Plectrum Analyser

If you haven't picked up on Plectrum - The Cultural Pick yet, issue 9 is the perfect place to hop onboard. Threading together the best of vintage and modern modes: Molly Parkin relates a full and fruity tale of her night with Bo Diddley, Biba people Delisia Howard and Chris Price review Don't Look Now. Mike McInnerney designer of The Who's Tommy album art has a double spread covering the backstory to his assorted sixties 'scene' graphics and new illustrations, while Guy Sangster-Adams catches up with sparky singer-songstress Alice Gold.

All this and music reviews - from me! The Bongolian, Splinters, Real Fur and Horrors boy Faris Badwan's new project Cat's Eye's all go on the stereogram for listening with a critical ear. So who gets must buy and who gets must try harder? Find out in issue 9 of Plectrum - The Cultural Pick



Cat's Eyes - Face in the Crowd

Animal by Real Fur

Vive Le Rockers

Who would've thought when I first fired off my cyber-jabber all those years ago - anyone would have taken my ol' musical musings and spins with anything other than a large salty pinch

But thankfully the good bods at Vive Le Rock! - have given me the opportunity to pitch in with some opinions for issue 2 of their block-rocking read. As well as my mutterings: Adam Ant talks everything from Live Aid to Liam Gallagher with John Robb. Chris Constantinou former Ant bassist now a Wolfman splains why being an Ant was like being a Beatle. There's glam antics from Michael Monroe and the Bay City Rollers - and exclusives with The Stranglers, Poly Styrene Sylvain Sylvain, James Williamson and walloping read on the often forgotten Chiswick Records label

For my part: The Posies, Black Robert and Thee Faction albums are all under review....thumb around the back pages and you'll find my scribblings, scores on the doors and mentions of these exact tracks..

The Posies - She's Coming Down Again!



Black Robert - J' Arrive Pas á Dormir





And if you happen to be in the Bloomsbury area get yourself trotting to the Orange Dot Gallery for a Vive Le Rock photo expo which runs until March the 1st..

Planet Plectrum

You may remember back in March, a mention of Plectrum Live Editions, an evening where I caught Cathi Unsworth reading from Bad Penny Blues. The hard copy companion to Plectrum’s Live events and website is the print edition magazine. The May/June issue of Plectrum has just been published and alongside the arts features, short stories and interviews with Biba big-boss Barbara Hulanicki and Biba model Delisia Howard. You’ll find me guesting as reviews editor lending a critical ear to minty fresh albums, singles, comics and podcasts. Two tunes under review are...

Neon Plastix - Gentleman's Gold



The Wolfmen - Cat Green Eyes



Have a listen, see what you think - then click here to see what I think

Holy Beatlemania Pt. 2 - I Read The Word today....

I'm not normally one to blow my own bugle as;

A - I don't own any tootle type instruments.

B - There aren’t many occasions when I feel flushed enough to fire up a fanfare.

But today is different - I'm in this month’s edition of The Word!! (Issue 57 - Springsteen on the cover) And am so buzzing I could break out the sweet sherry and spam baps.

I did a piece of cyberspace scrapbooking last month about Batman issue 222, which is based around The Beatles 'Paul is dead' myth. This has ended up(re written to 240 words by me) in The Word, and if that's not batty enough I’m on the letter’s page. Twice!!

I'm probably more amazed than anyone as I haven't written anything longer than a shopping list since leaving school.

The original bat blog looks like this and the updated piece is on page 27 of The Word 57 which looks like this.

So support your local newsagent and The Word team by grabbing yourself a copy.

And why not treat yourself to this dynamic duo from the Batcavern.

The Who - Batman




Go Home Productions -Paperback Believer



PS - The Batman/Beatles story has even made the cover (behind the CD). I'll shut up now.