T-shirts: MC5 – Kick out the jams motherfucker!
I’ve collected t-shirts for 30-odd years; this is one of my favourites.
Author: Paul Gorman
Beatbooks 58: Psychedelia
Psychedelics – in the form of art, design, drugs, literature, music and the counter-culture – dominate the latest catalogue from BeatBooks.
I like a bit of a cavort: Ubangi Stomp by Carl Mann
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.
A visit to the International Anthony Burgess Foundation
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.
The Life And Death Of Marina Abramović
The Life And Death Of Marina Abramović represents a melding of the visions of the subject and Robert Wilson into beyond bravura performance theatre. Enhanced by Antony Hegarty‘s holy terror and held together by the carny physicality of Willem Dafoe‘s stage presence, the diamond-hard Manchester International Festival production at Salford’s Lowry Theatre offers a series […]
Television: Vivian Stanshall – One Man’s Week 1975
Broadcast on April 9, 1975, this episode of BBC series One Man’s Week captured Vivian Stanshall at a career high.
Lloyd Johnson exhibition: The wheels start turning
Yesterday I met Lloyd Johnson to discuss next spring’s exhibition celebrating his career as Pop’s Pontiff Of Cool (a title I shamefully bestowed upon him in a Mojo feature a decade or so ago).
Mod fashions in Mojo
I have a piece on mod fashions in the new Mojo special MOJO ’60s. To mark it, THE LOOK blog is featuring scans from a great interview with the Small Faces keyboard player Ian “Mac” McLagan from Rave magazine, April 1967. See here.
Vinyl: John Cooper Clarke’s Innocents EP
Chance encounters with heroes can be tricky, but bumping into John Cooper Clarke outside the Festival Hall late one evening last week proved pleasurable beyond all expectation. Clarke looked the bomb, naturally in dark glasses as midnight approached, his frame draped in a coat worn across the shoulders gangster-style with white silk scarf hanging loose. […]