We lobbed the cracked wooden ball of enquiry at the rock and roll coconut shy this week and a few choice items dropped off their perch, among them …

… was Kate Bush ‘the Queen of Prog’?

… ELP, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple playing to 350,000 people on a Speedway track.

… the three things that sparked the Abba revival.

… the Further Adventures of Desmond and Molly Jones, Mean Mr Mustard, Polythene Pam, Father McKenzie, Rocky Raccoon, Maxwell Edison, Rose and Valerie, Sweet Loretta Martin, Vera, Chuck and Dave … Beatles characters awaiting development deals.

… was Britpop the moment the engine went into reverse?

… the two years went rock went ‘fancy dress’.

… why the Stones in 1964 were five walking fashion statements.

… Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel and its Yes connection.

… how the Beatles were in uniform on every album cover.

… David Vine at the 1974 Eurovision: “if all the judges were men, this lot would get a lot of votes and you’ll see why in a moment!”

… plus a birthday guest party - Al Hearton’s life in a Kate Bush tribute band and Stephen Lambe on the complicated birth of 90125 by Yes.

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