Less rocking chair, more rock ’n’ roll

Jan 5 2008 by Graeme Whitfield, The Journal

THE idea of a radio station aimed at people aged over 40 would have horrified the early stars of rock’n’roll.

Where once pop music was firmly for the young, a source of tension between the generations, now there are musicians old enough to be grandparents and grandparents listening to rock music.

Smooth Radio – which launches in the North-East on Tuesday night – is aimed squarely at the older rock fan, promising music from “Abba to The Beatles, Rod Stewart to The Carpenters and Diana Ross to Simply Red”.

To coincide with the station’s launch, we have gone into our archives for pictures The Journal has taken of some of the stars the new station will be playing.

From Tyneside’s Animals and the Shadows in the early years of their career, through City Hall appearances by the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Roy Orbison, The Journal has been there to capture their performances.

We also have pictures of screaming fans who now might turn to Smooth Radio to hear the music of their youth.