Suzi Quatro Unzipped

This is Suzi Quatro's autobiography which is one of my fabulous buys at Fopp. I finished reading it on Thursday and I must say, it has to be up there with my favourite books of all time.

I have to admit, although I have never possessed a record of hers, I have been a fan since I was 9 years old when my mum took me and my sister to see her live at Butlins. She came on at 11PM and I was asleep in my chair! But boy, did her music wake me up!

Okay, she's no Robert Plant. But she has an amazing voice and she has written some wonderful songs.

Her autobiography was definitely written by her, 100%. And the way in which she tells her story is so unique, intimate and honest. I just found the whole thing interesting and I was actually sad when I finished the book!

For those that don't know, she played Leather Tuscerado in Happy Days, she played Annie Oakley in the West End show Annie Get Your Gun. She had major UK hits with "Devil Gate Drive" and "Can the Can" and she can count Elvis Presley as a fan!

Her life has been so interesting but what you get from the book is the soul of a truly inspirational and humble person.





In other news, I have successfully completed my PTLLS!

The Streets

I thought now would be a good opportunity to talk about The Streets.

His work is commonly referred to as rap but I define it as being "poetry for the young of the 21st century". His lyrics are totally honest, thought-provoking and from the heart. He's definitely worth a listen.
I kind of feel "Heaven for the Weather" is a bit near the mark but I feel it's just questioning religion which is a positive thing.

Anyway...

Are you in or do you know a really good band that I've probably never heard of? Please enlighten me!

Contact me with a link to their website, I will listen, and if I think they're any good I will put them on the "Monthly Mention". A monthly blog listing the bands recommended by my readers!

How does that sound?

Youtube

I don't know if everyone is aware of this but Youtube has been stopped from showing music videos whose rights belong to certain record companies. This means that a lot less music videos are available to watch now. I can't find any articles to link to but if you go to Youtube and look for ten random music videos you are pretty much guaranteed to hit a wall with one or two.

So...what do we do? Well, how about making your own music video and putting it on Youtube? It's not as difficult as it sounds. Buy or download your favourite song and get a good camera or better yet, enlist the help of a friend who knows a thing or two about making films and taking good photographs, put your film with the song and voila!

I'm sure I am not the only music lover out there who, when listening to her playlist conjures up their own images in their head. I think it'd be good to turn this into a real art form. You could also use it as an opportunity to advertise a music or a photography website.

In other news, head over to Fopp! It's a brilliant record shop that stocks mainly music by talented artists and interesting books and films. And it's really, really cheap! To find your nearest store go to http://www.foppreturns.com/

I bought Suzi Quatro's autobiography - Unzipped for £4 and Robert Plant and Jimmy Page's album, No Quarter for £3! I can't wait to sink my teeth into these.

I'm still involved with Oxjam and will be keeping you updated with all my activities with them.

Last Thursday I went to the Poetry Cafe at 22 Betterton Street in Convent Garden and picked up a load of Poetry books for free. Unbelievable. They are really good books with not just actual poems but also interviews with poets and interesting articles.

Classic Rock magazine

Rest In Peace Natasha Richardson - May 1963 - March 2009

Classic Rock magazine is excellent. It's got so many interesting articles, facts and photographs, letters from other Classic Rock fans and it's a true joy to read.

This month you get a free cd which is a compilation of "lost tunes" including tracks by Mott the Hoople, The Moody Blues, Caravan and Thunderclap Newman. If you don't want to buy the magazine, head over to losttunes.com , it's an aladdin's cave of downloadable mp3s of songs you thouht you'd forgotten or didn't know existed and songs that you can't get anywhere else.

There is also an interesting interview with Kat Von D who explains the connection between tattoos and classic rock. It's got a review of a Muse biography "Out of This World: The Story of Muse" by Mark Beaumont.



I also found out that The Darkness, except for Justin Hawkins, reformed in 2008. Mr Hawkins has been busy setting up another band called Hot Leg. They have released their debut album "Red Light Fever" and from what I've read we can expect it to have the very same frivolity, campness and out-of-this world guitar solos. I just might have to buy it. I adored The Darkness, I still have a t-shirt. Justin Hawkins may have had to go to rehab for his addiction to cocaine but the guy is amazing. He's from Lowestoft, drives Lamborghinis and has a superbly english sense of humour. You've got to love him. His brother Dan is also lovely.

On the radio I've been hearing a very annoying garage/hip-hop sampling of Dead or Alive's "Round Round" and I am not amused. I don't know who it's by, and nor do I care, I HATE IT! Please stop playing it!

Downloads vs CDs

^^^^From Purina website

I'm coming towards the end of the PTLLS course now, eek!

I'm getting involved in allsorts of voluntary work. Next week I shall be helping out at The Moggery and I shall be watching a performance by the group of students I have been helping to teach.

The ball's started rolling with Oxjam, I've started contacting musicians to perform at a gig already!

In music news, Eminem has filed a lawsuit against Universal for better royalties from download sales. This could be a landmark battle and I think it could mean a better life for all musicians.

I don't know about you but I feel it's sad that downloads have pretty much replaced CDs in music sales. Not just for sentimental reasons but it means less music is actually being bought and sold and musicians are making less money.

Of course, mega-rich celebrities like Eminem aren't exactly struggling but the fact is the majority of artists are.