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.
Continue reading I like a bit of a cavort: Ubangi Stomp by Carl Mann
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. Continue reading A visit to the International Anthony Burgess Foundation
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 of sublime tableaux, many preoccupied with Abramović’s monstrous mother.
Broadcast on April 9, 1975, this episode of BBC series One Man’s Week captured Vivian Stanshall at a career high.
Continue reading Television: Vivian Stanshall – One Man’s Week 1975
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).
Continue reading Lloyd Johnson exhibition: The wheels start turning
Continue reading Glastonbury 2011 in nine photos: Mud, Billy Bragg, Spirit Of 71 + more mud
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. Charm personified, he returned my compliments with words of praise with which I’m still coming to terms.
It hasn’t taken much to versify them into this lame appropriation of Clarke’s rat-a-tat style:
“I know your work,
I’ve got The Look,
I was first on our block with that book.”
Here is Charles Shaar Murray’s contribution to my Clarence Clemons obit in today’s Daily Telegraph; his quotes fell victim to space considerations.
While I was writing an obituary for Clarence Clemons today, my friend Yuki Yoshioka texted me with the information that our mutual acquaintance the Swedish musician Gustaf Kjellvander died suddenly in his sleep on Saturday. He was 31.
Yuki says Gustaf popped into his thoughts this morning. On a whim, Google led him to Gustaf’s Wikipedia entry, which had been updated with this sad news.
