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“The performance racked up over 25,000 viewer complaints as middle England soiled its collective pants.” 10 times rock bands totally ruined Top Of The Pops
From Nirvana refusing to mime properly to Manic Street Preachers inadvertently sparking IRA hysteria, Top Of The Pops hosted some unforgettable moments for rock bands
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Five songs that defined the life of Ian Curtis
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The 1980 song Sting wrote for The Police as a joke: “I had my tongue firmly in my cheek”
The article says Sting wrote The Police’s 1980 song ‘De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da’ partly as a joke, using a deliberately simple, almost nonsensical hook with his “tongue firmly in [his] cheek”. It argues that the song mattered because what sounded lightweight was actually meant as a comment on how easily simple…
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“He said he did these big gigs to make money, but what he enjoyed best was playing in churches and castles with his missus.” Russ Ballard’s wild tales of Ritchie Blackmore, The Beatles, Robert Plant, Ozzy Osbourne and more
The piece appears to be a feature built around Russ Ballard recounting memories from his long career and his encounters with major rock figures including Ritchie Blackmore, The Beatles, Robert Plant and Ozzy Osbourne. Its main point is less about a single news event than Ballard’s perspective on fame and music-making, especially the contrast between…
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End of the Keir show: Starmer takes final PMQs as Andy Burnham is nominated successor by 92% of Labour MPs in Stalin-style landslide
The article reports that Sir Keir Starmer is due to take his final Prime Minister’s Questions before stepping aside as Labour leader, with Andy Burnham emerging as the overwhelming choice among Labour MPs to succeed him. It presents Burnham’s backing as a decisive show of party unity and suggests the leadership handover could shape Labour’s…
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Phil Collins expects awkward Oasis encounter at 2026 Rock Hall
Phil Collins has said it will be “interesting” to cross paths with Oasis at the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, where both are due to be inducted despite a long-running war of words between him and Noel Gallagher. The comments matter because they bring Collins’ own, measured response into a feud that…
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The First House by Avni Doshi review – an intense portrait of marriage and freedom
This review discusses Avni Doshi’s second novel, *The First House*, which follows an unnamed woman in suburban America after her husband suddenly leaves her. The reviewer presents the book as an intense study of marriage, control and selfhood, showing how the narrator’s attempt to free herself from her husband also exposes other forms of dependence…
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Music fans have spoken – the contenders for a Scottish Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Some of the biggest names in Scottish music are supporting a bid to create a Scottish Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame.
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90s music festival ‘shambles’ due to long queues
A music festival in Sheffield has been criticised by attendees who said long queues, overcrowding and accessibility problems turned parts of the weekend into a “shambles”. The complaints matter because several people said the experience failed to match what had been promised for higher-priced VIP tickets, while the council said it would keep monitoring future…
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60 years later, ‘Indication’ remains one of The Zombies’ most underrated masterpieces
The article revisits The Zombies’ 1966 song ‘Indication’ on its 60th anniversary and argues that it deserves far more recognition within the band’s catalogue. It presents the track as an overlooked example of the group’s songwriting and musicianship during the period between their early hit singles and the later acclaim attached to *Odessey and Oracle*.…