The Clash were the best band to come out of the punk era. Not just because they produced some of the best songs, influenced so many bands after them, had the iconic album covers, and had all the attitude expected, but because theynever stopped striving to make the best, most [...]
It’s cold, very cold. And, to me, sub-zero temperatures and the prospect of an extended commute call for one thing – yes, ditch the hip flask and thermo hand-warmers, what I need is a well-charged iPod loaded with tunes befitting the big freeze. So here is a wintry soundtrack with [...]
A week or so ago, I did a showcase at Kettners, and a lovely guy called Jim (who happens to a film director once nominated for an award at Sundance) asked to video a short interview with me. It all worked out rather nicely, so I decided to upload it [...]
It’s a fact that most live albums are nothing but cash-ins put out to make an easy buck between studio albums. This set me wondering what the truly great live albums in my collection are. It’s a short list: The Clash – ‘Live From Here to Eternity’; Johnny Cash – ‘Live [...]
It was 1988. I was five. My parents, flower children of the Sixties who would, on walks in our local park, regularly implore me to throw my fat little arms aroundtrees, brought home a recording of Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits. My first tape. I can still remember the songs in [...]
I’m often told I should go on Mastermind. Although this isn’t a compliment (it’s actually a very polite, and very British, way of asking, ‘Can we talk aboutsomething else now?’), I still take it as one. Whenever someone mentions to me that I ought to audition for a spot in [...]