From around 1991, I became involved in running the Manfred Mann fan club. For some years we produced a magazine called ‘Platform End’ which in more recent times has been available on the web site, where Nigel Stanworth puts in lots of hard work, continuing the Platform End tradition. Later I became involved in the re-mastering of the MMEB albums before compiling two ‘Best Of MMEB’, CDs, and then a four CD box set. For all these projects I got to do lots of liner notes.

Manfred is probably one of the most underrated rock and jazz musicians around. First famous as keyboard player in the sixties band Manfred Mann who had a long string of hit records, including ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’, ‘54321’, ‘Pretty Flamingo’ and ‘Mighty Quinn’. Manfred reinvented his career in the 70’s with his famous Earth Band with hits such as ‘Joybringer’ and ‘Blinded by the Light’, took him to the top of the US charts for the second time. A lot of different musicians have played with Manfred over the years, notably Chris Thompson, of Night; Alan Parson’s and War of the Worlds fame, amongst many other things both as a solo artist and with other major artists such as Brian May and Elton John. Chris can also sometimes be seen with the SAS band, a group run by Queen’s former keyboard player Spike Edney.

Brilliant guitarist, Mick Rogers, one of the founder members of Earth Band is still playing with Manfred. Last time I saw them live, late last year, they got a standing ovation from a packed audience. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band was and is at their very best live. If you don’t know their music ‘Mann Alive’ would be a good album to check out, plus the box set, which I put together a couple of years ago for them, called ‘Mis-takes and Outtakes’. Another wonderful album which is a little different from the Earth Band stuff, although still stamped with Manfred’s distinctive style, is ‘Plains Music.

Lots more detail on the Manfred Mann’s Earth Band website.

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