The big boss came over to meet me, and I was hard at work…Googling Pam Dawber. What had she been up to since Mork & Mindy? I remembered My Sister Sam and some TV movies. But where was she now? Never mind, the big boss wanted to know how I fitted in. I told him […]
It’s become problematic to talk about David Foster Wallace, to rave about his literary prowess because of his behaviour. But there was a time when he loomed large for me. He was one of the best of his generation. A man who channelled irony and earnestness to write hilarious and dark stories, going to places […]
It was strange when Lou Reed died. I wasn’t all that sad, concerned, upset; he was 71 – he started cheating death in his 30s. And though he’d been a clean-living portrait of near-enough-to-health for the last 20 years and most of the last 30 years, time was always going to catch up; the indulgences […]
I recently finished reading Beast: John Bonham and the Rise of Led Zeppelin. Look, it’s not great. Don’t rush to read it – but as is so often the case with a music bio, I loved the journey it helped to facilitate. My criticism of the book is that there’s not enough of interest in […]
I write in the mornings now. It’s cold. Crisp enough to blow smoke. No coffee-fuelled, wine-toasted late night thoughts. Just a few lines before work. Load the dishwasher, make breakfast for the family, quick shower – and off! Sometimes I leave a wee poem to trickle and maybe glisten. But it’s all just for the […]
It was sad to hear of the passing of Massimo Morante. He was 69. The guitarist was a founding member of the legendary Goblin. The Italian prob band, formed nearly 50 years ago, created a series of brilliant records across the 1970s and in particular is known for its contributions to the horror movie genre. […]
We were not infected. We were not to blame. We were not chasing. We were not being chased. We were not the control in the experiment. We were not a part of any of it. We sat high on the hill. We watched. We wrote notes. (Like this). We told stories – mostly about our […]
I’m often asked about a time when I changed my mind and/or got it wrong. Here’s an example then I guess. When I first heard Let England Shake by PJ Harvey, I did not like it. I didn’t like it at all. I just did not connect with it. The title song was okay, and I quite liked […]
Seven-year cycles are a thing. In the year 2000, I wanted to write about music, so I contacted the local paper, told them I was the best – they didn’t believe me but the fire was lit. I chased them down and got them to submit. Or perhaps I should say, they allowed me to […]
Puppies – I always hated the name – was a small bar located ever so slightly off the beaten track in Wellington city central still, but a basement, yet another Wellington venue with an annoying pillar in the way. It was a stoned-throw from the action but if you could summon the enthusiasm to get […]
Tubi…or Not Tubi? I resisted Tubi for a while. A few people mentioned that I might like it, given it has a lot of content, and within that a lot of martial arts and horror films. Tubi is free and easy to install on your smart TV or access via a browser. The catch is […]
Friends are electric, there should be no question. They make me feel like a new man.