Heartline : The Authorised Biography of Robin George (Martin Tracey)
We’re never likely to be short of round the table discussion (or on-line chats in front of a screen) between rock fans, music historians, journos and writers debating on the best ever guitarist/ album/ music year, etc.
Similarly, there’s a lot of head scratching as to why certain artists or musicians, while gaining some recognition and/ or success, never went on to make the bigger mark their talents so richly deserved.
West Midlands musician Robin George (sadly lost to cancer in 2024), best remembered for 1985 debut album Dangerous Music and associated single 'Heartline' (which merged melodic rock, electro-rock and hard pop into a whole new sound) is definitely a candidate for the #1 spot of that Could’ve Should’ve list.
Why he never became a household name in rock & hard pop (he had the looks for both and a firm foot in both camps) is detailed in Heartline : The Authorised Biography by author, music fan and fellow West Midlander, Martin Tracey.
Heartline also features commentary from RG, who chatted as much as he could to Tracey before he succumbed to his illness.
However, the book is also packed with insightful commentary (from the anecdotal and humorous to the poignant and reflective) from a host of musicians who worked with RG, along with the thoughts of his friends, wife and family.
Martin Tracey has also woven in comment from RG lifted from more recent interviews (including his in-depth chat with FabricationsHQ in 2021); this helps tell the latter-day story of a musician who was still passionate about writing, recording and producing music (while battling an illness only a few closest to him knew about).
The results are a highly informative and well-considered book that covers RG’s career from the earliest days and his Dangerous Music/ 'Heartline' success (leading to his famous cover-shot in Kerrang! #51), through the subsequent near misses and on to his later solo career, which culminated with a prolific flurry of albums from Covid/ Lockdown onwards.
As interesting as the entire book is, there is no question it’s those near misses and could-have-been moments that stand out. Consider, for example, the following, each of which Martin Tracey covers, and reflects over, in great detail…
Guitarist, co-songwriter & producer of The Byron Band, featuring ex Uriah Heep frontman David Byron; sadly they were as short-lived as, tragically, Byron himself.
His place in what would have been a reformed and retooled Thin Lizzy, if not for Phil Lynott’s death just a few weeks later (and the frustration of a "disappearing tape" of their recordings).
Working and performing with John Wetton in what could have been a revamped, Wetton led Asia.
(Mostly unheard) recordings with Robert Plant.
The 1989 Glenn Hughes-Robin George album Sweet Revenge, which didn’t see the light of day (other than a dreadful mp3 bootleg recording) until 34 years later as the album Overcome.
Working with ex Diamond Head front men Sean Harris (Notorious, and the album Radio Silence) and Nick Tart (Life, and the album Cocoon).
The supergroup Damage Control featuring RG, Pete Way, Spike and Chris Slade.
And that’s far from an exhaustive list, as the book’s Discography details.
Everyone, Martin Tracey included, would, obviously, have wished this could have been an Autobiography and not an Authorised Biography;
But the gift of Heartline is that we finally have the definitive word on Robin George’s musical legacy – which is exactly what Robin Charles George Sidebotham wanted. And unquestionably deserved.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Heartline (paperback or Kindle) here.
Similarly, there’s a lot of head scratching as to why certain artists or musicians, while gaining some recognition and/ or success, never went on to make the bigger mark their talents so richly deserved.
West Midlands musician Robin George (sadly lost to cancer in 2024), best remembered for 1985 debut album Dangerous Music and associated single 'Heartline' (which merged melodic rock, electro-rock and hard pop into a whole new sound) is definitely a candidate for the #1 spot of that Could’ve Should’ve list.
Why he never became a household name in rock & hard pop (he had the looks for both and a firm foot in both camps) is detailed in Heartline : The Authorised Biography by author, music fan and fellow West Midlander, Martin Tracey.
Heartline also features commentary from RG, who chatted as much as he could to Tracey before he succumbed to his illness.
However, the book is also packed with insightful commentary (from the anecdotal and humorous to the poignant and reflective) from a host of musicians who worked with RG, along with the thoughts of his friends, wife and family.
Martin Tracey has also woven in comment from RG lifted from more recent interviews (including his in-depth chat with FabricationsHQ in 2021); this helps tell the latter-day story of a musician who was still passionate about writing, recording and producing music (while battling an illness only a few closest to him knew about).
The results are a highly informative and well-considered book that covers RG’s career from the earliest days and his Dangerous Music/ 'Heartline' success (leading to his famous cover-shot in Kerrang! #51), through the subsequent near misses and on to his later solo career, which culminated with a prolific flurry of albums from Covid/ Lockdown onwards.
As interesting as the entire book is, there is no question it’s those near misses and could-have-been moments that stand out. Consider, for example, the following, each of which Martin Tracey covers, and reflects over, in great detail…
Guitarist, co-songwriter & producer of The Byron Band, featuring ex Uriah Heep frontman David Byron; sadly they were as short-lived as, tragically, Byron himself.
His place in what would have been a reformed and retooled Thin Lizzy, if not for Phil Lynott’s death just a few weeks later (and the frustration of a "disappearing tape" of their recordings).
Working and performing with John Wetton in what could have been a revamped, Wetton led Asia.
(Mostly unheard) recordings with Robert Plant.
The 1989 Glenn Hughes-Robin George album Sweet Revenge, which didn’t see the light of day (other than a dreadful mp3 bootleg recording) until 34 years later as the album Overcome.
Working with ex Diamond Head front men Sean Harris (Notorious, and the album Radio Silence) and Nick Tart (Life, and the album Cocoon).
The supergroup Damage Control featuring RG, Pete Way, Spike and Chris Slade.
And that’s far from an exhaustive list, as the book’s Discography details.
Everyone, Martin Tracey included, would, obviously, have wished this could have been an Autobiography and not an Authorised Biography;
But the gift of Heartline is that we finally have the definitive word on Robin George’s musical legacy – which is exactly what Robin Charles George Sidebotham wanted. And unquestionably deserved.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Heartline (paperback or Kindle) here.