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jamesmcnairwrites.bsky.social
Slightly under / over word count since 1994. Writes for Mojo, Prog and Classic Rock. Previous stints at The Independent, Q, and as a trainee baker. Whitley Bay transplant via East Kilbride and London.
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Posts 25 Comments 25

I’ve just learned two things. 1 There is a band named Batpiss. 2. My brain processes their logo as: ‘Bagpuss.’

submitted 14 hours ago • 3 comments

submitted 16 hours ago • 0 comments

More of this sort of thing, please.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Bill Fay RIP. I never heard a song more beautiful or touching than this one. So open-hearted, moving and perceptive. youtu.be/4d_MATccsMQ?...

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Bill Fay RIP. Absolutely crushing news. The loveliest person I ever interviewed. Gracious, wise and humble. I wanted to write a book about him. He declined, believing the commitment involved would take him away from his great joy in life, composing songs. Fly on Bill. Those songs will last forever.

submitted 3 days ago • 3 comments

It’s that time of year when sunrise and Ivy’s morning walk overlap.

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

“Bit dreich again, Angus.” “Aye.” “PULL!”

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

No sleep ever. Not even upon reaching Hammersmith. blabbermouth.net/news/officia...

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Congratulations Team Boty… I can’t wait to see this. The documentary that tells the story of one of the founders of the British Pop Art movement of the 1960s. You can watch it at 10:00pm on BBC4 on Monday 3rd March, and then after available on the iPlayer.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

I have an almost phobic reaction to the band name Snapped Ankles. They could be incredible for all I know. Just can’t bring myself to listen.

submitted 7 days ago • 2 comments

Is there a song with a better opening line than Prince’s Little Red Corvette? “I guess I should have known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn’t last.”

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Great pic of Michael and Brian D’Addario thrilling to Macca.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Mind yer ears.

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

BLACK To The Beginning, surely?

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

I have to re-post this in different places every now and then. A great idea beautifully executed: www.newyorker.com/news/news-de...

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

CC your Led Zeppelin favourites to @jamesmcnairwrites.bsky.social as well as @mojomagazine.bsky.social, as James is writing this one. I think we decided that Walking into Clarksdale counts but other solo stuff doesn't, so no Death Wish II or Lucifer Rising votes, please!

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

Delighted to say I’m in the writing chair for this one. Please let us know which Zep zinger is your fave and why, otherwise the rankings will be Nobody’s Fault But Mine!

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

Next up for us! And don’t miss our fab pals Charts & Graphs in the opening slot. Baba Yagas is a great little venue, so come on down to 61 Church Way, North Shields, NE29 0EA. Saturday 15th Feb from 7pm. Music from 8pm. Free entry!

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

This pic is crying out for Christopher Lee descending to a bloody breakfast. Hang on… do vampires do breakfast? You never see any of them fingering the croissants at The Premier Inn buffet.

submitted 32 days ago • 0 comments

I marvel at how Dudley Simpson - the Aussie composer of the theme tune for kids’ sci-fi series The Tomorrow People - managed to arrive at something this out-there. It’s a truly great piece of music, and totally unlike anything else I can think of. Respect. youtu.be/Ei7i7RFvrUM?... bc

submitted 33 days ago • 1 comment

Happy birthday Django Reinhardt! Django Reinhardt – guitar Stéphane Grappelli – violin Gianni Safred – piano Carlo Pecori – double bass Aurelio de Carolis – drums Recorded - 1949 Released - 1961 Label - Bluebird #jazzsky

submitted 34 days ago • 1 comment

“Garth was the consummate musician. He had so much knowledge, so many different kinds of music in his mind, memory and experience that he could draw upon…” In memory of The Band’s Garth Hudson, who has died aged 87, MOJO revisits the making of the group’s seismic 1968 debut, Music From Big Pink.

submitted 36 days ago • 8 comments

Truly gifted. It was great to see him doing so many sessions for other people late in life. RIP Garth.

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

Very sad to read that Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and Tygers Of Pan Tang guitarist John Sykes has lost his battle with cancer. RIP John. We’ll remember you this way: youtu.be/5sR-jDTF7_M?...

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

No Sleep ‘Til Wimbledon.

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments