A week ago I received an email from Jack Rabid, the editor of New York’s enduring Big Takeover magazine, to say that he was London-bound. An encyclopaedic print magazine (remember them?), BT has survived for 30 years covering … Continue reading
This is something I’ve written for academic publisher Intellect’s site, who will be publishing the first edition of Punk & Post-Punk later this year. In the meantime, I thought I’d give it a home here, as it has some sage … Continue reading
Cast List: Malcolm McLaren: Scrooge Bob Cratchit: Jah Wobble Mrs Cratchit: Poly Styrene Peter Cratchit: Adam Ant Belinda Cratchit: Ari Up The two younger Cratchits: Joey and Dee Dee Ramone Tiny Tim: Ian Dury Jacob Marley: Joe Strummer Visiting Gentleman: … Continue reading
Paul Edwards’ new book on the Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC “You want to be able to stand out from the others and just be distinct, period. A lot of shit sounds the same, so when you got … Continue reading
As Gord, Nick and Dave scrap it out, hard-pressed political researchers are self-evidently running short of sync ideas for soundtracking soundbites. Hence this quick list to accompany politico dithering. 1. Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up Awful, of course, … Continue reading
1. Motorhead – R.A.M.O.N.E.S Bad boy rock, bad boy roll / Gabba gabba, see them go / CJ, now, hit the gas / Hear Marky kick your ass / Go, Johnny, go, go, go 2. Blubberry Hellbellies – I Don’t … Continue reading
Malcolm McLaren discovers punk rock Continue reading
Songs that were either unwise to begin with, or where events simply overtook them. 1. The Coup – 5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO The sentiments of this track from Party Music might have been mistimed given the release’s … Continue reading
Ladies and gents, ‘tis the season to be jolly (and stuff extra loot in your Safeway’s trolley). This is naturally an activity we do not in any way condone . But, with apologies to Tesco, Wal-Mart, five-and-dimes and corner shop … Continue reading
Songs where you get the girlfriend in to do the backing vocals. A document of artistic as well as romantic congress, a charter for skinflints getting round MU small print or the shameless pursuit of duvet brownie points? Qualification: Can’t … Continue reading
With Marcus Gray’s exhaustive and authoritative new book on London Calling in bookshops now (Route 19 Revisited), we put forward a selection of songs directly inspired by, or referencing, the Clash and Joe Strummer. 1. Bob Marley – Punky Reggae … Continue reading
1. Distant Drums There’s no reason not to celebrate the life of the velvet-larynxed died-too-young country star. But you’d expect any standing attraction to be in Texas or Nashville. But Voxna? Sweden? 2. My Baby (Does Good Sculptures) Originally, in … Continue reading
In an act of shameless self-publicity: My new book on independent labels is finally out, a press release and some quotes extracted from the text below. Independence Days, even by the standards of author Alex Ogg’s previous work (The Hip … Continue reading
It’s inspiring, in these straitened times, to stumble across a piece of non-profit musical archeology that recalls time and place as evocatively as Jaki Florek’s new book about Eric’s.It’s the sort of venture that anyone interested in the history of … Continue reading
Summer’s here. While fewer of us will be worrying about the logistics of passport renewal than usual due to the inclement fiscal forecast, we can at least evoke some of the spirit of exotic holidays past. Qualification: not travelling or … Continue reading
Zoe Street Howe’s new biography of punk’s original bad girls, The Slits, is released in July through Omnibus. Alex Ogg tried to find out more about the motives behind the book and its conclusions. You’re obviously of a slightly different … Continue reading
“Everybody’s on the make,” as a man once known as Slade the Leveller sarcastically pointed out in ‘Great Expectations’, “that’s what made this country great”. Do the revelations about MPs expenses, while no great surprise to the cynics amongst us, … Continue reading
Alex Ogg talks to John Robb – author, musician, journalist – about his new history of Manc-rock in a rocksbackpages exclusive. It’s actually 25 years since I last interviewed John (then of the Membranes) for my fanzine. In subsequent years … Continue reading
Too much time on my hands? Me? (this is one where I have to credit the likes of URW, Bert, Collywobble and Velasquez from ‘another forum’. Some of them are my own, however. Not the best ones, obviously). Ultra Woks … Continue reading
A collection of songs inspired by economic woes. Of course, there are many more ‘broke’ songs, but these address downturns in the economic cycle in some specific way, if not always intentionally. 1. Merle Haggard – If We Make It … Continue reading
45 Revolutions – Mario Panciera Discussing musical encyclopaedias recently reminded me of what is probably the ultimate reference work I have ever encountered; Mario Panciera’s completely mind-boggling 45 Revolutions. I wrote something suitably pompous about it a while ago but … Continue reading
The toppermost of the poppermost of cherry poppin’ pop. 1, Alex Harvey – Next! Harvey’s acutely chilling account of how the army will ‘make a man’ of you. I followed a naked body / A naked body followed me, Next! … Continue reading
Remember when content was king? It was one of the enduring myths of the tech bubble alongside stratospheric growth projections, the paperless office, etc. But where has the combo of new technology and open access media left the real value … Continue reading
