MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MELODY MAKER – 15.12.1999

As the millennium approaches, Travis are the cover stars of Melody Maker, having hit the big time in 1999.

Kelly Jones of Stereophonics talks to Melody Maker about working with his namesake (and no relation) Tom, with a duet between Tom Jones and Stereophonics due to be released in the new year.

In news, Melody Maker was in the news, with Cerys Matthews comments on drugs in a recent edition of Melody Maker being debated on Question Time.

There is a profile of one of the cult TV shows of the year, Rock Profile on UK Play, starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

Travis get four pages as Melody Maker joins them on tour in Europe.

Hoping to be as big as Travis in the future are Muse, who get a full page profile on the following page.

The early months of 2000 will see Oasis release a new album, and Melody Maker gives a track by track review, courtesy of a “shadowy insider”

In reviews, Melody Maker pays a visit to Brighton to see James in concert, and a trip to Glasgow to see Pet Shop Boys.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – MARCH 2000

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the cover star of this edition of Manchester United’s official magazine, declaring that United are a better team than they were the previous season. Ominous, considering that United won the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup.

Matt Dickinson of The Times has a column in this edition, writing that football would be a poorer place without the likes of Diego Maradona, the Argentine legend having had some health scares this month.

George Best’s column looks back at the World Club Cup, declaring that United might have won the competition if it was in a more neutral venue than Brazil.

In news, Denis Irwin announces his retirement from international football, while United’s three European Cup group opponents – Bordeaux, Valencia and Fiorentina – are all enduring poor form in their own domestic leagues.

Dwight Yorke is also trying to balance club and country commitments as he may miss six weeks to play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Cover star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets a four page profile.

Not to be forgotten, Wes Brown gets profiled as he continues his recovery from injury which meant the 1999-2000 season was a write-off for him.

In adverts, there are adverts for the VHS series Manchester Untied On Video.

As with every edition of this magazine, there is a look at United’s recent matches, these games being United’s first games of the 21st Century.

Solskjaer isn’t the only Norwegian interviewed, with Ronny Johnsen and Henning Berg getting a joint interview.

There is also a feature on United’s newest debutant, American goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

The best websites on the net are featured, offering United fans a guide to the best sites on the web.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – JANUARY 2000

It’s the first month of the 21st Century, and it is Paul Scholes who is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine.

In news, Wes Brown gets interviewed about his recovery from injury, a rare bad moment for him in 1999, a year that saw him win the treble and make his England debut.

Steve McClaren has a column, and uses it to reveal that United are scouting for players in South America, having been impressed by Palmeiras players when they faced United recently.

George Best has a column, revealing he’s not a fan of the World Club Cup and is already putting names forward to replace Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of his proposed retirement in 2002 in the shape of Martin O’Neill or Bryan Robson.

Cover star Scholes gets a five page interview but there are no photos, so the magazine improvises and takes a cardboard cut-out on a tour of Manchester.

There are four pages covering United’s recent visit to Japan for the Toyota Cup Final against Palmeiras, and the experiences that United players had in Asia.

Andy Cole is interviewed as he prepares to release of his autobiography.

This was the first season of the World Club Cup which would eventually replace the Toyota Cup, and this tournament, which United are taking part in, gets previewed.

United have an arrangement with Royal Antwerp to loan players, and there is a feature with Kirk Hilton and George Clegg during their loan spell in Belgium.

There is a review of United’s matches in November 1999, a month saw them pick up League points, win the Toyota Cup but make a losing start to the Second Group Stage in the European Cup.

There is also a look forward to forthcoming matches, as well as a look at the programming MUTV has to offer in January 2000.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MATCH – 26.8.2000

Kevin Phillips is the cover star of Match as he gives the lowdown on the men looking to take his Golden Boot off him in 2000-2001.

Trying to recover from injury, Ronaldo (The original one, not Cristiano) releases a video as he aims to prove his fitness.

John Aloisi of Coventry gets interviewed as to his firsts, his first football kit was a Juventus one, and his first concert was an Italian singer whose name he can’t pronounce.

There is a double page spread on Kevin Phillips analysing his rivals for the Golden Boot such as Andy Cole, Thierry Henry and Carl Cort.

Continuing the theme of strikers in this episode, Match does a feature on new strikers in the Premier League such as Alen Boksic, Sergei Rebrov, Mark Viduka and Luc Nilis.

Emile Heskey gets a triple page feature, as he admits that Spurs and Leeds were never in the running when he was leaving Leicester.

It’s not all strikers, as some defenders are interviewed ………. as the who the best Premier League striker is. Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp were the most nominated.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MELODY MAKER – 1.12.1999

Supergrass are this week’s cover stars of Melody Maker, in a week where Oasis announced details of a UK tour in the summer of 2000.

That Oasis tour will take in gigs in Bolton, London and Edinburgh, amidst rumours that the band will leave Creation to form their own record label.

Rick Witter of Shed Seven is the subject of a Q and A, revealing he didn’t want the band to release a Greatest Hits album, and enjoyed seeing his sister get married to the band’s drummer.

Cover stars Supergrass get four pages as Melody Maker joins them on tour in Germany.

Tim Burgess gets asked about his obsessions, revealing himself to be obsessed with Bob Dylan, and blowing up food in microwaves.

In concert reviews, Melody Maker went to see Foo Fighters in Glasgow and Metallica in Berlin.

Lightning Seeds are this week’s Singles Reviewers, giving the Single Of The Week Award to Longpigs, while sending Ace Of Base to The Dumper.

Cerys Matthews is also the subject of a Q and A, revealing she would avenge a friend’s murder.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MELODY MAKER – 13.9.2000

The Dum Dums are this week’s cover stars, declaring themselves as the voice of a generation. One of them has “4 Real?” painted on his body, as a tribute to Richey Edwards.

In news, Graham Coxon declares he has no problem with a Blur Greatest Hits album, while being non committal on new material by the band.

Limp Bizkit won at the MTV VMAs amidst chaos being created by Tim C from Rage Against The Machine.

Meanwhile, Stereophonics are discussing the details of their new album JEEP, due out in early 2001.

The Dum Dums get four pages of coverage, dismissing Green Day as old men.

It’s the Sexiest People In Rock Poll, with Hillary Woods from JJ72 and Kelly Jones from Stereophonics winning.

Dave Grohl didn’t get onto the Sexiest List, but he did get a three page interview.

In reviews, Melody Maker paid visits to see Limp Bizkit and Travis in concert.

In Singles Reviews, Maxim from The Prodigy gives his Single Of The Week Award to Smashing Pumpkins.

Shirley Manson is the subject of a Q and A, revealing that she was indecisive about getting on board an alien spaceship.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MELODY MAKER – 15.11.2000

A collage of Rap Superstars is the cover image of this issue, which promises to answer everything you ever wanted to know about Hip-Hop but were too afraid to ask.

In news, Marilyn Manson has announced a UK tour for January 2001, with gigs in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Ash are pulling all nighters in the studio to record their new album, while Radiohead and Paul Oakenfold are at war after they wouldn’t let him use of of their songs in one of his remixes albums.

You can get educated on Hip-Hop in this edition, with guides to the greatest albums, who’s who in the Wu-Tang Clan and why Dr Dre is brilliant.

In concerts, Melody Maker paid visits to see Doves, James and Pearl Jam in action.

This edition featured the Reader’s Poll, where you could vote in categories such as Best Band, Best Comedian and Haircut Of The Year.

Wyclef Jean is the subject of a Q and A, where he reveals that he believes in ghosts.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MELODY MAKER – 25.10.2000

It’s late 2000, and Melody Maker is on tour with Eminem and Limp Bizkit.

Two Welsh rock stars were in the news this week, with James Dean Bradfield stopping an assault on old man, while Kelly Jones solo tour was given a “cautious welcome” by fans giving their opinions to Melody Maker.

Ash have announced that everyone will love their upcoming new album.

Suede were in Iceland to perform at a festival, a trip described as “farcical”.

There are four pages dedicated to Eminem and Limp Bizkit, with Melody Maker giving it to Limp Bizkit, slightly, for the best act.

Ten years after their first release, Alex and Graham from Blur look back at the band’s ten finest moments.

In reviews, Melody Maker visits Muse, The Bluetones, Coldplay and Idlewild in concert.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MELODY MAKER – 12.4.2000

Bloodhound Gang are this week’s cover stars, billed as “America’s most outrageous band” after their massive hit The Bad Touch.

In news, Richard Ashcroft has just launched a solo career, but has promised to play some of The Verve’s songs at V2000.

In other news, Black Box Recorder hit out at their record label for sending out booklets on safe sex alongside promotional copies of their new single to radio stations.

Sara Cox has just taken over Radio 1’s Breakfast Show, and Melody Maker does a three way comparison against Virgin Radio (Chris Evans) and XFM (Ian Camfield)

Cover stars Bloodhound Gang are inteviewed, proudly declaring that they would love to be at the forefont of the dumbing down of America.

Danny and Richard McNamara of Embrace are the subject of a Q and A, and have differing opinions about the subject of watching an execution on TV. Danny wouldn’t but Richard would.

In reviews, Daphne and Celeste are reviewing singles, giving the Single Of The Week award to Thong Song by Sisqo.

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MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MELODY MAKER – 17.5.2000

A toilet roll with parody song titles is this week’s cover image, as Melody Maker asks if the charts are going down the toilet.

Tommy Scott of Space reveals that he will sing on their new album in “his real voice”, after stating that he sang in character on the band’s previous albums.

The cover story gets four pages, with a panel of music fans, Melody Maker writers and Daphne and Celeste debating if the charts are crap.

There are two pages dedicated to the life of Ian Curtis from Joy Division, on the 20th anniversary of his death.

In concerts, Melody Maker paid a visit to see Bush supported by Muse and James supported by Coldplay.

In reviews, Toploader’s debut album gets an unfavorable two stars out of five.