Chris Welch is a music journalist, reviewer and critic with Melody Maker

Melody Maker

Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...

, famous during the 1960s and 1970s for reporting on the rise of such bands as The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...

, Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

, Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...

, Traffic

Traffic (band)

Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...

, If

If (band)

If was a progressive rock band formed in Britain in 1969.Referred to by Billboard as "unquestionably the best of the so-called jazz-rock bands", in the period spanning 1970-1975, they produced 8 studio-recorded albums and did some 17 tours of Europe, the US and Canada.-History:They toured...

, Cream

Cream (band)

Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...

 and Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck

Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...

. During that time he also reported on the UK jazz scene.

Career

Welch, a former local newspaper reporter, joined the Melody Maker in 1964. He was later assistant editor of Musicians Only, editor of Metal Hammer

Metal Hammer

Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...

, and a contributor to The Independent

The Independent

The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...

and Rhythm magazine. He has written books on rock several music personalities, including Jimi Hendrix, Yes

Yes (band)

Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...

, Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood

Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...

, Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...

, John Bonham

John Bonham

John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...

, Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

, Peter Grant, and Cream. He has also written liner notes

Liner notes

Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...

for many rock albums.

Published works

• Black Sabbath ISBN 0-86276-015-1 (1982)
• Led Zeppelin: The Book ISBN 0-86276-113-1 (1984)
• Paul McCartney: The Definitive Biography ISBN 0-86276-126-3 (1984)
• Power and Glory: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant ISBN 5-55135-290-0 (1985)
• Def Leppard: An Illustrated Biography ISBN 0-86276-263-4 (1986)
• Take You Higher: The Tina Turner Story ISBN 0-491-03951-4 (1986)
• The Tina Turner Experience ISBN 0-86379-138-7 (1987)
• Cream: Strange Brew ISBN 1-898141-80-0 (1994)
• The Complete Guide to the Music of Genesis ISBN 0-7119-5428-3 (1995)
• The Who: Teenage Wasteland ISBN 1-898141-18-5 (1995)
• Dazed and Confused: The Story Behind Every Led Zeppelin Song ISBN 1-85868-340-8 (1998)
• Changes: The Story Behind Every David Bowie Song, 1970-1980 ISBN 1-85868-810-8 (1999)
• Cream ISBN 0-87930-624-6 (2000)
• John Bonham: A Thunder of Drums (with Geoff Nicholls) ISBN 0-87930-658-0 (2001)
• Ginger Geezer: The Life of Vivian Stanshall (with Lucian Randall) ISBN 1-84115-679-5 (2002)
• Peter Grant: The Man Who "Led Zeppelin" ISBN 0-7119-9195-2 (2002)
• Yes: Close to the Edge ISBN 0-7119-9509-5 (2003)
• Genesis: Complete Guide to Their Music ISBN 1-84449-868-9 (2005)
• Pink Floyd: Learning to Fly ISBN 1-898141-70-3 (2006)

External links

• Backbeat Books Cream biography article
• World Cat bibliography
• http://neildaniels.com/Welch.html interview