This month’s PU takes us back to August 1969. NASA is still feeling smug after putting men on the moon, the Woodstock festival is on the horizon and the entire town of Greenfield, Iowa, promises to give up smoking in advance of Dick Van Dyke’s latest film: anti-tobacco flick ‘Cold Turkey’.

But more important than any of that nonsense is the fact that BOB DYLAN and THE BAND are due to play the Isle of Wight Festival, as trumpeted on the front cover of Melody Maker. Cue some digressive Bob-related chat from Marc and Rob, plus their take on new biopic, ‘A Complete Unknown’.

Elsewhere in this issue, Marc reveals that he once roadie’d for DONOVAN and floats the idea that the old folkie might’ve used a spittoon. After a gig in Blackpool, SCOTT WALKER fans demand their money back – all because he played one song twice! Tell ya what, get a life! BILL HALEY, “the Grand Old Man of Rock’ as the Maker calls him, is on the comeback trail at 42. NICK DRAKE’s debut LP, ‘Five Leaves Left’, gets a pitifully short review. And JOHN PEEL starts his own Dandelion label, at pains to insist he’s not in it for the money. As if it prove the point, one of his first signings is an insurance clerk from Leeds Building Society.

Anyway, there’s all this and plenty more (including the most shambolic Top 30 rundown you’re ever likely to hear), plus music from Dylan, Led Zep, Nick Drake, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melody Maker 15th May 1976

IT'S THE 17TH OF MAY 1976. 11 DAYS EARLIER A 15 YEAR OLD MARC RILEY TRAVELED FROM MANCHESTER TO LONDON ON A MINTY AND MANKY NATIONAL BUS/COACH WITH HIS OLDEST FRIEND STEVE HANLEY. WHEN WE SAY HIS OLDEST FRIEND STEVE WAS INDEED MARCS OLDEST FRIEND. HE HAD KNOWN HIM SINCE THE AGE OF 6… AND STEVE WAS A FULL 2 YEARS OLDER THAN HIM. THE CARROT BEING DANGLED ON THIS OCCASION - DAVID BOWIE AT WEMBLEY EMPIRE POOL.

IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE… ITS THE 17TH OF MAY 1976. 11 DAYS EARLIER ROB HUGHES - JUST OUT OF SHORT PANTS - LEFT HIS SOOTY AND SWEEP LUNCH BOX ON THE SCHOOL BUS AND CRIED ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS DINNERTIME BREAK.

IN THIS EPISODE OF THE PARALLEL UNIVERSE ROB AND MARC RIFLE THROUGH A YELLOWING COPY OF MELODY MAKER IN PURSUIT OF THE INTERESTING, THE PERPLEXING, THE AGEIST…AND THE PERVERTED! AND GUESS WHAT!? THEY FIND ALL FOUR!

COURTESY OF KISS, THE ROLLING STONES, ALBERTO Y LOS TRIOS PARANOIAS! THERE ARE ALSO APPEARANCES FROM CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, BOB DYLAN, GENESIS AND TODD RUNDGREN.

FILL YER MOON BOOTS!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.