The Enigin Pez

The Legendary Eddie Cochran.

It is almost fifty years ago to the day since the world lost one of its most talented Rock and Roll musicians. I was going through my self storage the other day and came across a stack of vinyls I forgot I had. I have to say, this man is legendary. Eddie Cochran was only twenty-one years old when he died. After playing a gig in Wiltshire, his car had a blowout and careered into a lamp post, causing him terrible head injuries. He may only have lived to be a young man, but he had recorded some brilliant tracks in the three short years of his career. His guitar style was instantly recognisable, his manner was incredibly likeable and his songs would go on to be a major influence on music for a good many years to come.

‘Summertime Blues’ has been voted as one of the greatest singles of all time. Its story of frustration and angst has appealed to generations of teenagers and just about everyone on Earth knows the foot-stomping tune. The song has been covered by a huge amount of bands since its release in 1958. There have been versions by The Rolling Stones, Motorhead, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, Deborah Harry, Bruce Springsteen and The Flaming Lips, to name but a few. In fact, it would be easier to compile a list of singers who have not recorded their own version of this classic fifties song.

The truth of it is that Eddie Cochran’s music will never cease to appeal to music lovers; it is fun, cool and irrefutably full of life. You can still play his records at a party today and everyone will dance along. Stuff like ‘C’mon Everybody’, ‘Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie’, ‘Three Steps to Heaven’, ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ and the sublime, ‘Somethin’ Else’ are all absolute classics with a totally timeless appeal. God Bless Eddie Cochran and long may his wonderful music live on!