I was 9 when I first heard of Dungeons And Dragons. I was 22 when I played my last role-playing game. When I think about or talk about being a teenager I tend to put the heaviest stress on music and how important it was to me. Then books and comics, […]

The other copyright battle: pop’s unexpected longevity has a major commercial downside. “Once out of copyright, the BPI fears such potentially lucrative recordings could be exploited without recompense to the performers or the copyright h[…]

THE SQUARE TABLE 6/ The Shapeshifters – “Lola’s Theme”
Pop Factor: 673 Controversy Score: 260
My appreciation for Lola’s Theme considered as the image of a dance track:
A. THE BUILD: it seems like it’s always bee[…]

THREE OF A KIND – “Babycakes”
A Summer gets the anthems it deserves. And this humble, cloudy weather fits “Babycakes” so well – the sudden return of Garage, but shyer, more tentative, and much more tender. Twee-ste[…]

Tharg The Mighty’s Mega Plan was first announced in 2000AD sometime in 1982 or 1983, in amidst the usual upcoming new story hypes. Judge Anderson was getting her own strip – exciting stuff! A new Nemesis saga – excellent! But what w[…]

This is from an article about the charts published in the NME for June 19 1982, by Paul Morley. The article had a big impact on me when I read it – not in 1982 (no prodigy I!) but when I happened on the issue for 10p in a second hand shop, some[…]

Friday Trivia Quiz: thought it might be a larf to go back and excerpt the FIRST EVER POSTS from some prominent-ish blogs, both ancient and recent. Wag of the finger to those whose archives don’t work, though. Some obvious candidates have been a[…]

I have zero interest in cricket as a rule. But this Robert Key bloke has captured my attention a little while I procrastinate over editing a particularly fatuous press release. I have to applaud when someone who is frankly a bit tubby excels in sport[…]

Jack Kirby fans reprazent: very very glad to see this back on the web. Also much more terrific old material at I Want A Blog. “No one saw the old man’s GRIM SMILE.”[…]

Facts about The Lyric on Great Windmill Street.
1) It is one of the emptiest pubs in Soho on most nights.
2) Despite being rather nice inside in a trad dingy style, and having friendly bar staff.
3) And a juker.
4) It has “Endless Art” on[…]