Shell

Geordie music hack. Trained at University of Central Lancashire. Specialist areas include rock, metal, indie and more.When I arrived in this world in the autumn of 1978 (you do the maths) it was a sad time for music. The King was dead and Summer Nights was top of the pops.The first child of a glam rock mother and a hippy father, I was raised on an aural diet of Hendrix, Santana, Led Zep Bowie, Bolan and the Sweet. It was inevitable that I would share their love of music.When it came to my first record, I can only imagine the shame my poor Dad must've felt when he had to approach the counter of our local music emporium clutching a copy of The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Tight Fit.My musical tastes have improved somewhat since then, excluding of course the obligatory pre-pubescent boy band phase that every girl goes through - New Kids on the Block anyone?These days I like nothing better than sticking Kings of Leon, Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, System of a Down, AC/DC or Graham Coxon into the CD player but Im always a bit worried they'll get squashed (except Angus 'cos he's quite dinky already).Occasionally I like to indulge myself by making sculptures of garden insects using gig flyers, paper clips and old pieces of Lego while watching Diagnosis Murder with the sound turned down. Mark Sloan is a genius! Not only is he a doctor, but he can play the clarinet, tap dance and solve murders! It's top notch I'm telling you.I was educated at Heathfield Senior High in Gateshead, the establishment responsible for producing such luminaries as England internationals Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne and Steve Stone.I then went on to study journalism at the University of Central Lancashire for two years before dropping out. I hated living in Preston (apologies Preston peeps, I'm sure it's not that bad nowadays), the pace of life down there was just too sedate for me. I mean, the biggest gig to roll into town during my stay was David Essex at the Guildhall! Imagine that!The lack of excitement being too much to bear I headed back to the North East and my beloved Newcastle. Thats right folks, what you're looking at here is your 100% official, bona fide Geordie, born on the banks of the Tyne and everything! Well, Bensham General anyway which is about as close as you can get.I remember telling my careers advisor at school that I was going to write for the NME one day. Well, I haven't managed that but who cares? They've gone all wrong anyway. I write about what I like. Signed or unsigned it doesn't matter to me. As long as it's good I'll write about it. I mean, what's the point of writing about a semi reclusive sheep shearer who fuses jazz piano played on an old Casio circa 1985 with bird song and fog horns just because it's innovative or different? It sounds like shit that's why!!!Any bands, singers, whatever, feel free to contact me if you think you're worth reading about. If I agree with you I'll give you a mention. If you're local or playing in the Newcastle area I might even get down to see you live.So thats enough about me. How are you?..