Rockfield Studios
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in South Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.
The studios were founded by brothers Kingsley and Charles Ward in the early 1960s, by converting an existing farmhouse. In 1965, they became the world's first-ever residential studio, set up so that bands could come and stay in the peaceful rural surroundings to record.
The first big hit recorded in the studios was Dave Edmunds’ I Hear You Knockin' in 1970. Following that success, the studios were used to record Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody in 1975. During a 12-month period in 1996-97, Rockfield sessions resulted in five UK Number One albums, by Oasis, Ash, Black Grape, The Charlatans and the Boo Radleys. Other acts using the studios have included Robert Plant,[1] Black Sabbath, Budgie, Echo & the Bunnymen, Motörhead, Rush, Hawkwind, The Stranglers, Iggy Pop, The Pogues, Paul Weller, Simple Minds, Manic Street Preachers, Sepultura, and New Order.
Many of the famous stories involving bands like Rush, Queen and Black Sabbath and iconic figures such as Lemmy and Robert Plant were recorded for a book on Rockfield studios by journalist Jeff Collins. He organised for Robert Plant and his first solo band to be reunited at Rockfield 25 years after recording there so they could be interviewed for the book.
Jezz Woodroffe (keyboards) and Robbie Blunt (Guitars) spent the day at Rockfield with Robert looking back at how they recorded the albums Pictures At Eleven and The Principle of Moments between 1981-83. The book also documents many of the behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the some of the world's best loved and best selling albums. Rock Legends at Rockfield will be published on September 15th 2007 and is the first book documenting the history of this world famous recording studio. Jeff Collins is a former reporter and presenter for BBC Wales, ITN Radio and Classic FM among others.
