Rick Astley on rickrolling, refinding fame and his ‘weird’ childhood
From Stock Aitken Waterman pop puppetry to playing Glastonbury, Rick Astley’s trajectory through the pop music industry has been anything but ordinary
The Smiths
Johnny Marr: I turned down Smiths reunion and acted to protect band’s legacy
Guitarist said he was responding to statements made by former bandmate Morrissey
Morrissey’s at it again. This time it’s ‘vapourised’ Ariana Grande fans and a plot to ‘silence’ the Smiths singer
The Smiths frontman believes his most recent album is being suppressed. It’s a reminder of how interesting his former band once were
Molly Rankin of Alvvays: ‘I still love The Smiths. No one will take them away from me’
The frontwoman of the indie-pop gems on a rare appearance in Ireland, for Beyond the Pale, and music’s broken economy
Rory Gallagher: Calling Card review – a fascinating celebration of one of Ireland’s most influential rockers
Television: Documentary shows how Donegal-born Corkman was a key influence for Brian May, Johnny Marr and Slash
Cathal Coughlan and Microdisney: ‘Outsiders in the UK because they were Irish, outsiders in Ireland because they weren’t from Dublin’
Television: Passionate chronicling of Cork band’s ups and downs as they were adored in Ireland but never achieved a mainstream career
How did The Smiths end up getting played at Donald Trump rallies?
Trump plays Please Please Please, Let Me Get What I Want as part of his 2024 presidential bid
Johnny Marr: Spirit Power – A songsmith whose mastery of melody remains intact
The former Smiths guitarist’s light has never gone out, as this compilation of solo work highlights
Oliver Callan fires a clean shot at Ryan Tubridy that any hitman would be proud of
Radio: On The Nine O’Clock Show, the stand-in host has a jag at the self-exculpatory impulses that scuppered his predecessor’s planned return
The Music Quiz: Irish band BellX1 took their name from which American author?
Plus: Which now defunct Irish band covered The Smiths’ Last Night I Dreamt That Someone Loved Me in 2009?
Morrissey in Dublin review: There’s a surprise towards the end of this cathartically cranky gig
At the first of two sold-out Vicar Street gigs, flashes of the controversial singer’s old drollness emerge between moments of trolling ire
Bumblebee: Transformers spin-off has heart and – gasp – feminism
Review: Travis Knight has made one of the most pleasant surprises of the movie year
Boys don’t cry? Don’t make me blub
I’ve cried at the end of In the Name of the Father . . . when Spain beat Ireland in Euro 2012 . . . when my children were born . . .
We’re all still workin’ on a Sex Farm
The Spinal Tap app is mandatory viewing for all serious rock’n’rollers
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