I miss seeing in the New Year watching “Whispering” Bob Harris’s Old Grey Whistle Test review of the year. It always ended with him gleefully playing some open air concert footage of the “viewers most requested […]

“Brother Louie”. Modern Talking. From the album “Romantic Warriors”. Simply lovely.

Thanks Mike H and fentonsteve. I think I will go back on the off chance. The “shop” was literally a kiosk, type’ hole in the wali business that seemed to specialize in phone repairs. Sounds dodgy doesn’t it?

dai and Mike H. Thanks for the comments. I must admit the “did he replace the battery with another faulty battery” theory crossed my mind at the time. He gave me my old battery back when I collected my iPod. It […]

Slightly off topic.My iPod classic. Worked fine for about 8 years then the battery seemed to die. I’d charge it up, then after about 45 minutes of music it would simply run out of power. I did a bit of research […]

Christ! Whoever said rock n roll is dead?

Harry Turtledove’s World War series of books. First four were brilliant. Ploughed through three more, every one a little more turgid and disappointing than the last. Couldn’t finish the eighth and final volume. […]

And in the Office and Stationary Department you could pick up a Rudimentary Pen.

I’ve really enjoyed Mark Kermode’s previous books but didn’t even finish this one. Put bluntly, anodyne. However, I very much get the feeling I’m in the minority as it seemed to receive only heavy praise and […]

And yet…. Sigue Sigue Sputnik (the group not the cats) did look, and for a short period sounded like they came from the future. The Korova Milk Bar house band.

Not long back, while sorting out some old boxes in my garage, I came across 12 inch Picture disc of “I Was Made for Dancin” by Leif Garrett. Truly an unforgivable misadventure in vinyl.

Matt Bianco seemed to attract embarrassment. I remember the lead singer Mark Reilly getting into a really pathetic fist fight with the bass player from The Fine Young Cannibals after the FYC member splattered a […]

Didn’t Bowie once cover Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s Love Missile F1-11?

If you already haven’t you might want to read Arwa Mahdawi’s opinion of the whole relationship saga in the Guardian. Her comments about Natalie Portman’s “grimace grin” in a photo posted on instagram by Moby […]

Death Wish 3. One of the greatest films ever made. I shout this out proudly and without a trace of irony. “He shot the Giggler man…He shot the Giggler”.

And who of course can forget the mighty twin drum attack of my perennial favourites. Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

Good luck to anyone who wants to be a stand up nowadays. it doesn’t matter how uncontroversial your subject matter, someone will find it “offensive”. You’ll spend most of your time tweeting heart felt apologies […]

I’ve often thought the same about Martin Degville of Sigue Sigue Sputnik. If recent photographs are to be believed he still (to his eternal credit) looks like he’s just stepped out of the Blitz club circa 1980 […]

The goal keepers on the end of a spring always flattered to deceive. One hard shot and they would snap. However like all Subbuteo products beautifully packaged in those iconic green boxes. I think, maybe during […]

Joined the Subbuteo players association back in the late 70’s. I still remember being sent a news letter with the surreal photo of grinning cricket umpire Dickie Bird “flicking to kick” on its front cover. […]