Repomen
John Clarkson writes about his ten favourite songs by ReopMen, who were Sheffield's longest-serving indie band.
Who
In 'The Image That Made Me Weep' John Clarkson reflects on a photograph of The Who taken backstage after their performance at Live Aid.
Miscellaneous
In our new series 'Tickets Rewind', in which our writers look back at their old concert tickets and the stories associated with them, our Editor John Clarkson reflects on some of his favourite gigs.
Willard Grant Conspiracy
In 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' John Clarkson pays tribute to Robert Fisher from the Willard Grant Conspiracy, who died at the age of 59 in February and who we interviewed many times and headlined our Bands Nights on four occasions
Lou Reed
John Clarkson writes of ten of his favourite songs in the solo career of the late Lou Reed
Baptiste
In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column, in which our writers describe the personal impact of music upon them, John Clarkson writes about hearing in 2000 London-based indie band Baptiste's first two singles, 'A New Career in a New Town' and 'The Quiet Times'
Miscellaneous
Pennyblackmusic photographer-in-residence Matt Williams’ latest photographic exhibition, ‘Shield Your Eyes, Shield Your Pies’, opens at the West End in Centre in Aldershot on May 7th and closes on May 30th. Find out more about it here.
Mick Wall
Competition to win two signed copies of rock writer Mick Wall's new book 'Star Trippin' which compiles together several of his best articles from between 1985 and 1991, and includes interviews with Motley Crue, Def Leppard, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden and Gun
Sound
80's London-based new wave group the Sound were always massively popular in the Netherlands. John Clarkson examines the band's tragic legacy, and their Dutch Radio Recordings of 5 momentous Sound concerts, which have been released consecutively
Miscellaneous
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Doug Hoekstra and Willy Vlautin, the front man with Portland, Oregon-based alt. country band Richmond Fonatine have both just released their fictional debuts. John Clarkson profiles them both
Punk
John Clarkson examines Don Letts' powerful new DVD film 'Punk : Attitude' which puts a fresh light and focus on the already often told history of the rise of punk
Miscellaneous
The Glasgow Apollo was a legendary 70's and 80's rock venue, thought of which makes many Scots over 40 become weak with nostalgia. John Clarkson finds Martin Kielty's new book about the long closed theatre essential, compelling reading
Doug Hoekstra
Chicago-born, but Nashville-based musician Doug Hoekstra has been away for a while, but is now back with both a new studio EP, 'Six Songs', and a live album, 'Su Casa, Mi Casa.' John Clarkson profiles both CDs
Thin Lizzy
"Riveting and compelling" account of the rise and fall of 70's hard rock band Thin Lizzy, and its frontman, Phil Lynott
Miscellaneous
Long overdue, but heavily flawed account of John Lydon's life post the Sex Pistols and in PiL and beyond
Ruts
Massively influential in punk circles, the Ruts came to an abrupt end when their singer, Malcolm Owen died of an heroin overdose shortly after they released their debut album. John Clarkson charts the band's history and examines their lasting legacy
Miscellaneous
Pennyblackmusic photographer Matt Williams' first exhibition of rock photography opens in April, and will feature 35 photos that Matt has taken over the last four years. Find out more about it here !
Nils
Once described as having been to “punk what Big Star are to pop music”, the Canadian group the Nils were one of the most influential, but also most under-rated punk groups of the 1980’s. John Clarkson examines their history and legacy
Dead Can Dance
The most internationally successful of all the acts on the 4AD label, the Dead Can Can Dance recorded eight albums in a career that expanded from 1981 to 1998. With a new retrospective box set just out, John Clarkson examines their prolific history
Baptiste
One of the major issues that many independent bands have to consider and address is how best to raise the necessary capital to make their singles or albums. The bulk of indie groups, often even those on fairly well known labels, have to pay for studio a
Godfathers
1990 was spent mainly touring, and working on songs for the next album, and 1991 began optimistically with the group playing their largest ever St Valentine’s Day Massacre at London’s Brixton Academ
Miscellaneous
Marina' is a small and unique German independent label. It was established in Hamburg in 1993 by two former journalists, Stefan Kassel and Frank Lahnemann.
Marina was chosen as a name because, as K
Saints
It was Bob Geldof who said during a 1980 Australian Boomtown Rats tour that the face of rock music in the 1970s was altered by just three groups-TheSex Pistols, The Ramones and The Saints.
Of th
Godfathers
When ‘The Godfathers ‘ first emerged in the mid nineteen eighties, their hard-edged and abrasive wound immediately attracted the interest and enthusiasm of many music journalists and critics. The Sout
Astrid
Astrid's new album 'Boy for You', her debut as a solo artist, was released in September. It is a haunting, sometimes harrowing record, but one of ultimately uplifting appeal that encompasses a wide ra
Bathers
In the first of a series of articles, John "Girder" Clarkson profiles some of the more misunderstood bands of recent years. Scotlands 'The Bathers' have often been labeled as pretentious and as a resu
Miscellaneous
Here in no particular order are ten of the most depressing albums of all time. Despairing and black, but magnificent as well as moody ! Luxuriate in the misery, and enjoy some brilliant music !
1.
Godfathers
The band’s second album, and their most famous work, ‘Birth, School, Work, Death’ came out in February 1988. The album had the more polished and slightly slicker feel that a larger budget brings, but