Interviews Rebel Yell’s Grace Stevenson on Splendour, Singles, and Sydney Nightlife by Riley Fitzgerald Rebel Yell is a balancing act. On one hand, Grace Stevenson has attitude, creativity and a rhythmic drive. On the other, there’s a burning desire to take her music to…
Interviews “We had everything to prove”: Steve Hackett on Genesis, Springsteen and psychedelia by Riley Fitzgerald When Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins quit Genesis, they became pop stars and media personalities. While this door was no doubt open to Steve Hackett as well, he chose a…
Interviews Dating advice, prog rock, and POND with Jay Watson and James Ireland by Riley Fitzgerald Jay Watson is sitting in a tent. Next to him is James Ireland. James is POND’s drummer, a quiet guy. He’s happy to let Jay do the talking. When he…
Books Andrew Stafford’s Something to Believe In: the tale of a critic, journalist, and birdwatching enthusiast by Riley Fitzgerald Like Clinton Walker’s Inner City Sound before it, Andrew Stafford’s Pig City stands apart from the sparse body of flimsy and forgettable tomes stacking the history of Australian music. Like…
Interviews Oasis, psychedelia, and the ’60s: a chat with Ride’s Andy Bell by Riley Fitzgerald Andy Bell. Interesting guy. Enters the scene with Ride in the ‘90s, a guitar band destined to be the next big thing. It doesn’t exactly pan out that way; after…
Books News What lies beyond perception? On High Weirdness by Erik Davis by Riley Fitzgerald “The Beyond, whatever it consists of, might not be nearly as far away or inaccessible as we think.” – Michael Pollan Compare Erik Davis to rock critic Greil Marcus. Like…
Interviews A light at the end of the tunnel: Stonefield dissect their new album Bent by Riley Fitzgerald Stonefield once inhabited a world of high rolling producers, radio hype and a whole raft of other music industry nonsense. This no doubt had its perks, but for the moment…
News Danny Goldberg’s memoir doesn’t just tell Kurt Cobain’s story, it reveals his mission by Riley Fitzgerald Kurt Cobain came from a small town. Aberdeen was nowhere, a place where a mixed-up kid like Kurt could never aspire to anything more than being just another reject pumping…
Interviews Drugdealer’s Michael Collins talks George Harrison, Australia and honest lyrics by Riley Fitzgerald Michael Collins isn’t trying to be original. He isn’t trying to be innovative either. He’s just a guy from the Californian underground trying to turn some honest lyrics. His songs…
Books Features News Were Radiohead really that great? And other questions from Barney Hoskyns’ new book by Riley Fitzgerald Barney Hoskyns has compiled a book about Radiohead, titled Present Tense: A Radiohead Compendium. In its opening pages he praises the band, but not so total is his belief in…
Interviews The Jesus And Mary Chain’s Jim Reid on Syd Barrett, acid, and Nine Inch Nails by Riley Fitzgerald Jim Reid never saw Syd Barrett and punk as opposed. Neither, he thinks, did Johnny Rotten. Throw the Sex Pistols in with Barrett-era Pink Floyd and you might just get…
Features Magazine News The Meaning Doesn’t Mean A Thing: A Psychedelic History Lesson by Riley Fitzgerald There’s A Meaning Here, But The Meaning Doesn’t Mean A Thing Shan, Valerie and Zoe are sitting on a deck. It’s hot. Shan is nursing a drink and Val is…
Features Finding the Ramones in New York City by Riley Fitzgerald I tried to find the Ramones in Manhattan, but all I ended up doing was fixating on city streets. I don’t want to walk around with you I don’t want…
