Covid-19 Special Report

AS THIS ISSUE went to press, the UK, along with the rest of the world, was in the grip of unprecedented circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the government enforcing a nationwide lockdown, the vast majority of people are being told to stay at home except for essential journeys, for example to buy food, or to exercise.

As a result, many thousands of people have already lost their livelihood, with job losses and businesses closing down, including many in the music industry. With music venues forced to close their doors and gatherings banned, live music as we know it has suddenly halted. Download, Glastonbury, British Summer Time and other festivals have been cancelled, while others due to take place a little later in the summer, such as Ramblin’ Man Fair and Bloodstock, must wait to see if they will have to follow suit.

Sadly, the rock community has already suffered casualties from the virus, including Adam Schlesinger from Fountains Of Wayne, writer Alan Merrill, music producer Hal Willner and, just as we went to press, singer-songwriter