Rock's Backpages: Search Results

Bronski Beat, Communards, The: The Communards: Turning Pink into Red

Interview by Paul Mathur, Blitz, October 1985

A step forward, both emotionally and politically, from Bronski Beat, Jimmy Somerville's new project, the Communards, promises to take an even harder political line. ...

Billy Bragg: Bill of Rights

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

Can RED WEDGE kick new life into old Labour? Will our lovable lefty pop heroes transform Kinnock's party into a stylish outfit prepared for government? ...

Fela Kuti: Africa's Cult Musician: Fela Anikulapo Kuti

Report by Nicholas Jennings, Maclean's, 13 October 1986

WHEN ONE OF Africa's most celebrated musicians receives visitors at his home in the Nigerian capital of Lagos, he lounges in little more than a ...

Hugh Masekela, Paul Simon: Hugh Masekela: Grazing in Graceland

Interview by Roy Trakin, Creem, October 1987

HUGH MASEKELA hasn't been back to South Africa since he left his homeland 27 years ago to study trumpet in London and New York, but ...

Clash, The, Joe Strummer: Joe Strummer (1988)

Interview by Adam Sweeting, Rock's Backpages audio, February 1988

The former Clash front-man on recording the soundtrack to Permanent Record; his musical and acting participation in Walker and Straight to Hell; on the Clash compilation Story of the Clash Vol. 1; how touring with the Who led to the end of the Clash; playing with the Pogues, and his hatred of being spat at onstage; on Reagan and Thatcher; his (now) dislike of drugs; on his diplomat father; forming the 101ers, and the Rude Boy movie.

File format: mp3; file size: 83.8mb, interview length: 1h 27' 20" sound quality: *** (background noise)

Living Colour's Vernon Reid (1988)

Interview by Mark Sinker, Rock's Backpages audio, April 1988

Vernon Reid talks about Living Colour signing to Epic Records; about his other projects and producing other acts; the state of Black music in America; the life and death of disco; the importance of Prince; his early days with Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society and Defunkt; the Black Rock Coalition; negative energy, drugs and racism; and the clichéd perceptions of African-Americans.

File format: mp3; file size: 78.9mb, interview length: 1h 22' 12" sound quality: ***

Janice Long: The Long Goodbye

Interview by Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 23 April 1988

From presenting the only four nights a week show to play the Primitives next to Prince, JANICE LONG has felt the cold shoulder from the ...

Nelson George: Soul Destroyer

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 14 January 1989

As a columnist for Billboard and The Village Voice, Nelson George has been America's most incisive commentator on the changing face of black music culture. ...

Guns N' Roses, Public Enemy: Public Enemy and Guns N' Roses: Busted Axl

Report by RJ Smith, The Village Voice, 22 August 1989

FORTY-EIGHT hours in the feeding-cycle of New York City. There were Uzis, Public Enemy regrouping, and a clique of blond babes orbiting Axl Rose at ...

Ice Cube, N.W.A.: N.W.A.: Wanted For Attitude

Report by Dave Marsh, The Village Voice, 10 October 1989

HOW'S THIS for government intimidation? In early August, a letter arrived on the desk of Priority Records president Brian Turner. Written on Department of Justice ...

Jerry Dammers, Simple Minds, Aswad, Patti LaBelle, Daniel Lanois, Neville Brothers, The, Tracy Chapman, Neil Young, Lou Reed, Terence Trent D'Arby, George Duke, Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, Mica Paris, Jackson Browne, Johnny Clegg, Neneh Cherry, Stetsasonic, Jungle Brothers, The, Little Steven, Billy Bragg, Youssou N'Dour, Peter Gabriel, Chrissie Hynde: Mandela's Day — The Journey To Freedom

Report and Interview by Ted Mico, Melody Maker, 28 April 1990

TWO YEARS AGO, THE POP WORLD TURNED OUT IN FORCE TO CELEBRATE HIS 70TH BIRTHDAY AND DEMAND HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON. ON EASTER MONDAY, NELSON ...

2 Live Crew

Comment by RJ Smith, LA Weekly, 5 July 1990

WHEN RUDY Ray Moore talked dirty to the house parties, when Dolomite told inner-city movie audiences "fucking up motherfuckers is my game," when Redd Foxx ...

Slayer: At War with Slayer

Interview by Steffan Chirazi, Kerrang!, 23 February 1991

SLAYER guitarist JEFF HANNEMAN is into war, the hardware and the psychology, plain and simple. But since January 15, and the commencement of hostilities in ...

Neneh Cherry: Strictly personal

Interview by Helen Mead, i-D, January 1992

No product-pushing, no image-making, no small talk: Neneh Cherry talks personal about AIDS, life and the death of her friend. ...

Beatles, The, Sex Pistols: Pointing Pistols at the throne

Essay by Jon Savage, The Guardian, 2 June 1993

There is something Rotten in the state of England. Republicanism is emerging as an option even for Tory meritocrats — thanks to the punk's subversiveness ...

Cypress Hill, House Of Pain, Funkdoobiest: Cypress Hill, House of Pain and Funkdoobiest: The View From Cypress Hill

Report and Interview by RJ Smith, LA Weekly, 17 June 1993

One Nation Under An Overpass ...

Emperor: Second Black Metal Murder!

Report by Tore Øien, Kerrang!, 18 September 1993

Emperor drummer killed homosexual and burned chapel! ...

Eric Clapton, Clash, The, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selecter, The, Specials, The, Steven Van Zandt: RAR! RAR! Disputin'! The History of Rock Against Racism

Retrospective by John Harris, New Musical Express, 16 October 1993

ON APRIL 16, 1990, a proud man who'd spent 27 years in the custody of a vicious racist regime arrived in London. He'd come to ...

Snoop (Doggy) Dogg: New Waves — The insider's guide to the Next Big Thing: Snoop Doggy Dogg

Comment by David Toop, The Times, 29 October 1993

SOMETIMES A musician is so obviously the next big thing that hailing the fact in advance seems like cheating. Only a small sample of Snoop ...