Today's listening, remembering Ian Curtis 15th July 1956 - 18th May 1980

Happy 40th birthday to this compilation, which was my entry point to The Cure. Also available on VHS, if you're under 40 then ask your parents what that was. The video for Close To Me with the wardrobe falling into the sea still terrifies me. #TheCure #StandingOnABeach #StaringAtTheSea

Seems pretty good after one episode but I always struggle to get my head round Steve Coogan in a serious role. He's only lapsed into Partridge a couple of times so far.

Happy 100th birthday to David Attenborough. Here's one of my favourite wildlife clips. Don't fuck with giraffes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=i87q...

Very quick so no doubt missed something obvious, top 15 TV shows Inside No 9 Twin Peaks The Prisoner Brass Eye The Day Today This Is England 86-90 Life On Mars/Ashes To Ashes Young Ones The Thick Of It League Of Gentlemen Batman (1960s) I’m Alan Partridge Black Mirror Tales Of The Unexpected Bagpuss

My only #RecordStoreDay purchase this year. I didn't queue up, can never be bothered with that. Ordered online from one of the stores. Should have waited until today as it's #BandcampFriday so buy it there if you want all the money to go to #TheTelescopes thetelescopes.bandcamp.com/album/editio...

During lockdown a group of friends launched Hitchcock Club, attempting to watch one of his films a week with everyone sharing their thoughts online. Five years ago today we watched the final film and got a souvenir mug.

Tonight's sky looks like a shoegaze album cover.

Film you've watched more than 6 times with a GIF

Hey @netflix.com, why all the hype about showing #AlanPartridge Mid Morning Matters if you're going to delete it after one day? I didn't imagine it because my TV still shows I was halfway through watching it. Guess I'll have to watch Youth Hostelling With Chris Eubank instead.

Robert Baker "Collage and Chaos: The Absence Of State" exhibition launch. The exhibition runs until 4th June at RPM Audio in Bearwood, open Tue - Sat 11am - 5pm outsideleft.com/main.php?sto... www.instagram.com/robertjbaker... #punk #collage #birmingham

This made me chuckle. Not grammatically incorrect, just ambiguous. Similar to another one of my favourite headlines: "Madeleine McCann questioning shocked suspect" #holytrinityofpedants

Amazing set from @themonochromeset.bsky.social. Ganesh Seshadri, a.k.a. Bid, is very enigmatic, with bassist Andy Warren (an original Ant) doing most of the talking. Tempted to ask Bid later for a photo/to sign the setlist but decided to respect the air of mystery he no doubt wants to retain.

Sad news www.theguardian.com/media/2026/a...

@blackdoldrums.bsky.social sounding just as you would imagine from their name and their frightening array of pedals. A couple of new ones in the set, they are currently writing the next album.

Is anyone else now singing this headline to the tune of Quo's first hit? "Dog poo and flower pot men and you, all I ever see is them and you"

Happy 70th birthday, Justin Sullivan Some of my collection with my jacket from the '90s in the middle. There have been a couple more albums since that photo was taken. #NewModelArmy

Happy Easter!

That's the gig of the year sorted, the rest of you can stop trying now. Fantastic to have @prolapseband.bsky.social back in Birmingham for the first time since 1999. (Although I have seen them elsewhere in between) Good to see you again @derrymick.bsky.social and thanks for the setlist.

This week's viewing. It's already giving me strange dreams. www.netflix.com/browse?jbv=8...

Been watching this over the past three nights. Thanks whoever it was who suggested it, this is exactly my kind of viewing. I don't mean the violence. I enjoy things with a 1970s/80s working class setting. The clothes and interior decor in the first episode in particular are spot on.

Whore's pasta with fresh tuna. Or "working girl's pasta" as Jamie Oliver politely calls it. I think mine looks pretty close to the one in the book. @xxhi-its-lauraxx.bsky.social this is the recipe you were asking about

Very excited about this. One of my favourite humans in a local church.

Black Mekon top secret in-store "acoustic" performance at RPM Audio. Their definition of acoustic is plugged in but slightly less loud than usual.

I honestly don't know if this is real or a Chris Morris sketch.

Happy Equinox to all those who celebrate. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpTB...

Share a random film gif...

Watching Mock The Week and I've just realised the inspiration behind the album cover. #Morrissey #MakeupIsALie

I don't post much on here these days but thought I'd drop in to say you should all check this out. First new material from Swell Maps in over 40 years, featuring an all-star cast and a couple of Nikki/Epic tunes.

Clothes and records on the floor, the memories of the night before... 💔

Devastated to hear this news. Glad I got to see Soft Cell several times. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

Good show from the Psychedelic Furs last night, with a set spanning all of their albums. Could have done with a bit of sax but since the sad loss of Mars Williams, it wasn't to be.

It's here! #cardiacs #LSD

Book club outing to see my celebrity double @kermodemovie.bsky.social and @nelsonjenny.bsky.social

Post an obscure album in your collection that always makes you think: 'Surely nobody else has got this?'

Just realised that it's September tomorrow. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0K7...

Been waiting a long time for this. 26 years to be precise. @prolapseband.bsky.social

Fantastic set from @throwingmuses.bsky.social last night. 90 minutes with a good selection from the recent albums and much older material. @kristinhersh.bsky.social is possibly my favourite human ever.

This is worth 90 minutes of your time. If you think Devo are just a bit quirky, this will help you appreciate the serious philosophy behind their music. www.netflix.com/title/82052197

Luke Haines and Peter Buck playing a sellout gig at the H&H last night. Most of it was new to me as it was from the latest album, which I hadn't realised was out yet. I picked up a copy after the show.

Cavegirl and the Neandergals - primeval rock 'n' roll played with dinosaur bones. Walking through Birmingham I was stopped by a youngster who said my hair was "sick" and asked how I do it. Maybe I should set up on YouTube as a hairstyle "influencer"

Posted 80 photos of #RebellionFestival on Facebook, if anyone on here is wondering my highlights included Nightingales, Peter Hook, Swell Maps C21, Evil Blizzard, Courettes, Undertones, Damned, the Mob, Neville Staple, Alternative, Steve Ignorant, PiL

Back from Blackpool and I'm completely knackered. Glad I've booked the next few days off work. Loads of band photos to sort through, might post some on here eventually.

What's your favourite song by someone that's not actually their song? www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZJT...

If you see this, post a castle.

"New" #Cardiacs single with a wonderfully hypnotic video. The great lost album "LSD" finally sees the light of day in September. Obviously I've ordered the deluxe vinyl which looks like it will be a thing of beauty. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTRa...

Steve Harrison talks about his rock 'n' roll memoir "It's Dead Dead Good" with @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social. Great reminiscences of music in the North West.

Checking out #MixTape to see what the fuss is about. Enjoying it, for the obvious reason. Would I watch a love story like this if it didn't have the music angle?

#Ozzy funeral procession is streaming on various sites for those who can't be there, including BBC... www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cq...

For anyone wondering about the announcement of Au Pairs gigs, here's a statement from the original band. Don't think I'll bother. I feel more loyalty to Pete, who's a friend than Lesley, who I've never met. Plus I've heard that Lesley's recent performance with Adrian Belew was a bit ropey.