Derek Holt

This is Derek Holt, bassist and keyboards-player with Climax Chicago Blues Band, Climax Chicago and Climax Blues Band from 1968 to 1982 and at points beyond. In May 2016 I contacted Derek with the idea of writing a book on the history of the Climax Blues Band to commemorate the impending 50th anniversary of the release of the band’s debut album in 1969. From the start Derek supported and encouraged the project and made available his own memoirs and considerable archive, as did his bandmates and associates. So began an amazing journey which culminated in the book Derek holds in the photo and which is now available. My thanks to Derek and the other band members, management, technicians, producers, engineers, sleeve designers, family and friends who contributed and made the book possible. This is the first in what I hope will be an occasional gallery of the people who ‘were there’, who kindly contributed and whose stories are told in the first volume of Climax Blues Band – An Illustrated History.

14 August 2020

Exciting day! Fresh out of the box upon arrival at Moonshine Towers. There’s nothing quite like the aroma of a newly printed book … well it’s not quite as enticing as a decent pot of fresh coffee, but it comes pretty close…

28 July 2020

Nearly there! Many thanks to all who have ordered the book. Our printer kindly made a film of the book going through an impressive piece of equipment known as a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106. With such machines more than 15,000 sheets can be printed per hour. The technician is checking sheets of some of the first pages in the book.

We expect copies shortly, but available for pre-order now only via Moonshine Editions.

Update 20 July 2020

Many thanks to all of you who have ordered Climax Blues Band – An Illustrated History: Volume One – Using the Power 1968-1977. To reserve a copy of this strictly limited edition book simply go to our website at www.moonshineeditions.com  The book is with our printer in Europe right now – and here’s the proof! We expect to have copies in mid-August.

To see some sample page spreads from the book take a look at www.moonshineeditions.com where you can also look at some great videos of the band. Very grateful to all who have contributed.

Climax Blues Band – An Illustrated History: Volume One – Using the Power 1968-1977

  • A4 format, estimated weight 1.5 kg
  • Hardback, laminate board cover
  • 280 pages, colour throughout
  • Text of ca. 150,000 words
  • More than 550 rare and previously unpublished photographs, posters, stage passes and promotional ephemera