Mike Barnes

@mikebarnesjourno.bsky.social

Author of A New Day Yesterday: UK Progressive Rock & The 1970s (2021); Captain Beefheart (2000). Contributor: Prog, MOJO, The Wire, Electronic Sound, Hi-Fi News. Drums and keyboards with Himmel: Music For Massed Fuzz Organs. linktr.ee/mike_barnes

There was an actual tapestry. Inside the original double album cover is an image of the needlepoint I worked on when I wasn't playing or singing. You can see where I stitched the words "thank you" before I gave it to Lou. From "A Natural Woman" Photo by Jim McCrary Courtesy Lou Adler / Ode Records

I've always been baffled by the popularity of Reaction Videos ("Classical Musician Hears Aquatarkus By Emerson Lake And Palmer For The First Time" etc). Whoever imagined there would be such a big audience for 4 minutes of highly performative facial contortions & gurning to a pop music soundtrack

Old but good news. I offered to help with The Zombies' Begin Here Festival a week ago – stacking chairs, or pouring out water, perhaps? I ended up interviewing Hugh Grundy (dr), Colin Blunstone (voc) and Chris White (bass) in St Albans Cathedral and steering a Q&A. 'Twas an absolute pleasure.

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