“I have just seen the future of rock and roll and its name is Bruce Springsteen.”
That was the verdict of rock critic Jon Landau on seeing Springsteen perform Born to run for the first time in May 1974.
Born to run first appeared in its studio guise the following year, the title track of this truly [...]

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Today I played Bad Brains fantastic, energetic punk single Pay To Cum and it still rocks!. In 1981 I bought Let Them Eat Jellybeans a compilation of American hardcore bands. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was attracted to the album by the unavailable Dead Kennedy’s’ track Nazi Punks Fuck Off. [...]

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By the time I was 12, in 1977, I had already built up a rather extensive 7” record collection. A combination of glam pop-esque hits by The Sweet, Slade, Mud, Gary Glitter & Suzi Quatro; and a variety of “hand-me-downs” from older brothers and sisters – yes, I still remember my brother John shouting [...]

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In 1985 the UK was ready for another sound, Simple Minds & U2 had turned New Wave into ‘Stadium Rock’ and Echo & the Bunnymen & the Smiths refreshing sound was on the turn.
Alan McGee’s Creation Records appeared to be the last resort for a noise pop sound clash, after demos had apparently been rejected [...]

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I bought Public Enemy’s debut album (Yo! Bum Rush The Show) on its release in 1987 after a friend had leant me a tape to listen to on the way home from north London. All I can remember about the journey is putting the tape on full volume at Finsdbury Park tube station and then [...]

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