Banned Biographies

Adam Ant Review

Welcome back to Banned Biographies. Tom Austin-Morgan, your host, is back to let you know what’s been happening over the last month since the second part of the Adam Ant documentary went out which focussed on his solo career and what you can expect from the next episode.

There’s been some great feedback as well as sharing from the Ant fans this month including a new review on Apple Podcasts. Already the Adam Ant solo episode vaulted into the top 10 of all episodes so far, and the first part - the Adam and the Ants episode - is the fourth most downloaded episode, behind only the Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Clash which were released in April, July and October 2020! Incredible. Thank you.

Outside of Banned Biographies, the first two episodes of  the Permanent Record podcast have been released so far, where I joined hosts by Brian and Sarah to talk about the iconic U2 album, The Joshua Tree. So far, 4 hours and 11 minutes have been spent discussing the polarising nature of U2, why we think that is and our own personal history with the band, or lack thereof. We’ve only got four tracks into discussing the album itself, so there’s still loads to go. Permanent Record podcast is a great resource for anyone remotely interested in the minutiae of bands and albums, especially if you’re into synth-based music. They made a bit of an exception for me by reviewing a guitar band, which I thank them for.

Brian and Sarah have made me feel really welcome, if not slightly under-researched! They put as much into looking at one album as I do in talking about the entire careers of bands. But what’s been brilliant is that we’re all learning. And I hope we manage to impart some information to you guys that you didn’t know about the band and the album that you didn’t know before. Make sure you go and subscribe to Permanent Record Podcast on whatever podcast platform you use and go and follow them on Twitter @PermRecordPod or find them on Facebook or at www.permanentrecordpodcast.com.

Please do reach out to Banned Biographies on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or by email as well as leaving those ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts, but more than anything else take care and stay safe.

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Bravest of the Brave - The Continued Adventures of Adam Ant

After disbanding Adam and the Ants at the height of the band's success, Adam Ant went solo. Working with Marco Pirroni, his first solo single, Goody Two Shoes went straight to number one in the UK and Australia which allowed him to pursue a career in acting both on stage and screen.

As with the first part of his career with The Ants, Adam's solo career has had many ups and downs over the years - both in terms of critical and chart success as well as with his own personal battles with his mental health.

But, each time he bounces back stronger than before and more confident. In the last couple of decades he seems to more balanced than he ever has. This appears to have been helped by setting up his own record label which has allowed him to work at his own pace and take time off when he needs it. He has also become an advocate for people admitting they need help with their mental health and finding the correct help for it.

His has been a rollercoaster of a life so far and he is far from stopping with festival appearances lined up for the summer of 2021 and scheduling a tour for the beginning of 2022. Long live Adam Ant!

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Louise Aubrie and Rick McMurray review

There have been some really wonderful bits of feedback from the interview episodes with Louise Aubrie and Rick McMurray with people checking out Louise’s music which I’m really happy about.

The second single off Louise’s album 'Antonio' is out on Wednesday 23^rd June (two days from this episode going live). Called 'Ours', it's a slightly darker song in tone from 'Last', but is another masterfully arranged song with killer vocal hooks. Make sure you go and give it a listen and let Louise know what you think of it.

The Ash livestream was really good fun, there were a lot of the fans tweeting along with the action, but I still have an issue with livestream gigs. There’s just not the atmosphere in your living room that there is at a live gig in a room full of people.

I’ve appeared on the first of a planned four-part podcast from the Permanent Record Podcast, hosted by Brian and Sarah.

Usually they look at albums by synth-based bands, but because I deal with predominantly guitar-based punk, new wave and post punk bands (for the time being at least) we decided we should look at one of the most iconic albums by an iconic rock band that none of us have any deep knowledge of; The Joshua Tree by U2.

Go an subscribe to Permanent Record Podcast on whatever podcast platform you use and go and follow them on Twitter @PermRecordPod or find them on Facebook or at their own website www.permanentrecordpodcast.com.

While you're waiting for the next episode to drop on Friday 25th June 2021, why not go and leave a rating and review on iTunes, they really do help and you'll get a special shout out on these review episodes. 

I hope you enjoy the next episode and that you're taking good care of yourself and others as well as staying safe.

Contact

Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

Instagram: @bannedbiographies

E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Interview with Rick McMurray of Ash

On this extra-special episode of Banned Biographies I was very lucky to chat over Zoom with Rick McMurray, the drummer from Ash.

Ash's first full-length album, 1977, was release 25 years ago and went straight to number one on the UK album chart. To commemorate that, Ash is playing the album in its entirety on the 5^th June 2021 which you can sign up to watch through the band’s website https://ash-official.com/. There are various bundles available, from the concert only right up to getting unlimited 30-day access to the show, a behind the scenes documentary, a bonus performance, a limited 1977 frisbee and a limited edition 1977 t-shirt. All tiers are well worth the money.

During our chat, Rick was candid about the highs and lows of Ash’s career as well as talking about the band's unfinished indie horror film, Slashed, having a meal with Joe Strummer and why they didn't join him on stage to play I Fought The Law, getting Mickey Bradley and Damien O’Neil from The Undertones on the last Ash album and so much more.

I’m so honoured and thankful to Rick for giving up part of his morning to talk to me and I hope you get some great insights into the man himself, the life of a professional musician and how that job has changed over the last three decades.

He's a totally down to earth guy and I really hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did talking to him.

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Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Interview with Louise Aubrie

On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast I sat down over Zoom to interview punk and indie inspired solo artist Louise Aubrie. Louise is from London, where she began writing and recording music, playing in venues like the 100 Club and the O2 Centre. Since then she has lived in New York City where she continued to hone her craft becoming a regular in venues like The Bitter End and The Bowery Electric. 

During her career, Louise has recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios and has worked with Boz Boorer (musical director and co-writer for Morrissey), Andy Woodard (drummer for Adam Ant, New Model Army), Tom Edwards (guitarist for Adam Ant, Edwyn Collins), Roger Joseph Manning Jr (keyboards for The Killers, Beck, Morrissey), David Ruffy (drummer for The Ruts, The Waterboys), James Knight (producer for The Kooks, Kirsty MacColl), Ken Sluiter (mixer/engineer for Morrissey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sum 41, Marc Almond), Cam Blackwood (producer/engineer for George Ezra, Jack Savoretti) and Dave Collins (mastering for Jane’s Addiction, No Doubt, Weezer).

Louise’s fifth album, ‘Antonio’, will be released later in 2021. But, it's first single, 'Last', is out today, so make sure you go and buy it from wherever you get your music from.

Louise Aubrie is an incredible songwriter and, more than that, a warm and funny person and I think that’s captured in this chat which I hope you enjoy listening to as much as I did having it.

Find Louise on:

https://louiseaubrie.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louiseaubriemusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louise_aubrie?lang=en

Bandcamp: https://louiseaubrie.bandcamp.com/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/louiseaubrie

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMGHDHYAiAB8GVYyjVA7W1Q 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7p7Vqfnte6hZbTIQxrZMmx?si=6UyRspE8RrG6W8XtxCgNHg

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/louise-aubrie/392116952?ign-gact=3&ls=1

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/806959?autoplay=true

 

Contact

Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

Instagram: @bannedbiographies

E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Adam and the Ants Review

One month on from the release of the first episode of the Banned Biographies podcast that covers the early days of Adam Ant's career in Adam and the Ants, I'm back to cover some of the reaction to the episode and to let you know what the next episode will be about.

Additionally, I give you a run down of some of the great music that's been released in the last month including singles from Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes featuring Joe Talbot from IDLES, Dropkick Murphys, Pendulum, Frank Turner, and Royal Blood.

While you're waiting for the next episode to drop on Friday 28th May 2021, why not go and leave a rating and review on iTunes, they really do help and you'll get a special shout out on these review episodes. You'll also get a shout out if you comment on or share the main episode each month, who doesn't want to hear their name read out on their favourite podcast?!

Joking aside, I hope you enjoy the next episode and I hope you're taking good care of yourself and others and staying safe.

Contact

Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

Instagram: @bannedbiographies

E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Kings of the Wild Frontier - The Adventures of Adam and the Ants

Adam and the Ants was formed in 1977, after Adam Ant witnessed the birth of punk at the Sex Pistols' first ever gig. Beginning as a punk band that sang about fetishism and Nazis while wearing leather and S&M gear, Adam and the Ants found it difficult to achieve credibility both in punk circles or in the mainstream.

To rectify this, Ant went to Malcolm McLaren for advice and it was during this time that the band perfected its unique 'Burundi beat' style with a two drummer line-up and began writing enduring songs such as Antmusic, Kings of the Wild Frontier, Prince Charming and Stand and Deliver. Although, not before McLaren had stolen his entire band and left Ant to pick up the pieces.

Along with the new line up and sound, Adam and the Ants also adopted a new look that spawned the New Romantic movement, despite not acknowledging being a part of the movement itself.

Despite having number one singles and albums, Ant disbanded Adam and the Ants at the peak of the their fame and embarked on a solo career. But, that's a story for another time. 

For now, enjoy the ups and downs and multiple line up changes of Adam and the Ants, and be sure to subscribe to get part two soon which focusses on Adam Ant's solo career.

Contact:

Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

Instagram: @bannedbiographies

E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Stepney Sisters Interview Review and Anniversary Special

I'm back to let you know what's been happening here at Banned Biographies in the last month and to introduce the subject of the next documentary episode. Yes, I'm returning to the documentary format for the next episode!

As well as reaction the the Stepney Sisters interview, it also happens to be the podcast's first birthday and I've had a lot of messages from listeners to congratulate and celebrate with me. Had I realised before the last couple of weeks that this next episode was going to be the one released on the anniversary of the podcast first being published I'd have made more noise about it last month. So, if you want to reach out then please do, I always appreciate a message.

I hope you all are taking care and staying safe, and more than anything that you enjoy the next episode of Banned Biographies that will be released on Friday 30th April.

Contact

Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

Instagram: @bannedbiographies

E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Interview with The Stepney Sisters

On this episode of Banned Biographies, I sat down over Zoom to interview Caroline and Benni from The Stepney Sisters. Theirs is a brilliant story of university friends who joined a soul band as singers in the early 1970s, moved into squats London, met some like-minded women involved in the women’s liberation movement and decided to start an all-female band so they could have complete control over the content of their songs and which gigs they played.

The Steppos, as I found out they called themselves, broke up less than two years later as their lives were taking them in different directions. They all carried on playing in various bands over the years and in 2010 they got back together to play a couple of gigs. In 2020 the band signed to indie label, Alcopop!, and released a double single in early 2021. Since the interview they’ve released a full album called Stepney Sisters on 12th March 2021.

It was an honour to sit down with Caroline and Benni and I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation just as much as I enjoyed talking to them.

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Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Paul Brightman of Sham 69 Interview Review

I’ve had some great feedback on the Paul Brightman interview over the last month. I even got a comment from the drummer in Paul’s band, Swampstomper, who was surprised by a couple of details in the interview despite having known Paul for years. That’s great to hear from an interviewer’s point of view because it means I was asking the right questions.

Speaking of which, I did a massive shoutout to other podcasts last month but completely forgot to say that I was going to be guesting on one. In February I appeared on All The Best Lines Podcast to talk about the Cary Grant film His Girl Friday. Do go and find the episode and let the hosts Smokey and Adam know that I sent you.

I’ll also be telling you about some of the new music I’ve been listening to recently and, of course, will let you know the subject of the next episode that will be out on Friday 26^th March.

I really enjoyed speaking with Paul on the last episode of Banned Biographies and learned a hell of a lot from him. As I’ve said before, I’m looking to do a few more interview episodes in the future and am in conversation with a few musicians right now about appearing. If there’s anyone you’d like me to chat to, why not get in touch and let me know, maybe even @ them in on social media as well. If you happen to know anyone of note, please do get in touch.

While you're waiting for the next episode to drop on Friday 26th February 2021, why not go and leave a rating and review on iTunes, they really do help and you get a special shout out on these review episodes. But most of all, I hope you enjoy the next episode. Take care and stay safe.

Contact

Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

Instagram: @bannedbiographies

E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com