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 : Q – MARCH 1991

Queen, having just released their latest album Innuendo, are the cover stars of Q, in the early months of a year that would see the death of their lead singer Freddie Mercury.

Tom Jones feels the wrath of Q in their monthly “Who the hell does …….” column.

In news, Stone Roses are in Wales, working on an album they hoped to release that Autumn. It was slightly delayed …….. until December 1994.

Q does a four page feature on the work of Showbiz journalists at The Sun, Daily Mirror and Daily Star. You may recognise The Sun’s man, a young Piers Morgan, who boasts that he earns as much money as the Prime Minister.

Queen get a five page feature, mainly an interview with Brian May, covering the furore over their appearance at Sun City, with May defending the band’s appearance “The audience was mixed, as was our hotel. We were able to speak against Apartheid in interviews and play with black musicians in Soweto”

May also spoke about their post Live Aid revival, their decline in America, and Ice Ice Baby, which featured a sample of Under Pressure, which May thought wouldn’t sell as he thought it was crap.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : Q – JANUARY 1993

1993 begins with U2, voted World’s Best Act, on the cover of Q, fronted by a topless Larry Mullan.

Feel the wrath of Q, in their monthly “Who the hell do …….” column are Status Quo, never the darlings of the music press.

In news, Beverley Craven has announced that her forthcoming tour will be sponsored by Tampax, Tom Jones was appearing as himself in The Simpsons,

Sony have launches the Minidisc at a ceremony, where the musical entertainment was provided by Paul Young, after George Michael pulled out, having issued a writ against Sony to have his record contract cancelled, stating “Sony appears to view artists as little more than software”

The Shamen get a double page feature after having their first Number One in 1992, and denied that Ebeneezer Goode was a pro drugs anthem, instead, labelling it a parody.

Neil Young gets interviwed by Q, and is on the warpath …… against digital music, describing it as “It’s like sensory deprivation”

There’s a Led Zeppelin reunion of sorts, as the three surviving members and Jason Bonham accept a Merit Award at the recent Q Awards, attended by stars such as Wendy James and Jesus Jones.

Seven pages are dedicated to an interview with U2, where Bono declares that his biggest surprise of their Zoo TV Tour came ……… when people turned up to see them.

In the Album Chart, it’s a compilation battle, as Erasure’s Greatest Hits album beats Cher to the top spot.

Gig listings that month included B-52s, Jason Donovan, Beverley Craven (sponsored by Tampax), Del Amitri and Status Quo.

U2 announced stadium gigs in London, Leeds, Glasgow and Cardiff.

To finish, Shakin Stevens, now known as Shaky, is subject to a brief Q and A. He thinks Bob Dylan is a very good songwriter, can’t remember the last time he was drunk, can’t leave home without his golf balls and he would have liked to have met Elvis.

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : JUN 6 – JUN 12

It’s been a struggle to get this week’s round-up done, as i’ve spent most of the week in hospital.

I’ve been diagnosed with a condition called Tomjonesitis, where you randomly start singing Tom Jones songs. I asked the doctor if it was common, he replied …… It’s Not Unusual.

And now to a song which is just as brilliant and ridiculous as my Tom Jones joke.

Meanwhile, Charlie Simpson off of Busted (but not McBusted) turns 29 this week. Pop fact, this song was originally called “Crash and Burn” but was changed after the Columbia Shuttle Disaster

This week’s sad anniversary, 4 years since the death of Stuart Cable. This, filmed in his hometown of Cwmbran.

If you don’t know Mick Hucknall by now, you will never ever know him.

Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran turns 52 this week. Incidentally (according to the Youtube bio) this performance was broadcast on 6th November 1986, the day Sir Alex Ferguson became Manchester United manager.

Rob Pilatus from Milli Vanilli would have been 49 this week. Seriously, how did people not know they didn’t sing on their records?

It got worse for Fabrice Morvan, as he lost out on an insurance ad deal to Morgan Freeman.

Meanwhile, much loved popular Darts player Jackie Wilson would have been 80 this week.,

Matt Bellamy from Muse is 36 this week. Pop fact, his dad was in The Tornadoes. You know, Telstar.

Reg Presley from The Troggs would have been 73 this week. Wet Wet Wet ensured he never had to worry about money for the last 18 years of his life. Don’t you just want to run your hands through Marti Pellow’s hair? Just me?

Holy Europop!!! It’s Robyn

And finally, some Good Souls