Features
Vinyl Stories
In 'Vinyl Stories' Dave Goodwin talks to some of our writers about their vinyl purchases of the year.
Denzil Watson
When chatting with a longstanding fellow writer for her 'A Life in Music' column, in which she talks to a different Pennyblack writer about the impact on music on their lives, Cila Warncke discovers that Denzil Watson doubled as a gigging musician in Sheffield and Lincolnshire.
Evidently Spencertown
Spencer Robertshaw writes of heartache and romantic break-up in the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column.
Dave Grohl
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep' Kimberly Bright writes of a video image taken of Dave Grohl at The Foo Fighters' television debut on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' in August 1995.
Bandcamp Explorer
In 'Bandcamp Explorer' Mark Rowland looks at some of the best releases on Bandcamp of the last year.
Tommy James
In her 'Raging Pages' book column, Lisa Torem reflects upon 'Me, The Mob and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James and the Shondells' which, co-written with Martin Fitzpatrick, tells of how the 60s's rock star's career was taken control over by gangsters.
Andrew Twambley
In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic staff about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to our photographer and writer Andrew Twambley .
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
In his regular column ‘In Dreams Begin Responsibilities’ Steve Miles reflects on the themes of anxiety and depression in the lyrics of the Only Ones’ Peter Perrett.
Evidently Spencertown
In his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column Spencer Robertshaw reflects on cancer, a 'time bomb' that affects that us all.
Ruskin Arms
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep' Julie Cruickshank laments the demise of legendary rock pub The Ruskin Arms, which launched Iron Maiden and the Small Faces.
Bandcamp Explorer
Mark Rowland in 'Bandcamp Explorer' goes on a continent-by-continent trip around the world.
Damned
In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem finds that in a new book about British punk act, The Damned, by Morgan Brown, the author/musician chronicles the band’s studio history with solid research and humour.
Lisa Torem
In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic writers about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to our long-term American writer Lisa Torem.
Evidently Spencertown
Spencer Robertshaw writes of his now grown-up daughter in the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' column.
Beatles
In 'The Image That Made You Weep', in which our writers write of the personal impact of a photo or image on them, Eoghan Lyng writes of a photo taken at Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach's wedding in 1981.
Bandcamp Explorer
Inspired by own search for a fuzz pedal for his own band The Volunteered, Mark Rowland in 'Bandcamp Explorer' looks for the best fuzz-influenced bands on Bandcamp.
Liberty DeVitto
In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem interviews rock drummer Liberty DeVitto and reviews his compelling musical memoir, 'Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness'.
Evidently Spencertown
Spencer Robertshaw returns after a break with the latest poem in his poetry column 'Evidently Spencertown'.
Mark Rowland
In her series 'A Life in Music', in which she talks to Pennyblackmusic writers about the personal impact and influence of music on them, Cila Warncke, discusses with Mark Rowland his changing musical tastes, the importance of solid music journalism and the hypocrisy of rock mythology.
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
In his regular column ‘In Dreams Begin Responsibilities’, Steve Miles continues to looks at the issue of mental health and reflects on the positive effect of music and songs by The Gang of Four, The Fall, The Television Personalities, Black Uhuru, The Au Pairs and The Slits on his adolescence.
Queen
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep', in which a different writer with each edition writes of the impact of a photo or an image on them, Fiona Hutchings reflects on a photo of Queen at Live Aid.
Bandcamp Explorer
In 'Bandcamp Explorer' Mark Rowland searches on Bandcamp for electronica and discovers some of its more unusual genres and subdivisions.
Lisa Robinson
In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem reflects on music journalist Lisa Robinson’s new book which looks at the changing role of women in the entertainment industry through a unique lens.
Michael Jackson
In the first in a new series, in which our writers tell of encounters with the famous, Julie Cruickshank tells of a strange meeting with Michael Jackson in Foyle’s bookshop in London.
Eoghan Lyng
In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she chats to Pennyblackmusic writers about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke speaks to our Irish writer Eoghan Lyng.
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
In his regular column ‘In Dreams Begin Responsibilities’, Steve Miles begins to looks at the topical issue of mental health and its effect on music and songs by Leonard Cohen, Suicidal Tendencies and The Smiths.
Led Zeppelin
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Julie Cruickshank writes of her favourite songs by 70's rock giants Led Zeppelin.
Bandcamp Explorer
In 'Bandcamp Explorer' Mark Rowland examines some of the best soul records available on Bandcamp.
Lita Ford
In her ‘Raging Pages’ book column Lisa Torem reflects upon ex-Runaways’ guitarist Lita Ford’s 2016 autobiography, ‘Living Like a Runaway’.
Mary Wilson
In 'Raging Pages', her regular book column, Lisa Torem examines 'Dream Girl: My Life as a Supreme', the 1987 autobiography of Motown star and Supremes member Mary Wilson, who died in February.
Bandcamp Explorer
In his ‘Bandcamp Explorer’ column Mark Rowland examines some of the best lo-fi bands and albums that are available on Bandcamp.
John Lennon
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep, Lisa Torem writes of a life-sized statue of John Lennon that she discovered while visiting Havana.
Erasure
Fiona Hutchings picks ten personal milestones from the tracks of British pop pioneers Erasure.
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
In his column ‘In Dreams Begin Responsibilities’ European Sun and The Short Stories’ Steve Miles reflects on the role of silence in music.
Fiona Hutchings
In the second in her new series, 'A Life in Music', in which she will be talking to a Pennyblack writer about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke speaks to Fiona Hutchings,
U2
In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem examines a comprehensive volume about the work of Irish rockers U2 recently penned by Pennyblackmusic writer Eoghan Lyng
Depeche Mode
Fiona Hutchings in 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' writes of her favourite songs by Depeche Mode.
Bandcamp Explorer
This month's Bandcamp Explorer column is an ode to the compilation album, with six great examples to be found on Bandcamp. Let Mark Rowland be your guide.
Joy Division
In this month's 'The Image That Made Me Weep' column, Dave Goodwin takes us on a deeply personal journey into a black-and-white picture of Joy Division's Ian Curtis
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
In his new column, European Sun's Steve Miles continues to assess what punk means to him, and in the second part of a two part article examines the latter five out of ten groups that transformed his life.
Nicky Crewe
In the first in a new series, 'A Life in Music', in which she will be talking to a Pennyblack writer about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke chats to Nicky Crewe.
Nathan Hall
In his ‘Under the Radar’ column Keith How finds that ‘On the Blink’, a new set of songs from South Wales psychedelic mystic Nathan Hall is both inventive and pleasing, and makes vintage yet modern folk pop music.
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
In his new column, European Sun's Steve Miles admits that he is ‘a punk through and through’ and verifies the point by citing in the first part of a two part article five out of the ten incomparable bands that changed his life.
Alison Cotton/Jenny Sturgeon
In a double edition of 'Under the Radar Keith How discovers two rather special releases by two very talented women artists from different ends of the “new folk“ spectrum, both equally beautiful and beguiling.
Black Sabbath
Dodson and Fogg's Chris Wade in 'The Image That Made Me Weep' writes of a poster of Black Sabbath that he had as a ten-year old child.
Status Quo
In ‘The Image That Made Me Weep’ Malcolm Carter reflects upon a photo taken at a Status Quo gig he attended with his son in 2009.
Duran Duran
Fiona Hutchings takes us through ten formative memories from the pop titans Duran Duran.
Miscellaneous
Dave Goodwin in 'Vinyl Stories' talks to some of our writers about their vinyl purchases of 2020.
Bandcamp Explorer
Mark Rowland takes a deep dive into the fare on offer this month on Bandcamp, a site that has become established as a melting pot of nascent talent. Taking on the genre formerly known as indie, here is his guide to 'alternative alternatives'.
Clash
Eoghan Lyng selects tracks by punk legends The Clash for this month’s edition of 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Following the band’s progress, the cuts chart the outfit’s progress from London upstarts to their incorporation of many of the musical trends that came to define the 1980s.
Tim Buckley
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep' Adrian Janes examines the melancholic back cover photograph of Tim Buckley's 1974 last studio album, ‘Look at the Fool’.
Bandcamp Explorer
In his new series 'Bandcamp Explorer' Mark Rowland reviews some of the spooky genres on Bandcamp.
Miscellaneous
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Cila Warncke reflects on ten of her favourite Memphis soul songs.
Field Lines Cartographer
In our 'Under the Radar' section this month Keith How finds 'The Spectral Isle', the new album from Field Lines Cartographer to be an impressive, fascinating and fulfilling listen.
Silas House
In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem examines award-winning novelist and music journalist Silas House's debut novel, 'Clay's Quilt'.
David Bowie
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep' special guest Moon Under Water vocalist Audrey Eade writes about David Bowie and her memories of seeing Ziggy Stardust at his last show.