Barry Gibb wasn’t exaggerating when he told me that he and Olivia Newton John had “lived the same life”. British born, Australian-raised, first strides to fame in the UK, superstardom in the USA, careers of various astounding triumphs that are perennially overshadowed by one particular cultural earthquake; it’s not hard to see the parallels between…
Category: Artists: A-C
8 essential Paul McCartney & Brian Wilson songs to celebrate their 80th birthdays
Did we know that Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson were the exact same age? That save for a couple of days in June 1942, two history-changing songwriters – for whom the moniker “genius” is an understatement – both chose to enter this world? Well, if this synchronicity somehow passed you by for the undoubted euphoric…
‘Still Waters’ at 25 – How the Bee Gees’ late 90s comeback cemented their legacy
May 2022 marks both the 25th anniversary of the release of the Bee Gees’ Still Waters album, as well as 10-years since Robin Gibb died aged just 62. To commemorate these anniversaries, I’ve done a deep dive as to why Still Waters became the Bee Gees’ biggest LP since 1979. It’s hard to overstate just…
Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl & the visual power of friendship in rock & roll
When I think of Taylor Hawkins I immediately think of friendship. Sometimes the profound power of a band is beyond just the sounds they make. Indeed, that’s hardly surprising given the importance of image in entertainment. But what always stood apart for me with Taylor is that he was in a rock band – the…
The Bee Gees ‘Living Eyes’ album at 40 – the lost song that gives Barry Gibb the chills
Arguably the greatest underdog in the entire Bee Gees catalogue turns 40 this month. Never heard Living Eyes before? Released in October of 1981, it stands as one of the most fascinating major artist flops in popular music history. The reasons it missed are as intriguing as the songs themselves, and these are some of…
Barry Gibb Turns 75 – 6 Brilliant Songs From The Vault
Some of the greatest musicians don’t really have a “vault”. For every Prince, there’s a Paul Simon, and where Prince’s vault is estimated to contain as many as 8000 songs, Paul’s genius is in no way diminished by the fact there are said to be very few leftover gems. As for the sole surviving Bee…
Coldplay ‘Coloratura’ Review: This 10-min Space Epic Just Might Be Their Greatest Ever Song
The first half would be enough to have it among my favourite Coldplay ballads, while the second half currently has me so obsessed it feels like it’s quite simply one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard in my life. In its entirety, the just released 10-minute long Coloratura ironically plays out…
The Bee Gees ‘High Civilization’ Turns 30 – Why This Tech-Heavy Experiment Is Worth Another Listen
This April marked 30-years since the Bee Gees released one of the more ambitious, underrated albums of their massive back catalogue. Fans are often split, though the more years that go by, the more I feel that history is kind to the industrialised, tech-heavy pop that was High Civilization. And the more that it’s worthy…
Barry Gibb Uncut & Exclusive: The Bee Gees Songs He’d Love To Record For ‘Greenfields Vol. 2’
It is a good time to be be Sir Barry Gibb. 74 years old, his first ever solo number album in the UK, the oldest person to top the Australian album charts, gigantic billboards in New York’s Times Square, a highly-acclaimed big-screen documentary generating awards buzz, and a biopic in the works from the same…
Why Barry Gibb’s New Country Duets LP Makes Perfect Sense
If you reacted with surprise to the news the Bee Gees are getting the A-list country treatment via a Nashville-recorded album of superstar collaborations, then rest assured you’re probably not alone. But further rest be assured, chances are you’re also unaware of the wondrous twists and turns inside that massive back catalogue of Barry, Robin…
The New Bee Gees Doco Trailer Has Landed & It Is Very, Very Awesome
The trailer for the brand new documentary about the Bee Gees – How Can You Mend A Broken Heart – has landed and it’s a doozie. It should be too because irrespective of the subject matter, the people behind the doco have one of the most eye-popping resumes in the industry with production credits on…
Cliff Richard Turns 80 – His 20 Most Underrated Songs
This month the biggest British solo act in the history of the UK singles charts turned 80. I have zero shame in admitting my appreciation for the man who’s had more UK top 20 hits – upwards of 130 – than anybody else and no less than 68 top 10 hits – second only to…