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Speedy (band)
Speedy was a five-piece Indie Pop/Britpop band from Sheffield, England, whose songs were known for their witty lyrics, often observing the darker and seedier side of working class life; "kitchen sink narratives" in the words of founder and lead singer Philip Watson. Their debut single on a major label ''Boy Wonder'' reached No. 56 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1996, but further chart success eluded them. Career Blammo! Band members Philip Watson (Vocals), Bronwen Stone (Drums), Moony Wainwright (Bass), Paul Turner (Keyboards) and Richard Sutcliffe (Guitar) (who replaced Tracey Plant) had previously performed under the name ''Blammo!'' between 1988 and 1994. In this guise they issued five singles; three on Heywood, Greater Manchester, Heywood based label Imaginary Records who also had Cud (band), Cud and The Mock Turtles on their roster. The band was invited to support The Beautiful South on three tours, which allowed them to perform in front of several thousand people at ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indie Pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with a DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and subsequently generated a thriving fanzine, Independent record label, label, and club and gig circuit. Compared to its counterpart, indie rock, the genre is more melodic, less abrasive, and relatively angst-free. In later years, the definition of ''indie pop'' has bifurcated to also mean bands from unrelated DIY scenes/movements with pop leanings. Subgenres include chamber pop and twee pop. Development and characteristics Origins and etymology Both ''indie'' and ''indie pop'' had originally referred to the same thing during the late 1970s, originally abbreviations for ''Independent music, independent'' and ''Popular music, popular''. Inspired more by punk rock's DIY ethos than its style, guitar bands were formed on the then-novel prem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melody Maker
''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publication) ''New Musical Express''. 1920s–1940s It was founded in 1926 by Leicester-born composer and publisher Lawrence Wright as the house magazine for his music publishing business, often promoting his own songs. Two months later it had become a full scale magazine, more generally aimed at dance band musicians, under the title ''The Melody Maker and British Metronome''. It was published monthly from the basement of 19 Denmark Street in LondonPeter Watts. ''Denmark Street: London's Street of Sound'' (2023), pp. 30-31 (soon relocating to 93 Long Acre), and the first editor was the drummer and dance-band leader Edgar Jackson (1895-1967). Jackson instigated a jazz column, which gained in credibility once it was taken over by Spike Hughes in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Robb (musician)
John David Robb (born 4 May 1961) is an English musician and journalist. He is the bassist and singer for the post-punk band the Membranes. He is also the vocalist in the punk rock band Goldblade. He writes for and runs the '' Louder Than War'' website and a monthly music magazine of the same name. He has written several books on music and occasionally makes media appearances as a music commentator. Since 2014 Robb has run the music writing festival Louder Than Words which is held in Manchester every November, and is a TEDx speaker and spoken word artist. Early life John David Robb was born on 4 May 1961Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave'', Virgin Books, , p. 272-3 in Fleetwood, Lancashire, and grew up in Anchorsholme, Blackpool, Lancashire.John R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alcopop! Records
Alcopop! Records is a British independent record label, run by Jack Clothier and Kevin Douch formed in East Oxford, 2006. The label works with DITZ, DZ Deathrays, Johnny Foreigner, Fight Like Apes, Anamanaguchi, Peaness, TIGERCUB, Gaffa Tape Sandy, The Spook School, Nelson Can, and QI. Inception Alcopop! Records was formally created after a small loan was gambled on the Charlton vs Portsmouth match of 16 September 2006, with money for the first release and show generated from a successful bet on the match. This money was invested in a band from Yeovil called Encyclopedia, with the first single "Emily" (Alcopop001) kicking off the 2006/7 singles club (which also included the likes of Midget, data.select.party and 4 or 5 Magicians). Founder Jack pOp, in a recent interview with the Complete Music Update website, said "Alcopop! was born back in 2006 with a three figure loan from my Dad and a fuzzy idea to mix up some classic 90s indie and some awesome new stuff and – via a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Babybird
Babybird are an English rock band formed by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Jones, who has been releasing music since 1995. While Jones' early solo work was released under the "Baby Bird" name, the altered "Babybird" was first used to distinguish the full band line-up that has changed often over the years. However, in recent years, Jones has recorded many of the Babybird albums himself, in addition to recording as a solo artist, and under various aliases including Death of the Neighbourhood, Trucker, Black Reindeer, Deluder, Arthritis Kid and others. Stephen Jones started writing and recording songs at home and his first collection of these demos, '' I Was Born a Man'', was released in July 1995 using the name Baby Bird. He formed a band in order to tour and promote this work. In 1996, Babybird signed to Echo Records and their first single was released in July 1996. Babybird were dropped from their record label in 2000 after their third album, '' Bugged'', had poo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Longpigs
Longpigs were an English indie rock band who rose to fame on the fringe of Britpop in the 1990s, comprising Crispin Hunt (vocals, guitar), Richard Hawley (guitar), Simon Stafford (bass guitar) and former Cabaret Voltaire member Dee Boyle (drums), who was replaced by Andy Cook for their second album. Hailing from Sheffield, the group had success with singles such as "She Said" and "On and On", and their well-received debut album, '' The Sun Is Often Out'' (1996). History Early career (1993) The group initially signed with Elektra Records, but just before the release of their first single, two major crises struck the band: Lead singer Hunt was seriously injured in a car accident, resulting in his being in a coma for three days. Then, shortly afterwards, the UK arm of the record label closed, leaving the Longpigs' future in doubt. Elektra set a price of £500,000 to release them from their recording contract. The first success (1994–1996) The Longpigs' contract was purchased ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jamie Theakston
James Paul Theakston (born 21 December 1970) is an English television presenter, producer, narrator and actor. He has hosted television programmes for the BBC, ITV (TV network), ITV, Channel 4 and 5 (British TV channel), Channel 5. He co-presented the Saturday morning BBC One children's show ''Live & Kicking'' alongside Zoe Ball between 1996 and 1999, and occasionally hosted the music programme ''Top of the Pops'' between 1998 and 2003. He currently co-hosts the national breakfast show with Amanda Holden on Heart (radio network), Heart Radio. Theakston narrated the BBC documentary series ''Traffic Cops'' from 2003 to 2015, and on Channel 5 (British TV channel), Channel 5 from 2016 onwards. He has won a BAFTA award for ''Live & Kicking'' and numerous awards for his radio work, including a Sony Gold, 3 Silver awards and 4 Bronze awards, 2 Arqiva awards, 3 TRIC awards and 2 New York Radio Festival Awards. Education He joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of 13, where he ap ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Live & Kicking
''Live & Kicking'' was a British children's television series that originally aired on BBC1 from 2 October 1993 to 15 September 2001. It was the replacement for '' Going Live!'', and took many of its features from it, such as phone-ins, games, comedy, competitions and the showing of cartoons. Once ''Live & Kicking'' had become established in series two, it reached its height in popularity during series four, when it was presented by Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston; their final edition won a BAFTA award. After this, the programme's ratings dropped with the launch of '' SMTV Live'' on ITV and the show ended in 2001. History ''Live & Kicking'' was conceived as a replacement for '' Going Live!''. It was first broadcast on 2 October 1993 at 9 am on BBC1. The original hosts were Andi Peters, Emma Forbes who had presented a cookery segment in ''Going Live!'', and John Barrowman. For the second series, Barrowman was relegated to hosting the showbiz ''Electric Circus'' segment, l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zoë Ball
Zoe Louise Ball (born 23 November 1970) is a British broadcaster and presenter. She was the first female host of the Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows for the BBC, and in 2024 was confirmed as the second-highest paid BBC presenter after Gary Lineker. In 2018, Ball was announced as the new host of ''The Radio 2 Breakfast Show'' and took over from Chris Evans in January 2019, before stepping down from the programme in December 2024. Ball presented the children's show '' Live & Kicking'', alongside Jamie Theakston, from 1996 to 1999. In 2005, she was a contestant in the third series of ''Strictly Come Dancing''. Following this, in 2011 she replaced Claudia Winkleman as host of the BBC Two spin-off show '' Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two'' until her departure in 2021. Ball also hosted the '' Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour'' in 2011 and 2015. Early life and education Zoe Louise Ball was born on 23 November 1970 in Blackpool, Lancashire. She is the daughter of the chi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, Hip hop music, hip hop and Independent music, indie, while its sister station BBC Radio 1Xtra, 1Xtra plays Black music, Black contemporary music, including hip hop and Rhythm and blues, R&B. Radio 1 also runs two online streams, BBC Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Dance, dedicated to dance music, and BBC Radio 1 Anthems, Radio 1 Anthems, dedicated to throwback music; both are available to listen only on BBC Sounds. Radio 1 broadcasts throughout the UK on FM band, FM between and , Digital radio in the United Kingdom, digital radio, Digital television in the United Kingdom, digital TV and BBC Sounds. It was launched in 1967 to meet the demand for music generated by pirate radio stations, when the average age of the UK population ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Football Focus
''Football Focus'' is a BBC television magazine programme launched in 1974, broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday lunchtimes during the football season. The programme, along with '' Final Score'', is a remnant from the former flagship sports show '' Grandstand'' which for decades dominated the BBC One Saturday afternoon TV schedules. Football Focus became a programme in its own right in 2001. The show is now a weekly magazine, with reports from across the country at all levels of English and Scottish football. It previews the weekend's fixtures and provides updates from the early Premier League game. Since BBC have the rights to Premier League highlights, ''Football Focus'' also shows the key moments from midweek matches. As of 2021, presenter Alex Scott is joined by two football pundits such as Fara Williams, Martin Keown, Dion Dublin, Nedum Onuoha, Shay Given, Ellen White, Stephen Warnock and Rachel Brown-Finnis. Other pundits to have appeared include Mark Lawrenson, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Now That's What I Call Music!
''Now That's What I Call Music!'' (often shortened to ''NOW'') is a series of various artists compilation albums released in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Sony Music and Universal Music ( Universal/Sony Music) which began in 1983. Spinoff series began for other countries the following year, starting with South Africa, and many other countries worldwide soon followed, expanding into Asia in 1995, then the United States in 1998. The compilation series was conceived in the office of Virgin Records in London and took its name from a 1920s British advertising poster for Danish bacon featuring a pig saying "Now, That's What I Call Music" as it listened to a chicken singing. The pig became the mascot for the series, making its last regular appearance on ''Now That's What I Call Music 5'', before reappearing in 2018, and again since 2021. Original United Kingdom and Ireland series Conception of ''Now That’s What I Call Music!'' series In 1983, the ideas of the Now That’s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
