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Cathi Unsworth

Cathi Unsworth

Cathi Unsworth is a novelist, writer and editor who lives and works in London. She began her career on the legendary music weekly Sounds at the age of 19 and has worked as a writer and editor for many other music, film and arts magazines since, including Bizarre, Melody Maker, Mojo, Uncut, Volume and Deadline.

Her first novel THE NOT KNOWING was published in 2005, followed the next year with the award-winning short story compendium LONDON NOIR, which she edited, and in 2007 with the punk noir novel THE SINGER. Her third novel, BAD PENNY BLUES, inspired by the unsolved 'Jack the Stripper' murders of 1959-65 was published in 2010 to great critical acclaim. Her fourth novel WEIRDO, was published in 2012. This tale of female transgression and teenage trauma set on the Norfolk coastline was shortlisted for the EDP-Jarrolds East Anglian book of the year, made Book of the Year in Loud & Quiet magazine and on Crimesquad.com and is currently longlisted for the New Angle Prize for Literature. Cathi is the co-author of punk icon Jordan's 2019 autobiography Defying Gravity.

As well as working on her books, Cathi has appeared on TV and radio including reviewing for BBC2's The Culture Show. She regularly takes part in live events, including screen talks at The Barbican in London and spoken word gigs organised by Tight Lip and The Sohemian Society. She has also presented her work as live readings with music and audio accompaniment.

All her books are published by and available from Serpent's Tail. For more see www.cathiunsworth.co.uk

Cathi Unsworth's website

Cathi Unsworth on the RBP podcast

56 articles

List of articles in the library

By date | By artist | Most recently added

New Model Army, Voodoo Child: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 10 October 1987

IT'S THE last night of the New Model Army tour, and the leather jackets are piling up outside. Inside a curious crowd gather around the ...

The Bambi Slam, Pop Will Eat Itself: Pop Will Eat Itself, The Bambi Slam: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 7 November 1987

POP INDIGESTION ...

Band of Susans: The Band Of Susans: Wake Up! It's The Susans

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 21 November 1987

THE BAND OF SUSANS kick started in New York and kicked prick in Berlin. CATHI UNSWORTH discovers that they're a blessing in disguise ...

Johnny Thunders: Town And Country Club, Kentish Town, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 12 December 1987

RETURN OF The Living Dead — Part 97. ...

Spacemen 3, the Wishing Stones, the Pop Icons, the Low Gods: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 9 April 1988

ENTERING DINGWALLS tonight is a similar experience to falling through Lewis Carroll's rabbit hole and coming out in 1963. As the evening progresses, so does ...

David Sylvian: Hammersmith Odeon

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 11 June 1988

BENEATH SOFT, subtle lights stands David Sylvian. Shadowed by his keyboards, he's an inconspicuous figure. His shoulder length hair is knotted loosely in a pony ...

Bo Diddley, Ronnie Wood: Bo Diddley & Ron Wood: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 9 July 1988

AND WHAT a delightful pair they made, Bo 'Jesus' Diddley and Ron 'Not Exactly Picasso' Wood. The main difference between them, I suspect, is that ...

Savage Pencil: With Lead In His Pencil

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 3 September 1988

SAVAGE PENCIL has turned his art to original biker movies. CATHI UNSWORTH savours his hellraising Angel Dust ...

Spear Of Destiny: Kirk Brandon — Come On Down

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 29 October 1988

Kirk Brandon has spent the last year counting the cost of being confined to sick-bay. Cathi Unsworth hears how he's now recovered his health, revamped the Spear Of Destiny line-up and aims ...

Frank Sidebottom: Would You Marry This Man?

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 12 November 1988

Frank Sidebottom reckons he's the world's most eligible bachelor. Cathi Unsworth succumbs to his charms and checks out his prolific vinyl output. ...

Fields Of The Nephilim: Apocalypse Now (or maybe next week)

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 10 June 1989

Their latest single is about Armageddon and Fields Of The Nephilim mainman Carl McCoy reckons that the end is nigh. Cathi Unsworth listens to his mystical musings and gets a few survival ...

Alien Sex Fiend, Marc Almond, Bauhaus, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave, The Cult, The Cure, Fields Of The Nephilim, Flesh For Lulu, The Mission, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Sisters of Mercy, Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction: Exit The '80s — Goth: Bats Out Of Hell

Overview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 23 September 1989

It's been the decade of the goth — but, somewhere along the line, the innovation of the Birthday Party, the Banshees and the Sisters gave ...

Nitzer Ebb: Re-Pressing The Start Button

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 17 March 1990

The jackboots are off and Nitzer Ebb have loosened up into a cool pumping rock mode. But do they long to strut afront a Marshall stack letting ...

Peter Murphy: Town And Country Club, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 26 May 1990

"I WAS walking down the high street/When I heard footsteps behind me/And there was a receding blonde goth/In various shades of black and grey/Posing away." ...

Marc Almond: Beauty and the Beast: Marc Almond: Enchanted (Some Bizzare) ***½

Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 9 June 1990

SO IT SEEMS the men in black have changed their colour to red this year. After Nick Cave's heaven scented Good Son, the romantic trickser ...

Chapterhouse: Grooves in the house

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 15 September 1990

CHAPTERHOUSE have been denied their rightful place at the top of the Wah Wah Gods league by the likes of Ride and Swervedriver. But they'll ...

Wolfsbane: Every Witch Way And Loose

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 29 September 1990

As predicted by a white witch, WOLFBANE's career has been shaped by a series of fantastic events. CATHI UNSWORTH listens to the unlikeliest of flower ...

The Birthday Party, Nick Cave, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Nick Cave: Worshipping The Son

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 24 November 1990

For the second of our special Fan Files, we look at Nick Cave, the singer who's so damn slinky and shaggable that even women want ...

Sisters of Mercy: The Sisters of Mercy: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 24 November 1990

Masterful release ...

Loop: The Feedback of the 5,000 Volts

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 8 December 1990

LOOP have long been associated with a wall of sound that is guaranteed to play havoc with the senses. CATHI UNSWORTH learns exactly what it ...

Ride: Graduating With Honours

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 22 December 1990

At the beginning of the year, RIDE were almost unheard of but a series of brilliant records and an old fashioned slog around the country has ...

The Levellers: Venue, New Cross, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 5 January 1991

A crust above the rest ...

Soho: Goddess (S&M/Savage) ***

Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 9 February 1991

MUSCLE BOUND ...

Fields Of The Nephilim: See Ya Later, Terminator

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 23 February 1991

What do you do with a dusty, chaotic rock star who looks like the Grim Reaper? Why, cast him as himself in your movie and ...

Sisters of Mercy: The Sisters of Mercy: Leeds University

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 23 February 1991

Mission accomplished ...

Jane's Addiction: Marquee Club, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 16 March 1991

THERE WERE rumours abounding this morning that Led Zeppelin were going to play a secret gig at the Marquee two days after Jane's Addiction. Had ...

Ride: Riding The Crest Of A Wave

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Sounds, 16 March 1991

After a year as top indie kids, RIDE have crossed into the mainstream and are now steaming into the Top 20 and selling-out all their gigs. ...

The Levellers: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 27 April 1991

EVERY TIME this band set foot on a stage they turn into more of a revelation. No mean feat, considering The Levellers spend their life ...

Smashing Pumpkins: Pumpkin Iron

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 21 September 1991

SMASHING PUMPKINS look set to continue the trail-blazing guitar magic first pioneered by Jane's Addiction. CATHI UNSWORTH discovers why the Chicago-based band think Prince should ...

Therapy?: Three-Prong Attack

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 11 January 1992

The terrible trio from Belfast tell CATHI UNSWORTH all about their new Pleasure Death LP and why they are fascinated by the sound of vacuum ...

Pearl Jam: Sticky Fingers

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 25 January 1992

Inspired by the boundless, new American rock of Nirvana and Soundgarden, PEARL JAM explain to CATHI UNSWORTH why their primitive approach is the way to ...

Gallon Drunk: Tonite... The Singles Bar (Clawfist)

Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 16 March 1992

ONE FOR THE ROAD ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Red Hot Chili Peppers: Lost In Spice

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 21 March 1992

CATHI UNSWORTH travelled to Liverpool to join the Peppers on their current UK tour and found out just how the band's mammoth jaunt around the ...

Metallica: The Lords of Loud

Report and Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 2 May 1992

Ever since 'Enter Sandman' crashed into Top 10s around the world, Metallica have been reaping the dividends of a decade of scorched earth-style metal. CATHI ...

Melissa Etheridge: Never Enough (Island)

Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 16 May 1992

OH OH. Bare flesh alert. In an unintentional but uncanny facsimile of PJ Harvey's NME cover shot, Melissa Etheridge stands on her album sleeve in ...

Soundgarden: Horticulture-Shock

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 6 June 1992

Soundgarden provide proof positive that you can be a successful metal band without being sexist and racist dickheads. Seattle's finest have already conquered the US ...

Therapy?: The People's Champions

Report and Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 15 August 1992

Last year, it was Nirvana who stole the show at Reading and look where they are now — topping the bloody bill, that's where. This ...

L7: Babes In Boyland

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 29 August 1992

In last week's Great Metal Debate, L7 just couldn't f***en believe there are people out there so moronic that they can't tell these gals from ...

Gallon Drunk: Pissed as Beauts

Profile and Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 24 October 1992

They've put quiffs and Hawaiian shirts back on the map. They've been compared favourably to the mighty Birthday Party. They like making one mutha of ...

Mick Harvey: Alta Maria & Vaterland (Mute)

Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 8 May 1993

MICK HARVEY once claimed that he "didn't know how to play". A typically modest aside from a man who's played a major part in three ...

Reverend Horton Heat: The Reverend Horton Heat: Lynn Eusan Park, Houston; Emo's Lounge, Houston

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 15 May 1993

A DAY ON THE ROAD WITH… ...

Gallon Drunk, PJ Harvey: PJ Harvey, Gallon Drunk: Bristol University

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 22 May 1993

HARVEY'S BRISTOL SCREAM ...

Tindersticks: Camden HQ, London

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 29 May 1993

INTO THE WOODS ...

Iggy Pop: Empire States: Iggy Pop: American Caesar (Virgin)

Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 11 September 1993

WHERE THERE ARE the glowing embers of a fire to be stirred, you can trust Iggy Pop to be first with the gasoline. ...

Smashing Pumpkins: Cardiff University

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 2 October 1993

BILLY, DON'T BE A HERO ...

Letter Of The Week: The Beauty of Words

Readers' Letters by Neil Kulkarni, Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 9 October 1993

Letter of the Week ...

Mark Lanegan: Holy Spirit

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 15 January 1994

MARK LANEGAN, singer with Screaming Trees, America's premier country-grunge act, has just made a solo record which is even better than his band's stuff. Which ...

Tool: The Boathouse, Norfolk, Virginia

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 5 March 1994

RARELY HAVE a band been as misunderstood by their audience as Tool playing provincial America. If the seething, drunken mass of dubious humanity that turn ...

Frank Black, Cypress Hill, Flaming Lips, Gang Starr, Hole, The Lemonheads, Pavement, Transglobal Underground, The Verve: Cypress Hill, Lemonheads, Verve, Hole et al: Reading Festival

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 3 September 1994

READING.It's like acid; once you've tried it you swear you'll never be back for more, and yet you always are. Perhaps it's because this festival ...

The Cramps: Torch Songs

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 15 October 1994

The Arch-Uberfuhrers of Satanic Rockabilly Camp aka The Cramps are back! With their best album for eight years! Talkin' 'bout the ejaculatory properties of rock'n'roll! ...

Dick Dale: Pulp Dick Shone

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 25 March 1995

DICK DALE, man. Dick f***ing Dale. He's the King Of Surf Guitar. He taught Hendrix everything he knew. He breeds lions. They played his music ...

Toerag Studios: 'Rag Against The Machine

Report and Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 17 June 1995

If you dig the sound off an unfettered rumble — be it Jon Spencer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dick Dale or The Sex Pistols — then ...

Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra: Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood: The Limelight, New York NY

Live Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 24 June 1995

HOW DOES this grab you, darling? Nancy Sinatra, in her infamous black leather boots and a perfect blonde bouffant, centre stage for the first time ...

Bushwick Bill: Phantom Of The Rapra (Rap-A-Lot/Noo Trybe V0SS91)

Review by Cathi Unsworth, Melody Maker, 22 July 1995

"Honky can't stop what honky started/A ghetto is what you made" — 'Mr President' ...

Nine Inch Nails: The Story Behind The Song: 'Head Like A Hole'

Retrospective by Cathi Unsworth, RAW, September 1995

"Synth faggot," that was how Nine Inch Nails mainman Trent Reznor attempted to describe himself to a bewildered press when he first appeared supporting Guns ...

Kelly Osbourne: Miss Dynamite

Interview by Cathi Unsworth, Kerrang!, 8 February 2003

Critics call her a spoilt brat. The tabloids think she's out of control. US radio claims she's not "for real". Kelly Osbourne couldn't care less… ...

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