The Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971-1973)

EndedVariety showMusic

The Old Grey Whistle Test is a variety music show that aired on BBC 2.

The show's focus on "serious" rock music, rather than chart hits covered on BBC1 by Top of the Pops, was emphasised by a lack of showbiz glitter: bands would often perform their songs in front of either the bare studio walls or plain wooden boards (actually the backs of set walls from other programmes filmed in the same studio).

The programme hosted many seminal acts of the era, including the first British TV performance of Bob Marley and the Wailers as well as then little-known acts of whom any early footage is now considered precious, such as Billy Joel, Judas Priest (with a long haired Rob Halford), Wishbone Ash, Judee Sill, Heart, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Whistle Test was also the British television debut of the American glam punk band New York Dolls. Although host Bob Harris derided the group as "mock rock," comparing them unfavourably to The Rolling Stones, their performance influenced the following punk rock scene such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash as well as alternative bands like R.E.M. and The Smiths and the glam metal scene of the 1980s.

Networks
Scheduleevery Tuesday (45 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S02E38Golden Earring, Loudon Wainwright IIImai 29, 1973
S02E36Roy Buchanan, Jan Akkerman, Lean Russell, B. B. Kingmai 15, 1973
S02E35Episode 35mai 8, 1973
S02E34The Wailers, Pete Atkin, Yes, Bob Marleymai 1, 1973
S02E33Birtha, John David Souther, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gayeavr. 24, 1973
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When was the premiere of The Old Grey Whistle Test?

The Old Grey Whistle Test premiered on September 21, 1971.

What was the show's concept?

The show's concept was to feature live performances by rock bands and solo artists in a studio setting, as well as interviews with musicians.

Who were the hosts of The Old Grey Whistle Test?

The show had a rotating cast of hosts that included Richard Williams, Bob Harris, Annie Nightingale, and David Hepworth, among others.

What was the significance of the show's name?

The name "The Old Grey Whistle Test" was a reference to a Tin Pan Alley tradition in which a song's demo would be played to an executive who would then hum the tune and, if they could remember it, it passed the "old grey whistle test."

How long were the performances on the show?

Most performances on the show were between 15 and 20 minutes long.

What was the show's target audience?

The show's target audience was primarily young adults and music enthusiasts.

What was Ian Anderson's memorable performance on the show?

Ian Anderson's memorable performance on the show was in 1972 when he performed "My God" with Jethro Tull, complete with a theatrical performance that included a black cape and an introduction with a church bell.

Which Led Zeppelin album did the band preview on the show?

Led Zeppelin previewed their album "IV" on the show in 1971, performing "Black Dog" and "Stairway to Heaven" among others.

What was a unique aspect of the show's set design?

The show's set design featured a railway station clock and a railway car-style backdrop, which conveyed the sense that the show was a "journey through rock."

Which famous song did Bob Marley perform on the show in 1973?

Bob Marley performed his hit song "I Shot the Sheriff" on the show in 1973.

Also known as

  • Whistle Test

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
Ridley
Running

Ridley

Ridley follows charismatic Detective Inspector Alex Ridley, who is retiring from the police after years of dedicated service. After twenty-five years as a homicide copper, Ridley has been nudged out of the job he loves. But the prospect of retirement is not a particularly welcome one as he's been cut off in his prime. Ridley's replacement is Acting DI Carol Farman, his former protégée whom Ridley mentored for many years. When he's enlisted by Carol as a police consultant on a complex and compelling murder case, the investigation takes a dark and unexpected turn. Turning to her old mentor for support, Carol is keen to access Ridley's unique insight into crime-solving which has served them so well in the past.

GenreDrama, Crime
Space
Upcoming

Space

Space follows Rob and Marin, a long-term couple on the verge of a break-up who are granted the ultimate space to figure out their future when they suddenly begin jumping into the bodies of other couples.

Red Queen
Upcoming

Red Queen

Set in an alternate near-future America, where democracy is replaced by a monarchy and the population is separated into a common-blooded society (known as "Reds") and the powerful elites (or "Silver-blooded"), Red Queen is centered on Mare Barrow, a poor young woman trying to survive and protect her family. Forced to serve the elites, she discovers that she too has superpowers, and becomes the symbol of a revolution for the oppressed while searching for the truth behind the greatest mystery of all…how she became so powerful in the first place.

GenreFantasy
Welcome to Wrexham
Running

Welcome to Wrexham

In 2020, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds teamed up to purchase Wrexham AFC, Wales' oldest professional football club, in the hopes of turning the club into an underdog story the whole world could root for. The worry? Rob and Ryan have no experience in football or working with each other. That said, they are serious about their investment in Wrexham, improving the club and doing right by the townspeople.

The Chicken Sisters
Running

The Chicken Sisters

The Chicken Sisters is a family drama dipped in southern charm and served up with a saucy side of romance. The setting is the fictional town of Merinac, where a generations-old rift between dueling fried chicken restaurants – Mimi's and Frannie's – has left the founders' families fractured and the locals taking sides. When popular cooking competition show Kitchen Clash comes to town, this could be the recipe for ending this feud once and for all. But things are fixing to heat up both inside and outside of the kitchen as the reality show spotlight causes sparks to fly as secrets are spilled and feathers get ruffled.