I wrote an article for Please Kill Me about Rod Evans, the original singer of Deep Purple, and his mysterious disappearance from public life. You can read the article here.
features
A Quiet Explosion: Deep Purple’s ‘Hush’
(originally appeared in Shindig! issue #105)
More than 50 years after its creation, ‘Hush’ is a staple of bar-band playlists, ‘best of’ anthologies, and movie and TV soundtracks – and it damn well should be, because it’s so catchy. Who among us has not banged their head to its driving percussive beat, or joyously shouted along to a chorus of “na na-na na”? But as the past five decades have shown, ‘Hush’ is also a song that can flourish in many different types of interpretations and musical styles.
Joe South wrote ‘Hush’ in the mid-‘60s, but its origins may go as far back as Continue reading
Interview with Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry
I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Kimberley Rew (formerly of the Soft Boys and Katrina and the Waves) and his musical collaborator and wife Lee Cave-Berry about their new album Sunshine Walkers. You can read the interview here.
Gone But Not Forgotten: ‘Picture Me Gone’
(originally appeared in Shindig! issue #103)
‘Picture Me Gone’ is a sassy, bold ‘60s tune, on the timeless theme of “you’re thinking about dumping me? Yeah? Well, think about me dumping you first”. The most recent version of it appears to have been released in ’92, which is a shame; this gem is just waiting to be rediscovered.
‘Picture Me Gone’ was written by Chip Taylor and Al Gorgoni in the early ‘60s, when they were working at a New York music publishing company based across the street from the renowed Brill Building. The first artist to record the song was Continue reading
Second Fiddle to No Man: Beverley Martyn and Linda Thompson
I wrote an article for the Please Kill Me website on Beverley Martyn and Linda Thompson: two musicians who should be recognized for much more than their collaborations with their ex-husbands. You can read the article here.
Rock’n’Wrestling
I wrote an article for Please Kill Me on three notable (for different reasons) records made by professional wrestlers. You can read the article here.
“Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life In Music”
Producer Ted Templeman, who has worked with dozens of artists – including Captain Beefheart, Van Morrison, the Doobie Brothers, and Van Halen – has finally written an autobiography. As you might guess, it’s wide-ranging and very interesting. I reviewed it for PopMatters; you can read the review here.
Lhasa de Sela Matters
Lhasa de Sela was a brilliant singer/songwriter who gained many fans during her short career. I had the pleasure of interviewing Fred Goodman about his beautiful new biography of her. You can read the interview here.
The Changer and the Changed: Women’s Music
I wrote an article for the Please Kill Me website on the “women’s music” scene of the ’70s and ’80s. You can read it here.
Fakewood Mac
I wrote an article for the Please Kill Me website on one of the oddest stories from pop music history – the fake Fleetwood Mac. You can read it here.
