The Mighty Diamonds were one of the leading vocal harmony trios to come out of Jamaica alongside Culture, The Gladiators, The Abyssinians and Black Uhuru. (more…)

I don’t suppose many people remember The Users – their entire career consisted of two singles. But their debut Sick Of You, is a punk classic. (more…)

The Jam were the first punk group I used to see on a regular basis… if they ever really were a punk group. (more…)

I didn’t know it at the time but I think I saw the very first gig by this band – London – at The Rochester Castle in Stoke Newington.
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Here’s a rarity from my dusty collection of punk singles from 1977-80. Straight outta Walthamstow, it’s The Wasps. (more…)

This song is for my old mate Gavin Martin who died yesterday. My not-so-old mate. He was 60. (more…)

Dutch singer Bonnie St. Claire represented the European wing of 1970s Glam but failed even to cross over the Channel – because she sounded like a shit Suzi Quatro.

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Everybody knows the Jackson brothers but not so many know their near-namesakes, the Brothers Johnson. (more…)

Geordie soul boy Eric Burdon teamed up with California funksters War to make this idiosyncratic cover of a Rolling Stones song. (more…)