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Simon Matthews’ ‘Before It All Went Rotten’ Uncovers the Pub-Rock Roots of Punk

Eric Alper
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Simon Matthews’ ‘Before It All Went Rotten’ Uncovers the Pub-Rock Roots of Punk

Before punk blew the doors off, the revolution was already brewing in London’s smoky pubs—and Simon Matthews captures it all in Before It All Went Rotten. With love for the grit and groove of those early nights, he shines a light on the unsung bands who kept the amps buzzing and set the stage for the Sex Pistols and beyond. It’s a history of sound, sweat, and the belief that anyone could pick up a guitar and shake the world.

Before It Went Rotten takes a trip back to the world before punk. When Anarchy in the UK appeared, London enjoyed one of the most vibrant music scenes in the world. A network of mainly Irish owned pubs and clubs provided music every night, much of it free of charge, whilst working as a testing ground for up and coming talent. This book traces the evolution of what was quickly labelled ‘pub-rock’: from rock and roll revival acts via late blues bands, country rock, funk, soul and art school bands to the sound that eventually burst on the scene as punk rock in 1976. Specific chapters cover the career of Brinsley Schwarz, the Southend bands and the step by step rise of the Sex Pistols. Among those interviewed are former members of Fumble, Darts, the John Dummer Blues Band, Blue Goose, Legend, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Brinsley Schwarz, Bees Make Honey, Ducks de Luxe, Kokomo, Roogalator, Burlesque, Kilburn and the High Roads, GT Moore and the Reggae Guitars, Clancy, the Fabulous Poodles, the Sex Pistols and Meal Ticket. Extensively researched, Before It Went Rotten bids fair to be the definitive study of an overlooked era.

‘The Who: The History of My Generation’ Captures the Band’s Wild Ride in Photos and Stories

Eric Alper
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‘The Who: The History of My Generation’ Captures the Band’s Wild Ride in Photos and Stories

They weren’t just a band—they were an explosion. The History of My Generation brings The Who’s raw energy back to life, through the wild stories and unforgettable images that made them legends. From power chords to pinball wizards, this book isn’t just about what The Who did—it’s about how they made every kid believe in the power of turning it up and smashing through.

Famed music journalist Mat Snow celebrates the Who’s debut album, My Generation, with this unofficial illustrated history of the legendary rock band—the ideal visual companion for Who fans all over the world.

The Who formed in 1964 with lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwhistle, and drummer Keith Moon, and continued on to become one of the best-selling bands of all time. The Who: The History of My Generation chronicles how the band inspired a generation and beyond-overcoming internal strife, external competition, and the death of two founding members.

‘Eddie Cochran: In Person!’ Reveals Rare Photos and Lost Treasures of a Rock ’n’ Roll Pioneer

Eric Alper
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‘Eddie Cochran: In Person!’ Reveals Rare Photos and Lost Treasures of a Rock ’n’ Roll Pioneer

Before the world knew his name, Eddie Cochran was just a kid with a guitar and a dream in small-town Minnesota. Eddie Cochran: In Person! opens the door to his world—dusting off forgotten mementos, songs that shaped a generation, and a spirit that never stopped rocking. It’s not just a tribute—it’s a time capsule from the bedroom of a legend who burned bright, played louder, and left us too soon.

A lavishly illustrated intimate glimpse into the life of legendary guitarist and rock ‘n’ roll icon Eddie Cochran, through unique access to never-before-seen personal treasures that were thought to be lost for more than sixty years.

In the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll, there was one name who rivaled Elvis Presley, both in style and talent: Eddie Cochran.

In his short 21 years, Eddie Cochran changed the face of music forever—despite his life being cut tragically cut short when he died in a car crash on his 1960 tour of England. Born in a small town in Minnesota to humble beginnings, Eddie unleashed a wave of raw talent and energy that defied the norms of the era, becoming a trailblazer of the rockabilly sound and look. His smash hits “Summertime Blues,” “C’mon Everybody,” and “Three Steps to Heaven” are still entertaining audiences and being covered by musicians today, some sixty years after they were first recorded. Cochran’s guitar style and songwriting not only landed him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it has influenced nearly every major rock ‘n’ roll musician, from Paul McCartney and Marc Bolan, to Bruce Springsteen and Joan Jett.

Eddie Cochran: In Person! not only details the life and career of a rock ‘n’ roll icon, it tells the extraordinary story of how a collector came into possession of the contents of Eddie’s childhood bedroom, which had remained undisturbed and unseen by anyone outside of the Cochran family since his death.

Cochran’s fascinating story, lavishly illustrated with personal mementos, scrapbooks, and even a mockup of his never-released second album, all thought lost for more than sixty years, as well as exquisite performance and portrait photography, paints a picture of what it was like to be a rock ‘n’ roll superstar on a meteoric rise.

All the images and ephemera collected in this book are being published for the first time. Eddie Cochran: In Person! is the first photographic biography to chronicle the life and times of Eddie Cochran, immortalizing the artist in stunning high-resolution photos and ephemera. Lee Bullman (Blowback, Twenty Sixteen) provides expert insight into the life and times of Eddie Cochran, giving an intimate glimpse into the man behind the music.

Alvvays Ditches Reverb, Shines Bright at Tiny Desk with Stripped-Down Blue Rev Set

Eric Alper
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Alvvays Ditches Reverb, Shines Bright at Tiny Desk with Stripped-Down Blue Rev Set

Sometimes the scariest thing for a band known for dreamy soundscapes is playing it straight. But at Tiny Desk, Alvvays traded haze for heart — and in doing so, proved that behind every shoegaze shimmer is pure songwriting gold. Molly Rankin’s voice, unfiltered and unforgettable, reminded us why music matters most when it’s this real.

Ed Sheeran Announces New Album PLAY, Shares Nostalgic New Single “Old Phone”

Eric Alper
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Ed Sheeran Announces New Album PLAY, Shares Nostalgic New Single “Old Phone”

Ed Sheeran has announced that his new album ‘PLAY’ will be released on 12th September 2025. (Pre-order here).  To mark the occasion he has released a new single ‘Old Phone.’

After closing the chapter on his Mathematics series, Ed Sheeran is finally back and stepping boldly into a fresh new phase for 2025.   An artist known for constantly evolving, Sheeran’s latest album, ‘PLAY’ finds him exploring new musical ground through collaboration with producers and musicians from around the world, as well as diving deeper into the timeless sounds and themes that have made him one of the world’s best-loved pop artists. Inspired in part by his exposure to Indian and Persian musical cultures—and their surprising connections to the Irish folk tradition he grew up with, through shared scales, rhythms, and melodies—he explored this borderless musical language, giving the album its distinctive, fresh edge.  On more familiar ground, Sheeran also reminds us why he remains the most influential singer-songwriter of his generation, delivering a series of stunning ballads and acoustic-driven songs. The result is a collection that plays with both the familiar and the new, creating a bold, pop-driven sound that only Ed Sheeran could deliver — a vibrant showcase of his artistry that feels both exciting and transformative, and promises to be one of the defining albums of the year.

Ed said…”Play was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life. Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring. I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had some of the most fun, explorative creative days of my life. It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father. Going into this album campaign I said to myself ‘I just want everything I do to be fun and playful’ – so that’s why we are building pubs for folk jams, doing gigs on open top buses and singing in pink cowboy hats on bars. The older I get the more I just want to enjoy things, and savour the moments that are mad and chaotic. You can preorder play now, many many more playful things to come before it’s out x”

After the release of his global, hedonistic, technicolor pop hit ’Azizam’, Sheeran gets nostalgic on his brand new single ‘Old Phone’, narrating the disorienting act of reconnecting with his past. Powering up an old phone unused since 2015, he unearths messages from a lost friend, an argument with an ex, and distant family, highlighting how time and separation reshape identity. Blending nostalgic acoustic melodies with raw emotion, the song recalls Ed’s early songwriting roots while exploring growth and memory, capturing an artist that is shaped and transformed by his past   ‘Old Phone’ has been produced by Blake Slatkin & Ilya Salmanzadeh

 

Björk Narrates Fungi: Web of Life, a Psychedelic Dive into the Mushroom Kingdom

Eric Alper
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Björk Narrates Fungi: Web of Life, a Psychedelic Dive into the Mushroom Kingdom

Who better to narrate a documentary about the mysterious, interconnected world of fungi than Björk, whose music already feels like it’s grown from the forest floor? In Fungi: Web of Life, she guides us into the hidden universe beneath our feet—where mushrooms speak in networks and nature reminds us that the strangest things are often the most beautiful. It’s weird. It’s wondrous. It’s wildly Björk.

‘Throbbing Gristle: An Endless Discontent’ Explores the Band’s Radical Role in Post-Punk Britain

Eric Alper
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‘Throbbing Gristle: An Endless Discontent’ Explores the Band’s Radical Role in Post-Punk Britain

Some bands break the mold—Throbbing Gristle never even acknowledged it. In An Endless Discontent, Ian Trowell dissects the noise, rebellion, and chaos that turned art into activism. It’s a story of a band that challenged not just music, but the very systems around it, echoing louder in every generation still asking the same question: what happens when we refuse to conform?

Drawing on archives and live performances, this book traces the impressions and reverberations of UK punk band Throbbing Gristle.

This book looks at late 1970s Britain, before, during, and immediately after the Winter of Discontent, to situate the activism of Throbbing Gristle in this time. It explores how the band worked in and against the time, and how they worked in and against punk, as punk worked in and against the time and place. Punk acts as a mediating factor and nuisance value in the band’s story, as Throbbing Gristle emerged with punk in late 1976, grappled with it through 1977, and then went on to create and eventually criticize a number of post-punk scenes that had flourished around 1979.

Chuck Israels Explores Jazz, Democracy, and Legacy in ‘Bass Notes: Jazz in American Culture’

Eric Alper
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Chuck Israels Explores Jazz, Democracy, and Legacy in ‘Bass Notes: Jazz in American Culture’

When Chuck Israels writes about jazz, he’s not just recounting history—he’s playing it. Bass Notes is a masterclass in memory, rhythm, and reflection, told by a man who lived the music from the inside out. From Bill Evans to Billie Holiday, Coltrane to Baez, his story isn’t just about notes on a page—it’s about the soul of a nation set to swing.

From his upbringing as a “red-diaper baby” among some of the leading lights of American music and Left politics, to his legendary work as bassist for the Bill Evans trio, to his collaborations with such figures as Charles Mingus and Billie Holiday, Chuck Israels has witnessed over a half-century of change and innovation in American jazz music. In Bass Notes, he offers up both an engaging memoir and a meditation on the history of jazz music and its prospects for the future. In addition to fascinating stories from his work with musicians like John Coltrane, Joan Baez, and Herbie Hancock, he gives an inside view into the mysterious alchemy that happens when skilled jazz improvisers get together. As he explains, the combination of disciplined collaboration and individual freedom is not just exhilarating for musicians, but an inspiring reflection of, and model for, democracy and the potential for true racial equality.

Israels recounts his decision to leave Bill Evans’s trio to deepen his musical education and develop as a composer—and his choice to not rejoin the trio in Evans’s last years. Citing such developments as the dominance of conservatory training and ill-advised crossover attempts with classical and pop, he also gives an impassioned but unsentimental account of how jazz lost its primacy in the pantheon of American music, even though it is America’s most distinctive contribution to world music. He explores the obstacles that today’s best young jazz musicians face following the giants of earlier generations and the dwindling opportunities to make a living as a musician. But despite it all, Israels argues that jazz’s enduring and rich legacy will not be lost and shows how it can be not just sustained but broadened in the years to come.

Glen Hansard & Lisa O’Neill Perform “Fairytale of New York” at Shane MacGowan’s Funeral

Eric Alper
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Glen Hansard & Lisa O’Neill Perform “Fairytale of New York” at Shane MacGowan’s Funeral

Some songs were never meant to be quiet, even in goodbye. Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill gave Shane MacGowan the send-off he deserved with a stirring “Fairytale of New York”—not just sung, but lived, as friends and strangers danced down the aisles in joy and remembrance. It was Irish, it was poetic, and it was perfect.

20 of the Greatest Long Songs (That Aren’t Classical)

Eric Alper
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20 of the Greatest Long Songs (That Aren’t Classical)

There’s a special kind of magic in a song that dares to take its time. Across rock, pop, hip-hop, funk, and beyond, artists have used long songs not just to jam, but to tell stories, build worlds, and test the limits of sound. Over the last 50 years, these epic tracks have made us dance, cry, zone out, or rock out—and reminded us that patience often pays off in music.

1. “Achilles Last Stand” – Led Zeppelin (10:26)
Driven by relentless drums and soaring guitar lines, this epic opener from Presence showcases Zeppelin at full gallop. It’s thunderous, mystical, and proof that the band could still conquer mountains—even without the hobbits.

2. “Supper’s Ready” – Genesis (22:52)
Peter Gabriel leads us on a surreal, theatrical prog-rock pilgrimage through love, apocalypse, and cosmic rebirth. One of the genre’s finest hours.

3. “Telegraph Road” – Dire Straits (14:18)
Mark Knopfler’s storytelling hits its peak in this sprawling journey of economic decay and personal despair. It’s part song, part short story — and all vibe.

4. “Jesus of Suburbia” – Green Day (9:08)
Punk meets prog in this 5-part suite off American Idiot. It’s teenage angst, small-town frustration, and epic ambition all rolled into one eyeliner-smudged anthem.

5. “Bustin’ Out (On Funk)” – Rick James (9:19)
Nine minutes of slapping bass, cosmic synths, and pure Rick James energy. If funk had a thesis statement, this track might be it.

6. “Marquee Moon” – Television (10:40)
Post-punk precision meets jazz-like improvisation in this angular, hypnotic jam. It’s not just long — it’s a clinic in guitar interplay.

7. “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” – Taylor Swift (10:13)
The scarf, the maple lattes, the lyrical devastation — all wrapped in a slow burn that had fans screaming, crying, throwing up (emotionally, of course). A rare pop ballad that earns every second.

8. “Maggot Brain” – Funkadelic (10:20)
Eddie Hazel’s guitar solo is so raw and mournful, George Clinton allegedly told him to play “like your mom just died.” What followed was a psychedelic eulogy for the ages.

9. “Echoes” – Pink Floyd (23:31)
A sonic journey to the bottom of the sea and the edge of the mind. Floyd at their most expansive and exploratory.

10. “Impossible Soul” – Sufjan Stevens (25:35)
Nearly half an hour long, this five-part suite from The Age of Adz goes from existential crisis to auto-tuned dance party and back again. Wild, weird, and wonderful.

11. “Blackstar” – David Bowie (9:57)
Released just before his death, Bowie’s final act is a shape-shifting jazz-rock funeral dirge. Mysterious, beautiful, and chilling.

12. “Do You Feel Like We Do” (Live) – Peter Frampton (13:46)
The ultimate talk box flex. This live cut turned Frampton into a guitar god and proved solos didn’t need to end. Ever.

13. “Mortal Man” – Kendrick Lamar (12:07)
A closing statement that morphs into an interview with Tupac. Bold, beautiful, and brutally honest.

14. “Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd (9:08)
Yes, people yell it at every concert, but the guitar solo still shreds. Whether you’re on the open highway or just vibing in your living room, it still flies.

15. “Pyramids” – Frank Ocean (9:53)
A two-part fever dream of Cleopatra and strip clubs, love and loss, synths and soul. It’s Frank Ocean at his most ambitious and cinematic.

16.“Rosetta Stoned” – Tool (11:11)
Part alien abduction, part existential crisis, part percussive mind warp. Trust Tool to go full cosmic chaos.

17. “Cowgirl in the Sand” – Neil Young (10:06)
Guitars bleed and howl while Young unspools abstract heartbreak. A barn-burning classic.

18.“The End” – The Doors (11:41)
Dark, hypnotic, and unsettling, this psychedelic journey begins as a breakup song and spirals into something mythic and existential. Jim Morrison’s spoken-word descent into Oedipal territory is still one of the boldest moves in rock history.

19. “Movement 6 (Six Degrees)” – The Roots (10:16)
Jazz, soul, hip-hop, and spoken word collide in this late-night existential suite. Questlove and company at their most ambitious.

20. “One” – Metallica (7:27)
An anti-war metal masterpiece with one of the greatest buildups in rock history. It starts as a slow dirge and ends as a machine-gun assault of riffs and double-kicks.

Long songs are the musical equivalent of a road trip: a little more time-consuming, sure — but the views along the way? Unforgettable.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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