Iggy Pop shares his wisdom

Iggy Pop shares his wisdom

Updated 5 August 2016. Full transcript of Iggy’s 66-minute 2014 UK music lecture. The highlight of Britain’s 2014 Radio Festival held in Manchester a couple of years ago was Iggy Pop giving the BBC Music John Peel Lecture. The talk lasted 66 minutes, so it’s a long read. Here’s the full transcript, courtesy of the BBC….

First love is the deepest: Cat Stevens goes back to the blues

First love is the deepest: Cat Stevens goes back to the blues

Updated 18 September 2016 It’s good to hear that Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, has returned to the blues influences he absorbed during his London youth, with his latest album, “Tell ‘Em I’ve Gone”. The son of a Greek restaurateur and Swedish mother, Cat, or as he’s now billed, Cat Stevens/Yusuf, grew up near…

When was the word ‘blues’ first written down?

When was the word ‘blues’ first written down?

London’s Garrick Theatre UPDATED OCTOBER 6, 2016. Anyone familiar with London’s West End theatre district will know the Garrick Theatre in Charing Cross Road. Yet who would know there’s a connection between David Garrick, the famous eighteenth century actor whom the theatre’s named after, and the blues? I’d venture that only rabid blues scholars or those…

California’s first spirituals and the daddy of all trap drummers.

California’s first spirituals and the daddy of all trap drummers.

UPDATED 8 OCTOBER 2016. “A good read, my friend!” Jason Vivone @ JVivone, Kansas City, 23 October 2014. I’m currently researching mid-19th century San Francisco, working on a project that has nothing to do with historic blues or rock. However, wherever I look in life, I always hope to find something relating to early blues or popular music. And…