Category Archives: Uncategorized

A welcome return to Vinny Peculiar’s Counterculture Club – in praise of How I Learned to Love the Freaks

‘Say goodbye to the summer of love…’ There’s an autumnal chill in the air right now, but while the summer’s gone, I’m yet to tire of an album that’s provided a key part of my soundtrack these past couple of … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

And the beat goes on – in praise of Life’s a Gamble: Penetration, the Invisible Girls and Other Stories by Pauline Murray

Catching up with Pauline Murray at Action Records in Preston, Lancashire, last week, she seemed somewhat surprised about the positive reaction to her autobiography, and genuinely chuffed that I thought it any good. Played down reactions and not going out … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Swansea Sound / Special Friend / Oh Hippo – The Talleyrand, Levenshulme, Manchester

Did I mention that I missed Swansea Sound’s live debut – two years ago last month – by barely half an hour? How I turned up at The Continental in Preston one August bank holiday weekend afternoon to spot them … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Try a little Tenderness – revisiting General Public, four decades on

Cast your mind back to a universe far away, The Beat having disbanded not so long after the Special Beat Service touched down, David Steele and Andy Cox deciding to take some time out, going their own way on an … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deep ocean heart – exploring the world of Peter Murphy

Uncompromising from the very start, it’s fair to say Peter Murphy and the band Bauhaus always trod their own dark path, something I was reminded of on re-entering that netherworld while diving into Flood Gallery Publishing epic read, the line … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Who – Langtree Park, St Helens

The Heinemann English Dictionary put my way on reaching secondary school in September 1980 (soon covered in wallpaper, like every other recommended text) lists serendipity as ‘the faculty of making unexpected but desirable discoveries.’ Slipping into the English language via … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tom Seals Presents Noddy Holder – The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays

I was in the presence of rock ‘n’ roll royalty last night, following a late doors opportunity to see the living legend that is Noddy Holder, in a welcome stage return for this international treasure. It’s become something of a … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Keeping life and soul together – in conversation with Nik Kershaw

As our video interview got underway, Nik Kershaw – surrounded by recording hardware – told me in response to my opening enquiry that his studio was previously in the cellar of his rural East Anglia home, near the Suffolk/Essex border, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Treading Gently forward – beyond The Jam with Steve Brookes

When I spoke to Steve Brookes earlier this week, he was at home in Camberley, Surrey, having played Thames Side Brewery in Staines that weekend, this accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter clearly enjoying gigging as much now as five decades ago, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Journey to the Art of Darkness – talking The History of Goth with John Robb

Ah, the dreaded label. An integral part of music culture down the years, but an all too easy way to categorise, and often proving nonsense. Punk, post-punk, alternative, indie, indie pop, twee pop, shoegaze, soul, funk, jazz funk, heavy soul, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment