Black Sky Thinking

Jeremy Allen Recalls How Drinking With Saxon Put Him On A Putney Grave

Jeremy Allen remembers a night outdrinking Lemmy from Motorhead with Brit metal loons Saxon. He nearly reformed Genesis, but soon realised he needed to reform himself.

Uncle Agony Aidan Moffat Returns To Mend Your Wounded Hearts & Privates

New Year is traditionally a time for relationship strife and itches in the nethers from unfortunate encounters after December's office party season. Thank goodness Aidan Moffat is back to sort you all out

Florence And The Machine And The Desperation Of The Annual Tipster Orgy

Florence And The Machine? A tip for 2009? Luke Turner has a tip for the A&R department: don't get off a moving bus.

Pavement: Selecting The Best For One Side Of A C90

David McNamee trawls his dusty racks for gems by American indie overlords Pavement to make up a compilation for one side of a cassette.

Guns N’Roses and Chinese Democracy

Dayal Patterson suggests that in the inevitable rush to castigate Chinese Democracy, critics may have missed something: a pretty good album.

(Business) Parklife: Blur’s Reformation Is Part Of A Depressing Corporate Trend

As Live Nation's tills ring, Tim Burrows asks if the constant trend for reformations isn't a corporate ploy to keep the music fan in dumb adolescence

Grace Under Fire: Jeff Buckley Fans Should Stop Mithering About Leonard Cohen Cover

Outraged fans of the late California troubador are hatching a plot to scupper the _X Factor_ winner's bid for #1 - but maybe they should stop mewling like their hero, says Alex Denney

Hey Student! The Quietus Praises The Learners

For those about to learn - John Doran salutes you.

Britney Spears: The Perfect Pop Star For Our Times?

With the head-shaving craziness behind her, the stage is set for Britney Spears' triumphant return. Is she the perfect pop star for our time, asks Charles Ubaghs

One Side Of A C90 From Synth Pop Pioneer Gary Numan

David McNamee trawls his crate of Numan records to select ten delicacies to fit on one side of a 90 minute cassette

Trick Trick’s Homophobia Has Crossed The Line

Writer and OutRage! campaigner Brett Lock asks would we be as willing to ignore Trick Trick's vile hatefulness if he were a racist. It is, needless to say, a rhetorical question.

Net Result: Why Blog Rock Is Finally On The Make

2008 is the year blog bands threw their homework into the fire, put their dancing shoes on and went out into the big wide world. But what did everyone else think?

The Unusual Sensation Of Feeling Sorry For The US Republican Party

Is The Daily Show America’s Saviour?

Big Ben Myers casts his jaded eye over coverage of the US presidential elections and finds only The Daily Show comes up smelling of roses.

Taking The Peth: Rhys Ifans vs. Paddy Considine As Rock ‘N’ Roll Singers

Welsh "shagger" Rhys Ifans of The Peth and "workman like" Midlands bloke Paddy Considine of Riding The Low go head to head in our one hundred percent spurious battle of the bands. (Which was tested with good humour by Jeremy Allen.)

The Cure: Selecting The Best For One Side Of A C90

To celebrate the release of their 13th album, permanently teenage Cure fan John Doran recommends a primer to get you in the mood for crimping and back combing, culled solely from album tracks.

Peter Kay, Pre-Op: A Look Back At The Comic’s Career Before ‘Geraldine’

With Peter Kay's transsexual popstar alter-ego still riding high in the Top Ten, Alex Denney looks at the career of the much-maligned comedian.

Bring The Ruckus: Country & Western Versus Krautrock, Our Writers Rage

Quietus writers David Stubbs and Andrew Mueller square up to resolve one of the the great unanswered questions of our time

We Should Rejoice In, Not Mourn, The Destruction Of The London Astoria

This week it was confirmed that the London Astoria is to be knocked down. Luke Turner volunteers to place the charges.

Would The Shit Slim Shady Please Fuck Off?

Four years? Just to come back with this mad man's breakfast of a single? Eminem's not keeping it real. But there again, he never was, says John Doran

Uncle Agony Aidan Moffat: Prophylactic For Your Conjugal Woes

Aidan Moffat's back from holiday to solve more of your depraved and peculiar carnal habits

Jarvis Cocker’s Songwriting 101 And The Worst Lyrics Ever . . .

Recently at In The City, Jarvis Cocker proved the main attraction with his lecture on lyrics. Here is our guide how not to write 'em . . . featuring Bob Dylan, Bono, Morrissey and more.

What’s So Independent About American Independent Films?

The current crop of American independent films have indie style but a Hollywood soul. Where's the integrity asks David Moats?

A Cellarfull Of Noise: A Racket Of A Blog With Footnotes, By Stevie Chick

The Quietus Digs Out Our Walkman For A Faith No More Mixtape

In the first of a new Quietus series, David McNamee creates the ultimate Faith No More mix - to fit on one side of a C90 cassette

Mr Agreeable: Like Ten Thousand Spoons When All He Needs Is A Gun

Over a breakfast of lightly grilled kippers Mr Agreeable casts his sparkling eye over news concerning Razorlight, Oasis and My Bloody Valentine.

Why Cliff Richard Is The Epitome And Saviour Of Rock & Roll

Forget Liam Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft or Paul Weller - Sir Cliff is the best rock star we have, says John 'We Don't Talk Any More' Doran

How The Beta Male Got His Revenge On Hollywood

The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth: Darren Lee looks back on how the beta male took his revenge on Hollywood

Rage Against The Machine – The Return Of Riot And Resistance

After a series of adrenalizing return gigs, Shane Glackin recalls seeing RATM at the Battle Of Los Angeles and explains why we need them now more than ever.

Ice Cube: AmeriKKKa’s Least Revolutionary

Actor, rapper, director, player, industry mogul… whatever Ice Cube is, he ain’t no revolutionary no more, says Joel McIver

Reggae Fans Are Idle Scum, Says Spurious Report. The Quietus Wades In…

How do you get the BBC to report on anything you feel like? Wipe your shitty arse on a sheet of paper and call it a report, says Adam Narkiewicz.

Manchester, So Much To Answer For. A City Accused

Any day now a horde of parka wearing divs will pile out off various National Express coaches clutching new reissues by The Smiths, New Order and the Inspirals, on their way to Uni in Manchester. Let it fucking go already says Austin Collings