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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Gil Scott-Heron was born on April Fools Day 1949 the son of a Jamaican professional soccer player – the first black player to play for Celtic. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is possibly the most powerful threat of black power against the white American people ever to be released. This is an un-American broadcast.
In [...]

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I recently saw Lily Allen performing Gangsters at the Glastonbury Festival with Terry Hall & Lynval Thompson.
In 1979 The Special A.K.A. appeared on Top Of the Pops singing their debut single, Gangsters. They almost immediately changed their name to The Specials. I was still enthused by the tail-end of punk, posthumously listening to [...]

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