The inspiration for this post came from my picking up a copy of Uncut magazine featuring Elvis Costello. Uncut’s Ultimate Music Guide does these great tributes to musical artists where they’ll intersperse magazine articles (NME in this case) from the artist’s early days with contemporary … Continue reading ME’s list of Great Debut albums (Part 1 of an Occasional Series) – My Aim is True
My fear was mediocrity, being just another cog in the glorious system that would eventually grind our spirit down to dust. I refused to be a prisoner in a gilded cage from which there was no escape… I was determined to overcome my limitations, to … Continue reading A Six-pack of Billy Idol
It’s a pity you didn’t sign the Smiths. But you were right about Mick Hucknall. His music’s rubbish. And he’s a ginger. —God, to Tony Wilson In 2002, a British comedy/drama called 24 Hour Party People was released. The movie is about the music scene … Continue reading Featured Movie – 24 Hour Party People
[Kurt Cobain’s] aim for Nevermind’s material was to sound like The Knack and the Bay City Rollers getting molested by Black Flag and Black Sabbath. – Wikipedia Unfortunately, Nirvana became too big too quick,” Dave Grohl said. “Bands are like families that go through uncomfortable … Continue reading Nirvana (final of 3) – Montage of Heck
Pictured: Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Chad Channing, the drummer who played on their debut album, Bleach. On hearing the song “Damaged II” by the Henry Rollins-fronted Black Flag, Kurt said, “It was like listening to something from another planet. I sensed that is was … Continue reading Nirvana (2) – Well, Whatever
Pictured: Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. I don’t know what Aberdeen, Washington is like today. But back when Kurt Cobain was growing up there in the ’60’s and ’70’s, it sounds as if its best years were behind it if in fact they ever even … Continue reading Nirvana (1) – Come As You Are
This post will serve double-duty as a tribute to London Calling and as final post of my three-part series … I’m not sure of the exact timing of this, but sometime in 1978, The Clash sacked their manager, Bernie Rhodes. Joe and Mick had gone … Continue reading The Clash (final of 3) – London Calling
Yob – The antithesis of what a good boy should be – rude, obnoxious, violent and stupid. Formed by spelling ‘boy’ backwards. Drummer Terry Chimes had felt for a while that this wasn’t the band for him. “I was uncomfortable with the constant hardening up. I’m … Continue reading The Clash (2) – Thinking Man’s Yobs
It was while John Graham Mellor – aka Joe Strummer – was attending the City of London Freemen’s School that he first heard the Rolling Stones recording of “Not Fade Away.” “Every new Beatles, Dylan and Stones album was crucial to us,” said the guy … Continue reading The Clash (1) – Death or Glory
“Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust.” —-London Calling, The Clash England – 1970’s. A serious economic crisis in the early years of the decade meant mass unemployment for young people and those working in public services. This triggered an enormous number of strikes and protest … Continue reading Punk-rock – The Filth and the Fury
Music Enthusiast - At the junction of rock, blues, R&B, jazz, pop,and soul 