I was born in 1965 to a German mother and Indian father. For reasons I’ve never really understood we lived in Southend, Essex, and at a time when the war was still very much a ‘live’ issue for relatives of my cl […]

Seven women have made serious harassment allegations against him, and he has apologised for his behaviour – how is that a “media assassination job”?

Dr John Plays Mac Rebbenack, and Don’t Stand Me Down by Dexys both create own little worlds when I play them.

A year or so ago I was watching University Challenge with my chum, whose recently deceased father had been a physicist – not a household name, but well-known in the trade and also a founder of OU. As you may […]

A four LP live box set was released just last month, so they may finally be getting round to seeing how much milk is in the cash cow

1. First Concert Putting aside local punk bands, Siouxsie and the Banshees supported by JCC at Southend Cliffs Pavilion 1982 2. Last Concert 
Private birthday party performance of Billy Bragg’s old punk ban […]

Such a good bloke he’s spent his professional career at Yorkshire, for years as one of the senior pros, but mysteriously never witnessed any of the abuse inflicted on Azeem Rafiq.

The Hey Clockface double LP is a frankly unbelievable £2.49 at Hive. I’ve ordered one for me and another for a chum at under £7 including postage

I have a vague memory of reading the line had been nicked from Hunter S Thompson

Done

We go to Islay every year to see my old college chum and her husband – both of them work at Bruichladdich. They live down the road at Port Charlotte, just a few seconds from the beautiful pier. We go mainly for […]

There were Sugar and solo LPs up for a tenner as well. If you’ve never heard Copper Blue do take a punt

Orange Juice – You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – Rattlesnakes Prince – Purple Rain Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen Jesus and Mary Chain – Pyschocandy Elvis Costello and the A […]

I too hate Christmas, it was a stressful and especially violent time in our house when I was growing up, and I’ve never found a way to feel festive. I do my best to smile my through it for my family, and d […]

Only yesterday we accepted an offer on our house in north London. We’ll be moving to Edinburgh, probably Portobello, to see out our days. The agent put the house on the market the market on the Wednesday. Then F […]

The last few tours he’s been complaining about being ill. My guess is repeated covid infections and now he might have long covid. On his original tweet about this the only reply I saw him make was a thank you to s […]

If I remember correctly the first pressing of the LP didn’t contain the song but later ones did

And on Billy Bragg’s You Woke Up My Neighbourhood along with Peter Buck

One of my favourite players, must have seen him perform more than 50 times.
Here’s a little-known fact – he played uncredited on the first couple of Talking Heads LPs. I heard him confirm it at an in-store i […]

He was feeling chilly, apparently