BeebRock - The BBC4/BBC3/BBC2/BBC1 Music Programmes thread

New series about "The sound of song" starting next week, but until then it's Meat Loaf, Metal, Phil Lynott and Placido Domingo. Sadly, not all together.


Friday


7.30pm Sounds of the Sixties
Ep1/10 Recalling a decade in British music, with archive performances from the early stages of the `swingin' era, featuring music by by rock, pop and R'n'B artists including the Springfields, the Shadows, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones

8pm Placido Domingo at the BBC
A celebration of the world-famous tenor, with four decades of performance highlights from the BBC archive. Featuring arias from Aida, Die Walkure, Simon Boccanegra and Pagliacci, as well as appearances on Wogan and Parkinson, including a captivating rendition of Moon River with Henry Mancini on piano

9pm & 1am Meat Loaf: In and Out of Hell
A profile of the rock star's life and music, reflecting on the music that propelled him to fame and charting his journey from an overweight, bullied child to his larger-than-life persona and icon status. Featuring an interview and performance by the singer, as well as backstage footage from a Las Vegas concert. The film also revisits the Dallas of Meat Loaf's early years and includes insights from high school friends who reveal where the unusual moniker really came from

10pm & 2am Heavy Metal Britannia
Documentary tracing the genre's emergence in the late 1960s, pioneered by bands including Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, who were based in the industrialised Midlands. This classic form of metal was challenged by punk in the late 1970s, before a new wave of groups such as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Saxon reinvigorated the style. Featuring contributions by singers Ian Gillan, Glenn Tipton, Lemmy, Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford, guitarist Tony Iommi and keyboard player Jon Lord. Narrated by Nigel Planer

11.30pm & 3.30am Heavy Metal Britannia at the BBC
A compilation of memorable heavy-metal performances from BBC shows, including Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Motorhead

Midnight Thin Lizzy: Bad Reputation
A profile of the Irish rock band, including archive footage, interviews with Eric Bell, Brian Downie and the group's first manager. Formed in Dublin in 1969, the group hit a creative and commercial peak in the late 1970s with a line-up including frontman Phil Lynott and guitarists Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham, but drugs and alcohol took their toll on the band. Narrated by Philip Glenister


Saturday

10.50pm Rock 'n' Roll Britannia
A look back at the beginnings of British rock 'n' roll, when acts such as the Shadows and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates helped to lay the foundations of an enduring musical culture. Including the current line-up of the Quarrymen - forerunners of the Beatles - performing Rock Island Line, and contributions by Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Joe Brown and Bruce Welch

11.50pm Totally British Rock 'n' Roll
A collection of archive performances by artists including David Bowie, Free, Status Quo, Mott the Hoople, Babe Ruth and Thin Lizzy from TV shows such as The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops

12.55am Totally British Rock 'n' Roll
A collection of archive performances by artists including Graham Parker and the Rumour, Dr Feelgood, Ducks Deluxe, Elvis Costello, the Motors, Steve Gibbons Band and Dire Straits from TV shows such as The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops

1.55am - Top of The Pops 1980
Peter Powell presents a vintage edition of the chart show, first broadcast January 3, 1980. Featuring performances by Billy Preston and Syreeta, Kurtis Blow, Madness, the Pretenders, Dr Hook, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd and David Bowie. Plus, dance sequences by Legs & Co

Jim Steinman had something about him. He worked very well with Meat Loaf, but did a lot of good stuff elsewhere.

He even managed to give Celine Dion a song and have it sound decent. Meat was raging, he wanted this one but Jim reckoned it was a song for a woman. Should have given it to Bonnie Tyler, Jim!