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Author archive: Tony Fletcher

Morrissey: Portrait of the Artist as a Consumer, 1983

Author:
Tony Fletcher
22 May 2013

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 →

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The Smiths at the Haçienda, February 1983

Author:
Tony Fletcher
17 May 2013

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 →

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The Smiths. It was thirty years ago this week.

Author:
Tony Fletcher
14 May 2013

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 →

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Coming this July 4… Boy About Town

Author:
Tony Fletcher
09 May 2013

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 →

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Springtime in New York

Author:
Tony Fletcher
06 May 2013

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 →

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All Hopped Up (and Ready To Go): April playlist and audio file

Author:
Tony Fletcher
01 May 2013

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 →

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Shame on the Senate (the Senate as Sham)

Author:
Tony Fletcher
18 Apr 2013

“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 →

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Boston Blues

Author:
Tony Fletcher
16 Apr 2013

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 →

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Sonoma Winter WINEland 7: Mazzocco

Author:
Tony Fletcher
12 Apr 2013

(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 →

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The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies

Author:
Tony Fletcher
08 Apr 2013

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 →

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Background Check. A Meeting with Our Congressman on Gun Legislation

Author:
Tony Fletcher
05 Apr 2013

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 →

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All Hopped Up (and Ready To Go): March Playlist and audio file

Author:
Tony Fletcher
04 Apr 2013

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 →

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Up and coming Events

Author:
Tony Fletcher
25 Mar 2013

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 →

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At Last I Am Born: A Morrissey Birthday Celebration

Author:
Tony Fletcher
22 Mar 2013

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 →

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These Things Take Time: May 1983 Smiths rehearsal tape unveiled

Author:
Tony Fletcher
20 Mar 2013

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 →

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The Hip-Hugger: Booker T. Jones in Woodstock

Author:
Tony Fletcher
14 Mar 2013

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 →

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R.E.M. Perfect Circle: An excerpt

Author:
Tony Fletcher
10 Mar 2013

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 →

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Tony Fletcher’s All Hopped Up (and Ready To Go)

Author:
Tony Fletcher
06 Mar 2013

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 →

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Sonoma Winter WINEland 6: RIdge

Author:
Tony Fletcher
05 Mar 2013

(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 →

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Sonoma Winter WINEland 5: Martin Ray

Author:
Tony Fletcher
02 Mar 2013

(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 →

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Sonoma Winter WINEland 4: Mueller

Author:
Tony Fletcher
01 Mar 2013

(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 →

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Available now: R.E.M. Perfect Circle

Author:
Tony Fletcher
26 Feb 2013

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 →

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A Light Never Goes Out in New Brunswick

Author:
Tony Fletcher
25 Feb 2013

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 →

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Sonoma Winter WINEland Part 2: Dutton-Goldfield

Author:
Tony Fletcher
21 Feb 2013

(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 →

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Sonoma Winter WINEland Part 1

Author:
Tony Fletcher
20 Feb 2013

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 →

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