Levon Helm R.I.P.

'If you pour some music on whatever's wrong, it'll sure help out' - Levon Helm.

The Radiogram Years

From the ages of 1 (in 1961) to 15 my parents took a birthday photo of me in front of our radiogram, a family tradition only broken by my teenage attitude and refusal to play along by the time it came to 1976. Why the radiogram? I've no idea, other than it stayed the same size as I grew. Also, Dad sold 'Hi-Fi' equipment for most of his working life - I guess the radiogram was cutting edge technology in 1961, although it had certainly seen better days by the mid-70s.

(1961)

I have many boxes of photos, slides & negatives to plough through, but one day I'd like to get all fifteen birthday shots together in one place for the first time. I've found eight so far. Attached is a sampling from when I still had a modicum of cuteness!

(1963)

Today is my 52nd birthday. Mum, Dad and the radiogram are all gone. I just wish I hadn't been quite so stroppy in 1976.

(1965)

The Pictures On My Wall #2

An occasional series looking at the memorabilia and mementos I keep close at hand.

I had every intention of marking the 35th Anniversary of the release of the first Clash album with an eloquent post concerning the band's importance and continuing influence on my life, but I just keep finding myself shaking my head thinking....bloody hell - 35 years! Where did that go?

These two pictures have been companions for a good number of those years. Mick Jones in full flight on the 16 Tons Tour crudely cut from a magazine and slapped behind glass alongside a favourite band shot from the Sandinista period - this one an actual photograph, browning and faded from too many hours in the sun, but what an image...what a band.



(Here's a thrilling blast through Remote Control - hold on tight, it's a bumpy ride.)

Each Season Brings a Change In You

I'm finding it hard to get this wonderful racket out of my head at the moment. Nice visuals too.

The Speed of Sound Turns Decades Into Hours

The record shop I frequented most in the summer of 1977 (and the one I'd eventually work for) kept a 'punk box' of singles behind the counter, which you had to a) know about and b) ask for. Luckily, I was in the know and one morning after hearing it on Peel's radio show the night before, I pulled The Only Ones debut single 'Lovers of Today' from the box and handed over my cash. Much as I was briefly swept along by the nihilistic clatter of some of the second division punk of the day, I primarily like pop songs, however dark, and pop songs don't come much darker than Peter Perrett's.

For the next four years I followed the band from afar, cherishing every recorded moment, but never getting to see them live - and then they were gone.

Thirteen years later Perrett re-appeared with a new band and new songs which were as painful and glorious as ever and, just before this brief chapter also came to a premature conclusion, I finally managed to see him live, at the Mean Fiddler in London. He looked frighteningly frail, but led his band straight into Another Girl, Another Planet, an opening gambit so powerful and unexpected that it took the audience a full five seconds to react at the songs' conclusion. It was one of those moments. After a further ten years of silence, The Only Ones reformed and continue, in some degree, to this day.

From the small glimpses he has allowed us through his songs and the long silences in-between, Peter Perrett's life has clearly not been an easy one. Today he turns 60. Happy birthday and good health Peter.

(Here's a great TV performance of the title track from Peter Perrett's last album of new material in 1996.)

I've Counted All My Fingers & I'm Onto My Thumbs

It's gratifying to see such praise being heaped on Django Django over recent weeks, following the long-awaited release of their debut album. I saw them live in March on triumphant form, when on more than one occasion during the evening they channeled the spirit of Piper era Pink Floyd, whilst maintaining their own individual sound.



Next month finally sees the equally long-awaited (by me anyway!) Clock Opera album. Like Django Django they've released isolated tracks since 2009 followed by prolonged periods of silence.

This is probably my favourite song of the last two years.

If Being Wrong's a Crime, I'm Serving Forever

I like a good out of context cover version - I mean what's the point of a carbon copy? This adaptation of the old Replacements tune has been around a while, but is out & about again thanks to the album release this month. Enjoy.