Fuck’s sake. Is there no band who won’t jump on the lets get back together or we never split band wagon? At least the Pistols in 1996 were absolutely honest. 'We’re only after your filthy lucre' I think the tour was called!

In roughly the last 12 - 18 months just off the top of my head (any others let me know! )
Bush, the Pixies, Soundgarden, Faith No More, Rage Against the Machine, The Police, Led Zeppelin, and Fleetwood Mac.

Possibly even the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block (Do they count? And to add insult to injury in the same year as we lost REM and the White Stripes...)

Now The Stone Roses, Garbage, Suede and everyone else seem to be happy to pitch up, overlook old differences and let bygones be pay cheques. A lot of these are Late 80s Early 90s revivals – Surely the now officially not racist Morrissey can put his differences with Johnny Marr behind him?  That would please a few flower waving wish washey anti Maggie liberals!

But then maybe I am a hypocrite. Not only was I at that filthy lucre gig at Finsbury (I swear I was there!), but I also had the honour of shaking the Mozza’s hand and thanking him for making another reunion possible. One I never thought I’d see. The New York Dolls back in 2004. So perhaps in spite of my overwhelming apathy for the Smiths and Pink Floyd I should bite my lip and let the diminutive surly Glaswegian gadgie her day in the sun – oh sorry her rain in the sun!

I am really not one for the fashion police. I used to be fashion conscious (ha ha), but now i am just grateful to be conscious. But really - why oh why do bands issue T Shirts anymore? The result is that most big bands have become corporate entities rather than purveyors of quality music! Perhaps this is more of a rant than a social oservation - but I was in a pub recently after a gig. (Michelle Shocked as it happens - cracking gig). Before deciding on whether to go though - I had been torn, because that Friday night Iron Maiden were playing Dublin as well. But - i had already seen Maiden a few times, so the decision was actually quite easy. Anyway - retiring to an unfortunately all too trendy pub in Dublin to discuss the gig. In walked a girl wearing an Iron Maiden 'Killers' T shirt if my memory serves me well. So - I wandered over (against the advice of my wife) - and asked her how the gig was. Thinking she must have jumped in a taxi to make it across town for a drink. So i went across and asked how the gig was. The look i got bordered on her thinking i had two heads. "What?" she said looking at this middle aged over weight balding guy as if he was some freak! "How was the gig?" I said - Again another blank look. I continued "The Maiden gig at the O2 tonight - I assume you were at it?" Pointing at her 'aged' T Shirt. "Oh, no" she said and turned away as if i was some kind of paedo! That was the end of that riveting eloquent conversation!  
"Boring conversation anyway" I mumbled to myself as I was preparing to shout to my wife “we’re gonna have company!” – Perhaps that obscure reference would be lost on T Shirt Girl as well – but anyway – at that point it dawned on my … historically I had always had a slight admiration for teenagers who wore classic bands on their chests. MC5, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, and perhaps most of all the New York Dolls. (there are others - I am just ranting about Punk and Metal at the moment!)

However I realise, increasingly, this is no longer a statement of musical taste but more a fashion statement! Vivienne Westwood beat Malcolm in the end!

No longer is the T Shirt a badge of honour for the foot soldiers of oft exploited rock n roll bands. It could say Nike or Swoosh or Tommy Golddigger on it – the nearest these kids get to the music is when Justin Bieber or Michael Bubble cover a song! Actually that I would love to hear – Justin Bieber singing a song about abortion “Fuck This, Fuck that, fuck it all and fuck the brat, she don’t want a baby that looks like that” Or ‘Next up Buble with his signature tune ‘Smash It Up’'. 'Everybodies smashing things down.....'  Although i had better not joke - Paul Anka and a whole host of others have done similar things. 

Anyway  - I could go on (I generally do). I accost poor people wearing Stax or CBGBs T shirts all the time. Sometimes I even scare them! But hopefully they will go away and find out about these important pieces of musical history!

The Stones lips is another one – where the wearer generally doesn’t know anything beyond a greatest hits – but maybe, just maybe I am becoming a bit to dictatorial there – do they really need to be made to listen to the 4 minute version of Wild Horses featuring Gram Parsons, or Voodoo Stew’s residue sessions? Perhaps I need to take a step back!

Just been watching David Starkey interview on Newsnight and his ‘whites becoming black’ comments. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU5TcTSa9kk  Fascinating – though I am not sure I agree with him – I cannot see a compelling piece of information but as Owen Jones points out in the programme Starkey is an thorough historian. Whether Starkey is being racist or not he is a clever man and should have known better than to present it in such a naïve manner!

But the consumerism aspect of the riots is fascinating. Anyway -  let’s reel it back to music! Paul’s Boutique. I thought this was an underground album from 1989 by the Beastie Boys – but this morning I saw about the fourth or fifth woman in recent months with a bag that said Paul’s Boutique across it – more as a fashion statement than a music statement! (She looked more like an umpa lumpa with the tanning oil than a music fan! Not that the two cant co exist!) Quick google and it seems it is a fashion label as well. Is that inspired by the underground album? A case of Fashion imitating Art?
 Shame - I had hoped that the Beastie's had started selling their iconography on a wider range of items!

Still - That must really confuse Beastie Boys collectors. Where do you draw the line!

Also does this constitute a statement of being a fan of the album or just the carrier of the fashion accessory? Which reminds me I must do a blog about Band T Shirts at some point soon! They are no longer a statement of loyalty and just a fashion statement! – but that’s another blog!

The lovely Leona Lewis, the girl who bleeds love did well to market her single last month.

The wonderful caustic wit of Britain’s elite has struck again and was played to her advantage. In September of this year she released a single (who knew?). However to lay the foundations in August there seems to have been some kind of copyright issue (or an expensive piece of publicity!) Justice Judge Floyd during the copyright hearing in London was reminded of the urgency of the decision by the lawyers and he asked, with no doubt sincere concern: "Will the public be deprived of one or both of these outstanding musical works?" Shame it wasn’t both! This single is banal! I am not really sure when it starts! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4a82LRNdlQ

And no disrespect to the  guy but DJ Avicii looks like he has a coked up nose ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3oj62PBi5Ps

I haven’t watched it – but everyone seems to e talking about X factor (tattoos on bottom, mad orientals, have I missed anything?)

But can someone tell me who the Cheryl Cole Clone is on the panel? I am sure it has been pointed out before but Tulisa sounds more like a town in America than a person!

She reminds me of a song from the 90’s – Aqua’s Barbie girl – she’s made of plastic and an absolute ….. mmm maybe they weren’t the lyrics and perhaps they are not PC for this day and age,

Whilst I don’t know if this girl can string two sentences it may have been more adventurous to pick someone different to Cheryl! Or perhaps mr Cowell is making a wee snub at her! Pointing out how replaceable she is.

Anyway – perhaps I being harsh, maybe despite being a random bird from a random band (as far as I can gather) she is in fact the most well spoken ambassador for up and coming musicians (if indeed that is still X Factors role! Ha Ha. )