A Deserved Kick In The Buzzcocks

When the comedy pop quiz "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" burst onto
screens in November 1996, it reflected a cynical perspective
on pop music, sneering at the Spice Girls, and blaspheming Britpop.

For the best part of a decade it was one of the few programmes
I would make an appointment to watch, and in a rather tough
period growing up, one we were able to watch as a family
regardless of its adult nature.

18 years on, the programme has been given its more than
timely marching orders, in a climate where rather than give
today's pop performers a ribbing, they're treated to a love-in
regardless of their vacuous personas.

Even the guests themselves have found it hard to take.














Rather than bemoan the long decline of the series, here's
five standout shows that have provided mirth within the melodics.

David Van Day (Series 9, 2001)




If you've ever wondered as to why the male half of Dollar
has become an obnoxious tosspot in the last decade,
maybe the constant tauntings of his side-venture as a burger
van vendor are to blame, from his appearance on the show 
in the latter half of 2001.

Right from the opening Lamarr and team captain Sean Hughes
fire off the kebab gags to much cringey hilarity.

Even guest Ricky Tomlinson gets in on the act, providing an
amusing reminder of the more raucous period of the Lamarr
era, before he turned into an angry, bitter man towards the end
of his tenure.

Pete Burns (Series 10, 2002)



The series has seen it's fair share of outrageous guests,
but when Pete Burns appeared in Sean Hughes final series,
the Dead Or Alive singer caused a stir not just with his
bitchy behaviour, but his rather shocking facial appearance.

Lamarr later commented that "an inexperienced surgeon mixed
crossply and radial together"

Amy Winehouse (Series 19, 2006)



Slightly biased as I was in the audience for this episode,
though having made a memorable appearance on the showin 2004 around the time of her first album, the singer's
second outing on the show turned out to be more outrageous.

Simon Amstell having settled in well as the new permanent
host for this series picks up on the change in persona
from "the old Amy", as later reflected
in the video for "Back To Black".

Though whilst the episode has it's fair share of funny moments,
it's a tragic reflection of the long-term repercussions of the singer
and many wonder whether Amstell had a point. Well, maybe not
about duetting with Katie Melua.

Donny Tourette (Series 20, 2007)




Screened after the singer's infamous appearance and escape from
the Big Brother house, but recorded before it, this episode cemented
Simon Amstell's position as the definitive host for the show.

I personally thought it overshadowed the episode with Preston
walking out, though unlike the lead singer of the Ordinary Boys,
Patrick Brannan to give him his real name, at least has the courage
to laugh heartily at the jibes made at him.

But taking on Bill Bailey, that's a no-no as the team captain
manages to deal with the childish digs in his ever-hilarious manner.

Even Noel Fielding in his first appearance on the show is amusing,
which is an added bonus.

Frankie Boyle (Series 24, 2011)



For me this is where the show should have ended.

Two series without Amstell, it was clear that they weren't able to find
anyone who could take on the show permanently made even
more evident, by eventually enlisting Rhod Gilbert for it's fateful
final series.

Whilst Boyle would never be asked to take on the permanent mantle,
this episode made up for many a shambolic guest host this series,
and with Boyle being the only one who'd hosted before, he settles in
well, even allowing witty if at times wicked banter with the guests,
namely an impressionable Michelle Williams off of Destiny's Child.

Sadly rather than end the series here, they focused less on getting
a permanent host, and more on unfunny gimmicks and unnecessary
props, allowing the show to become the exact parody of what it
laid into.

With 269 shows to it's belt, Never Mind The Buzzcocks can go
to it's grave knowing it's run for a hundred more shows than
Noel's House Party.

But like said show, if your remember the show at it's prime
with Lamarr and Amstell at their sharpest, you'll be able
to recall it as enjoyable.

I say enjoyable, I mean tolerable...

A Day Away From Dirty

It seemed only right to blog before turning 30 this coming Friday
and that there's been a fair bit going on, with regards to getting
out.

Most of it has been positive although some of it
has been a muddle and at times upsetting for no good reason, especially if I have brought myself into it.



















That was the case at the beginning of April when I
went to the Village Underground in East London to see
Andreya Triana perform live, trying out tunes from her latest
album "Giants".

Unfortunately I only lasted one song through no fault of
A.T. herself, but for reasons I'd prefer not to discuss on this post.

The photo sort of sums it up, which is a shame considering
A.T. was wearing her amazing striped suit.

Though it's probably just as well as from what I've heard
the rather unpleasant venue was filled with even more
unpleasant punters who felt the need to chat amongst
each other whilst Ms Triana was performing.

Utter wankers, really why do they even pay to go in
and not even listen?

Thankfully none of those idiotic sorts were at Rough Trade
East last Thursday as to celebrate the release of said album
Andreya was back performing a mini-set at the East London
record store, where this time, I was back right at the
front of the stage.






















Let's keep it that way, yeah?

My gig visiting adventures have also taken me up to Manchester
and my first ever visit to the rather special Band On The Wall
which last Friday paid host to the man of the moment,
a guy who has been compared to D'Angelo, only that his album
actually sounds like he bothered to finish it.

And not one dull song on there or in his performance, that being
Jarrod Lawson.


















Hailing from Oregon, this guy's caused quite a stir with
soul lovers in the last year or so, especially in the UK, though
unfortunately, the presence encountered a few more rats to
the venue, who again felt the need to talk during the songs.

Undeterred I've booked another gig with the great man,
in November when he'll be performing at the Shepherd's Bush
Empire, in what will be quite a busy month for gigs as
A.T. will be at Koko, and The Sons Of Kemet will be stopping
over at Rich Mix near Bethnal Green.

Really excited about that last lot, as they've brought jazz to
a young and dare I say lively crowd, dispelling perceptions of
the genre being celebrated by pretentious so and sos.

Radio wise it's been a little quiet at CSR as most of the students
involved have been in exams, though we have the annual Kic Awards
this Saturday on the day after my 30th birthday.

I won't lie in saying that I've started to feel left out of goings-on
there, but luckily a few days later I have been invited back to
my old stomping ground of Westminster to give a masterclass on
editing to the current set of students running Smoke Radio, as the
station celebrates it's 10th anniversary.

It's also on the same day as the station's awards do so it
will be good to hopefully catch up with some old faces as
well as a few new ones. 

So overall the next couple of months is looking busy,
and then by November it will happen yet again.