Twenty five years on from the peak of heavy rock’s commercial popularity in 1988, this series asks why heavy rockers no longer dominate the charts and seeks to highlight the crimes that Heavy Rock is accused of, and give you… Read More ›
Hard Rock
Could Heavy Rock Be Just A Teeny-Weeny Bit Sexist?
I’m putting heavy rock on trial! Have your say! Twenty five years on from the peak of heavy rock’s commercial popularity in 1988, this series asks why heavy rockers no longer dominate the charts and seeks to highlight the crimes… Read More ›
Show Offs: Why Is That Man Standing With His Legs Apart Whilst Overplaying His Guitar?
I’m Putting Rock On Trial! Have your say! Twenty five years on from the peak of heavy rock’s commercial popularity in 1988, this series asks why heavy rockers no longer dominate the charts and seeks to highlight the crimes that… Read More ›
Call The Fashion Police: Why Do Rockers All Dress So Badly?
I’m Putting Rock On Trial! Have Your Say! Twenty five years on from the peak of heavy rock‘s commercial popularity in 1988, this series asks why heavy rockers no longer dominate the charts and seeks to highlight the crimes that… Read More ›
Is Heavy Rock Guilty Of The Worst Lyrics Ever? The Defence
The Accusation: Heavy Rock lyrics are ridiculous and adolescent In my previous post I set out the case for the prosecution: This post sets out the defence: Do you think heavy rock’s lyrics are bad just because these guys were… Read More ›
Is Heavy Rock Guilty Of The Worst Lyrics Ever…? The Case For The Prosecution
I’m Putting Rock On Trial! Have Your Say! It is the 25th anniversary of Bon Jovi’s first UK number one album, “New Jersey” – a moment when heavy rock had confirmed its place in the mainstream, capping the momentum built… Read More ›
Ten Ways To Spot A Bon Jovi Fan In Hiding
In Britain today there are nearly two million people who share a dark and (for many) shameful secret. Although these people used to be readily identifiable, out of shame they have been forced to go underground and it is no… Read More ›
The Day I Appeared In An AC/DC Video
Ask a teenager now if they would stay up all night to watch TV on the off chance of seeing one of their favourite bands’ music videos and you’ll probably get as baffled a look as the one that Wayne… Read More ›
Ten Reasons Why It Was Okay To Like Bon Jovi In The Eighties
If you have been reading some of the rubbish I have come up with over the last eighteen months you may have built up a Sherlockian picture of me, although instead of observing the type of sand on my shoe… Read More ›
Rock’s Great “Lost” Albums of the Eighties: #5 Tesla – Mechanical Resonance
When Mechanical Resonance was released in December 1986, I was pretty much certain it was a seminal moment in rock n roll, like that of The Beatles’ landing at JFK, Van Halen‘s debut release, or Adam Ant’s performance at Live… Read More ›
Rock’s Great “Lost” Albums of the Eighties #3: Sea Hags
Naming a band is a thorny problem. There must be plenty of bands whose fate was sealed the moment they gave themselves a name. Would The High Numbers done as well if they hadn’t become The Who? Would Kiss have… Read More ›
An Analysis of The Lyrics to ZZ Top’s Ten Foot Pole
“I bet you can’t work out these lyrics” said a friend in 1986, holding a copy of ZZ Top‘s El Loco album with an evil glint in his eye. I guessed it couldn’t be too tricky. Child’s play. The sort… Read More ›
Masters of Reality – Live at O2 Islington Academy – Review
Masters of Reality played the O2 Islington Academy last night and gave the performance I had been waiting twenty five years to see, with a powerful, career spanning set. I have seen Masters of Reality twice before. The first… Read More ›
Rock’s Greatest “Lost” Records of the Eighties: #1 – Masters of Reality – Blue Garden
Masters of Reality – Blue Garden There’s only one thing better than discovering new music and new bands: and that’s discovering old music and old bands that you have not heard before. (NB. There are of course many things… Read More ›
Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork Review
June 2003. As I was carried above the heads and outstretched hands of an ecstatic Brixton Academy audience, (hoping no-one would a) grab me in a delicate place b) drop me or c) pick my pocket) crowd-surfing for the first… Read More ›
