| Alex Ogg Freelance Writer |
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Alex Ogg is an author, freelance writer, catalogue A&R Consultant and project manager. Member of the Society Of Authors. Literary Agent: James Wills (Watson-Little) (www.watsonlittle.com) Books: No More Heroes A complete history of UK punk 1976-1980 (Cherry Red) The Hip Hop Years (with David Upshal) Radiohead: Standing At The Edge The Men Behind Def Jam Top Ten (with Channel 4) Hip Hop Lyrics: From the Sugarhill Gang to Eminem **************** Magazine & Newspaper Articles The Times, Sunday Herald, Vox, Record Collector, The Big Takeover (NY), Spiral Scratch, Big Cheese, Bearded. Music Mart Editor of My Favourite Flavour Sleevenotes Over 100 artist sleevenotes, often project-managing re-releases. Including: Skids, The Undertones, Buzzcocks, Monochrome Set, Eater, New York Dolls, Marine Girls, The Ruts, The Fall, Motorhead, Ella Fitzgerald, Pillows & Prayers Box Set etc |
| Compiled from hundreds of interviews, Ogg covers the usual suspects – Gen X, Pistols, Clash – and also unearths some funny, sad and amazing tales of punk’s bargain-bin bands like the Molesters, Johnny & The Self Abusers, and a few hundred others that you may vaguely remember being played once, late at night, on the John Peel show. An invaluable reference book as well as a bloody entertaining read. 8/10 (Tommy Udo, Classic Rock magazine) These bands’ trials and tribulations are more entertaining than those of the big boys. They make for an interesting and informative read, helped by Ogg’s usually reliable opinions and always sardonic wit 4/5 (Shane Baldwin, Record Collector) You get a real insight into the do it yourself ethic that was the undercarriage that carried the few bands that made it out of the toilet venues where they were best at home to the albeit brief limelight. This is a warts and all account of what Punk was really like in those halcyon days. As well as the history of too many bands to mention each has its own discography and where it warrants it a guide to the best of current re-issues so you can investigate the bands you just discovered. Highly recommended. 5/5 (Simon Nott, Big Cheese) Those on the also-rans and unfashionable are informative and entertaining. The comprehensive guides through the reissue minefield are indispensable . . . No More Heroes is a valuable addition to your punk bookshelf” 3/5 (Kieron Tyler Mojo) Every aspect of Punk life is here, from the troubadours to the trouble makers, the visionaries and the just plain useless, while you’ ll often find yourself reassessing your perspective on some bands purely as a result of the way Alex had gone into their own mini- history. You also get to see some bands who had a justifiable reputation locally, and very early on, who maybe have the sadder tales to tell, as they might have been there, but missed out. A blinding piece of work on every level, if you have any interest in Punk whatsoever, you need this book because it’s going to intensify your drive to find out even more. Literally astonishing. (Mick Mercer, The Mick) I could go on and on but really you have to purchase this book yourself. It's published by Cherry Red and has a pink fluoro cover pinned with a deal of lapel badges. Buy it, take it home, slap it down on the table, the weight... I tell you, it's a bible. (DJ Johny Brown) |
| THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF BRITISH PUNK ROCK FROM 1970 TO 1980. (PUBLISHED 2006) |
AUTHOR OF:
CONTRIBUTOR TO MORE THAN 50 MUSIC BOOKS AND ENCYCLOPEDIAS
HIP HOP YEARS: 5/5 (Q) 5/5 (HEAT) 8/10 (LOADED) "All have their say, thanks to Ogg's concise, anecdotal style . . . Wherever they go, Ogg's definitive history never flinches from following." Alexis Petredis, Q. "Fascinating, thrilling and essential reading." Paul Croughton, Heat. THE MEN BEHIND DEF JAM: "He can express his reservations without sounding like your parents. which makes this the perfect primer for anyone who doesn't know why rap is the most important musical movement of the last 25 years . . . Naturally, it's a blast from page one." David Hutcheon, Mojo 'Enlightening study...thoroughly readable and often highly revealing...compelling saga' Kerrang TOP TEN: 4/5 (HEAT). 4/5 (JOCKEY SLUT). "Superb" (Joel McIver, Record Collector). "Fantastic. Book of the month" (BUZZ) "ALex Ogg has a detailed knowledge of the vagaries of pop music." (John Coleman What's On In London) |
EDITOR OF:
| Cherry Red's lovely in-house magazine My Favourite Flavour. Email: infonet@cherryred.co.uk for your free copy! |
BAG A GONG! Pillows & Prayers wins 2008 Mojo Award for Best Catalogue Release. TVoted by a panel of MOJO and HMV judges to recognise the best reissue concept and package of the last 12 months. Former winners include The Fall’s Complete Peel Sessions; Johnny Cash – The Legend; and the Complete Motown Singles 1966. |
Nattira Festival, Reykjavic, June 2008 Pictures from the free festival headlined by Bjork and Sigur Ros, as well as the launch for Andri Snaer Magnason's Dreamlands book Also pictures from the waterfall areas that will be affected by the construction of new dams to facilitate construction of aluminium smelters. |
