Space waltzing back in time
Musings on a week of listening, watching and the rest of it. This week GARY STEEL reads a couple of entertaining Kiwi music books.
The knows no bounds world of Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto died a few days ago, though the world only learnt about it today. GARY STEEL with a personal appreciation.
UB40 – Militant and hot as. An interview with Astro
When GARY STEEL spoke to UB40's Astro 40 years ago the hitmaking band still described themselves as anarchists.
Blast from the past: Michael Franti and the Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
Thirty years ago GARY STEEL sat down at an Auckland sidewalk café to chat with Michael Franti ahead of their performance in Auckland.
Muhammad Ali’s tooth decay album is one you should die before you hear
MATT KELLY reviews a masterpiece in unintentional surrealism - Muhammad Ali's long-playing bout with Bertie Germ!
Still revered and reviled: Dark Side Of The Moon at 50
Audiophiles and space-heads love it but Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon - which turned 50 this week - has its detractors writes
When I’m 64 – and what comes after
It happens to the best of us. GARY STEEL reflects on turning 64 and what it means to someone of his generation.
Pussycats in leather: Skid Row land in Auckland
Vulgar and abusive on stage, wild metal animals Skid Row purr in the presence of tabby-tamer GARY STEEL in this 1990 interview.
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear #60: the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical no one needs or wants
MATT KELLY is something of an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan but even the hardiest enthusiasts boycotted this horrendous Phantom Of The Opera sequel.
Whatever happened to… Adeva
Whatever happened to the gutsy late 1980s/early 1990s soulful house diva Adeva? GARY STEEL, who interviewed her at the time, finds out. Retrospectively, over
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear – Billy Joel’s baby steps
Before he was a better-than-average singer-songwriter, Billy Joel tried his hand at hard rock. Oh dear! MATT KELLY on Attilla.
Whatever happened to… The Christians
Whatever happened to UK million-selling 1980s neo-soul group The Christians? GARY STEEL, who interviewed them in 1990, finds out.
Jeff Beck’s porno guitar masterclass: Blow By Blow
Musician’s musician, guitarist’s guitarist Jeff Beck has left the building. GARY STEEL offers a sacrament to the genius player.
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear – Teenage Mutant Turtles
MATT KELLY disrobes and dissects one of the most risible musical spinoffs in TV history. You have been warned.
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear #54: Sonic In Sydney
MATT KELLY knows a turkey when he hears one, and unsurprisingly, its perpetrators have tried to bury this shocking '90s disaster.
Smelly Feet – The great Kiwi outsider finally gets an album
In 1981 “Smelly Feet” travelled the length and breadth of Aotearoa performing his confronting tunes to perplexed audiences and hawking his home-made singles. GARY
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear – Having Fun With Elvis On Stage
MATT KELLY actually really likes the Elvis Presley album on which Elvis Presley doesn't, uh... sing.
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear – Pete Townshend’s The Iron Man
MATT KELLY is aghast at how a genius rocker like Pete Townshend could make such a complete turd. But he did.
Flying Nun, definitively.
Sometimes it takes an outsider to tell a story properly, writes GARY STEEL. Here’s the definitive tale of the first eight years of the
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear – The Daft Side Of The Moon
The Who drummer Moon's solo album should have been a good chance to bang his drums, writes MATT KELLY. Instead, it's a drunken shambles.
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