‘Pure’ hit the stores at the end of last year — a triumphant return to form for the grandfather of UK techno – or so it’s alleged. Both Billy Corgan and Marilyn Manson think so anyway. Crud talks to Gary all about it. Born Gary Anthony James Webb, lieutenant and wing commander of the eighties techno service drill, the Tubeway Army, Gary Numan enjoyed brief but enormous success in the UK at the close of the 1970s with singles like Continue Reading

Those frankly hilarious yanks have us all doubled up, and cracking gags like they were going out of fashion. Jimmy Eat World show Crud that even people who tour with Blink 182 can make damned near perfect rock n roll. Bleedin’ Americans.19/11/01 Those of the more optimistic persuasion are always likely to tell you everything, no matter how depressing, happens for a reason. Tiresome aren’t they. So don’t you just hate it when a little bit of retrospect proves them Continue Reading

Gargantuan prog—rock supergroup, YES are back. A new generation of prog—wannabes in Muse, Elbow and Radiohead provide the PR. A 360 piece symphony orchestra provide the clout. Gary Hill talks to lyrical cosmic Wiseman, Jon Anderson about the new album.15/10/01 Whatever your reservations, progressive rock seems to be enjoying a bit of good PR, thanks to the current crop of prog—influenced British bands. Mansun made an called ‘Six’, talked deliriously of lanterns for a while, Radiohead came out with the Continue Reading

New release of “Motor Driven Bimbo” by Rockbitch has caused something of a stir. Censored live, cruelly edited by children’s TV and simultaneously loved and loathed by many a teenage right hand, Gary Hill gets the dirty on Babe.20/09/01 Yes, I know what you’re thinking; Rockbitch represent anarchy and subversion by any other name. It’s not strictly that we’re at odds with this band performing sex acts on stage. On the contrary, it’s curiously satisfying. It’s that their faintly comical, Continue Reading

Alan McGee’s new cult indie label, Poptones release the excellent Mona Lisa Overdrive by Trashmonk — aka Nick Laird-Clowes — on September 10th 2001. Here’s the story so far, plus entry into our competition. The man sang backing vocals on the last T Rex album. He’s rented office space with Paul Simon, he lost his virginity to an Australian model at John Lennon’s house. Brian Wilson called him a genius. He also presented the cult eighties music shabang, The Tube Continue Reading

The new album by Tweaker aka. Chris Vrenna, The Attraction to All Things Uncertain (Six Degrees Records) from Tune Raider, is released September 18th. Meet Elliot featuring the elusive David Sylvian. Not content with providing a special remix of U2’s “Elevation”, for the Tomb Raider soundtrack, Chris Vrenna, the former drummer and programmer for Nine Inch Nails has written and produced the Tweaker album, The Attraction to All Things Uncertain, an account of virtual everyman, Elliot and his own anxious Continue Reading

Trashmonk — Alan McGee’s new cult indie label, Poptones released the excellent “Mona Lisa Overdrive” on September 10th 2001. Trashmonk aka Nick laird Clowes of the Dream Academy talks to James Berry.12/08/01 October 2001 – You probably think you’ve lived. Done this and that, met a few people, travelled, worked here and there, been around, seen some things. But you haven’t. Trashmonk, a.k.a. Nick Laird-Clowes has. That’s your benchmark. You might not think you know him, you probably don’t, but Continue Reading