Entertainment
Five Great Star Wars Music Moments That Aren’t In The Films
It’s Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you! When ‘Star Wars’ premiered in 1977, it became an instant global phenomenon that has inspired countless musical compositions, tributes and parodies. Composed by John Williams, the music of Star Wars remains one of its defining features. From the main theme to Darth Vader’s signature…
Read MorePioneering Australian Festival Promoter Ken West Passes Away, 64
The co-founder of iconic Australian music festival Big Day Out, Ken West has died aged 64. Tributes are coming in from across the music industry after reports Mr West passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday (7 April) morning. “Our family would appreciate respect and privacy during this difficult time. Ken was big and…
Read MoreThin Lizzy’s Ricky Warwick In Conversation With Mike Kennedy
Mike Kennedy caught up with Thin Lizzy front-man, Ricky Warwick to talk about his latest album, ‘When Life Was Hard And Fast’, as well as his upcoming tour and life in some of the biggest rock bands in the world – including The Almighty, New Model Army and Black Star Riders. MK (Mike Kennedy): I…
Read MoreFROM THE ARCHIVE: What Was and What Might Have Been – A Lost Interview with Brian Wilson, 1988
Written by Jeremy Gluck (@nonceptualism) and published in What a Nice Way to Turn Seventeen, 1988. Read part one here. Introduction by Jeremy Gluck This, the second part of my interview with The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, comprises prime out-takes originally published online by What a Nice Way to Turn Seventeen, a ‘zine edited by…
Read MoreLaura Jazmyn: Ride or Die
Words: Jeremy Gluck [Editor @ MADCAP Global SWND Magazine] Laura Jazmyn, only just 18, is SWND’s discovery of early 2021, a remarkably gifted young singer-songwriter from South Wales. Catching the ears of SWND as the long sleep of lockdown was lifting, her SWND Records debut ‘Ride or Die’ comprises six new, original tracks recorded by…
Read MoreBack In The Digital Age: Q&A With Welsh Wildboys Stickman
Words: Mike Kennedy [Guest Writer – Welsh Connections/SWND Records, Director | Oystermouth Radio – Presenter] Grown up and mature. Words that we never thought we’d use when talking about legendary South Wales pop-punk pioneers Stickman – and to be fair it’s a struggle even now! Despite line-up changes and fatherhood, the Llanelli rockers still play…
Read MoreFEATURE: Rock & Roll Queen Suzi Quatro – Seventies To Seventy
Words: Jeremy Gluck Guest Writer (Director, Welsh Connections/SWND Records – Musician – Artist) Coming up comfy in the suburbs of Ottawa – at that time still loveably pocket-sized – at fifteen, haunting the deletion bins of the record stores downtown one day began a strange manifestation. Out of nowhere, usually for 99 cents each –…
Read MoreRitchie Blackmore & Candice Night Discuss Their New Album ‘Nature’s Light’ With Michael Kennedy
Words: Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night with Mike Kennedy Take an escape to nature with ‘Nature’s Light’, the new album from Blackmore’s Night. Blackmore’s Night is the musical pairing of founding Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and his wife Candice Night, a talented lyricist and musician. As well as sharing a life together, they also…
Read MoreFEATURE: Mike Kennedy In Conversation With Artist Jeff ‘SKIN’ Williams
Words: Jeff Williams with Mike Kennedy Jeff Williams has been a professional artist for over 40 years, painting many of today’s iconic stars, from the world of entertainment and sport, raising thousands of pounds for charity in the process. We recently caught up with him at his home in Porthcawl to find out when it…
Read MoreIn Memory Of Guitarist Dion Hirini
Words: Matt Innes The music industry is mourning the loss of guitarist Dion Hirini, who passed away unexpectedly last week. Dion had been on tour with Row Jerry Crow band and passed away from a heart condition while travelling home from one of the shows in regional Victoria on 12 March. Born in New Zealand…
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