Rock Family Trees

The British rhythm-and-blues scene of the 1960s, when bands including the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann, together with rock giants Cream and Led Zeppelin, transformed the sound of American blues into rock. The era also spawned such famous guitarists as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, and those commenting on the time include drummer Ginger Baker and bass players Jack Bruce and Tom McGuinness.

An account of how Liverpool club Eric's provided a valuable training ground for local bands in the late Seventies, notably the Teardrop Explodes and Echo and the Bunnymen. John Peel narrates the rise of these and other groups, including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Dead or Alive and OMD, while musicians involved in the scene add a personal perspective.