British music is probably the second most popular country-specific music in the world, with only those dastardly Americans beating us as usual. But being a mad British music fan who lives in the UK, I sometimes forget that other nations may see things slightly differently.
What I may see as British artists strengths could be seen as weaknesses in other countries. While a regional accent can help a band succeed in the UK, giving them an identity and a presence, it could go against them when they try and take their music abroad.
Is it possible that some bands are just too …read more

I was astonished when Rick Astley was named as a nominee for ‘Best Act Ever’ at the MTV Europe Music Awards alongside the likes of Green Day and U2. So imagine my utter shock and horror when Astley actually won the damn thing last night at the ceremony in Liverpool.
MTV itself were clearly embarrassed by the whole thing because Rick himself didn’t appear to accept the award and there wasn’t even an acceptance video in light of his non-appearance. This is because MTV had its clever voting system hoodwinked by a viral online campaign to secure Astley the award.
The thing …read more

When he was in The Beatles, Paul ‘Macca’ McCartney was a gem. As part of the best song writing duo who have ever lived, he and John Lennon created some of the best songs ever released, ones that still stand up to scrutiny today.
So what has happened since then to turn him in to one of the least friendly and humourless celebrities around?
Let’s not beat around the bush here, Paul McCartney’s solo stuff is crap. No seriously, even the big hits aren’t a patch on what he wrote and released when he was The Beatles.
How he has still got …read more

Ah The Beatles, they were great weren’t they? Probably the best band in the world ever, and the inspiration for a ton of music which has come and gone since.
So you’d think life would be pretty sweet for the former members of the group, well Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at least, seeing as the other two are dead and all.

But it seems only one of the two is happy to be a former Beatle right now, and with all the gossip swilling around at the moment, it’s probably not the one you think it is.

Alex Turner front man of the Arctic Monkeys has been friends with Miles Kane from The Rascals for a few years now, and its a friendship based on music, and the love of what they do best.
So it’s no surprise that the two have now teamed up for a new side project to their main bands.
The duo are calling themselves The Last Shadow Puppets, and have recorded an album together called The Age Of The Understatement.
The first single from that album, due out in the UK on April 21st, goes by the same name and is available to …read more

Zutons guitarist Boyan Chowdhury left the band on July 13th in a supposedly amicable split caused by that old favourite “musical differences“. Well now, just 10 days later, he’s formed a new band called ‘The Gravity Trap’, a completely Liverpudlian affair.
Boyan joins fellow scousers Graeme Robinson, formerly of The Stands, Luke Thompson from The Cuckolds and Ronnie Mintor from The Miracle Cure in what is being billed as a scouse supergroup!
The band already has a MySpace page in place with 2 songs on which you can listen to to get a feel for the sound. The band put out …read more

How many is that now? We’ve already had The Police, The Spice Girls, The Verve and now Shed Seven.They are slightly different in that they haven’t got ‘The’ in front of their name but apart from that, they are yet another British band deciding it’s time to have another crack at the big time.
I was never a big fan of the band, although I could see the appeal, and there are many many “shed heads” around who still worship at the feet of lead singer Rick Witter. The band announced their comeback and a short Winter tour on their MySpace …read more