Another R.I.P, Michael Jackson, take a bow

I remember queuing at the local cinema with my family to see Moonwalker. I was excited, my brother was excited. Funnily enough, our mother was more so. When I got older, I learnt that as a teenager, my mum and her friend had been arrested for pulling Michael Jackson’s hair when he was leaving a hotel with his brothers (. This always tickled me pink. I was an indie kid, I only listened to music that was played in the back streets of Camden. I could not imagine ever wanting to pull ANYONE’S hair. Not even Graham Coxon’s (Oh Graham).

But, my mum was the one who had a real passion for music. Much stronger than mine, it seems. She was not the only one who wanted to touch Mr. Jackson. To touch as they had been touched.

Whatever scandals engulfed him as he got older, the man was cursed with a God-given talent.

I say, God Bless You.

EDIT: My mother has just complained. She pointed out that SHE was arrested for breaking into his hotel, it was her friend alone who pulled his hair. Though both occurred at the same time. Sorry Ma, don’t sue me.

Old Favourites: Bis

Ah, bis. As a teenage girl who wasn’t quite the tall, lanky, indie type, bis filled me with joy. Not only for ascetic reasons though. Heck, the band had some great pop tunes. Don’t take my word for it though, check out the track with which they had the honour of being the first unsigned band on Top Of The Pops to play.

The video quality is not-so-hot as it seems to have been recordered from someone’s VCR but hey! That’s what D-I-Y music is all about, baby.

R.I.P Swells

Steven Wells (1960–24 June 2009) was one of the most provocative writers of his time. I will personally remember him best when he wrote for the NME. I was always thrilled to the bone by his writing. I prayed that some magic pixie would one day visit me and sprinkle me with witty dust so I might end up with a small smidgen of his talent.

I was lucky enough to meet him as a teenager at the NME, and he was very kind to me, and was instrumental in teaching me that good music was about a good tune and not about how “cool” the band is. Indeed, the man gave me a Spice Girls CD with good comments about it.

I will forever remember him.

Steven Wells says goodbye
Wikipedia kills legendary journalist

Steven Wells R.I.P.