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duran duran

  • Glitter Glue Dave Twist book front cover 300dpi 1282x1536There are a number of “memorabilia” books out there, but none, I repeat, none, are as intimate and lovely as "Glitter & Glue. Young, Loud and Ephemeral: Curating the Teenage Rampage" and no others cover the pivotal, crucial period 1972-79 so well. And there's only 450 of these, so get yer skates on.

    The author is Dave Twist. More on him soon. The publisher is Easy Action, also a record company, and you should have many of their releases. Their blurb is a great strarting point:

    "While chronicling his own fan-rampage – from the freak rock glamour of the early '70s through to punk…Glitter & Glue's collection also represents the journey that pretty much everyone involved in the early UK punk scene will have travelled, at least part of the way.  (It’s) the first book to cover this extended time-frame with the full range of ephemera available – with some dedication – to the provincial teenage fan."

    There are two forewords; and one quote from each should suffice to get your attention:

    "Looking through this book is like stepping into a time machine that speeds one back into a music obsessed teenage boy’s bedroom in the early 1970’s. Not any teenage boy, mind you. Dave Twist’s collection of Third Generation Rock and Roll’memorabilia is second to none." 

  • dubbyaOh my God. It happened. I can't believe it really happened.

    During a speech in Dallas at Southern Methodist University’s George W Bush Presidential Center this month, the man himself, George W Bush, did the best thing ever. I am pretty sure it is the single best thing that has ever happened. I do not believe I am exaggerating when I say that.

    While criticizing Russia for having rigged elections and shutting out political opposition (which would already be hilarious coming from any American in general and Bush in particular), the 43rd President made the following comment:

    “The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. I mean, of Ukraine."

    And then it got even better. After correcting himself with a nervous chuckle, Bush broke the tension in the empire-loyal crowd with the words, "Iraq too. Anyway." He then quipped that he is 75-years-old, leaning harder on his "Aw shucks gee willikers I'm such a goofball" persona than he ever has in his entire life.