Happy Birthday, Morrissey, 54 years young today. I’m not typically in the habit of giving birthday shout-outs (e.g., a belated best wishes to Mr. Pete Townshend, 68 last Sunday), but this particular anniversary is much on my mind as I … Continue reading
As we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of The Smiths as recording artists, with ‘Hand In Glove,’ let’s go back three more months to the gig that produced its B-side: The Haçienda, Manchester, February 4 1983. It was just their third … Continue reading
It was like they were saying, ‘You ARE on your own, but there’s a lot of you out there.’ The 30th anniversary of the release of ‘Hand In Glove’ provided the BBC with an opportunity to come out with yet … Continue reading
I was no longer fitting in at school. I was unsure of my friends, and they were increasingly unsure of me. I wanted to be a rock star – a punk rock star, if need be. But while all around, … Continue reading
At lunch Friday with a magazine editor friend who has a place in Phoenicia, I was asked why I would want to spend a beautiful spring weekend in NY City when I could be in the Catskills. He had a … Continue reading
Here is the playlist and the audio file for my latest radio show, broadcast on the last Wednesday of every month on WGXC. This show went out April 24, though for once I had to record it the night before, … Continue reading
“I know what a complicated issue is; I know what it feels like to take a tough vote. This was neither.” Gabby Giffords. Yesterday was an awful day to pretend to have faith in the American political system. In the … Continue reading
The last time I had this many people check in on my well-being was September 11, 2001. I guess a lot of friends know that I have run the Boston Marathon and that I talk so highly of it. I … Continue reading
(Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6) After our trip to Ridge, we still had time to squeeze in one more winery on the Winter WINEland tour before the supposed 4pm cut-off. Back at Taft, earlier … Continue reading
Since moving upstate in 2005 I have tried desperately hard to become a better person. In the nature of the Woodstock environment, I have taken up zazen at the local Buddhist monastery, and along the way, I have tried to … Continue reading
On Wednesday April 3, along with Nick Alba, from the Shandaken Democrats, and Marybeth Mills, proprietor of the renowned local restaurant Peekamoose and a mother of small children, I met with my Congressman, Chris Gibson, at his new office in Kingston, … Continue reading
Had a total blast presenting my monthly radio show last week. It was the first time I felt truly comfortable surrounded by so much equipment in a 100% live scenario. I also enjoyed playing such a wide range of music. … Continue reading
Over the coming few weeks, I will be making the following public/media appearances. WEDNESDAY MARCH 27 ALL HOPPED UP (AND READY TO GO): Monthly music and talk show on WGXC Radio, 90.7 FM Greene and Columbia Counties, listen online at wgxc.org. 7-9:30pm. … Continue reading
I have some new public events to announce. All are somewhat unique or out of the ordinary. The first to tell you about takes place on Wednesday May 22, which some of you may know to be the birthday of … Continue reading
In the last few days, a rehearsal tape by The Smiths dating back to May 1983 has been unearthed [back story here], and promptly uploaded to YouTube. The eight-song cassette was recorded live at the band’s headquarters, in manager Joe … Continue reading
Last year, for our annual concert by The Catskill 45s, I figured it was time for me to finally lead a song on the Hammond B3, given that we are lucky enough to own one (replete with Leslie rotary speaker). … Continue reading
Perfect Circle, the final update of my long-standing R.E.M. biography, is officially published in the UK today. Read more about it in a post I uploaded a couple of weeks back. Read an excerpt from it below. R.E.M. chose … Continue reading
On Wednesday February 27, I launched a monthly radio show, Tony Fletcher’s All Hopped Up (and Ready To Go) on WGXC, “hands-on radio” for NY’s Columbia and Greene Counties at 90.7FM, and available to listen online at wgxc.org. The idea … Continue reading
(Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5) It wasn’t our first destination, but RIDGE LYTTON SPRINGS was always the number one stop on my Northern Sonoma Winter WINEland tour. My love for Paul Draper’s wines is well … Continue reading
(Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4) At MARTIN RAY WINERY, located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, we were greeted with an enticing Martin Ray 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River ($20), full of everything that makes … Continue reading
(Part 1 Part 2 Part 3) Our only stop on the Northern Sonoma Winter WINEland to pour exclusively from the Russian River Valley was MUELLER, established twenty years ago after founder Bob Mueller had spent a similar period … Continue reading
I have a book published this week in the UK. It’s called R.E.M. Perfect Circle. Is it a new biography of the band? Not exactly. Is it a straight reissue of the book I originally published in 1989? Not quite. The story … Continue reading
Saturday February 23, I hosted a reading for my Smiths biography at the brand new Barnes & Noble in New Brunswick, New Jersey. As with most of my other readings, I invited some friends down to play Smiths songs, demonstrating … Continue reading
(Part 1) First stop on the Winter WINEland trail: DUTTON-GOLDFIELD, where we were formally greeted outside the tasting room with a glass of their 2011 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Russian River Valley. Brightly acidic, with great clarity and focus, lots of … Continue reading
I’m not much of a Napa man. That doesn’t mean I’m not a fan of its most famous export Cabernet Sauvignon, and if you’d like to buy me a bottle of Dariush Napa Valley Cabernet as a Christmas gift (as … Continue reading
