Format: Limited edition hardback book, 48 full-colour pages, full-colour cover.
 
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This new book, compiled, designed and edited by the Honourable Henry Lytton Cobbold, member of the family who have lived at the House for over five hundred years, is an entertaining and sometimes intimate look at the concerts which have been held in the grounds of Knebworth House since 1974. Presented very much like a family album or scrapbook, there are many amusing or interesting anecdotes within from many of those involved in putting on the shows.

The scene is set with the inside front/back covers, showing an aerial photo of the house and grounds, with the sell-out 1996 Oasis concert in full swing. Many legendary artists played the largest shows in their careers at the venue - in thirty years, over two million people have attended the concerts held at this stately home in the middle of England.

The book starts with a brief family history - taking the story from 1490, when the grounds were chosen for the construction of the house. Fast-forward to 1974, and Freddie Bannister's original proposal letter which started the whole thing off. Chrissie Lytton Cobbold admitted that "Freddie was very persuasive!" particularly as they'd been approached before about holding events in the grounds.

Each show, from the pioneering 74 gig, is detailed in excerpts from cuttings, personal recollections, and many great photos - some conventional live shots, most though candid, giving a flavour of the human side of each event. There's also ticket, poster and other memorabilia reprinted. The recollections are particularly fascinating - memories of the smallest, silliest things vie with key moments.

The 1974 show was due to feature Led Zeppelin with the Allman Brothers, and it explains how LZ pulled out when they found they would be sharing top billing - not their style at all! The very next year was the first of two Pink Floyd appearances - and most would argue the first was the more significant and interesting. Backed with an eclectic mix of artists from Steve Miller to Captain Beefheart - even members of Monty Python!

A nice double page spread on the show, with a poster and unused ticket reproduction, an aerial shot of the crowd, memories of the band in Knebworth House itself, and a couple of stage shots - one side on, showing the large speaker stacks, and one of Richard Wright in action, with Roger hidden in the dry ice behind.

1976 saw the Stones headline, and the book shares some interesting quotes from Keith Richard: "when bands [like us] have been around for this long, they should be dead and buried", and Mick Jagger: "I would hate to think I would still be singing Satisfaction when I'm forty"!

 The story continues with the two shows in 1978 - Genesis, followed by an eclectic line-up in the second show, to counter claims that the festivals were bland and unexciting, with the likes of Frank Zappa, The Tubes, and the Boomtown Rats all appearing.

Led Zep finally made their appearance in 1979, and an interesting anecdote is printed concerning the shooting of the programme cover by Storm Thorgerson. The following year's festival was less successful, a small crowd turning up to see The Beach Boys, Mike Oldfield and others. Subsequent shows were equally humdrum (the recollections of the Christian "Greenbelt" festival drawing complaints from the locals are interesting though!) until Deep Purple, The Scorpions and Meat Loaf arrives in 1985. The following year saw a huge Queen concert, that ended in tragedy as a fan was stabbed to death whilst watching the show.

1990, of course, saw the other Pink Floyd appearance, as part of the star-studded Silver Clef Award Winners concert in aid of the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity. A couple of piccies of David Gilmour (one with Richard Wright) and a quote from David about how the weather helped the atmosphere. As someone who was in the crowd, I find the remark debatable, although I can see what he meant as the lasers shone out clearly. The circular screen was taken down though due to the high winds, so no projected film.

1992 saw Phil Collins return, with the rest of Genesis, for their second appearance and his third. Very brief coverage of this show. Far better is the amount of memorabilia on show for the next concert - Oasis in 1996, which captured the band (are they even still going?) at the very height of their popularity. A dance event in 2001 saw twelve seperate arenas constructed to house the different genres, and the book finishes with coverage of the three (then upcoming) Robbie Williams shows at the start of August this year (2003).

The end of the book covers a selection of memorabilia for the shows - official and unofficial. It includes various bootleg albums, CDs and videos that have appeared of the performances, including for Floyd a scarce "Wish We Were There" CD bootleg of the 1975 show, which I've not seen before.

A fascinating, if quick read (probably in one session), that takes a more intimate look at the concerts. For a more indepth, conventional look, you would need to search out Chrissie Lytton Cobbold's "Knebworth Rock Festivals" (now out of print). Definately worth a look for an entertaining scoot through the history of the shows held at the house.