The Rolling Stones, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Eric Burdon and Françoise Hardy feature in the new issue of Uncut, dated June 2018 and out on April 19.
The Stones are on the cover, and inside we relive the band’s pivotal 1968: a year of rebirth and revolution dominated by “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, Beggars Banquet and the fall of Brian Jones. What emerges from this remarkable 12 month period is a portrait of a band overcoming diversity – going back to basics in order to move forward.
“It was like being let out of a cage,” Uncut hears. Plus! the Stones on the road in the 21st century! “We want to keep going!”
Lee “Scratch” Perry, the godfather of dub, on Bob Marley, The Clash and some of the most enduring records from the golden age of Jamaican music: “People thing I’m mad,” he tells us.”If it wasn’t for that, I don’t know what would happen…”
Uncut heads to Paris to meet Françoise Hardy, where the pioneering chanteuse discusses her new album and recounts run-ins with The Beatles, Dylan and Nick Drake. “In my head, I’m still very young…”
As Eric Burdon prepares to play his (last..?) homecoming show, the former Animal shares wild yarns involving Hendrix, Morrison and more. “I still believe in the power of music to change the world…”
Uncut also turns the clock back to 1978 where, in Düsseldorf, the city’s nascent new wave scene is incubating wild avant-garde happenings, shocking public outrages and more. There is street violence, lost cult stars and the tensions between radical new acts and local aristocrats, Kraftwerk. “Music could be wild, it could be punk…”
Elsewhere, Public Enemy talk us through the making of “Don’t Believe The Hype”, their first Top 20 hit in the UK: “We were using a bunch of elements that hadn’t been put together before…”
Eleanor Friedberger on her remarkable career in both The Fiery Furnaces and on her wildly diverse solo albums: “I have no musical training…”
Jennifer Herrema outlines her favourite albums, while in this month’s An Audience With… piece, James Taylor answers your questions. “I never trusted celebrity or fame,” he confesses.
In our extensive reviews section, we take on new albums by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Ry Cooder, Arctic Monkeys, Courtney Barnett, Ryley Walker and more, and archival releases from Liz Phair, Neil Young, Wire, Pete Townshend, Brian Eno and others. In our Films and DVD & Blu-ray sections, we review Entebbe, On Cheshil Beach and Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story, while Books covers Can and Lou Reed.
Our front section, Instant Karma, features Jack White, the MC5, Bitchin Bajas, Stealing Sheep and Desolation Centre, while we catch Emmylou Harris, Margo Price and John Cale live.
This month’s free CD, Pleased To Meet You…, compiles some of the month’s best music, including tracks from Beach House, Courtney Barnett, Ryley Walker, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Eleanor Friedberger, Dylan Carson, Simone Felice, The Sea And Cake and more.
The new issue of Uncut is out on April 19.
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