Dublin's Hope Collective
"Knowledge is power and I'm looking forward to bathing in know,edge and spreading it after the weekend" is how ICTU President Eugene McGlone ended his welcome address today at the 4th annual Global solidarity summer school in Wexford. Eugene's words came after Minister of State Joe Costello opened the summer school with words about his … Continue reading Global Solidarity Summer School – day 1
New model army It's almost impossible when thinking or reminiscing about the modellers not to look back on their top of the pops appearance. Lead singer slade the leveller appeared dressed fashionably in his "only stupid b#####ds use heroin" t-shirt. Confrontational anarcho punks conflict then amended this slogan to proclaim that "only stupid b#####ds … Continue reading Bands that changed a life – New model army
When Rock n Roll came to Ireland! The National Stadium was there! This is a great one. Front page of the Irish Press, November 19th 1956. It is one of the first, probably the first, rock n roll gig in Southern Ireland. I like the description of the crowd response: “The performances were punctuated by … Continue reading Not only boxing at the Stadium
Lots of the acts featured on the wondrous Olympic opening ceremony have enjoyed huge sales increases this week. Maybe that is the solution to the decline in music sales…hold the Olympics every week! 65 songs from the top 200 were featured in either the Olympics opening or closing ceremonies. It certainly proves that Mega Events … Continue reading The Olympic Bounce
Rihanna: Dismal sales take her to the top of the charts. Quite a few stories this week about how few copies Rihanna shifted of her new album. Yes it got to number 1. The problem is that it sold the fewest copies any number 1 has sold in a single week since accurate records were … Continue reading Topping the charts is getting easier
Gimme Something Better - "The Profound, Progressive, and ocassionally pointless History of Bay Area Punk from Dead Kennedys to Green Day" by Jack Boulware and Silke Tudor (Penguin Books) I love these types of books. Historical, geographical and telling a punk rock stroy. Every City has a story and more and more cities have these … Continue reading Gimme Something Better Please
"He's just a stereotype" is what the Specials sang many years ago. I remember the night the Specials first played in Dublin. I remember getting the bus home from town and some rude boys were travelling out to the Stardust to the gig. I was envious but it was a case of too much too … Continue reading Pride Parade 2012
Euro 2012 - dreaming about you. Now that was a nice distraction. All discussions around bail-outs and currency and interest rates and EU/IMF were concentrated on events on the football pitch in Poland and Ukraine over the past month. From the kick-off in Poland to the trophy being lifted in Ukraine all European matters revolved … Continue reading EURO 2012 DARE TO DREAM
What happens when ticket prices fall? http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2012/08/14/the-new-rocknroll-ticket-price-discounts/ Jim Carroll on ticket prices for the Van Morrison gig. When the country is in such desperate financial straits should the authorities charge less for the use of their property? That way promoters would not have to take such big financial risks when putting on gigs? The … Continue reading ticket prices, more olympics…
The great DIY Vs Major Label debate is generally presented in black and white. There is so much talk about 'selling out' that we sometimes forget that some people live in both worlds simultaneously. Niall Hope got me the latest issue of Cometbus fanzine and it is fascinating. It also gives a great insider prespective … Continue reading behind the SCENES with Green Day – Cometbus *54
