SINGLE, SEXY, STRAIGHT WOMEN & MEN

I seldom read many informative pieces in the SUNDAY INDEPENDENT: Eoghan Harris having prostate problems, anger over Brian Lenihan's handling of the economy, Carol Hunt's battles with her mental health. These troubles, along with pictures of the occasional beautiful models (Roberta Rowatt is my personal favorite), seem to be the totality of importance that the paper publishes each Sunday. It, in the main, is responsible for a huge waste of paper and is full of gossip and innuendo aimed, I believe, at a dwindling amount of intelligent readers. Granted it isn't as stuffy as the IRISH TIMES but it has become a bastion of triviality and boob jobs, as well as other celebrity stories, seem to fill its pages.

However, in my opinion, it does tackle human relationships to a more than adequate extent and that's what makes me read the rag. I opened it one Sunday, last year, to see a wonderful article dealing with relationships between single men and single women and it was compelling to read. Apparently one of the ideas was that if a lady wanted to know if a man liked her, a good indication was to spill a cup of coffee (on purpose!) onto his Dolce & Gabana, freshly pressed trousers. What would be his reaction? I think it related to temperament rather than sexual attraction but nonetheless it was an interesting idea. Unsurprisingly my trousers have never been sprayed (purposely or accidentally) with the caffeine containing beverage by a woman who was in anyway interested in me. However I have often wondered how I would react should it happen to me.

Around the same time I was attending night classes in 'Life Coaching' and I brought up the subject of that piece of journalism carried in the 'Sindo'and it provoked a 30 minute discussion amongst my colleagues (who were all single and female incidentally). Even if the articles in that Sunday newspaper are mainly tabloidesque, people who are single will be drawn towards these pages and, if it helps to pamper AENGUS FANNING's (Editor)lifestyle for that reason alone, it should be praised.

Maybe the Independent stable of newspapers gives relationships a special degree of attention because last Saturday's IRISH INDEPENDENT had a piece by AISLING O'LOUGHLIN (a broadcaster) who was, in my opinion, whinging about being single at 29 (I'm on the cusp of my 36th birthday!). In her article she goes on about how unfortunate she is (!!!). What a load of tosh, I thought, as someone employed by a television channel she should have no financial concerns and she seems to be reasonably healthy. Nor is she faced by drug dealing, gun toting gangsters from Moyross or Drimnagh (I think Limerick readers should note my balanced description here)on a daily basis like some, less fortunate. Indeed it's hard to fathom what seems to be the problem. Then I thought again. I'm male. Ah, its the usual chestnut: kids. Men simply don't have the same insight into the female mechanism.

AISHLING, I must apologise, single men don't have the gallon-load of emotions to deal with that women grapple with. On the other hand it's not exactly a bowl of cherries for a man to be single either (even if masturbation does provide a crumb of comfort). But, I wondered, how do men attract women? After a lot of thought over the years I have come to the conclusion that it is the P word, yes folks its PASSION. Years and years of rejection in Nightclubs and Pubs have hardened my feelings and have led me to believe that it is shared passion that brings people together. No amount of early Sunday mornings in clubs or at gigs will gain you a partner. Furthermore the primary reason for the existence of Nightclubs is so more alcohol can be bought and sold - NO OTHER REASON. "I'm just finishing my drink" was the response I got off a lady who I asked to dance at a club one night. Anyone, male or female, who thinks they are going to score in such surroundings needs their head examined. Romance will NEVER blossom while TAKE THAT or BOYZONE are blasting out of the PA and it is just not a place in which you will find a partner. Only for the drink, sad but true. PASSION.

The same can be said for Internet dating. As soon as you sign up and you start thinking about Wedding plans the website will invariably state: "In order to receive a reply from people you will Have to become a silver member or a gold member". What does that mean? MONEY of course. I know,I've tried.It is a cynical way to give people false hope in this way. Any solutions then? Can any progress be made? Will I always be single? Am I ever going to meet the woman of my dreams? Well hold on to your credit card and don't reach for the Kleenex (just yet!)Uncle IANO may have some way of cutting through the thicket of eligible singletons. There may be a way forward. Just possibly. Instead of whinging and perpetuating the problem. Do something about it. PASSION.

As I have already said, earlier, Passion is the key: BRIAN COWEN, JOHN PRESCOTT, JACKIE HEALY RAE,TIMOTHY SPALL have all had (or still have)spouses. Now I would reckon that, even when they were young, girls would not have regarded these fine gentlemen as exactly pin-up material like ROBBIE WILLIAMS, JUDE LAW, TOM CRUISE or BRAD PITT. The point I'm making here, for singles, is that having a passion or interest in something, will, eventually (unless death intervenes of course)yield results. Fat, balding, ugly men all over the world have always been able to get hitched and so it is , passion, I'm convinced, that attracts the birds. Hill walking, debating, sports, acting/drama, gardening are just some pursuits where you can meet and, hopefully share passions with the opposite sex. No one should keep their strengths/talents hidden like gold in a bank vault. PASSION.

In my own case I'm getting towards my late 30's and am, to be quite frank, unhappy as a single male. However I am optimistic in my outlook and I have never been more passionate about life. Over the last 18 months,I have joined Amnesty International and, even though I have not met anyone yet, I am committed to Human Rights. To paraphrase the IRA when it stated, following the Brighton bombing in 1983, I only need to be lucky once out of a thousand times. It is hit and miss but I believe and hope that some time soon I'll have a smash hit in my grasp. PASSION.

My Interest In Reggae Music

I've just had a fun weekend. Went to see OONA & THE DEVILS on Saturday night and it was very enjoyable. All middle aged people such as myself and most of them would probably have kids. While the kids were busy doing what teenagers do at OXEGEN we were tapping our shoe leather to country/rock in the Button Factory. I'd say it could have been called HYDROGEN. Well it has restored my faith in Dublin Night life. On the way home there were plenty of shemales (mostly English) crawling the streets and that only added to the fun.

I scribbled away the other day and look what I've just cooked up below for you all to read (by the way you are the 10,000,000000000th reader and you win precisely nothing, god even RYANAIR wouldn't be that stingy!) What to write about? well Reggae I think is a good enough topic to examine. Anyway all of this preamble is starting to get like BRIAN LENIHAN (Senior) warming up for C.J. HAUGHEY so I'll let your eyes wander. No not in that direction. Read on:


Listening to the legendary John Peel (RIP) from the mid eighties helped cement my interest in Reggae music. Many people love to name check top Reggae stars such as BOB MARLEY or LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY, but I prefer to listen to a wider range. In around 1988 I happened to be in Dublin Airport when I chanced upon an audio tape that was lying on the counter in the airport's branch of Bank of Ireland. No one was near it so I kept it ('You want locking up' ,I hear you say). I asked my father if I could play it on the car stereo when we were leaving the airport and what I heard has stayed with me throughout my life.

On side one was a concert of the ROLLING STONES from the early 1970's but on side two was a live recording of what was scrawled on the tape: 'REGGAE SUNSPLASH'. Afterwards I learnt that the artist featured was STEEL PULSE. Listening to 'Hansworth Revolution' for the first time was an absolutely wonderful experience and it continues to thrill me. These are the stuff of memories. From that moment on I was wrapped in the bind of Reggae music.

Coinciding with acquiring the tape was my discovery of a Reggae programme on a local radio station (Horizon Radio) which broadcast to South Co.Dublin and North Wicklow (now East Coast FM) and it was immensely pleasurable to hear. Of course I was unable to either see or buy any records at that age. The few independent record shops in Dublin didn't stock much Reggae and I never had much cash either. So that limited me from actually owning any Reggae records and it meant that what was played 'on air' held extra importance for me. An early favorite of mine was CULTURE, a band fronted by a man called Joseph Hill (RIP). I can remember taping one of the programmes on Horizon and listening continuously to 'Who Are The Terrorists? Who Are The Heroes?' by MACCA B which was a commentary on the racist state of South Africa in the 1980's. I have always been politically aware, so my love of that sort of music has endured over the years.

Listening to radio introduced me to other Reggae artists such as GREGORY ISAAC, LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY, BLACK UHURU, DESMOND DEKKER, BURNING SPEAR, LUCIANO, DENNIS BROWN....(Can't think of anymore but the list could continue. It's actually wrist strain at the keyboard!). By the mid 1990's Reggae started to have a significant presence in reputable record shops in Dublin on both vinyl and a new format, CD. I can recall a time when HMV were clearing out their vinyl, to make way for CD's and bargains were a plenty! I bought LP's by ERROLL DUNKLEY, GREGORY ISAAC and also FRANKIE PAUL. They were a nice addition to my collection.

CHARLY, PRESSURE SOUNDS, BLOOD AND FIRE, ATTACK, JET STAR, TROJAN, GREENSLEEVES were just some of the labels catering for Reggae lovers everywhere and they soon became easier and easier to access in Ireland. Reggae fans no longer had problems grooving and grinding to heavy bass sounds and with the opening of Tower Records, in the 1990's, Reggae had become established as a mainstream musical interest and everything it entailed (the smoking ban has also had an affect but that's another story).

Around the late 1990's I was 'working' in a record shop in central Dublin when I met a guy who set up a specialised Reggae shop in the capital and the excitement was palpable, it was unique. The business he started is still, I believe, in existence and I have bought, over the years, many Dub releases that were for sale there. He used to stock the latest re-issues and each week I would try and make a bee-line to his shop to satisfy my craving for Reggae. AUGUSTUS PABLO, KING TUBBY, THE ABYSSINIANS, MAX ROMEO, KEITH HUDSON and PRINCE FAR I would be some of my purchases and it was an education listening to these artists as well as many others mainly to be found on compilations.

The aforementioned PRINCE FAR I would, probably, have to be one of my favorites. His style was almost, if you can imagine, of a preacher. You never had a clue what the hell he was on about, but he sounded FANTASTIC. All I can say is he must have been smoking industrial amounts of weed. ALTHEA and DONNA, JOHNNY CLARKE and LINTON KWESI JOHNSON were on the Virgin/Frontline label and they were also part of a re-issue programme (on CD). I snapped up these recordings on mid-price when they became available. Trojan Records have also been responsible for putting out great Reggae music since the 1970's and they were re-activated in the late 1990's opening up Reggae's sweet tones to countless new ears.

Nowadays there are no longer any difficulties for people getting hold of Reggae here in Ireland and I am now the owner of hundreds of Reggae CD's. I no longer buy as many as I used to but have never lost the thrill of listening to them. The 1970's would have to be the 'Golden Age' of Reggae and the more modern artists such as BUJU BANTON, SIZZLA, SEAN PAUL, SHABBA RANKS have less of an impact on my listening habits. Recently I got a mix compilation by a guy called DJ SPOOKY (on Trojan, a double CD). Well it was a joy to hear. I am a firm believer that Reggae sounds particularly good when the weather is fine - it is such a good feeling. It must be the most al fresco of all musical genres and I took the CD outside with the stereo one sunny morning and it felt wonderful. Almost as good as coffee!

Along with certain Jazz artists (DEXTER GORDON, WES MONTGOMERY, HORACE SILVER, JACKIE McLEAN, JIMMY SMITH, 'BROTHER' JACK McDUFF), I find Dub Reggae a very relaxing form of music. KING TUBBY is, for me, on of the foremost exponents of that sound and, listened to late at night, has an almost tranquilising effect (obviously spliffs come in here,if that's what floats your boat). However LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY is probably the most notorious practitioner of the Dub sound. He is legendary in Reggae for his production techniques and also his eccentricity. However, having listened to SOME of his many recordings (a new CD comes out nearly every day) and also having seen him live I feel his is rather over-rated. He now lives in Switzerland and I wouldn't say he'll ever have to beg for a living. Sure, he will always have his place in the history of Reggae but these days his reputation precedes him.



As a footnote to this blog I have decided to mention a few releases that I believe will be a good introduction to anyone interested in exploring Reggae a bit more:

• Most critics agree that 'Arkology' , a 3CD set of LEE PERRY's work is one of his best set of recordings and it should be sought out.
• Another fine piece is an album called 'Heart of The Congo's' by THE CONGO's and it is available on the wonderful BLOOD AND FIRE label based in Manchester, UK.
• BUNNY WAILER's 'Black Heart Man' is also worth a purchase.
• Trojan Records carry an enormous amount in their catalogue and their website is always worth a look: http://www.trojanrecords.com/
• For those of you with an interest in social commentary CULTURE or LINTON KWESI JOHNSON would be two artists with their hearts in the right place and in my opinion rarely disappoint. Sadly Joseph Hill (CULTURE) died a couple of years back, but LKJ is still with us and regularly gigs. One of his most famous recordings is 'Stand Down Margaret' his riposte to the former British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher.
• TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS continue to thrill fans and 'Monkey Man' is a party favorite. A wonderful feel good sound.
• As far as I am concerned PRINCE FAR I is beyond criticism. I would say anything of his recordings should be listened to - a legend in musical history.
• Finally everyone should check out the many releases of KING TUBBY who is widely regarded (alongside LEE PERRY) as being essential listening for all fans of Dub. Heavy!

Some of my favorite Music Magazines

In the summer of 1987 I was recovering from an operation and that was roughly the same time that I started to have a love affair with music magazines which was to last for over 20 years. The publication that I bought, literally every week between October 1987 and January 2000, was the New Musical Express (NME) and at that stage it was quite a wide ranging magazine. World Music, Hardcore Trash, Hip Hop, as well as Indie and Mainstream Pop and Rock - all these genres were catered for and I learned, quickly, a lot about music from reading that publication. Another thing I liked about NME was its news coverage. A typical edition, in its first six pages, would devote considerable journalistic skill in informing music lovers of what was happening. By looking up a copy of NME you would most likely be the first person to be aware of the various trends in the music business. Many have described it in glowing terms as ' The Music Bible'.

I can remember many wonderful entertaining and poignant interviews carried in its pages. From Van Morrisson's grumpy sobriety to Morrissey's refreshingly honest Asexuality (a huge attraction to many NME readers at the time who were late sexual developers). I can recall an emotional interview with Ian McCulloch. He spoke about the loss of his father and I think the interview got across the pain of the bereavement that he felt. I loved the NME and it was my first choice of magazine for years, however by 2000 I had become divorced from it. No longer the important journal - it had lost almost everything that attracted me to it in the first place and I decided not to carry on paying for the continuing depreciation in quality.

Around 1988 I came across another music paper which was equally as attractive to read as NME. Sounds was more in the vein of an indie Kerrang! or Metal Hammer and I loved it. The magazine specialised in noisy, rough Rock and it hardly ever disappointed as a read. If NME represented 'Madchester' with its baggy clothing and rave culture, then Sounds stood for the greasy, sweaty rockers who listened only to John Peel(RIP) or Tommy Vance(RIP) and preferred to attend Reading rather than Glastonbury.

Some of the 'scribes' that I read and respected at the time when I believe music was still extremely exciting to read about were:

• EDWIN POUNCEY/SAVAGE PENCIL (NME, now at WIRE)
• STEVE LAMAQ (NME, now BBC)
• SIMON WILLIAMS (NME)
• STEVEN WELLS (NME)
• STUART MACONIE (NME, now BBC)
• MR. SPENCER (Sounds)
• MICK MERCER (Sounds)
• EVERETT TRUE (Melody Maker)

Growing up as I did, before the Internet meant that the UK's music mags were an extremely important way of accessing information on everything happening: Gigs, new releases and specialist music styles. Getting a look every Thursday was essential in my development as a music fan.

In Ireland we didn't have the same breadth of homegrown mags to choose from however we did have an irreverent, bawdy, hedonistic fortnightly journal which I now think of being the most reliable magazine in the Emerald Isle. Hot Press was founded in the late 1970's and I was obviously too young to appreciate it then. But by around 1987 I had started to read and buy it. At that time it was printed on relatively poor quality paper and was, unlike these days, frankly not that attractive to look at. Furthermore I wouldn't have been surprised if certain newsagents equated it with porn which it, most emphatically, was not. Well these days Hot Press is a slickly oiled machine and now boasts a strong circulation level and I would say that things bode well for its future. It's a long way from when legal action by a former Lord Mayor of Dublin threatened its existence. It is now unrivalled for coverage of Irish popular culture.

In 2000 I started to subscribe to Wire Magazine. I regarded it as being a cutting edge publication and it frequently informed me as to what was new to hear in the world. However it was essentially an 'Avant Garde' music guide and after 5 years of subscribing I stopped getting it. Most of what it covered didn't chime with me despite my initial enthusiasm for reading it. To fully 'understand' the music it's journalists wrote about, you would have to be, most probably, on drugs or under the influence of alcohol. It continues to move in the same direction but can no longer accommodate me.

Over the years many music magazines have come and gone and many are still with us: Smash Hits (RIP), Vox (RIP), Q, Select (RIP), MOJO, Record Collector, F. Roots, Rock n Reel, Melody Maker (RIP), Songlines, Underground (RIP), Offbeat (RIP), Jazz News (RIP), Spiral Scratch(Seen as an indie alternative to Record Collector, RIP). American magazines don't really grab me but my favorites would have to be MAXIMUMROCKNROLL (Punk journal extraordinaire) and No Depression (Specialising in Country/Folk with an American twang). As a music fan I have always enjoyed looking at and reading a wide variety of publications and I still try to find magazines that will inform me on that subject. Recently I came across a wonderful mag from the UK which specialises in that most labyrinthine of genres,Garage Rock. It is called Shindig and I think it conveys well the excitement of being a fan of that kind of music, rather like a fanzine.

Fanzines are basically mags written by people who were in bands or 'trainspotters' (obsessive fans) with nothing better to do with their time. I loved them for eschewing the bullshit of the bigger music papers and the fawning over the current 'stars' that they indulged in. You usually had to send away to the UK or further afield to get them, but fanzines were a real treat when they arrived in the post. A selection of my favorites would be: Suspect Device, Continental Restyling as well as React and Gearhead Nation (both based in Ireland). All the publications listed were written by, and for, those who had a high level of enthusiasm for what they listened to - THE FANS!

These days I no longer have a burning desire to hunt down music magazines in the same way I did in my teens. Probably because of the cost but also because everything in the magazines has been homogenised and cleaned up. In short this translates as less excitement and music magazines have now given way to the Internet. I spend much of my time listening and viewing Myspace and other sites and that means that I no longer have to blacken my fingers on newsprint, but I think I'll always remember the importance, especially through my adolescence, of good, stimulating, music magazines - an essential diet not to have been missed.