Blue Rock

Biography     Discography


Another outfit with a promising name is the Brussels based Blue Rock.

Since 1974 mainman Armand Massaux (guitar & vocals) was accompanied by Denis Van Hecke (guitars, violin & vocals), Manitas Van Ham (bass & vocals) and Kiki Isaye (drums & percussion). Armand had been a member of the rock’n’roll band Les Night Rockers who released three singles in 1965. Together they had been the backing band for a pop singer but when they got fired they started Blue Rock, determined to make their way as real rockers.
In 1975 they got EMI stepped in with an offer to release a full album. The band produced the album with Jan D’Haese who was previous in the band Carriage Company, and now employed by EMI-Belgium. It turned out to be a decent representation of their boogie-rock style (like the popular Status Quo those days), also including several cover-versions of Armands old rock’n’roll favourites, seasoned with a lot of guitar. The odd surprise was the last song on the album; a bluesy-slow song with violin on it, who displays a huge Zeppelin feel.

A hastily-issued single didn’t do much, but their appearance at the Bilzen rock & jazz festival in august 1975 won them quite some new fans. Over there, they shared the bill with the likes of Steve Harley and Wishbone Ash.
Their next single “The Lost Generation” was a departure from the straight-boogie norm as it turned out to be a great rock song with slide guitar in it.

Last sign of life was the 7” “Rockin’ The Blues / My Way” in 1977, once again produced by Jan D’Haese. Both were boogie-rock’n’ roll songs; the A-side with piano and contrabass-playing while the back was the old Eddie Cochran classic.






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Lp THIS IS BLUE ROCK (EMI 4C 062-23527 — 1975)
– It’s Allright
– Tiger
– Space Driver
– Shadow Day Blues
– Trouble
– Bye Bye Johnny
– Rip It Up
– Nadine
– Low Down Lady
– Shilum Bambooley

7” Bye Bye Johnny / Low Down Lady (EMI 4C006-23502 — 1975)


7” Bye Bye Johnny / Low Down Lady (EMI 4C006-23502 — 1975) -France-


Lp THIS IS BLUE ROCK (United Artists UAS 29.912 — 1975) -France-
– It’s Allright
– Tiger
– Space Driver
– Shadow Day Blues
– Trouble
– Bye Bye Johnny
– Rip It Up
– Nadine
– Low Down Lady
– Shilum Bambooley


7” Bye Bye Johnny / Low Down Lady (EMIDISC 1C006-23502 — 1975) -Germany-


7” Bye Bye Johnny / Low Down Lady (Whamm WH 102 — 1976) -Holland-


7” The Lost Generation / Space Driver (EMI 4C006-23564 — 1976)


7” The Lost Generation / Space Driver (United Artists UP 36.092 — 1976) -France-

7” The Lost Generation / Space Driver (Whamm WH-103 — 1976) -Holland-

Lp Belgian Pop Sampler (EMI Best Seller 4B052-23591 — 1976) compilation
– The Lost Generation

7” Rockin’ The Blues / My Way (EMI 4C006-23622 — 1977)