Friday Links (25/05/12)

• The Japanese government has enlisted the help of pop groups like AKB48 to help them sell government bonds.
• There is more to European pop than Eurovision.
• The evolution of concert bootlegs.
• Its been out for a couple of months though only just noticed it but Chairlift have released an interactive music video.
• Robert Moog rhymed with "Vogue".

Friday Links (18/05/12)

• A backwards version of the iconic Abbey Road photo is up for sale. You'll need around 9 grand to buy it though.
• The popular Eurovision website Daily Eurovision Centre has unfortunately been hacked by homophobic idiots, but the show goes on... on their Facebook page for now!
• RIP Donna Summer, here is an interview with her from 1976.

Friday Links (11/05/12)

• A Beastie Boys interview from 1989 (RIP Adam Yauch)
• Sexuality and gender have always been blurred in rock and roll.
• Another (better) review of the Ladyhawke in Brum gig.
• New song from The Ice Choir, debut album coming soon, can't wait!

Friday Links (04/05/12)

• John Peel's vast record collection is to go on-line and also see here for an insight into how he found anything. As for the actual collection...
• Duran Duran will headline the gig to mark the start of the Olympics.
• 1977 : The Queen's punk jubilee.
• Music stars back earplug campaign, well MBV are supposed to be making a comeback, you can listen to their re-issued version of "Loveless" here by the way.
• A Post-Punk Tumblr.

Friday Links (27/04/12)

• "Unseen" photos of The Beatles are to go on sale next month (alternative link)
• How Madchester put the E into enterprise zone.
• Psychedelic Jukebox
• Dr Schuss' Garage of Psychedelic Obscurities

Friday Links (20/04/12)

• Slashdot have been hanging out at Sun Studio in Memphis (video)
• The record shops that shaped our lives and also check out the British Record Shop Archive
• Metal bands per capita
• Record Store Day limited editions (gallery)
• Stretching the concept of "boy" somewhat maybe but the original line-up of The Beach Boys has reformed for a new album and world tour.
• To celebrate their 21st birthday (which makes me feel old) Blur will release a 21 disc uber collection as a career retrospective ahead of their final concert.

Friday Links (13/04/12)

• An interview with Graham Coxon from Blur (bit old this but forgot to add it earlier i think)
• He is called Mick Jagger
• Blur could play for the last ever time at the Olympics concert
• The 10th anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer will be marked by a festival
• Are we losing our respect for music?

Review soon... new single by Pontoons "antidote"

Good Friday Links (06/04/12)

• Several sons of the Beatles could form a band, a kind of Beatles 2.0. James McCartney said "I would love to be equal to The Beatles - but even that's quite tough." You think? A poll on the Guardian seems to show the fans are rather cool to the idea, 80% plus thinking no!
• Lyrics from the Marillion hit "Kayleigh" are to be inscribed in the paving stones of the town of Galashiels, which is where the song was set.
• Jim Marshall, of amplifier fame, dies at the age of 88.

Jenny Moss - please let it happen to me

Friday Links (30/03/12)

• Jocky Wilson said and other rock myths.
• Star Wars themed guitars? What?
• Lost George Harrison guitar solo for "Here comes the Sun" ..er.. found. Should be enough for a new Beatles boxset.
• Model Village will release an album at the end of next month collecting songs released from various singles and compilations.

Veronica Falls - my heart beats

Friday Links (23/03/12)

• Doo-wop dies another little death as store closes.
• How indie labels changed the world.
• My Bloody Valentine are to release remastered versions of their "Isn't anything" and "Loveless" so they can damage the hearing of a whole new generation of fans.
• Rarities from the likes of Noel Gallagher and ABBA are out for Record Store Day.

Joywave's "traveling at the speed of light"

Friday Links (16/03/12)

• The Rolling Stones will not tour on their 50th anniversary though will do some concerts in 2013 and are recording new material.
• A tax loophole will be closed meaning that CDs (and other things obviously) sold from the Channel Islands will now be liable for VAT.
• Le Tigre's live EP is available now!
• Two nations (UK and US) divided by their taste in music.
• Jack White will release a one-off vinyl single of White Stripes songs for Record Store Day.
• The adult pop smash is a thing of the past.

I don't believe in "guilty pleasures", if you like something you like something... but if i did believe in guilty pleasures then this would be one...

Friday Links (09/03/12)

• New Order are miming to backing tapes claims the, of course totally unbiased, ex-New Order member Peter Hook.
• The other members of The Monkees will not attend Davy Jones funeral in order for it to remain low-key. There are plans for a number of public memorials.
• (Guardian) readers recommend some Welsh songs.
• Armenia has pulled out of Eurovision, come on the UK choosing Humperdink wasn't that bad was it?

Found on a compilation unearthed from deep in my CD vaults earlier today, great song from the mid-70s.

Friday Links (02/03/2012)

• How pop lost its gay edge.
• If you like Pink Floyd's "The wall" you can test your love with a seven disc box set which includes the remastered original plus live albums and discs full of demos and development versions of the final tracks.
• The NME is nearly 60 years ago, has its influence waned? We can only hope.
• Davy Jones, a life in pictures.
• Davy Jones and the Monkees : childhood's over.

Friday Links (24/02/12)

• Some nice photographs of Veronica Falls.
• Kellogg's makes new cereal especially for Charlatans' Tim Burgess. Er what?
• A Blur interview from 1994 meanwhile in 2012 they will headline the Olympics closing concert along with New Order and The Specials.

Friday Links (17/02/12)

• Dexys Midnight Runners are returning with their first new album for 27 years. Seems like you can't turn around these days without tripping over a reformed 80s band.
• Kevin Upchurch has collected every single number 1 single since the start of the charts and is now going to sell the lot.
• Kraftwerk will play 8 of their albums live at New York's MOMA.

Coming soon...

Friday Links (10/02/12)

• And the latest 80s indie legend to reform and go back on the road is... the Jesus & Mary Chain. The gods of feedback noise terrorism will play 4 dates in the USA.
• Madonna was at Superbowl, yeah whatever but here she is back in 1983 as part of the Guardian's re-issues of old interviews.
• Photos of 60s and 70s pop and rock stars and their parents...
• The buried treasure of B-sides

Friday Links (03/02/12)

• The Happy Mondays will reform in May, according to singer Rowetta the original line-up met last week and made the decision. Who else has a big tax bill due?
• The Flaming Lips have created a track with the help of Apple's Siri voice controlled assistant.
• Courtney Love's drug addiction apparently led to the death of two pets. A story thats not as good as the headline alludes to though.
• Feminist punk rock band Pussy Riot make an anti-Putin protest, enjoy them while you can...

Help Stamp Out Loneliness, nice band and nice song.

Friday Links (27/01/12)

• Global music sales dipped 3% in 2011, the big media companies still don't get why SOPA is nonsense and PIPA should remain the Princess' sister with the much lauded bum.
• How we made : The Smiths first gig
• Changes to legislation will make it easier for small venues to hold gigs
• Lego is going pink (to appeal to girls), as a feminist i am appalled by hackneyed gender stereotypes of course though it does look very cute. This lego is cooler though, its gone to space.
• A new Disney Mickey Mouse t-shirt design seems familiar...
• Noel Fielding of Mighty Boosh fame talks about his new project
• Veronica Falls topped the poll as best band in Twee.Net's best of 2011

Friday Links (20/01/12)

• Felt: The Book!
• Rock album sales are at their lowest for 8 years. Rock is dead, long live Indie Pop instead!
• Rock's Backpages : a vintage interview with John Lydon
• Birmingham Music Archive - celebrating, preserving and sharing Brum's musical heritage.
• Last Shop Standing - a documentary coming soon on indie record shops

Friday Links (13/01/12)

• The look of 2012 is apparently the punk look of 1977... not that i know anything about fashion to be honest though i have a nice hat.
• Here is a lovely archive of scanned cover images of Slumberland Records' releases.
• Feminist Music Worlds - Riot Grrrl, Ladyfest and Rock Camp for Girls
• From the Archives : Joy Division in their own words (Interview from the NME in 1979)
• Lost! 10 great albums that were shelved or abandoned

Currently waiting for...