If we’ve shared a workspace, you will know me for my appreciation of New Order, World War II knowledge and biscuit generosity. I’m a writer/sub-editor with a 33-year career that includes full-time positions at GQ, Motor Sport and Jack, and freelance stints at Monocle, NME and The Guide (Guardian). I’ve wangled interviews with many of my heroes and written articles on niche subjects such as electricity pylons, concrete lamp-posts and daft DJ names. My interests include football shirts, 1:72 aircraft kits and the Cornell bird-recognition app.
GQ Icon: Bernard Sumner, GQ, 2012
One of the unsung architects of the Manchester sound, the Salford stalwart has influenced every major musical movement of the past 35 years. Whether pioneering post-punk with Joy Division, melding rock/dance with New Order, or blowing £1m on a nightclub, “Barney” was there. As his band limber up for an Olympic concert, GQ pays tribute to the straight man of Madchester
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A Menace to you, Rudy: The Specials’ Horace Panter and his Beano art, British Ideas Corporation, 2018
This year, The Beano celebrates its 80th birthday and to mark the occasion, Horace Panter, bass player with The Specials – and also one of Britain’s finest exponents of pop art and fine art – was invited to paint a series of compositions to be exhibited.
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Public Images Ltd: an interview with Clare Grogan, Guilfest, 2025
I used to always request orange Smarties only on our rider, for years and years. And then Bill Forsyth, who directed me in Gregory’s Girl, said, “Clare, have you ever thought about who the person is who has to sort the orange Smarties from the other coloured Smarties and whether they’ve washed their hands?” I had no words.
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