Here’s a sweet slice of Sixties psychedelia by a bunch of British teenagers, released in February 1968 to a chorus of indifference. Who would have expected it to launch a multi-million-selling band on a stellar career?

(more…)

Heavy metal pioneers Deep Purple return to majestic form more than half a century after they started with Lazy Sod.

(more…)

Here’s another summery treat, this time from London girl Nilüfer Yanya. I can’t say her earlier work appealed to me much but this definitely does.

(more…)

I’m a little late on this but I wanted to post a song by The Chills after the sad death of their main man Martin Phillipps at the age of only 61.

(more…)

It’s no exaggeration to say John Mayall is the most important figure in the development of rock music in Britain. 

(more…)

The night The Yellow Monkey made their UK debut in front of a fervent Japanese crowd… supporting future superstars Travis.

(more…)

Country superstar Miranda Lambert sings the play-out song over the closing credits of summer blockbuster Twisters.

(more…)

I first stumbled across this Bradford band by accident when they supported punk also-rans Chelsea at the Marquee one night in 1981 – billed as “Sudden Death Cult.”

(more…)

TIM COOPER – ANOTHER VIEW

Evening Standard, 16 December 2016

For a long time I’ve thought about starting my own food blog. Trouble is, restaurants wouldn’t like my reviews much because every time I eat out, something goes wrong. Well, not EVERY time – that would be impossible – but as near as dammit, and much more often than is statistically likely.

(more…)

Words can’t express how much I have loved this song from the very first time I heard it, with its litany of cultural icons that we all admire.

(more…)