Pam Ayres

Can’t see the problem. Orwell was a knockabout comedy kind of guy.

I picked some best albums of the year for the Economist. www.economist.com/culture/2025...

Here’s the story of a Christmas miracle! www.spectator.co.uk/article/what...

Reviewed Radiohead, and a great new band who aren’t Radiohead. www.spectator.co.uk/article/thom...

How long before the BBC are more embarrassed by keeping Rooney than by getting rid of him?

This is a brilliant and horrifying piece of reporting. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

Another magnificent O2 Arena organisational masterpiece. Radiohead on at 8.30. Got here at 7.55. In a 250 yard queue at Gate E. No queue at all at Gate H. But no redirection of the queue

The Daily Mail redefining “aerial” here.

I reviewed King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, via diversions into James Last and “London Has Fallen”. www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

This is a brilliant idea dreamt up by our mates @pigsx7.bsky.social . If you have any old instruments or kit knocking about then please see below!👇🏼 Thank you.. and thanks to them for being such great people. ❤️

“Waste” is always money spent on other people and other people’s families.

70 years since the birth of Rock’n’Roll, I went looking for signs of life … www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

I reviewed Simply Red. I like Mick Hucknall more with each passing year. www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-d...

I write about the late Ace Frehley. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

Told you he wasn’t dead

I wrote about I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight. www.ft.com/content/fd38...

I wrote about the late John Lodge. Spent the afternoon listening to the Moody Blues. They were really very good. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

I went to see Lady Gaga and the Beths, though not sharing a bill. www.spectator.co.uk/article/like...

This is the most transparent administration ever! The people demanded the files, and the White House is opening them up!

I wrote about the late Danny Thompson, who invented a new vocabulary for British music. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

You’d think the MOTD producers might have looked at Rooney’s management career and pondered whether he had difficulty articulating his undoubted genius for football. But no. He’s famous, so put him on telly.

I went to last night’s Together for Palestine concert. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Literally

Ferdinandesque from Koné. What a joy to look so much better than FC Hollywood. #WREQPR

I wrote about Viv Prince of the Pretty Things. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

Incredible

I wrote about Viv Prince of the Pretty Things. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

I reviewed the best festival, @endoftheroadfestival.com www.spectator.co.uk/article/brit...

Happy 40th birthday to the glorious Primitive Painters by Felt featuring Elizabeth Fraser, which was released on this day in 1985. Here's the original video from back then (THREAD) youtu.be/Rp8AvC_ESdM

The most fun I’ve had all year was playing Merry Xmas Everybody at the @endoftheroadfestival.com silent disco on Saturday night. Love those two hours

Wayne Rooney is every bit as good a pundit as he was a manager

Have there been any big pop chart hits in the last 20 years that use 1950s rock'n'roll as their chassis, in the way Faith did, or Love Machine did? Not rock'n'roll revival ones, but ones where you can hear a clear debt, even in something as basic as using the Bo Diddley rhythm.

I wrote about Baby, Please Don’t Go www.ft.com/content/7d8d...

I wrote about The Seeds, The Sting-Rays and MJ Lenderman www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

I enjoyed speaking to John Fogerty about Creedence. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

I reviewed Oasis. www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

I reviewed Stevie Wonder and Heavenly. www.spectator.co.uk/article/magn...

Yet more of me on Ozzy. www.spectator.co.uk/article/what...

More of me on Ozzy. inews.co.uk/culture/ozzy...

I picked 10 great Ozzy recordings for the Guardian. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

RIP Ozzy youtu.be/uIXRfQvCqAU?...

The Coldplay thing … I found it distressing that none of the chortling articles or posts thought of the humiliation they were heaping on the families. I presume no kids went to school yesterday, and that the partners can’t face leaving the house. But that’s a fair price to pay for some quick lolz.

Reviewed the fantastic Sabrina Carpenter show and pondered a) the vfm or otherwise of outdoor shows and b) pop shows’ relationship to musical theatre. www.spectator.co.uk/article/a-de...

Sad to hear that another of the wonderful people I spoke to for Denim and Leather has passed away. RIP Kevin Riddles, bassist of Angel Witch and Tytan. youtu.be/bR4gK6tmIvQ?...

I reviewed Iron Maiden. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

Can’t believe Ya Kid K never won a Best International Female Brit.

Reviewed Robbie and Cat Power. One put on more of a show. www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

Going to set up a hipster Nepalese restaurant. The Justified Ancients of MoMo.

I reviewed Eric Church at the RAH, Springsteen in Lille and Tyler Ballgame at the Social. www.spectator.co.uk/article/anyo...