✱ One Nation Under the Groove – Wag club legend Chris Sullivan now resident at Mau Mau, 265 Portobello Road “which looks like a New York rhythm ’n’ blues soul bar.” Playing rare funk and disco from the likes of Mantus, Father Time,The Kinsman Band plus familiar tunes by Parliament, Bohannon and Larry Young – sample him at Mixcloud. . . Sullivan’s book Rebel Rebel, “a riotous history of people and things that broke the mould”, is due from Unbound in April. Get your name in the first edition by subscribing from £10
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✱ Haircut’s singer Nick Heyward is touring the UK from 24 May at Concorde in Brighton, for 13 dates including 02 Academy Islington in London
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✱ Roxy Music’s groundbreaking self-titled debut album was released in February as a 4-disc Super Deluxe box set of rare and unreleased music plus 136-page book. DVD includes TV appearances and 5.1 Surround Mix. Order from the Official Roxy Store
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✱ Morrissey’s ten-date tour of UK and Dublin runs from 16 Feb 2018 in Aberdeen ending with three London dates 7 & 9 March plus the Palladium on the 10th. . . His album Low in High School is on Amazon Music
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✱ Tonight Belongs To Us is ex-Spandau singer Tony Hadley’s European Tour from February 2018, tickets on sale via his website. See complete Hadley events list at Facebook, up to 6 July Chilfest at Tring, Hertfordshire, for An Evening with Tony Hadley and his Orchestra
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✱ Three new dates booking for next year: Steve Norman Live & Personal will be an intimate encounter including an acoustic performance at PizzaExpress Live in London 25–27 May 2018
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✱ FINALLY! What has proved to be the definitive appreciation of the style bible that shaped the 1980s. . . Cultural guru Paul Gorman tells The Story of The Face from the magazine’s launch with £3,500 of Nick Logan’s savings in 1980 to its sale to Emap in 1999, in between “paving the way for the digital delivery of visual culture in the 21st century”. – From Thames & Hudson £35, 352 pages, 379 illustrations!
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✱ Pop Stars in My Pantry is showbiz hack Paul Simper’s memoir of the early days of one of pop’s most successful eras: the 1980s. It’s an account of how a wide-eyed lad landed in London just as the capital’s club scene went into orbit. Available from Amazon… Read an extract here at Shapers of the 80s – Sade’s first foray to New York City
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✱ The original Blitz Club deejay Rusty Egan still plugging his excellent first solo album capturing the spirit of 80s electronica, Welcome to the Dancefloor – read a full review of its 14 tracks here at Shapers of the 80s. . . Hear WTTDF via the Mixcloud player. New live dates for an Audience With Rusty include 7 Mar London, 17 May Birmingham, 21 April Maidstone
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✱ Now in its 12th year, Soul Survivors Magazine issue 73 features William “Bootsy” Collins, Mike Vitti, The Floacist aka Natalie Stewart, Jean Paul Maunick (aka Bluey) and part 2 of an interview with Shirley Jones. Under Fitzroy Facey, the mag created an interactive website and a weekly events email while Facey plays all things jazz funky and soulful old and new 9pm every Monday on Soul Train Radio and then on Mixcloud
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✱ Quids In Mons, FCK Thurs, #FRI251, Big Weekender Sats at the legendary Factory Manchester – clubnights, cocktail masterclasses and live bands – chart, dance, EDM, RNB, house, garage, hiphop and indie over three floors designed by Ben Kelly on Princess St, Manchester M1 7EN – @factorymanchester
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✱ Manchester’s Remake Remodel claims to be “The Nation’s Saving Grace of Alternative, Rock’n’Roll” — Mondays at Soup Kitchen M1 1DF & every 1st Saturday at The Ruby Lounge M4 1QB – @RemakeRemodel1
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I’ve heard that he is currently working with Martin Gore, trying to write the ultimate synth classic… let’s hope for the best!