A Jeremiah in cavalry twills, the Prince of Wales has been warning us all about the state of our souls. Western society has become materialist and secular, he told the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Science has objectified nature. The culture has been “de-souled” by consumerism to the extent that we no longer yearn for… Continue reading The ways to save the planet
Read moreInsanely, absurdly. Sebastian Horsley has been found dead, having apparently taken an overdose of heroin. Although he lived life on the edge – over the edge sometimes – he always seemed to be a survivor. Because he was never ever a cliché, I wish he had not died this way. His public persona, one… Continue reading Sebastian Horsley – a dear dandy
Read moreWhen Steve Jobs, chief executive of Apple, recently expressed a worry that his country was becoming a nation of bloggers, he found himself in trouble with those sensitive souls who write about, and for, the new media. Jobs had been making the uncontroversial point that a healthy mainstream press benefits a free society, but… Continue reading I blog therefore I am
Read moreIt was all wrong. The clear sunshine of a perfect early summer’s day, the Lakeland countryside at its most beautiful, half-term in a small rural community: again and again, among those interviewed as the full horror of the last day of Derrick Bird unfolded, the same question was asked. How could such a thing happen… Continue reading A challenge to notions of community
Read moreHere is a puzzle from the bird world – or, rather, from the world of bird enthusiasts, conservationists, popularisers and twichers. It is a tale of two very large birds of prey, the eagle owl and white-tailed sea eagle. Both are very occasionally found in these islands and both have the nasty, but understandable, habit… Continue reading Big birds, big trouble
Read moreIn a way which many might find inappropriate for a man of my age, I like walking through London, carrying my Gibson guitar, sitting on the tube with the case proudly between my knees. The other day, I took the journey to Notting Hill Gate to play at the Tabernacle where the über-cool 5 ₓ 15 events,… Continue reading I’ve had my 15 minutes….
Read moreThe air is thick with semi-comical expletives as another writer and performer advances his career by playing the grumpiness game. Promoting his new book, Anger Management for Beginners, Giles Coren granted the Independent on Sunday’s Matthew Bell an interview which consisted of a minute’s worth of swearing about publishers, publicists and his busy, busy life… Continue reading The Golden Age of Grumps
Read moreNormally as twinkle-toed when it comes to public relations as he is on stage, Sir Cliff Richard has tripped up a bit this week. Announcing a national tour to tie in with his 70th birthday, the Peter Pan of pop revealed at the same time that his Portuguese vineyard would be launching a brand new… Continue reading Who is to blame for ‘booze Britain’?
Read moreI have just had the pleasure of writing a play for the Radio 4 series, Fact to Fiction. My starting point was the BA strike – and how it changed one man’s life… The producer was Duncan Minshull and it is read by Paul Ritter. Here it is. [Or, rather, here it was. It is now… Continue reading Adultery and the BA strike – ‘Grounded’ on Radio 4
Read moreA small lesson in the way history smooths the sharper edges and corners of the past is being played out at the Cannes Film Festival with the help of that much-loved father figure of the alternative establishment, Sir Mick Jagger. A soon-to-be released documentary on the making of the Rolling Stones 1971 album Exile… Continue reading Nostalgia tends to conceal hypocrisy
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