Category: Music
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“He got stabbed and didn’t know it!” – The Making Of Primal Scream’s Give Out But Don’t Give Up
“We recorded a couple of demos, but most of the time we got wasted, you know…” Primal Scream lead singer Bobby Gillespie on the initial recording sessions of “Give Out But Don’t Give Up” To understand just how hard drinking Primal Scream were, let’s ask ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, who happened to be in…
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The Moment Adam Clayton’s Wedding Tackle Became The Cover Star of U2’s Achtung Baby
In which we discover why a naked picture of Adam Clayton nearly became the cover art of U2’s Achtung Baby…
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Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets Showcase A Different Side of Pink Floyd
It says much about the popularity of Pink Floyd that remaining solo members can tour to packed houses around the world decades after their commercial peak. While Roger Waters and David Gilmour have played Floyd’s best known songs from The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon to sold out arenas, the band’s genial drummer,…
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A Spotify Playlist That Isn’t Trying To Sell You Something: Guaranteed!
In a world where Spotify algorithms are finding ever more devious ways to enter our consciousness it seems almost old-fashioned having an actual human recommend you some music. U2’s ill-fated attempt to load their new album automatically on the world’s iPods now seems almost quaint. Spotify added Drake tracks to hundreds of their playlists upon…
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Arctic Monkeys Gallery Exhibition Shows Substance Behind The Style
This week The Arctic Monkeys sold out four consecutive nights at the 20,000 capacity O2 Arena. They now move out of town to sold out shows in Birmingham, Sheffield, Dublin and Newcastle. Such is the clamour for all things Arctic Monkey, they even sold out of tickets for a gallery exhibition in fashionable Fitzrovia, which…
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Meet Your IDLES…
If pithy song titles and smart lyrics were all the five-piece Bristol punk band IDLES had, they would still be a very good band indeed. You have to love an album with a song title as good as “Never Fight A Man With A Perm”, or one that boasts a song (“Gram Rock”) with a…
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Sweet Billy Pilgrim’s New Album Wapentak Is A Five Star Success
These are troubling times. Russian bots influencing elections on both sides of the Atlantic. An American president surrounded by criminals. And an unprecedented polarisation of the political spectrum. And what’s trending on Twitter? Pete Doherty eating breakfast in a greasy spoon cafe… Good to know we are focusing on what’s important. There are some that…
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Five Things I Saw & Heard This Week
For the kids who Snapchat photos of themselves with a dog’s nose and ears superimposed, or who Instagram their every (doubtless avocado-based) meal, blogging about music may feel about as unfashionable as, well, Facebook. * Although very much the best way to keep on top of new music ten or fifteen years ago with all…
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The Best Music of 2018 So Far…
Ah, it’s mid summer. A time of hazy, sunny evenings. As the organisers of Wimbledon erect their “Sale! Punnet of Strawberry’s: only £50” signs (complete with grocer’s comma) it’s the time of year that allows me to drag out the only Wimbledon-related joke I know: Q. What time does Sean Connery arrive at Wimbledon? A.…
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How To Buy Elton John On Vinyl (and an Alternative Best-of Spotify Playlist)
Although we might all have a stab at naming Elton John’s best albums, in these times of Spotify, there sometimes needs to be a reason why a particular record should be bought on vinyl. Happily in Elton’s case there are several reasons. Firstly, his records are often beautifully packaged, with posters and lyrics sheets. Second,…
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The Origins of Elton John: From The Archives of Jackie Magazine
In which we discover how Bernie Taupin’s mum brought Reg and Bernie together by cleaning her front room, how the cost of storing vinyl in Chelsea is ruinously expensive, why Elton has only the second-worst real life name of any pop star, and why you shouldn’t kick a piano stool at work.
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How Elton John Can Help You Save For The Deposit On Your Flat
The Vinyl Revival (TM) continues apace, sucking up the cash of Millennials faster than a pop up craft-beer-and-smashed-avocado stall at a box park. With new LPs often costing £20 or more, vinyl-loving Millennials are reportedly struggling to save for a deposit on a flat. Some find it tricky enough to save for a deposit on…
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Pink Floyd’s Pulse Reissued: How Not To Break The Bank
You have to feel a little sorry for Pink Floyd fans. Not too much, obviously. They are more likely than you are to have a final salary pension, a second home, a car that starts on a cold day, a membership to a gym they never visit and all the other trappings of the baby…
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Why We Still Need Record Store Day
Record Store Day seems to be a day of doing things you wouldn’t normally do. You rise earlier than you would for work. (Motivation may have something to do with this…) You happily stand in a queue outside a record shop although you get apoplectic with rage waiting for more than thirty seconds at the…
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Arcade Fire: So Good, They Can Make Even Wembley Arena Shake
Arcade Fire have overcome many obstacles in their path over the years. Grabbing the attention of the world through their indie-released debut LP Funeral; delivering credible follow ups to one of the decade’s most critically acclaimed albums, and then dealing with inevitable backlashes. “Are Arcade Fire their own worst enemy?” asked the New York Times…
Every record tells a story 