Category Archives: Books Films, TV & Radio

Takin’ Me Bak ‘Ome – talking Slade with Don Powell

Christmas was way into the distance when I tracked Don Powell down in Denmark, but the legendary drummer – on a rare break from the live circuit – soon brought the subject up. As I properly introduced myself and mentioned … Continue reading

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A man of Substance – the Peter Hook interview

  ‘I’m here now … sorry,’ read my text message, and after a couple of days struggling to locate Peter Hook, it seemed I finally had my chance. We’d missed each other a few times, but seeing as it was … Continue reading

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Following in the Fab Four’s footsteps – The Bootleg Beatles feature

Granted, it’s not necessarily the best way to start a conversation, telling an interviewee who plays in a tribute band that I’ve always felt there are so many great groups out there that it’s pointless featuring such acts. But while … Continue reading

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Notes From a Cornish Shed – Another Shedload by Pete Cross – a writewyattuk review

Trepiddle’s Finest is back, and it’s like he’s never been away. Perhaps that’s because he hasn’t, but that’s not the point. Pete Cross has a new collection of scribblings out, and now it’s December I’ll throw in my first festive … Continue reading

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Still Holding The Flame – The Roland Gift interview

It was an appreciation of the soulful voice of Otis Redding that helped inspire Roland Gift to seek out a life as a performer. The Birmingham-born singer and actor was only six when Redding was killed in a plane crash … Continue reading

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The Quo must go on – back in conversation with Francis Rossi

I wasn’t quite sure how to start my conversation with Francis Rossi, wondering at what point it would be right to bring up the subject of Rick Parfitt’s passing, 11 months ago. I shouldn’t have worried though, the effervescent Londoner … Continue reading

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The best of Friends with Shalamar – the Howard Hewett interview

Howard Hewett had only been in the UK a couple of days when I called, and was alternating between press calls and rehearsals with fellow stalwart Jeffrey Daniel and more recent Shalamar addition Carolyn Griffey. But if my interviewee had … Continue reading

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The Undertones / Roughneck Riot – Warrington Parr Hall

“Any day of the week’s when Saturday comes” And when it entails a night in the company of The Undertones, it’s always going to be special. What’s more, this time it involved a new venue for me, five and a … Continue reading

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Clean Bandit / Starley – Manchester Academy

It’s official – there’s still life in pop music, 65 years to the week Al Martino topped the first official UK charts, judging by this winning Manchester tour finale. Granted, I can’t imagine Martino’s Here In My Heart or fellow … Continue reading

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Still pickin’ up Good Vibrations – talking The Undertones with Mickey Bradley

Devising questions for the following feature/interview, I thought it was high time I caught up online with The Mickey Bradley Record Show, in which The Undertones’ bass player treats listeners to a two-hour weekly stroll through a vinyl wonderland of his … Continue reading

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