Month: May 2012
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Wilko Johnson Book Launch: How Dr Feelgood Were Inspired by a Disastrous MC5 Wembley Appearance
Wilko Johnson, former lead guitarist of Canvey Island‘s finest export Dr Feelgood, was at Rough Trade East last night to launch his new autobiography alongside co-author Zoe Howe, a local Leigh on Sea resident. Wilko spoke eloquently about his life in front of a packed crowd and was then joined by his band, featuring former Blockhead…
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Girls: Live at The HMV Forum, Kentish Town
I saw Christopher Owens play live last night in London with his band Girls. For a band that has twice featured in the Top Ten of Pitchfork’s Best Album end of year poll, Girls are keeping their ankles pretty well hidden from the outside world. Last night’s gig at the Kentish Town HMV Forum (always…
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The Judas Priest Controversy: Backwards Messages and A Tragic Death
Judas Priest have had an interesting and turbulent history – including going on trial in the USA having being accused of causing the suicide of a boy through inserting backward / subliminal messages into their songs. Perhaps Judas Priest have the craziest history of any metal band. Including Manowar. Or even Metallica. One that makes Spinal Tap…
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Judas Priest – Live at Hammersmith
When I think of all the heavy metal bands the UK has produced, my absolute favourite is Judas Priest. And Judas Priest are very metal. They sing about metal. Metal Meltdown. Metal Gods. The former is about a metal meltdown. The latter is about, well, metal gods. You can even hear the metal gods’ footsteps…
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UK wins Eurovision….because no other country has ever got close…
Every year, millions of people tune in to see a singing contest which serves up a musical kaleidoscope of vomit. An über-camp spectacle of ridiculous pop wannabes looking for their fifteen minutes of fame in the hope that it will lead to a Europe-wide hit single and perhaps immortality, only to be instantly forgotten until…
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Guns n Roses at The Marquee Club
I have very few regrets in life…. Perhaps I should have danced with that pretty brunette at the school disco when I was ten years old instead of looking horrified. On reflection I didn’t take enough care when using that scalpel when twelve, resulting in an unscheduled trip to A&E. As a teenager that haircut…
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Every Record – The 50th Episode – And Best Bits So Far (and A Versatile Blogger Award)
Hey – remember when the Friends or Seinfeld writers needed to deliver two more shows to the network, but had run out of budget, so they cobbled together a story by playing highlights of old episodes introducing the clips by Chandler (or Kramer) saying ” Hey – remember when…..”? Hey – remember when you stumbled…
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Kiss – Exposed!
After the Kiss Animalized Uncensored Live video, I was keen to see more. This led me to the new video release Kiss – Exposed!. This was packed with archive footage of the band, and set (apparently) at the band’s home. Yes, it appeared that like a comic book Morecambe and Wise, Kiss all lived together like…
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Kiss…..And Things You Don’t See Anymore #3: Denim Jackets With Band Names on the Back
So what is one of the most powerful advertising weapons utilised by bands such as Kiss and Aerosmith to attract the youth of Britain to buy products? YouTube? Facebook? Search Engine Optimisation? TV? Oh no. Compared to the real success story of the last forty years these things are mere bagatelles. In fact, over two…
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More Pictures of The Horrors and The Black Belles
Following my earlier Horrors post, here are a couple more photos of Wednesday night’s gig at Chinnerys in Southend, including a couple of support band The Black Belles. The Black Belles are signed to Jack White‘s label Third Man Records and this is their first UK tour. They play The Barfly in Camden tonight and…
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The Horrors! The Horrors! Southend’s Chinnerys shakes to secret JD Roots homecoming gig by The Horrors.
Seeing The Horrors play live at their home town of Southend was a special moment. Chris Martin’s campaign against tinnitus had a setback last night as Southend on Sea got to welcome home The Horrors at a special gig at tiny local venue / sweat pit Chinnerys prior to the band’s UK tour later this…
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Things You Don’t See Anymore #2: The Bootleg Tape Market Trader
Bootleg recordings of live shows can now be found on-line – but this wasn’t always the case. Bootlegs used to be under the counter – or more often, on market stalls in cassette form or (if you were really keen / wealthy) on vinyl at bootleg record fairs. After Queen’s triumph at Wembley, I began…
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Rock’s Greatest Frontman
Who is Rock’s Greatest Frontman? The question of who is Rock’s Greatest Frontman has taxed the minds of the finest academics across the land, and has been debated in some of the most important arenas including Cabinet Rooms, Parliament… …Buckingham Palace, and not forgetting The Crooked Billet pub in my home town of Leigh on…
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Gered Mankowitz Photo Exhibition at Snap Galleries
There’s a great photo exhibition on in London with images of The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. If NME photographer Dean Chalkley has the best job in the world, then running him a close second is a man I met yesterday. Guy White is the owner of Snap Galleries, a specialist rock n roll photo…
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The Top Ten Best Rolling Stones Books…ever!
The best books about the Rolling Stones? Read on… The Rolling Stones pretended they wouldn’t be touring in 2012 to celebrate their 50th anniversary, and Keith claimed that as Charlie didn’t join the band until 1963, he had a decent get-out clause to postpone the festivities until next year. So whilst we waited patiently for…
Every record tells a story 