After Bon Scott‘s death in 1980 AC/DC allegedly offered the lead singer role to Slade’s Noddy Holder. He turned it down and the band turned to Slade soundalikes Geordie for their lead singer Brian Johnson. I wonder how things would have progressed had Noddy accepted the job? Would have led to song mash-ups? How about “Cum On Feel A Whole Lotta Rosie”?
Did you know that there was a link between the Smiths self titled first album from 1984 and ‘Sticky Fingers‘ the Rolling Stones 1971 classic? Well there is and it’s down to the cover star Joe Dallesandro. It’s his bowed head and bare chest that adorns the cover of ‘The Smiths’ and it is his rather well packaged family jewels that stand proud on the cover of the Stones ‘Sticky Fingers’. Was he hung like ‘”Wild Horses“? The Stones album cover was famously designed by Andy Warhol using a picture he had taken earlier. Dallesandro was a Warhol superstar and appeared in many Warhol films. The picture on the Smiths album is a still from the Warhol movie ‘Flesh‘. Dallessandro’s nickname was ‘Little Joe’ and he is the ‘Little Joe’ that gets mentioned in Lou Reed‘s “Walk On the Wild Side”
Ringo Starr has made an appearance in an episode of the Powerpuff Girls show. I certainly never saw that coming, even after his role as narrator to the ‘Thomas The Tank Engine‘ animated series. But I suppose you could trace it back to his singing career right? I’d love to know what you think of Ringo’s Powerpuff performance. I have to share a joke I heard today too. What is the name of the drummer in the Mexican Beatles? Gringo Starr!
Have you ever wondered what the shortest song recorded and released by the Beatles was? Well wonder no more while I bring you the top five shortest Beatles songs; As is customary they are in reverse order and you should imagine a Ringo drum roll while you are reading the list.
5 “Mean Mr Mustard” from ‘Abbey Road‘ (1:06)
4 “Wild Honey Pie” from ‘The Beatles’ a.k.a ‘The White Album‘ (0:52)
3 “Dig It” from ‘Let It Be‘ (0:49)
2 “Maggie Mae” from ‘Let It Be’ (0:40)
1 “Her Majesty” from ‘Abbey Road’ (0:23)
While we’re at it do you know what the longest Beatles song to be released was? I bet you’re all thinking “Hey Jude” aren’t you? Well you’re wrong. The longest song the band ever released was “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” which takes up seven minutes and 47 seconds of ‘Abbey Road’. “Hey Jude” sits just behind at 7:11. However the longest track the group ever released was the rather weird and sometimes scary sound scape “Revolution No. 9” from ‘The White Album’. It lasts a whopping 8 minutes and 22 seconds. For me that track is best listened too at high volume with headphones in a dark room late at night. What do you think?
“Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes is a great song isn’t it? But do you know where the phrase Seven Nation Army comes from? Apparently it’s what Jack White called the Salvation Army when he was a mere smudge and not a Stripe!
D-d-d-d-id you know that when the Who’s “My Generation” single was first released that the BBC refused to play it? Well it’s true, but why would they do such a thing I hear you ask? was it because the powers that be thought that Roger Daltrey was really on the verge of singing ‘f-f-f-fuck’ as opposed to ‘f-f-f-fade’ in the lyrics? No; apparently it was because that famous stutter adopted by Mr Daltrey on the song might actually offend stutterers everywhere! What do you think of that?
“He’s a rich bloke and he’s. gone to far coz he knows it don’t matter anyway”. That doesn’t have the same ring as rich girl does it? But in fact the classic Hall and Oates song “Rich Girl” is actually about a man. In a recent interview in Nashville with TMZ John Oates was asked if the song was about anyone in particular. He said that the song, which was written by Daryl Hall, was about an ex boyfriend of Sara Allen who was Daryl Hall’s girlfriend at the time. The man in question was the spoiled heir of a fast food fortune called Victor Walker; his father owned the Walker Bros. Original Pancake House in Chicago and a number of KFC franchises. Hall just felt that Rich Girl worked better than Rich Guy. Victor knows the song was written about him. I’d like to thank a fabulous Facebook buddy of mine for giving me this story; that’ll be you Samuel Glass Jr!
Sara Allen was clearly an important muse for Daryl hall as she was also the subject of two hall and Oates classics and indeed two of my favourite songs from the duo. Those songs are “Sara Smile” and “Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)”. You probably gathered from the sub-title of the second of those songs that Sara Allen was an Air Stewardess in the 70s. Sara’s sister Janna Allen went on to cowrite songs with Daryl and John, including “Kiss On My List” and “Private Eyes“. sadly she died from leukemia aged just 36 in 1993.
The Brits has kicked off well with a storming “R U Mine” from those Sheffield scallywags the Arctic Monkeys. Will it all go downhill from here? Let’s find out shall we? Well at least James Corden was finally on fire for the first time hosting this show. Well the sleeve of his jacket was to set up a lame joke about the Arctic Monkey‘s pyrotechnics. Thankfully this will be his last Brits. The British Female Brit award was presented the shortest man in music Prince Rogers Nelson accompanied by his new band. Corden interrupted for a selfie with the purple one. Ellie Goulding won it and given the nominees deservedly so in my opinion. She was somewhat awed by meeting Prince too.
Katy Perry was next on stage and she went a bit Stargate Cleopatra on us. She sang “Dark Horse” from her new album ‘Prism’. I presume it’s not a George Harrison tribute. Kylie and Pharrell Williams presented the International Male solo Artist award after more inane and unfunny shite from Corden. It was won by Bruno Mars; personally I expected it to go to Justin Timberlake although I would have voted for Eminem.
Tinie Tempah and Fearne Cotton rocked up to present the British Breakthrough Act Award. It was well won by the rather excellent Bastille. I love the ‘Bad Blood’ album. Sadly Corden was back after that with a dreadful interview with One Direction which included some pathetic jokes about Justin Bieber in prison. Then we were subjected to Bruno Mars with “Treasure”. But to be fair I judged him too soon, that was a good performance. Really classy modern R & B.
Next up a welcome return from Lily Allen to present the award for Best British Group. Thank fuck it wasn’t won by Wand Erection. It went to a proper band instead. The marvellous Arctic Monkeys. The previously known winner of the newcomer award was the understated but talented Sam Smith.
Now we have the Global Success Award presented by Rosie double-barreled surname. Who the fuck is she? Was this Award manufactured for the ultimate manufactured band One Direction? Can’t we just sell them to the USA? Is Harry Styles having a wee the most controversial act of this years show? Sadly it probably is. The revolution doesn’t start here!
Beyonce live, now that was bloody good in my opinion. But was she lip syncing “XO”? The nest award was for best British single, presented by Katy Perry. Was she trying an English accent? Won by the fabulous Rudimental which thankfully beat Olly Murs and Wand Erection.
The first collaboration of this years show was Disclosure and Lorde with a really cool and funky take on Lorde’s “Royals”. Followed by a brilliant live rendition of “White Noise” with Aluna. The International Group award was presented by Cesc Fabregas (WTF?) and Nicole Scherzinger. The winners were Daft Punk. Could it really have been anyone else? The legend that is Nile Rodgers collected the award on their behalf.
Ellie Goulding was next to perform. She did “I Need Your Love” and “Burn”. I loved the massed percussion during “Burn”. I have really grown to like Ellie’s music. Noel Gallagher was there to present the best male solo artist award. Let’s hope he has a new album out soon. Fuck me Bowie’s only gone and won it! Kate Moss accepted it on Bowie’s behalf at his personal behest. A brilliant speech written by the Dame too. This has made my night!
Nick Grimshaw that bloke from Radio One who is moderately more talented than Chris Moyles stepped up to present the International Female solo artist award. Lorde was the winner and a bloody good choice too. Bowie is a Lorde fan. Then we had yet another shite interview by Corden with Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams. The British Video award was voted for live on Twitter during the show and was presented by Jimmy Carr. Sadly it was won by Wand Erection with “Best Song Ever”, but it isn’t is it?
Rudimental and Bastille combined on stage to become Bastimental for the night. It certainly made up for a second 1D award for the night. Blimey just how sexy is Ella Eyre? Now we are onto the final award of the night, it’s the one that everyone wants. It’s best album and it was presented by Emilie Sande. It went to the Arctic Monkeys. It is a great album, but I was hoping for a second Brit of the night for David Robert Jones. But well done to Alex and the boys, although their acceptance speech was largely bollocks wasn’t it?
The show was closed by Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. What a barnstorming performance from two music masters. “Get Lucky”, “Good Times”, “Happy” the hits just kept coming. Overall I think this years show was an improvement on last year. Some marks out of ten from me; James Corden 1/10, Bowie winning a Brit 10/10 and for the overall show 5/10 could do better.
The Heavy are a British band from Bath. They have been around a while but haven’t had massive success yet, although two of their three albums have made it into the US top 200. Hopefully they may now be on the verge of greater success after Guinness have chosen to use their 2012 single “What Makes A Good Man?” as a soundtrack to their new advert set in the Congo.
The advert is another Guinness advert to focus on real people. This time it’s the Sapeurs of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, who are the stars. These are everyday working men who transform themselves into sartorial gods in the evening. Check out the advert and then the full song below.
Songs returning to the top of the UK singles charts on separate chart runs is not an uncommon occurrence. Often after a death; “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “My Sweet Lord“. However in the USA it has only happened once to my knowledge. That was a feat achieved in 1960 and 1962. The song was originally by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, although their version only made it to number 28 in the US chart in 1959 and even that was as a B-Side to “Teardrops On Your Letter”
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 