Using the pseudonym William Mysterious, Alastair Donaldson played saxophone and bass guitar with the Scottish punk band the Rezillos. Combining a sci-fi, day-glo aesthetic, references to Thunderbirds and The Flintstones, and a fast, fun take on 1960s beat music, the group burst on to the Edinburgh scene in January 1977 and later that year signed to Seymour Stein's Sire Records, the home of New York punk-pioneers the Ramones and Richard Hell. Credited as Mysterious on their exuberant debut Can't Stand the Rezillos, which made the Top 20 in August 1978, Donaldson left before the band appeared on Top of the Pops to promote their paean to the very same television show but returned to contribute to their swansong release, Mission Accomplished... But the Beat Goes On, recorded live at the Glasgow Apollo on 23 December 1978.
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Album review: James Brown and the Famous Flames, Best of Live at the Apollo: 50th Anniversary (Polydor)
Saturday 20 July 2013
This is not, as you might imagine, a reissue of the classic 1962 Live at the Apollo, but instead a selection of tracks from that release alongside later performances from James Brown's 600-plus appearances at the Harlem venue, culled from shows in 1962, '67, '71 and '72.
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Saturday 08 June 2013
Like track one of Black Sabbath's debut, this starts with big, sludgy Tony Iommi doom-chords and Ozzy Osbourne mournfully wailing a rhetorical question ("Is this the end of the beginning?").
Police make fresh appeal over English Defence League graffiti on destroyed Islamic centre
Thursday 06 June 2013
The letters EDL were spotted on the wall of the community centre
Woolwich attack: Police to begin questioning Michael Adebowale on suspicion of murdering soldier Lee Rigby
Wednesday 29 May 2013
22-year-old was moved into police custody yesterday after being discharged from hospital
Woolwich killing: Transcript of interview with family of Drummer Lee Rigby
Friday 24 May 2013
The family of murdered Drummer Lee Rigby fought back tears as they paid tribute to him today.
Full Statement from Ministry of Defence in response to death of Drummer Lee Rigby
Thursday 23 May 2013
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must announce that the soldier killed in yesterday's incident in Woolwich, South East London, is believed to be Drummer Lee Rigby, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (attached to the Regimental Recruiting Team in London).
Music review: Bonobo, The Roundhouse, London
Monday 20 May 2013
Let’s face it, live electronica can often leave the audience rather nonplussed. The ability to be able to transfer perfectly produced masterpieces crafted in the studio to the stage can be something of a holy grail. But Bonobo’s gig at the Roundhouse tonight is an ideal blueprint for any other artists daring to make the leap to a live show.
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Film review: Beware of Mr Baker (15)
Thursday 16 May 2013
Drummers are axiomatically the madmen of rock, but there's never been a mad drummer quite like Ginger Baker, subject of this hugely enjoyable documentary profile. It gets off to a magnificent start, with a scene of the 73-year-old Baker attacking the film's director, Jay Bulger, with his walking stick – and just gets better.
'They were very sweet once they knew I wasn't just a batty old woman haranguing them' - Helen Mirren seeks forgiveness for telling LGBT festival drummers to f*** off
Tuesday 07 May 2013
Dame Helen Mirren “effed and blinded” at a group of drummers playing outside the West End’s Gielgud Theatre.
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