Rock Bottom #74: Chris Waddle and Glenn Hoddle's Diamond Lights

I've nothing against singing footballers. In fact, the sight or a row of 70s players in casual v-neck sweaters tunelessly belting out some annoyingly catchy singalong whilst swaying side-to-side is a joy to behold.

But you have to draw the line at players who genuinely think they can sing. Especially if they have mullets. Enter Chris Waddle and Glenn Hoddle with Diamond Lights, the 80s equivalent of an X- Factor Christmas song. Yes, it's that bad.

Darkcloud Silver's Turntable Ring - with real vinyl

Looking for something special for the DJ or vinyl collector in your life? Darkcloud Silver's Turntable Ring could fit the bill.

It's part of a music range that also includes headphones, microphones and a record deck on a chain, but let's concentrate on the ring. It features a choice of real vinyl or silver for the record, a moving stylus arm and a main body that's built from sterling silver.

All handmade too, so you should get something unique. If you want one, it retails for AUS $350, which is around £153.

Find out more at the Oye Modern website

Via Retro To Go

Electric Roulette's top 10 music predictions for 2008

David Walker gazes into his crystal balls at the future of music - and picks out 10 certs for 2008. Now form an orderly queue at the bookies.

1. Pink Floyd reform - then split

With Led Zeppelin banking record amounts in ticket sales from a world tour, Pink Floyd put aside inter-band hostilities to jump on that same gravy train with huge stadium shows. But soon, everyone falls out again - thankfully before a new album is recorded.

2. X Factor finally runs out of steam and disappears without a trace

I've just heard and seen the winner of this year's X Factor - evidence if needed that this annual ritual humiliation of sad, deluded souls has reached the end of the line. Leon Jackson (pictured here) will be doing the social clubs in months, closely followed by the demise of a show that has single-handedly destroyed pop music.

3. The Draytones and The Courteeners hit the heights

Thankfully, new bands will still be around amongst the glut of reunions - and I predict both The Draytones and Courteeners will do big things in 2008. The Draytones could well make the 60s cool again, while The Courteeners will be the last band to breakthrough with 2007's essential accessory - the exaggerated regional accent.

Coming soon: Martin's Scorsese's movie on the Rolling Stones - Shine A Light

Movie history is littered with movies about or featuring the Rolling Stones, but that's not stopped uber-director Martin Scorsese from adding to the collection with Shine A Light.

It could be good, it could be bad. In essence, this is a live show on film, with Scorsese capturing the band in a small venue in New York - in essence, trying to film the 'electricity' of the band's live performance, mixing it up with background, interviews and history. Which sounds great, but for the fact that the band are well past their peak (though still a decent live act), not to mention that the gig seems to have various walk-on 'special guests' who probably contribute nothing to the event.

But I'll wait until the film's release in April before I pass judgement. In the meantime, check out this trailer for the movie for a taster.

Merry Christmas from all at ElectricRoulette

What is 2008 going to look like? Flying hoverboards?

I've been cheated. It's nearly 2008 and I was promised robot maids and flying cars. Instead, I've got Girls Aloud and fucking Facebocked. Music hasn't made any leaps for a while either. 2007 saw people using The Clash and Joy Div as a template, and the last lot before this lot who said 'disco punk' were Duran Duran. So what has 2008 got in store?

In an article in a supplement from a broadsheet, vapid soul void Conor McNicholas (the monkey with the biggest typewriter at the NME) took nearly half of an article before he mentioned the sound, instead, focusing on the look. Bands like Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong are the latest soup of the day... which means ordinary songs sang from jeans thinner than the width of their legs (hey! I can play along too!)

It seems the world (in Britain at least) is going 8-bit. Instead of looking to the future (like The Jetsons had always promised me), we're faced with a buncha kids looking to Sega Master Systems for inspiration. It's disco-punk Jim... as we know it.

James Brown hollers up Christmas

Bebop legend, Frank Morgan, RIP

Like anyone who has ears, Frank Morgan, who has passed away at 73, was knocked into a cocked hat when he heard the hardasnails bebop of Charlie Parker. Taking up the alto sax as a teenager and desperate to play... and be... like his idol, Morgan learned fast and was soon dubbed The New Bird.

Such was his hero worship of The Bird, that not only did he dig the sounds and stylings, but also, the wildly destructive lifestyle, becoming addicted to heroin when he was 17, despite Parker's evident disapproval. "He was very disappointed when he found I was using," said Morgan, "I thought he would be extremely happy." Morgan climbed quickly, before dropping like a stone into a world of crime, which saw a series of time in the clink, spanning three decades. "I became a hardcore drug addict and a criminal. I was a very good criminal. I did it with gusto,"

After this, he kicked the habit and got on with doing what he did best. After rejuvinatin', Morgan had a stroke which looked to lay his playing to rest, but not defeated, he continued to tour before kidney failure and The Big C felled him.

Mark E. Smith reads H.P. Lovecraft (and reveals he's writing his own book too)

The BBC have posted a video of Mark E. Smith reading H.P Lovecraft's The Colour Out Of Space. “I’ve been a fan of HP Lovecraft since I was about 17," reveals the Hip Priest. "I chose to read this story because it’s very unusual for him; it’s not like his other tales. They are usually about people who live underground, or threats to humanity - which I like as well - but The Colour Out Of Space is quite futuristic. He wrote it in 1927, which is weird.

“I’m writing my own book at the moment," Smith gnashed. "It’s supposed to be my autobiography, but I’ve put a few short stories in it too. It’s out in April 2008. My stories are very much like Lovecraft’s actually. Everyone wants me to write about dark and doomy things, like my lyrics. But some of my stories are quite cheerful.” If you wanna chekkit, watch the video by clicking HERE.

[via Mojo]

Patti Smith tells us all about Dylan in free podcasts

I dunno whut it is, but Bob Dylan and Patti Smith share more than a miserable pair o'faces and a wicked turn of phrase. When Dylan lost it, the flame of rock 'n' roll poet was passed to Patti... which is why it makes loadsa sense that a series of free (and official) Bob Dylan podcasts presented by Patti have been made available by Sony.

Ten short recordings have already been posted telling the story of Dylan's career chronologically, probably maxing at around 20 episodes, forming a two hour documentary. The tenth episode has just been thrown up which looks at Dylan The Christian Mop. Patti Smith acts as presenter and linkwoman, between Dylan recordings and interview snippets with the man himself plus contributions from musicians such as Roger McGuinn and Garth Hudson and commentators including Greil Marcus. All are legally downloadable as MP3 files... get 'em by clicking here.

2007 With A Bullet: Paul Fuzz Offers Some Thoughts About The Past Year In Pop Music, Characterised By A Slightly Dark Tone Which He Regrets But Not Enough To Do A Re-Write

So we're all menna write some sort of MY ALL-TIME TOP 100 BEST EVER STUFF THAT I SHO' NUFF DUG THE MOST IN 2007 piece detailing what musical vibes we've been feelin' over the last 365, dealing out awards for this achievement and that achievement, like The Award For "Artist Simultaneously Responsible For Producing Some Of The Year's Greatest Pop Songs And A Brace Of Singles Which Rank Amongst Some Of The Worst Music I've Ever Heard, Like His Work On The Amy Winehouse Album Was Incredible, But Then On The Other Hand That Cover Of 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before' Was Diabolical, I Mean, I Don't Even Care About The Smiths All That Much, But The Song Sounded Like A Moby B-Side For Chrissakes, And The Reason I'll Be Stopping You Is Not Because I Think I've Heard It Before, But Just Because It's Plain Horrible" going to Mark Ronson (it was between him and Helen Mirren) or The Award For "Band Who Most Look Like They'd Glass You In Wetherspoons On A Friday Night Before Heading Off For A Busy Evening Of Date Rape And Additional Glassings " going to Scouting For Girls (oh come on guys, I only said you look like date-rapists). Keep reading 'over the cut' to enjoy yet another arbitrary list compiled by somebody whose opinion you don't care about for good reason.

B-52s do one-off DJ gig at London's Punk club

I can't forgive Love Shack easily, but I do love a good chunk of the B-52s' past work. And now the band is back, playing a one-off DJ gig at the Punk club in London's Soho.

The date is Friday 18th January and it's part of the Easy Lover night. All surviving members of the band will be spinning discs - Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland and Cindy Wilson that is - with an 'eclectic' set promised, ranging from electronica to funk and rock. And probably a few tracks from the band's forthcoming comeback album Funplex, which you can read about here and buy from March 24th.

More details on the Easy Lover night

Via Retro To Go

First Led Zep... now Pink Floyd to reform?

In the aftermath of the O2 gig, Led Zeppelin sip cocoa and try to figure out what the hell they're gonna do next (once Plant gets his Alison Krauss tour out of the way)... meanwhile, probably in the home counties, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has dropped huge hints that the psychprog overlords could be hitting the road again.

Mason told XFM that 2005’s Live 8 event “showed that the door can be opened” for future Floyd reunions. Pigs flew (geddit?) when the group rejoined at Live 8 so it’ll probably take something that big to get Waters and Gilmore pallying up again. “If there was a suitable reason or things change a bit in the next year or two and everybody suddenly thinks, ‘Well, actually, I really would like to do that’ then I think it’ll happen,” Mason explained, but “the only thing that would generate it would be something the equivalent of Live 8.”  Of course, they nearly got it on in tribute to Syd Barrett...

Run DMC's Christmas in Hollis

In tribute to Fuzz's glowing rant about Christmas in Hollis, here's Rum DMC in full Yule-effect! Christmas hasn't been this funky since James Brown got down.

Photos of The Rolling Stones Rock 'n' Roll Circus available

The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus is one of those great events that could've only happened in the sixties. Basically, a stoner concept ('let's have a circus man, like, with rock 'n' roll bands... it'll be a freak show with the freaks man') with some truly scintillating performances from The Stones, John Lennon, Taj Mahal, Jethro Tull (before they went all daft), The Who and more in amongst the midgets and geriatric trapeze artists. Well, now you can get a photo set on a limited edition DVD.

Renowned rock photographer Mike Randolf was there to capture the madness of it all and has made 80 images available to view eclusively on a limited run of 5000 DVDs. The iconic photographs play like a movie and are accompanied by the instrumental music from the film.More details are available from www.southbankphoto.co.uk

If you haven't already, you should buy the DVD of the film too, which features the Stones belting through Sympathy For The Devil and loads more (and Taj Mahal's rendition of Ain't That A Lotta Love is worth yer entrance fee alone). Click here to buy the film.

Book - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

People are always saying 'if you remember the '60s, you weren't there'. That's bollocks. Someone who was there, notebook in hand, stood in a nice tailored suit was Tom Wolfe. When LSD first ghosted into the world, Wolfe was stood by scribbling notes like a nark while Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters planned a revolution in the head.

Of course, the revolution didn't quite work, but we got some killer threads and a belief that things could change... and not mention some sublime LPs. This book flashed images onto the backs of eyes, and Paul McCartney made the Magical Mystery Tour flick after reading this gonzo classic. Kesey wanted the "tootling [of] the multitudes"... so buy this firecracker and get tootled... hell, you can even do it on yer lunchbreak.

Click here to buy The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test from Amazon

ebaywatch... psychedelic Wonderwall film poster

When people mention Wonderwall, it's easy to dry heave and think of two talentless gobshites in parkas... but for real Beatle 'eads, Wonderwall means a 1968 psychedelic film, scored by George Harrison.

The LP was the first official Beatle solo outing and also the very first Apple release. George got some of his mates in the studio, including Monkee Peter Tork and Eric Clapton (under the name of Eddie Clayton) and Ringo (appearing as (Richie Snare). Of course, I could tell you about the film, but this is a music site... so I can't be bothered. Basically, this would look great on your wall and has a Beatle connection that isn't as obvious as getting a Pepper poster. Click here to bid

Exclusive! Watch the video for the new Super Furry Animals single here and free giveaway

Remember us telling you about those generous Super Furry Animals? No? Whatchu playin' at? Well let me remind you. SFA are going to give away their new single, 'The Gift That Keeps Giving' from their sublime 'Hey Venus' LP, on Christmas Day for FREE!

The track will also come with a brand new B-side as Christmas present for fans. Well, luckily, the band have given us the video to the track which you can watch here, now! Click over to see the video for The Gift That Keeps Giving Away.

Drumstick Pencils - percussion at the desk

How many times in your life have you found yourself tapping away on a table or desk with a pencil? If the answer is 'far too often', you need a pair of Drumstick Pencils.

Designed by Moko Sellars, it's a simple idea, but a brilliant one - converting the top end (or eraser end) of the pencil to a drumstick-shape, so if the mood takes you, just flip them over and bang away. And of course, you can't just have one drumstick, so they're sold in a pair.

Available from Suck UK later this month - price is still to be confirmed.

Find out more at the Suck UK website

Via Retro To Go

Amy Winehouse - early pub singing footage

Amy Winehouse - she's older than she looks you know. Was around in the 1960s, just doing a bit of pub singing back then to pay the bills. Here's some footage we've acquired of our Amy, along with a few locals in the London pub back in 1967. We're not sure who she is dueting with - if you know, let us know...

Chuck Brown meets Outkast uptown for a Christmas dance-off

The 1967 Beatles Christmas Disc

This is precisely the sort of artefact that forces you to sit back with a bemused smile and think to yourself for the 4638th time in your life: "The Beatles really were quite a special band, weren't they?" Dig the perfect 1967 sleeve: the Victoriana, the collage effect, the garish psychedelic flowers bursting through the sepia...only the band who had put out Sgt Peppers earlier that year could have produced a Christmas record that looks like this. While early Beatles Xmas discs were effortless exercises in wacky Fabs brilliance, the late-period Beatles Christmas Records - with their oddly dark tone, disorientating cut 'n' paste Revolution 9-isms and anarchic Goons humour, may well represent the weirdest stuff in the entire Fabs back cat. That they're meant to be Christmas records just adds to the air of unhinged otherness. While all the Beatles Xmas fanclub discs are worth hearing, for my dollar the pick of the bunch is this 1967 disc, which manages to combine zany Beatles 'comedy' and jarring sound effects with their best Christmas song, 'Christmas Time Is Here Again', which sounds like a Pepper / Yellow Submarine out-take and is better than half the stuff on either LP. You can hear it in all it's slightly nightmareish, bad-acid Zappa-esque majesty here. (Paul Fuzz)

Watch Björk's new video for Declare Independence here

'Declare Independence’ sees Björk getting muscular once more. Taken from her new album ‘Volta’, ‘Declare Independence’ is written and produced by Björk, along with longtime collaborator Mark Bell (LFO) and comes with an great video courtesy of  the genius that is Michel Gondry

Super deluxe packaging including two 12”, a CD and a DVD featuring Michel Gondry’s Declare Independence video out 1st Jan! Can't wait until then? Well okay. If you click over the jump, you can watch an exclusive preview of the video now! NOW! NOOOOOW! Consider it an early Christmas present.

Coming soon: Liam and Noel Gallagher teddy bears - exclusive pictures

You've bought the album, been to the gig, even got the t-shirt - but for the devoted Oasis fan, there's only one thing worth owning in 2008 - the Oasis Liam and Noel teddy bear.

According to the Daily Star, the Oasis teddy will soon be in the stores - Japanese ones at least. Both will carry the Oasis logo and even come with rock 'n' roll costumes. We'd love them to be talking too, but then they wouldn't really be suitable for kids.

After some enquiries around our Japanese contacts today, we managed to get hold of some photos of the prototypes - and very cute they look too. But please note, the design could change a little before they hit the shelves - so don't set your heart on one of these beauties just yet. We'll keep you updated with any developments.

Oasis official website

Jackson 5 reunion confirmed. Sort of...

We mentioned some time back that a Jackson 5 reunion was on the cards, but now it seems to have been confirmed. Well, at least for one night.

The night is New Year's Eve and the location is Atlanta in the US. According to producer Jermaine Dupri, the band will play a greatest hits set at his Studio 72 club to mark Dupri's engagement to Janet Jackson. Speaking to US radio station V-103: “It’s the Jackson 5 party. I swear to you it’s going to be the biggest party this town has ever seen.”

So that's one reunion rumour we have right. Just waiting on the Stone Roses one now...

Christmas Rap: Better Than Phil Spector

Oh, sure. When it comes to All-Time Classic Christmas Albums some cats are always gonna try and lay that ol' Phil Spector jive on you, and while the gun wielding, fright-wigged Back To Mono maniac's A Christmas Gift To You is a solid yuletide yahoo, it don't come off as nothing but wick-wick wack when compared to the stoopid-fresh genius of 1987 hip-hop compilation, Christmas Rap. While Spector's effort is hamstrung by contributions from going-nowhere chancers like The Ronettes and The Crystals, Christmas Rap comes on like an All-Star Royal Variety Show Jamboree, with global superstars like Spyder D, Dana Dane and The Showboys all lining up to kick a dope verse for baby Jesus. (Baby Jesus being The Showboys' DJ).

Sitting at the top of the Christmas Rap fir-tree like three Fat Gold Chain wearing angels are the mighty Run DMC with their classic cranberry jam Christmas In Hollis. You know. It's the one Argyle is listening to in Die Hard.

New Band: The Drug Purse

All the way from Tacoma, The Drug Purse are making an unholy racket that cuts from JAMC sonic attacks to jangling garage stompers. In short, they're all-killer.

Turntable Eyes, filled with wasted J.Spaceman vox and noisy geetars cracks up the volume and takes a quick look at those Velvet Underground LPs before making off with yer gal. She'll probably be happier with The Drug Purse anyways... they've clearly got the best acid in town.

The promise of a seedy weekend, wrecked on your back, continues with the wired sped-up then downed on Valium of Pioneer Engineer. It's all frazzled and fucked after too many late nights. It's the sound of seeing the light, but not being sure if you're dead or whether it's just too early in the morning. You'll love this band if you have a pair of ears and a working brain. If not, what you doin' here? Click here to listen to The Drug Purse.

New Releases, 17th December, with David Icke

Have you ever wondered what your subconscious mind looks like? Well today, I can show you... through the new releases all gunning for the Christmas number one spot! Of course, Christmas is a special time of year for me, what with my being the son of God thing. I am a channel for the Christ spirit. The title was given to me by the Godhead... and no, I'm not full of magic mushrooms... never touched 'em.

Some of you may know me as David Icke... whilst others, sadly, will know me as that bloke who was ridiculed for years. Bastards. So anyway, if a gift of truth is a gift of love, then let me get truly truthful with the latest singles and LP reviews. I'll be channeling spirits, lizards and as I'm a former sportsman, you'll know you're in safe hands!

Vintage classic: Mel Torme - Comin Home Baby

It might look dated, it might even look a little camp, but Mel Torme's Comin' Home Baby is still a guaranteed vintage floorfiller in clubs up and down the country - and probably around the world. Here he is performing it on the Judy Garland show in a dinner jacket amongst a pile of motorbikes. No we don't understand it either.

B-52s to release new album - but do you care?

The B-52s - that was the band that released Love Shack wasn't it? Well yes, but the B-52s were one of the leading lights of the American alternative music scene for the best part of 20 years before that particular low point.

From the chunky 60s-style guitar riff of Rock Lobster through to the synth experimentation of the excellent Whammy, they were always interesting, even if the material was at times hit and miss. They even pioneered the mix album with the Party Mix LP and sported a look  at odds with the punk/new wave acts of the day. But after the death of guitarist/writer Ricky Wilson, the band took time off, returning with new, more mainstream material - most notably Love Shack, as well as singing the theme tune to the truly awful Flintstones flick. So game over. Or is it?

Denon DJ DN-HD2500 media player - the future of DJing?

All of the Electric Roulette team have done a bit of DJing - and all with a pile of vinyl. But the DJ world is changing, with technology replacing the box of records - typified by the Denon DJ DN-HD2500 media player.

It's an upgrade to the existing model, offering a 40GB drive for all your digital tunes, as well as USB connectivity if you want to hook up another device. A central screen navigates your tracks, with built-in effects, platter effects and pitch adjustment available to mix up your tunes. In fact, there's just about everything you would expect from a traditional set-up.

The purists will hate it - but anyone who doesn't want vinyl-related back problems might want to take a look. It's available for £649 plus VAT, more if ou want to add on a CD player.

Find out more at the Denon website

De La Soul inspired slipmats

"Everybody wants to be a DJ, everybody wants to be an MC but being speakers are the best and you don't have to guess..." and so spake De La Soul, way back when. De La were ahead of the game as it turned out that everyone did wanna roll the onesandtwos... leaving men with long hair and leather pants learning licks from their Yngwie Malmsteen LPs.

Sadly, most were digging in crates of fizz-trance, vodka-10step and goa-go-go house. For those still rummaging around in musty record shops (keepin' right as opposed to real), you might wanna check these De La Soul inspired slipmats. Retailing at just under £13 for a pair, you can pull out the Lee Dorsey records whilst playing Bob Dorough to a knowing audience.

Click here to buy from HTFR

Neil Young to tour... and rob you blind

Neil Young has announced a series of UK tour dates for next March. Now, this would normally be good news for me. I ain't ever seen him and I'd like to... however, there's a reason I ain't. That's because he's a robbing fucker.

The grumbling singer, who is currently wrapping up his North American tour with a six night stint at New York's United Palace, has revealed that he is to play eight shows in the UK from March 3 - including five nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo. Young will also be playing two nights in Paris, at Le Grand Rex on February 14 and 15.

So what's this about him pick-pocketing? Well, if you want to see the former Buffalo Springfield man, you'll have to stump up at least £55 for a ticket. The better seats will set you back a hefty £75. Tickets go onsale today, but you'd be better buying some of his albums that you're missing from his back catalogue. If you're adamant that you wanna be ripped off, read over for whens and wheres... 

New band: The Fore

It's not often a band comes by, checkin' The Beatles as an influence... pre-Revolver. Yup. The twang and shake of Merseybeat is seldom heard through any kind of airwave, which is why The Fore as such a cracking band.

Close harmonies, R 'n' B chords and Hank guitar (hell, they might even have the dance routines too) roll out in a very convincing sound, very close to the style of '63. They've obviously spent time in front of the mirror, but an even longer period makin' sure that the sounds are just so.

Of course, songs about girls with a surfy twang could pass as innocent Garage, which is no bad thing. This band, in short, are great and would liven up a party that's sagging in the middle. You need this band in your life. I can't wait for The Fore to discover acid...

Click here to visit The Fore's website or, to listen to 'em, visit their MySpace

Reverend And The Makers launch Carling Academy in Sheffield

The Carling Academy is to open in Sheffield - and local band Reverend And The Makers will be the first band to play it on Friday 11th April 2008.

The venue (the former Roxy nightclub) can be found at 37-43 Arundel Gate, Sheffield, S1 1DE, with tickets  available from 14th December for £15 advance - see the website for full details. Other shows currently on sale at Carling Academy Sheffield include James (Tuesday 15th April - £29.50 adv), KT Tunstall (Wednesday 16th April - £22.50 adv) and The Pigeon Detectives (Wednesday 21st May – £13.50 adv). Further acts will be announced in the new year.

Find out more at the Sheffield Academy website

Five Christmas albums with a retro twist

Sick of Slade? Bored of Band Aid? Don't despair - we have a selection of five retro Christmas albums, packed full of great tunes to soundtrack the festive period. Any that we've missed? Let us now below.

1. James Brown: Funky Christmas (Polydor)

The hardest-working man in showbusiness is no longer with us, but his festive favourites are. This is a compilation of all the man's Christmas work including tracks from his 1966 LP, Christmas Song and his '72 recording, Hey America - a mix of self-penned tunes, covers of early 60s R&B Christmas tunes and some full-on festive funk - typified by Soulful Christmas - classic JB, but with a seasonal message (and available a couple of years back as a limited vinyl 45). Get the party started for a ridiculously cheap £3.98.

More about the CD at Amazon.co.uk

2. Various Artists: Seasonal Favourites volumes one and two (Double Crown)

Guaranteed to liven up any party are the Seasonal Favourites volumes one and two albums, available from Double Crown Records. It's Christmas music, but with a twist - as you might expect from  a surf/garage/rockabilly label. If you want to know how much of a twist, check out the two tracks below. And if you like what you hear (and want indie/garage versions of Merry Christmas (War Is Over) and Little Drummer Boy in your collection), you can order both online from Double Crown for a bargain £6.59 each.

Frigg A-Go-Go - Santa Claus Go To The Ghetto (MP3)
The Lunatics - Rocknuts (MP3)

Ike Turner RIP

Ike Turner, half of one of the most volcanic rock and soul acts ever, has died at 76. Ike's influence on music is unparalleled as he was there... there at the sessions for the first ever rock 'n' roll records ever made (Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston) writing and distorting his guitar to create the fuzz we all love.

Scott Hanover, a spokesman for Thrill Entertainment, which managed his career, said yesterday: "Ike Turner passed away this morning. He was at his home." He lived in San Marcos, California, outside San Diego. Hanover did not give the cause of death.

Ike gave a leg up to luminaries such as Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Elmore James and Otis Rush, showing that Ike was more than just a musician, but also a dynamite A&R man. Of course, Ike is best known for his turbulent relationship with Tina Turner, who as a pair, created incredible soul, rock and funk numbers that could strip your skin away from your body with biblical force. Click over to see the great man in action...

Book - The Music Library: Graphic Art and Sound

Without question, The Music Library: Graphic Art and Sound is one of the finest books I've ever read. The book features gloriously gonzoid covers from gloriously gonzoid LPs. For those that need an introduction, Library Music is the name for the music made for people who needed cheap background music for commercials, animations and TV programmes. Basically, that means a bunch of producers experimenting with synths, funk breaks, fuzz guitars and anything else they can lay their hands on. Think Cecil Leuter... think Roger Davy... think the most brilliantly bonkers futuristic music you've ever heard in your life.

This book is a compilation of cover artworks from some of the most important and rather beautiful library LPs made throughout the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Some feature naked women... whilst another features J. S. Bach stood in front of a huge hog of a  motorbike. Some sleeves will make you drool whilst others will make you rub your eyes in disbelief. Better still, the book also comes free with an exclusive CD of some of the rarer library recordings. Contributors include Johnny Trunk and Jerry Dammers. A superb book and a must have for the curious and adventurous. Click here to buy The Music Library: Graphic Art and Sound

eBaywatch... Parliament Funkadelic poster

eBay is a treasure trove of obscurities and wonderments. One gem, nestled away amongst the press shots of Chaka Khan and signed Bruce Springsteen LPs is this eye-popping Parliament Funkadelic poster.

This poster dates from 2005 when George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Co. took to the road to summon the funk with starry specs and hell-raisin' hair. Based on the style of the classic sixties posters that used to grace the walls of the Fillmore back in the halcyon days, Parliament clearly wear their love on their extravagant sleeves.

This poster is in good condition and currently going for $19.99... although, if you can't wait, you can buy it now for $35.99... which is peanuts for something as beautiful as this.

Click here if you want to make a bid