Johnson & Johnson jacket and shirt, 1973.

These images are from the private view for The Lightbox gallery’s exhibition Snap Crackle & Pop (about British pop art and it’s influence on culture); I contributed exhibits and advice after being approached by BBC TV’s Katherine Higgins (who sure knows her stuff).

This excellent show was opened on Friday by Peter Blake. Among the attendees were John and Molly Dove, Lloyd Johnson, Mike Ross of Ritva and Paul Weller (the subject of the gallery’s current companion exhibition of photographs by Lawrence Watson).

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 1979, Chelsea Space, Derek Boshier, Hayward Gallery, John and Molly Dove, Katherine Higgins, Keith Wainwright, Lightbox Gallery, Lives, Lloyd Johnson, Michael Regan, Mike Ross, Paul Weller, Peter Blake, Ritva, Woking

1990 was a highpoint year for British pop as dance infiltrated almost every musical genre.

And BBC2’s Dance Energy was fabulous pop TV, taking the format from Soul Train and showcasing the audience as the stars.

Here dance diva Eve Gallagher – dressed to the pervy nines + signed to George O’Dowd’s sorely-underrated label More Protein – provides an opportunity for the Dance Energy crowd to demonstrate the full range of moves and styles from that great year: Funki Dredds, B-Boys and Daisy Agers shift a gear amid an array of Raiders garms, Po’ Boy caps, knapsacks, pendants, Baggy tops + jeans, leotards, MA-1-style jackets, dungarees, blunt-cut fringes, etc.

Tags: B-Boys, BBC2, Daisy Age, Dance Energy, Eve Gallagher, Funki Dredds, George O'Dowd, LA Raiders, Love Come Down, More Protein, Soul Train

These are the only pair of Bongos, a crepe-soled, corduroy sample shoe manufactured by George Cox for Lloyd Johnson in the late 90s.

These unusual elastic-vented slip-ons were intended for Johnson’s Beatnik range, sold through his three London shops, at 406 King’s Road, in Kensington Market and at 293 Portobello Road.

In the event the design didn’t make it into production.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 293 Portobello Road, 406 King's Road, George Cox, Kensington Market, Lloyd Johnson

This segment of Laura Ashley wallpaper has a repeat print of David Bowie’s portrait of Lucian Freud.

It was included in Antennae #1, the limited edition box made available at the War Child fashion event Pagan Fun Wear, which was held at London’s Saatchi Gallery – then in St John’s Wood – on Midsummer’s Eve 1995.

Here is Brian Eno’s introduction to Antennae with instructions as to what to do with the wallpaper and the rest of the contents of the box:

Tags: Antennae #1, Brian Eno, David Bowie, laura Ashley, Lucian Freud, Pagan Fun Wear, Saatchi Gallery, St John's Wood, War Child

Australia’s Daddy Cool scored a big home hit in 1971 with sub-Stones strut Eagle Rock, which soon became a wedding party staple.

Four years later when they headlined The Australian Concert For Bangladesh at Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl Daddy Cool were about to be consigned to the oldies bin by the band which was sixth on the bill that day, AC/DC.

AC/DC had been propelled locally by teenage Sharpie fans, a group of whom are seen here stepping out with a mickey-taking version of the Eagle Rock boogie which mutates into their dance, The Melbourne Shuffle.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 1971, 1975, Australian Concert For Bangladesh, Daddy Cool, eagle Rock, Greg Macainsh, Melbourne, Michell & Ferrett, Myers Bowl, Tadhg Taylor, Top Fellas

Happiness is, it seems, the arrival in the post of a new Telnayashka – a Russian military top.

Telnayashka means “body shirt”. In single knitted cotton with Breton neck, long sleeves and body, these are the simplest and most comfortable of garments. I particularly like the paper sizing label stitched bottom left onto the front hem .

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Russian military, Telnayashka, Waterloo Camping

I’ve collected t-shirts for 30-odd years; this is one of my favourites.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Detroit, Edwin Pouncey, Elektra, Hudson's, John Sinclair, MC5, Pete Flanagan, Savage Pencil, Zippo

Psychedelics – in the form of art, design, drugs, literature, music and the counter-culture – dominate the latest catalogue from BeatBooks.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Alan Aldridge, Allen Ginsberg, BeatBooks, Bob Dylan, Gene Sculatti, Grateful Dead, Hapshash & The Coloured Coat, Isle Of Wight Festival, Jimi Hendrix, Ken Kesey, Merry Pranksters, Monterey Pop, Richard Alpert, Rick Griffin, Robert Crumb, Timothy Leary

My favourite reading of this rockabilly racket is by Carl Mann, as released by Charly in 1976.

There have been many other versions; Warren Smith’s notably, and also a fabulous live rendition by Alex Harvey following the dissolution of the Sensational AH Band.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Alex Harvey, Carl Mann, Charly Records, Midem, Ubangi Stomp, Warren Smith

Manchester’s International Anthony Burgess Foundation is a must-visit; not only does it contain the great man’s archive with many gems available for inspection, but in the cafe/foyer there are Burgess’ own author’s copies of his books for sale. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 1962, 1971, 1977, A Clockwork Orange, Andrew Biswell, Barry Trengrove, Caedmon, Earthly Powers, Engine House, I'll Take Manhattan, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Joe Tilson, Joysprick, Judith Krantz, Liana Burgess, MF, Monaco, Paolo Andrea Burgess, Shakespeare, The Malayan Trilogy, Will And Testament