When the digital switch over thingy happened recently I decided that would be the end of it for me. Aside from the unashamed tripe dished up daily, the one eyed beasty called television is responsible for more hypnosis and bulls**t than most people realise, and I for one am happy to lay it to rest. Of course the tv licensing people will no doubt brand me a liar, but hey, that’s their problem! … Read more »
This piece was written on Tuesday the 9th of August 2011
Before I begin this piece, I’d just like to say, I abhor violence in anyway, shape or form, and the criminal opportunists and children who rioted in our cities these past few days should feel the full measure of the law.
But I have to laugh when I hear the media call these people criminals, which of course they are, but hey? Isn’t hacking into a murdered person’s phone criminal? … Read more »
The Mad Princess and I watched Coldplay at Glastonbury courtesy of the BBC on Saturday night a couple of weeks ago. I can’t say I’m a huge fan, tho’ some of their tracks, “Speed of sound” for one, I certainly like. Their light show projected on the Pyramid, specifically for the encore, was Psychedelically awesome, but sorry Honey, Chris Martin smells of pretension to me, and I ain’t talking about the latest Kate Moss fragrance. … Read more »
I’m listening to Eric Carmen singing ” All by Myself”. Eric is the lead singer in the Raspberries, a band associated with the Powerpop genre. So what exactly is Powerpop? Pete Townsend coined the phrase to explain the Who’s ( and the Small Faces and the Beach Boys ) sound, but I wonder what he really meant? … Read more »
I have nerve deafness. I inherited it from my Father, who inherited it from his Mother, who inherited it from one of her parents. I have Tinnitus in both ears ( a whistling in my right ear, a hissing in the left ), and a type of adult glue ear which necessitates a visit to the ENT department at my local hospital every three months. … Read more »
We recorded the album at Stage one studios , in Forest gate, in London. I remember the shop front above the studio had a grand piano sitting in it. The studio was in the basement, and we had to hump our gear down several flights of stairs. … Read more »
Sunday the 20th of March was a grand day for Bowie heads across the planet. The unreleased “Toy” album was leaked online. Sure, six of the tracks have been released officially, three as b sides of singles taken from his last album “Heathen”, … Read more »
Andrew Branch interviewed me in February about the David Bowie/Ziggy gig I saw in 1973. He asked me how Hetro males were able to perceive Glam rock, which was essentially a very androgynous type of Rock’n’Roll. I told him, at school the more macho lads liked the Faces and Slade, thus avoiding being identified as part of a perhaps more open minded crowd. … Read more »
When Nick Smith joined the band in 1979, the chemistry within it changed quite dramatically. Most of our Punk edges had been smoothed off by then, and we were now “New Wave”, adding Elvis Costello to our list of major influences, along with the Groovies, the Beatles and Big Star. … Read more »
After the Gene Tryp imploded towards the middle of 1986 my world fell apart, but I guess like a long term romance that wasn’t going anywhere I knew it had to end. Suddenly to not be gigging with the intensity that the Tryp had been was a shock to the system. … Read more »
