#ray-davies

#ray-davies

Moby listed 'Lola' as a song he can no longer listen to, stating, 'the lyrics were gross and transphobic.' He expressed surprise at how 'unevolved' the lyrics seemed.

Shot by photographer Michael Ochs, the band appears completely wrapped in a single sheet of translucent pink plastic or fabric, a playful literal riff on their name that perfectly suits the whimsical, experimental spirit of the psychedelic era.

Vernon's upbringing in Surrey was typical of many children born in the mid-1940s: he sang in his church choir, listened to the jazz and show tune LPs his parents owned and was bowled over by the arrival of rock'n'roll, responding most strongly to the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino and Larry Williams.

London band Sorry dropped two new songs today, "Billy Elliot" and "Alone In Cologne." The former premiered on BBC 6Music this morning, and the latter was released shortly after. Listen to both, out now on Domino, below.

Sedaka got his breakthrough as a performer with 1958's The Diary—inspired when Connie Francis refused to let him and songwriting partner Howard Greenfield scour her diary for inspiration. Oh! Carol, meanwhile, was a paean to Sedaka's ex-girlfriend Carol Klein—the irrepressibility of the melody at odds with the misery in the lyrics (I am but a fool!). Klein was impressed enough to write an answer song, Oh! Neil, which she recorded under her new pen name: Carole King.

A chipper melodicist who never attempted to disguise his sentimental streak, Sedaka emerged at the moment rock 'n' roll's initial big bang started to fizzle. As a songwriter and performer, Sedaka treated rock 'n' roll as another fad to be exploited, crafting cheerful, vivacious tunes targeted at teens who'd bop along to 'Stupid Cupid' and swoon to 'Where the Boys Are.'

Revolución to Roxy begins long before glam, synthesizers, or LP covers became cultural landmarks. Manzanera's earliest memories are shaped by upheaval: childhood in Cuba during the revolution, displacement, and an upbringing that crossed Venezuela, Colombia, England, and beyond. That instability, he says, produced something lasting-understanding. "If you grow up speaking two languages, you are scientifically proven to be more compassionate," Manzanera says. "You have this kind of duality, and one of those is the power to be empathetic. For a musician, that is such a helpful tool."

"When I read the fine print, it was 'an experience with REO Speedwagon's music.' It's none of the original members," Fletcher recalls. "I don't want to promote the show unless it's the real thing. I don't know why you would want to see that. It's just a cover band. To me, that's a little bit strange." He adds, with a sigh, "If there are no original members, who cares?"

The arrival of Robbie Williams's 13th album has been a complicated business. It was announced in May 2025 and was supposed to come out in October, when its title would have chimed with the 90s nostalgia sparked by the Oasis reunion. Williams spent the summer engaging in promotion, unveiling fake Britpop-themed blue plaques around London and staging a press conference at the Groucho Club.