And so it began

Hard to describe these guys, pretty much led by the dictatorial painter Don Van Vliet. This and other selections are from his latter musical outputs before he retied to painting only.

One of Iggy’s best known songs. Recorded at Hansa studios in Berlin with Bowie on piano and backing vocal. Crazy stage invasion towards the end, encouraged by Iggy. The video of the whole concert in Belgium is well worth a watch

One of my favourite Nick Cave songs. Not sure how this made it past the TV censors! Just amazing seeing him do it live, which is getting rarer these days. And these clips with his girlfriend at the time PJ Harvey!

Amazing video of them at the top of their game. The full concert is available on You Tube. Blistering!

I am such a big fan of Connie Constance. This is from her first album which is outstanding. She can do punky material too but this is a jazzier interpretation of her song Yesterday

Still fresh today. Love it and still makes my party playlists

My kilt wearing phase (Arielle’s wedding and my retirement party) was inspired by Axl Rose in this performance

Simply the best best drinking song ever!

Let’s call this my Led Zep selection! - often played loud in our Hackney household and other special occasions, like before leaving for the airport to travel to India!

This up there with Gimme Shelter and Sympathy for the Devil

So talented and lost too soon. One of her saddest songs

His one album Grace (before his tragic drowning) that will never be forgotten. A worthy equal of the original Leonard Cohen song (also somewhere in my list).

Such a poignant rendition, somewhat foretelling the beginning of the end, as he drank himself to the grave.

Canvey Island lads who had a blues, R&B and punk following in the mid-late 70’s. Went onto see Wilko loads of times on the London pub circuit and with Ian Dury’s Blockheads in the 80s.

From seeing them as student in 1982 in London, to being reconnected in present day Paris - All the way from Cleveland Ohio. Amazing and out there!

What a crazy band and song. He died too early. I used to chase the kids around the house playing this at high volume :)

Once of the most inspirational Bowie songs. “We can be heroes, just for one day” And isn’t Gail Ann Dorsey fantastic on bass

What a great setting for this classic U-Roy song. Saw him at the 1976 Reading festival!

A stirring protest song. Saw them at the venue I held my retirement party at. In fact, the reason I chose the venue for my retirement party!

Local Edinburgh band making waves. Flying to Washington DC to see them in April 2024. I can do that in The Next Stage :)

Arty musician and dancer, who makes great music and videos. Scary too.

Powerful stuff with the gorgeous Naomi Campbell. This was written about the drones being used in Afghanistan but its as relevant as ever, given the use of drones in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere.

This Swedish based band with an American singer have a great mix of humour and a punk esthetic . The videos are pretty fucking great too!

Saw them a few times at the Giverny festival and this is always the highlight for me in their setlist. Christian Olivier is something of an anarchist poet too