The following interviews were conducted by me as a freelance radio music
journalist between 1975 and 1983. They offer a unique insight into the thoughts
and aspirations of the artistes at that particular period of their careers, rather
than looking back today through the rosy glow of hindsight. Some could not be
replicated as the interviewees have, regrettably, passed away.
These interviews can work as the basis for contemporary magazine
articles or as research for music biographies. Radio 4's 'Documentary on 4' recently used a section of my 1978 chat with The Clash's Joe Strummer, my late 70's/early 80's Bill Nelson/Be-Bop Deluxe
interviews provided the main archive source for Paul Sutton Reeves' excellent
Music In Dreamland biography and part of Zoe Howe's newly released biog Lee Brilleaux Rock'n'Roll Gentleman draws on an interview I did with the late Dr Feelgood vocalist. Rock's BackPages have posted several dozen of my historic chats with bands and soloists. If you're a magazine or book editor and there's anything here that interests you please get in touch.
Band/Artiste Member(s) Date Comments
Albion Band Ashley Hutchins & 1977 Trad-folksters
John Kirkpatrick
Alessi Billy & Bobby 1977 Oh Lori stars
America Dewey Bunnell 1975 CSN alikes
Banshees Siouxsie, Steve Severin, 1978 Edgy interview with
Kenny Morris,John McKay original line-up!
Banshees Severin & Budgie 1980 Band falls apart mid-
tour! Siouxsie in hospital
Severin tells all!
Be-Bop Deluxe Bill Nelson 1978 The story of Be-Bop!
Bill Nelson 1980 Break-up of Be-Bop
& start of Red Noise.
Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne 1976 See also Ozzy solo
Blondie Debbie Harry 1978 Recorded at the peak
of Deb-mania.
Blue Oyster Cult Allan Lanier 1978 I didn't fear him
Colin Blunstone 1978 Breathy ex-Zombie
Marc Bolan 1976 On the defensive!
Marc Bolan 1977 Bolan bounces back!
Marc Bolan Organisers &fans 1979 Report on Newcastle
Bolan convention.
Andy Bown 1980 Quo/Herd-er's history.
Boyfriends Pat Collier & ? 1979 Ex-Vibrator's popsters
Kate Bush 1978 The young Kate!
Harry Chapin 1977 Late story-song man
The Clash Mick Jones 1977 Clash on the up!
The Clash Joe Strummer 1978 Clash as mega-stars!
Billy Connolly 1976 Early banter with Billy
Billy Connolly 1977 A year later....
John Cooper Clarke 1978 Zany Manc punk poet
Crawler Terry Wilson-Slesser 1977 Ex-Paul Kossoff band
&"Rabbit" Bundrick
Quentin Crisp 1979 Gay ground-breaker
Dr Feelgood Lee Brilleaux 1980 Chat with late singer
Dodgers John Wilson, Roger 1978 Ex-Badfinger popsters
Lomas, Bob Jackson
Emmerson, Lake
& Palmer Carl Palmer 1980 Solo & ELP chat
Fingerprintz Jimmy O'Neil & 1980 Became The Silencers
Cha Burns
Robert Fripp 1982 Crimson, Bowie, Daryl
Hall, Gabriel, Eno
Sammy Hager 1982 Pre-Van Halen!
Nona Hendryx 1979 Rocking ex-Labelle
Ian Hunter 1978 Apres-Hoople
Neil Innes 1980 Rutles, Bonzos, Python
The Jam Paul Weller 1980 Early Paul
Judas Priest Glen Tipton 1978 Heavy Metal thunder
Mickey Jupp 1979 Stiff R&B-er
Greg Kihn 1980 Beserkley tunesmith
Stan Lee 1978 Marvel Comics legend
Annie Lennox 1979 See Tourists
Jona Lewie 1979 Stiff Cavalry Stopper!
Lene Lovich 1979 "Eh-oo Eh-oo!"
Aimee Mann 1995 Fab singer/songwriter
Jimmy Mc Culloch 1977 Late Wings, Stone The
Crows guitarist.
Mahogany Rush Frank Marino 1979 Hendrix inheritor
John Miles 1977 North East singer/
John Miles 1978 guitarist/songwriter
Moody Blues 1979 Moodies & solo
Justin Hayward
Motorhead Lemmy, Eddie 1981 The classic line-up!
Clarke, Phil Taylor
Bill Nelson 1980 See also Be-Bop.
Michael Nesmith 1975 Monkees, solo, prod-
ucing etc.
Michael Nesmith 1976 UK tour feature
Ozzy Osbourne 1982 Randy Rhodes, bats,
Sabbath and more!
Penetration Pauline Murray & 1979 Emotional first
Robert Blamire announcement of split.
Placebo Gary & Michelle 1982 Gateshead band with
Wilde, Phil Armstrong two albums on Aura.
Pleasers Bo Benham & 1978 Beatle-esque power poppers
Steve Mc Inery
Queen Roger Taylor 1978 Playing South Africa
Radio Stars Andy Ellison & 1979 Former John's Child
Martin Gordon & Spark go punk.
Ramones Joey, Dee Dee & 1978 1-2-3-4!
Johnny
Revillos Fay Fife, Eugene 1978 Pre-Human League
Reynolds, Jo Callis Callis
Rich Kids Glen Matlock 1979 The ex-Pistol
Tom Robinson 1978 Early Tom
Roxy Music/UK Eddie Jobson 1978 Career so far.
Rubinoos Jon Rubin, Royse 1978 Great Beserkley band
Ader, Tom Dunbar
Rubinoos Jon & Tom 1979 ...keeping pop alive.
Toyah 1982 Toyah and Wavis O' Shave!
Together!
Shaking Pyramids Davy Duncan, James 1981 Scots rockabilly.
Crighton, Railroad Ken
Skids Richard Jobson, Stuart 1979 Working with Bill
Adamson, Willie Simpson Nelson, Virgin etc
Snips 1979 Former Shark
Spider from Mars Trevor Boulder 1978 Bowie/Ziggy
Status Quo Francis Rossi 1980 Lively chat!
Subway Sect Vic Goddard & ? 1977 Early punksters
Sutherland Bros Gavin & Iain 1979 Top songwriters
Rachel Sweet 1979 Stiff's 16 year old
Talking Heads David Byrne & 1977 Byrning intensity
Jerry Harrison
10 CC Gouldman & O'Malley 1978 Discuss new line-up
Thin Lizzy Phil Lynott 1978 Dangerous!
Tourists Annie Lennox, 1979 Annie in anti-
Peet Coombs, Jim music press mode!
Toomey, Edddie Chin
Tubes Mike Cotton 1978 Theatrical rockers
Tygers of Pan Tang 1979 NWOBHM!
Rob Weir & John Sykes
Uriah Heap Trevor Boulder 1978 Rock and glam
Vibrators Knox, Pat Collier, 1977 Early CBS punks
John Ellis
Vibrators Knox & Ellis 1983 Vibes re-form!
Jeff Wayne 1980 War of the
Worlds, Essex,
Hayward, Who
Wishbone Ash Andy Powell, Martin 1980 (Almost) original
Turner, Laurie Wisefield line-up.
Wreckless Eric 1978 Stiff's maverick
Wreckless Eric 1979 ....songwriter
