This is the band that set the benchmark for power driven ballads throughout their initial period of activity between 1973 and 1987. Driven by the founding and consistent band member Neal Schon, (previously of the band Santana) they released 11 albums during this period. They achieved nineteen top 40 singles in the US, 6 of which were top ten and nearly 50 million albums sold in the US alone.
Their commercial success reached amazing new heights with the addition of vocalist Steve Perry for the 1978 album Infinity, and when Jonathan Cain joined the band for the Escape album of 1981 album, which features the legendary emotive anthem Don’t Stop Believin’, the band catapulted themselves to the very top tier of global success and an arena touring phenomenon. Great musicianship, heartfelt stories, passionate delivery make Journey a band carved into history as one of the true greats.
McDaid weaves an excellent fine line between being a writing partner, a song composer and a band member. His first main role was as the singer and songwriter in the band Vega 4 before later joining Snow Patrol as guitarist, pianist and vocalist. Alongside these roles, McDaid established himself as a writing partner for a wide range of artists in a variety of genres. Everything from Paul Van Dyk to Robbie Williams, to rapper Example, to bands like Biffy Clyro and Kodaline, production outfits like Rudimental as well as singer songwriters like Birdy and of course, Ed Sheeran. His repertoire has become majorly appreciated and heavily used across many advertising campaigns, TV formats and as title tracks for movies, such as the Eva Isaksen House Of Fools film. His partnership with Ed Sheeran is historic. McDaid co-wrote 7 of the songs on the X album including Photography and Bloodstream, which was nominated for Best Song at the 2016 Ivor Novello Awards, and the album was Grammy nominated and won the Brit Award for Best Album. In 2017 McDaid co-wrote Shape Of You, which went to Number 1 in both the UK (stayed there for 4 weeks) and also the US.
Born in Sunderland, Stewart spent time honing his craft before arriving in London and meeting Annie Lennox in 1976. Initially forming The Tourists, the duo started to enjoy some commercial success with their cover of Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want To Be With You. After ending that chapter, Stewart and Annie became The Eurythmics and dominated the pop landscape for the next decade. Songs such as Sweet Dreams Are Made of This, Here Comes The Rain Again, There Must Be An Angel, and Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves propelled the band to global success. Winning a Grammy for best rock performance in 1987, and a Brit Award for Outstanding Achievement in 1999, they are estimated to have sold over 75 million albums.
Post Eurythmics, Stewart has continued to deliver an enormous selection of music both solo and with his band the Spiritual Cowboys. He has collaborated with numerous other artists including Terry Hall, Feargal Sharkey, Bon Jovi, Bryan Ferry, Shakespeare Sister, Darry Hall, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty as well as with Mick Jagger on his solo work and in the pop supergroup Super Heavy.
Carole Bayer Sager’s songbook spans almost 50 years and contains some of the world’s most popular and successful songs From the Grammy-winning That’s What Friends Are For, the Oscar-winning Arthur’s Theme, and the Oscar-nominated Golden Globe winning, The Prayer, to Don’t Cry Out Loud and On My Own, Carole’s songs have become pop standards. Honours for her work include an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Tony Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Songwriter’s Hall of Fame induction, a Distinguished Alumni Award from the New York University Alumni Association and being honoured by the LA Chapter of the Recording Academy. One of the most prolific and poignant writers in pop history, Carole’s songs have been recorded by such artists as Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, and Reba McEntire, among others. Carole has collaborated with such diverse musical talents over the years as Bob Dylan (one of his rare collaborations), Melissa Manchester, Peter Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, Burt Bacharach, David Foster, Bruce Roberts, Neil Diamond, James Ingram, Carly Simon, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, and Carole King Clint Eastwood, among others.
Blondie is the iconic American rock band co-founded by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein that was a pioneer in the American new wave scene of the mid-1970s in New York. Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the United States until the release of Parallel Lines in 1978. Over the next five years, the band achieved several hit singles including Heart of Glass, Call Me, Atomic, The Tide Is High, and Rapture. The band became noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles, incorporating elements of disco, pop, reggae, and early rap music.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, Blondie has sold 40 million records worldwide and continues to be one of the most iconic bands of all time.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde is a legend unto herself. Inspired by the likes of the Slits and Siouxsie Sioux, Chrissie became the unapologetic front woman and founder of the Pretenders, and with her intelligence, energy and drive made pure punk tunes that bridged the gap between rock and roll and the New Wave. With her unmistakable voice, Chrissie would lead the band from strength to strength with songs like Brass in Pocket, I’ll Stand by You and Hymn To Her.
From Dylan, to Bono, to Morrissey, to Iggy Pop, to Johnny Marr and to Jeff Beck, Chrissie has left an undeniable mark on the tonal landscape. From the opening chords of The Pretender’s 1980 debut, through the highs of the 1980’s with successive major hits, through incarnations with the Black Keys, and into her own solo material and beyond, this is a forward-thinking icon, social activist, and musician who will forever be revered.