Old Man Riva

Great review! I went with my wife, who it’s safe to say isn’t generally a fan of the type of music that Snarky Puppy play, and she was absolutely blown away by the whole evening, as was I. Also, there appeared to be huge affection from the crowd towards the band and it felt like a real celebration of their career so far. It couldn’t happen to a nicer (or more talented) bunch..!

James Honeyman-Scott’s solo on Private Life is one of my favourite ever guitar solos. Just thought I’d share that interesting fact!!

He was so good at that rolling, repetitive groovy bass line. His lines on tracks like The American, Love Song, Big Sleep, King is White... really add such a lot to the music. Didn’t like them at all after he left and they ventured into stadium territory.

In Trance as Mission by Simple Minds. Another excellent Derek Forbes moment...

That’d do me. Definitely something I could vote for! Though I can confidently say I’d be waiting a long time before I could make it sound anywhere near as good as young Mr Dart does!!

The album, A Song for Paul, is well worth a listen - if you like that track then I reckon it’d be right up your street. I can’t think of an album I’ve liked so much for a long time...

Four strings; one p/up; no batteries!!

Someone recommended this lot to me recently, and I’m forever in their debt. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ghost Funk Orchestra...

... a marriage made in heaven. Warning: it may lead to Colin Moulding envy!

“If Pete Way had ever played in a showband”...

Blimey, he was good...

Just bought a wonderful Fender Custom Shop P-bass off Kevin. Kevin was a pleasure to deal with - excellent communication, completely straightforward and everything done with the minimum of fuss. I can’t recommend highly enough! I visited his home to try the bass and was made to feel really welcome - and found a fellow Roxy Music fan into the bargain! Buy with complete confidence from Kevin - a credit to Basschat!

Starting the day with this...

Yeah, definitely one of the odder choices of covers I've heard over the years. Probably done with the best of intentions (i.e. he was a fan of the song) but he was always on a hiding to nothing taking that on. This is good, for fans of this type of thing...

I’ve always thought Bowie’s version on Young Americans was a low point on an otherwise excellent album. I think it’s truly rotten, and I say that as someone who idolises Bowie and can find many ways in which to defend The Laughing Gnome - though I still haven’t found a way to explain away his ‘interpretations’ of Iggy’s Tonight or the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows! It’s a shame he just didn’t stick with The Gouster... Re. Beatles covers, I always liked Shirley Bassey taking on Something. Adding a certain something different to the original, in a positive way, unlike, say, Paul Young when he took on Love Will Tear us Apart!

Whenever I hear Zappa solo I feel sure he was a huge influence on Prince.

Been posted on here before, but absolutely no harm in posting it again! Something a bit more recent that you may like...

“UK Prime Minister makes alternative travel arrangements after refusing to use Eurostar for crunch Brexit talks”

Now that’s a line you don’t hear every day..!

Stuck in his local A&E after putting his back out again breakdancing?

Most of John Cooper Clarke’s output springs to mind. In a (really) good way. Not really random but I never tire of hearing the lyrics to the chorus of Bowie’s Drive-In Saturday. “His name was always Buddy And he’d shrug and ask to stay. She’d sigh like Twig the Wonder Kid And turn her face away. She’s uncertain if she likes him But she knows she really loves him. It’s a crash course for the ravers It’s a drive-in Saturday...” Also love Jagger’’s “My best friend, he shoots water rats, and feeds them to his geese” line in Live With Me.

As I recall, the BBC banning Relax was instigated by DJ Mike Reed, who, upon playing the single, got an earful of the lyric, and stopped playing it half-way through, chirruping loudly about it being the start of the decline of civilisation as we know it - I may have over-egged that last bit, but it’s not far off.

Pushed for just one, Aladdin Sane by Bowie. The gatefold sleeve and iconic cover, poring over the the lyric sheet for hours on end (all songs included save for the Stones cover - could never get my head around that as a kid), mesmerised by the most amazing music. What’s not to be obsessed about for the past 46 years?!

She still tours with Sinéad O’Connor...