I O W Festival 1970. Chicago’s Powerless Performance. From Kenny Denton's  Memoir, “There Ain’t No Rules In Rock ’n’  Roll.

I O W Festival 1970. Chicago’s Powerless Performance. From Kenny Denton's  Memoir, “There Ain’t No Rules In Rock ’n’  Roll.

Author: Kenny Denton April 12, 2026 Duration: 19:16

This Deep Dive from Kenny Denton’s memoir recounts a chaotic attempt to record the band Chicago at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. Tensions rose within the mobile recording truck as conflicting instructions from the band's own production team created a disorderly and ego-driven environment. The situation escalated into total pandemonium when the recording equipment suddenly lost power, plunging the crew into darkness mid-performance. While the visiting engineers panicked, the local staff eventually discovered that the failure was caused by a dislodged power plug. Although technical operations eventually resumed, the author notes that the hostile atmosphere persisted for the remainder of the concert. Over-preparation by the American team ultimately proved no match for a simple, accidental physical mishap. For the full story along with many more, are in my book “There Ain’t No Rules In Rock ’n’ Roll” is available from Amazon books, in paperback and Kindle.

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Step into the control room with Kenny Denton. His Kenny Denton's "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Stories From My 45 Years in The Music Industry is a raw, firsthand account from behind the mixing desk, starting in 1969 at the legendary Pye Studios. This isn't a polished, myth-making show; it's the unvarnished truth from a career spent orchestrating recordings for everyone from the genuinely brilliant to the entertainingly misguided. Kenny pulls back the curtain on what really happens in the studio and on the road, sharing stories of the amazing, the talented, the downright crazy, and the often deluded characters he's encountered across music and film. Each episode of this podcast feels like a late-night conversation with a seasoned insider who has seen it all, offering a unique blend of music history and personal memoir. You'll hear the chaos, the creative breakthroughs, the hilarious missteps, and the quiet moments that define a life dedicated to sound. It’s a natural fit for anyone curious about the real, unglamorous, and utterly human side of making art. Tune in for tales where technical expertise meets wild anecdote, all delivered with the wit and wisdom of someone who knows the only real rule is that there aren't any.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Kenny Dentons" There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll"  Stories From My 45 Years in The Music Industry.
Podcast Episodes
Kenny Denton’s Memoir. “There Ain't No Rules in Rock ‘n’ Roll.”  Excerpts. PT (3) The Legendary Pye Mobile. Capturing  Hendrix/The Who/ Chicago/John Sebastian. & The Chaos: Recording of the 1970 I O W Festival. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:37
My book is available here: There-Aint-Rules-Rock-Roll-ebook/dp/B0DB3KGRFRThis Deep Dive memoir excerpt part 3 provides a firsthand account of the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival from the perspective of a young sound engineer…