate version) (5.23)
11. Mr. Radio (take 9 recorded 18/11/1971) (5.18)
12. Nellie Takes Her Bow (alternate mix) (6.02)
13. Whisper In The Night (take 1/take 2 edit) (4.59)
14. Mr Radio (single edit) (3.53)
15. 10538 Overture (for Top Of The Pops) (5.40)

Track Listing DVD: Audio only 

Electric Light Orchestra (Quad to 4.1 DTS 96/24 and Dolby Digital) 

1. 10538 Overture (5.29)
2. Look At Me Now (3.16)
3. Nellie Takes Her Bow (5.58)
4. Battle Of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644) (6.02)
5. 1st Movement (Jumping Biz) (2.59)
6. Mr. Radio (5.04)
7. Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre) (4.22)
8. Queen Of The Hours (3.22)
9. Whisper In The Night (4.46) 

This takes the original 1973 Quad and adds a sub to create a 4.1. Also on the same disc is a flat transfer of the original stereo analogue master from 1971 in 96kHz/24 bit PCM stereo. The DVD also contains the original 10538 Overture promo film as a bonus. Sleeve notes for this release are by Dom Lawson. There will also be a 180 gram heavyweight vinyl release of the original album, cut flat from the original analogue stereo master. (News courtesy Lynn Hoskins : Showdown ELO Mailing List)

 20/01/2012 - 30th January sees the release of a 180 gram heavyweight vinyl issue of the E.L.O. album 'Eldorado' by Music On Vinyl.

 20/01/2012 - Website Links page updated.

 19/01/2012 - Videoclips page updated with footage of 'I Can Hear The Grass Grow' from the Roy Wood Rock & Roll Band gig at Holmfirth Picturedrome on 21st December.

 14/01/2012 - Concert Photos & Videoclips pages updated with photos & videos from Roy Wood's Rock & Roll Band live at the Holmfirth Picturedrome on 21st December.

 17/12/2011 - Concert Photos & Videoclips pages updated with photos & videos from the Tina McBain & Phil Bates Christmas Show from Middleton Hall, Tamworth on 10th December. Soundclips page also updated with a live interview with Roy Wood and songs played from the new album 'Music Book' on the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio London 94.9 on 24th November.

 17/12/2011 - The Huw Lloyd Langton Group have been playing a few gigs recently featuring ex-E.L.O. cellist Hugh McDowell.

 17/12/2011 - A new Move 2cd set 'Live at The Fillmore 1969' will be released on 6th February 2012.

This is the only complete Move concert in existence....100 minutes of previously unreleased Move live magic recorded at San Francisco s Fillmore West. Comes with a full colour 12-page booklet with rare & unseen photos & memorabilia. Exclusive commentary, new & archive interviews with members of The Move. The set can be pre-ordered from Play.com, Amazon or Spin cd's.

Track Listing:
Disc: 1
1. Open My Eyes
2. Don't Make My Baby Blue
3. Cherry Bloosom Clinic Revisited
4. The Last Thing On My Mind
5. I Can Hear The Grass Grow
Disc: 2
1. Fields Of People
2. Goin' Back
3. Hello Susie
4. Under The Ice
5. Introduction
6. Don't Make My Baby Blue
7. Cherry Bloosom Clinic Revisited
8. The Last Thing On My Mind
9. The Move's 1969 USA tour recalled by Bev Bevan

  04/12/2011 - The Orchestra's concert at the Philharmonic Hall, Samara, Russia on 30th November 2011 has been uploaded to Youtube in very good quality on Zollshik's Channel.

  04/12/2011 - Check out the liveshot link to see some superb photos of The Orchestra live at the Hala Kongressova, Warsaw, Poland on 26th November 2011. All photos (c) Robert Swiderski.

  04/12/2011 - Soundclips page updated with a performance by The Move ft Bev Bevan and Trevor Burton broadcast live on the Paul Franks Show on BBC Radio WM on 18th November 2011.

  05/11/2011 - Check out Flickr for some superb photos and videos from The Orchestra's gig at Epcot last month. The photos below are from 'shawnsplace' Flickr photostream -

  05/11/2011 - A new 2cd 37 track E.L.O. collection has been released worldwide called 'The Essential Electric Light Orchestra' featuring 'most' of the bands single releases in chronological order with different artwork depending on the territory where it is released. Track listing -

CD 1

1 10538 Overture
2 Roll Over Beethoven
3 Showdown
4 Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
5 Can't Get It Out Of my Head
6 Evil Woman
7 Nightrider
8 Strange Magic
9 Livin' Thing
10 Do Ya
11 Rockaria!
12 Telephone Line
13 Turn To Stone
14 Mr. Blue Sky
15 Sweet Talkin' Woman
16 Wild West Hero
17 It's Over
18 Shine A Little Love

CD 2

1 Don't Bring Me Down
2 The Diary Of Horace Wimp
3 Confusion
4 Last Train To London
5 I'm Alive
6 Xanadu
7 All Over The World
8 Don't Walk Away
9 Hold On Tight
10 Twilight
11 Ticket To The Moon
12 The Way Life's Meant To Be
13 Rock and Roll Is King
14 Secret Messages
15 Four Little Diamonds
16 Calling America
17 So Serious
18 Surrender
19 Latitude 88 North

  05/11/2011 - 14th November sees a brand new 2cd collection released by Roy Wood called 'Music Book' with all tracks chosen by Roy himself. Track Listing as below -

CD1

1. CALIFORNIA MAN: Roy Wood with his Rock & Roll "BIG BAND"
2. BALL PARK INCIDENT: Wizzard
3. FOREVER: Roy Wood
4. OH WHAT A SHAME: Roy Wood
5. FIRE BRIGADE: Roy Wood (In The Shed) 2011
6. FRENCH PERFUME: Roy Wood with Wizzard
7. DOWN TO ZERO: Roy Wood
8. RAINING IN THE CITY: Roy Wood
9. I CAN HEAR THE GRASS GROW: Status Quo
10. BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER: Roy Wood with Carl Wayne vocals (String arrangement Tony Visconti)
11. TONIGHT: The Move
12. LION'S HEART: Roy Wood
13. LOOK THRU THE EYES OF A FOOL: Roy Wood
14. DEAR ELAINE: Roy Wood
15. MAIN STREET: Roy Wood with Wizzard
16. NEW YORK CITY: Roy Wood Rock & Roll Band
17. GIVIN' YOUR HEART AWAY: Roy Wood
18. SING OUT THE OLD... BRING IN THE NEW: Roy Wood with Kempsey School Choir

CD Two

1. SEE MY BABY JIVE: Wizzard
2. STARTING UP: Roy Wood
3. ANY OLD TIME WILL DO: Roy Wood
4. MISS CLARK AND THE COMPUTER: Roy Wood
5. GREEN GLASS WINDOWS: Roy Wood with Kempsey Primary School Choir
6. R. U. RED E 2 ROCK: Wizzard
7. CHINATOWN: The Move
8. FLOWERS IN THE RAIN: Nancy Sinatra
9. WHY DOES SUCH A PRETTY GIRL (SING THOSE SAD SONGS): Roy Wood
10. BRONTOSAURUS: The Move
11. OLYMPIC FLYER: Roy Wood
12. ANGEL FINGERS: Wizzard
13. KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL: Roy Wood (Featuring John Bonham on Drums)
14. AERIAL PICTURES: Roy Wood
15. THIS IS THE STORY OF MY LOVE: Wizzard
16. BLACKBERRY WAY: The Move with extra strings written & played by Roy Wood
17. I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY: Wizzard Bonus Track
18. FIRST MOVEMENT: E.L.O. (Roy playing Acoustic Guitar & Cello)

  05/11/2011 - Check out this wonderful footage of Phil Bates and The Orchestra performing 'Midnight Blue' live at the Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, Chile on 5th October 2011.

  05/11/2011 - The Orchestra's recent short tour of South America turned out to be an eventful and painful one for Phil Bates. Following a sell-out gig in Santiago, Chile the band flew on to Punte Del Este, Uruguay for a couple of shows. It was on the way to the venue for the first gig that Phil slipped and badly damaged is ankle. The band were forced to cancel the first gig but Phil, heavily bandaged leg agreed to continue with the second show in Uruguay and also the final gig in Buenos Aires, Argentina two days later where. Phil eventually returning to the U.K. to have his badly damaged ankle put in a cast and a further operation to repair the damage. This incident has left Phil laid-up at home for 4-6 weeks and so Parthenon Huxley will be standing in for The Orchestra's month-long Eastern European tour.

  05/11/2011 - Glen Burtnik has a new single out called 'The Trouble With Sally' and is available via CDBaby and iTunes.

  05/11/2011 - Check out 'Cheerinthepark' Youtube channel to see some superb footage of The Orchestra performing at Epcot, Florida on October 21st 2011.

  05/11/2011 - Videoclips page updated with my own video featuring Mik Kaminski & Phil Bates performing the Beatles song 'In My Life' during the Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin gig at The Cavern Club, Liverpool on Saturday 10th September.

  25/09/2011 - Check out the new Bubblegum Orchestra website for details of their new album due out on September 27th which is very E.L.O. influenced.

  25/09/2011 - Videoclips page updated with my own video featuring Mik Kaminski with his solo performance 'One Winters Night' from the Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin gig at The Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven on Saturday 30th April and 'Every Night' featuring Tina McBain & Phil Bates from the bands' gig at The Cavern Club, Liverpool on Saturday 10th September.

  25/09/2011 - Videoclips and Concert Photos pages updated with my own photos and videos from the fantastic Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin gig at Skipton Castle, Skipton on Sunday 18th September.

  17/09/2011 - Videoclips and Concert Photos pages updated with my own photos and videos from the fantastic Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin gig at The Cavern Club, Liverpool on Saturday 10th September.

  17/09/2011 - Phil Bates and Tina McBain's annual Christmas Special concert at Middleton Hall nr Tamworth will take place on Saturday 10th December. Full details of this wonderful event and to purchase tickets at Phil's Official Website.

  17/09/2011 - Buddy Holly - 'Listen To Me' cd is out now and features Jeff Lynne performing 'Words Of Love'. Listen to the full song here.

  17/09/2011 - The Electric Light Orchestra Classic Albums Collection is released on 15th October and is available via Popmarket website. The set includes eleven albums in replica mini sleeves. The albums included are - No Answer / Electric Light Orchestra II / On The Third Day / Eldorado / Face the Music / A New World Record / Out Of The Blue / Discovery / Time / Secret Messages / Balance of Power.

  17/09/2011 - Sony will be releasing a 37 track 2cd compilation set called 'The Essential Electric Light Orchestra' in mid-October. This will be a worldwide release with all of the bands single hits featured in chronological order. Full details on the Face The Music website.

  17/09/2011 - News courtesy of Showdown (The Official ELO Mailing List) : Eldorado, A New World Record, and Out Of The Blue are to be released on vinyl. Due out in November 2011, January 2012 and March 2012 respectively, these 140 Gram vinyl releases will be issued by Music On Vinyl.

  17/09/2011 - Check out the new Don Kirshner website which features a full page about E.L.O.'s appearances on the show.