Alastair McKay
@alastairmckay.bsky.social
Journalist/writer. My book Alternatives To Valium: How Punk Rock Saved a Shy Boy’s Life is a collectors’ item. #MDANT. I review music books for Uncut. Send me yours. https://open.substack.com/pub/alastairmckay?
I’ve written a brand new interview with Wreckless Eric. open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
From school to art college to pop stardom to desperate nothingness - the wide open world of Wreckless Eric
The great English songwriter revisits the 1980s for his new album, England Screaming
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I’ve written a brand new interview with Wreckless Eric. open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
It’s a bit of a plot twist that the BBC bosses are being forced to resign for NOT BEING RIGHT WING ENOUGH.
(A clued up Labour government would use this moment to secure the BBC’s future as a public broadcaster, free from politically inspired management.)
(A clued up Labour government would use this moment to secure the BBC’s future as a public broadcaster, free from politically inspired management.)
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It’s a bit of a plot twist that the BBC bosses are being forced to resign for NOT BEING RIGHT WING ENOUGH.
(A clued up Labour government would use this moment to secure the BBC’s future as a public broadcaster, free from politically inspired management.)
(A clued up Labour government would use this moment to secure the BBC’s future as a public broadcaster, free from politically inspired management.)
Reposted by Alastair McKay
Tonight (Oct 31) I’ll be chatting with with Jah Wobble at Oran Mor in Glasgow about life after PiL, revisiting Metal Box and anything else we can pack in before he and the band play a seismic set.
Doors 7pm. Q&A 7.30pm. Gig 8pm.
oran-mor.co.uk/events/an-au...
Doors 7pm. Q&A 7.30pm. Gig 8pm.
oran-mor.co.uk/events/an-au...
October 31, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Tonight (Oct 31) I’ll be chatting with with Jah Wobble at Oran Mor in Glasgow about life after PiL, revisiting Metal Box and anything else we can pack in before he and the band play a seismic set.
Doors 7pm. Q&A 7.30pm. Gig 8pm.
oran-mor.co.uk/events/an-au...
Doors 7pm. Q&A 7.30pm. Gig 8pm.
oran-mor.co.uk/events/an-au...
Here Edwyn here. open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
The World Spinning Sounds of Edwyn Collins in His Own Sometimes Self-Mocking Words
The triumphant Testimonial tour prompts a re-appraisal of the Two-Hit Wonder's long career
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Here Edwyn here. open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
Fascinating night at the Walthamstow Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club for the (re)launch of James Nice’s history of Factory Records. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed so many long pauses between questions and answers, with the prevailing sense being “which bit should I say out loud?”
October 14, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Fascinating night at the Walthamstow Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club for the (re)launch of James Nice’s history of Factory Records. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed so many long pauses between questions and answers, with the prevailing sense being “which bit should I say out loud?”
I sang Jerusalem with Robert Jenrick at school — he’s wrong about race
www.thetimes.com/article/3af4...
www.thetimes.com/article/3af4...
I sang Jerusalem with Robert Jenrick at school — he’s wrong about race
The Conservative MP has complained that, visiting Handsworth in Birmingham, he didn’t see ‘another white face’. You can’t judge whether someone is integrated by skin colour, argues fellow Wulfrunian S...
www.thetimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I sang Jerusalem with Robert Jenrick at school — he’s wrong about race
www.thetimes.com/article/3af4...
www.thetimes.com/article/3af4...
Can I be the first to say that Taylor Swift’s new album is underrated? (Probably not. Reviewers are reviewing the thing, their expectations, their perception of the audience reaction, rather than the music). That said, Wood is objectively terrible and should have remained a private valentine.
October 3, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Can I be the first to say that Taylor Swift’s new album is underrated? (Probably not. Reviewers are reviewing the thing, their expectations, their perception of the audience reaction, rather than the music). That said, Wood is objectively terrible and should have remained a private valentine.
I read a book. I recommend it. www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/thom...
www.uncut.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I read a book. I recommend it. www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/thom...
The Guardian’s football writers don’t seem to like football much. As a West Ham fan, there are reasons to be annoyed, but the global vortex isn’t top of the list. A mobile centre forward would cheer everyone up.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
West Ham tumble in modern football’s vortex, with home now a distant memory | Jonathan Liew
A feeling of loss and dislocation surrounds the East End club, which has never been part of tourist or establishment London
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:46 AM
The Guardian’s football writers don’t seem to like football much. As a West Ham fan, there are reasons to be annoyed, but the global vortex isn’t top of the list. A mobile centre forward would cheer everyone up.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
McCartney’s Long and Winding Road. (It goes to Cambelltown and describes the end of the Beatles). www.musicradar.com/artists/i-ju...
“I just sat down at my piano in Scotland, started playing and came up with that song. It's a sad song because it's all about the unattainable”: The story of the ballad that sparked the breakup of The ...
Featuring "atrocious" bass-playing by John Lennon
www.musicradar.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:03 AM
McCartney’s Long and Winding Road. (It goes to Cambelltown and describes the end of the Beatles). www.musicradar.com/artists/i-ju...
A different angle on the Go-Betweens themusic.com.au/features/the...
‘We Were Just Passionate About Making Good Songs’: Lindy Morrison & Amanda Brown Reflect On The Go-Betweens’ ‘16 Lovers Lane’
As they prepare to once again revisit The Go-Betweens’ seminal sixth album ‘16 Lovers Lane,’ original members Lindy Morrison and Amanda Brown remember how for them it was always about building a legac...
themusic.com.au
September 23, 2025 at 1:57 PM
A different angle on the Go-Betweens themusic.com.au/features/the...
This Paul McCartney song got under my skin. I asked Peter Asher, of Peter and Gordon, to tell me all about it.
open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
From Wimpole Street To Number One: How Peter Asher found the sad, eternal heart of a rejected Paul McCartney song
A lonely ramble down the road to the pure teenage sound of 1964
open.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This Paul McCartney song got under my skin. I asked Peter Asher, of Peter and Gordon, to tell me all about it.
open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
Watching Live Aid, I now want to ask The Edge about minimalism.
July 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Watching Live Aid, I now want to ask The Edge about minimalism.
Chris Mason of the BBC (and the BBC News) are so embedded in the framing of Farage that they can’t even see it anymore.
July 10, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Chris Mason of the BBC (and the BBC News) are so embedded in the framing of Farage that they can’t even see it anymore.
So, West Ham fans - as you wait for the Irons to sell their best players in order to buy some worse ones, here’s my gallery from the great days of Green Street and Upton Park. (Now, Mr Sullivan, a fit centre forward, please).
THE LAST YEARS OF THE BOLEYN | For 112 years, Upton Park was the heartbeat of a community. Before West Ham United’s move to the London Stadium, matchdays in E13 pulsed with tradition. Alastair McKay on capturing West Ham’s East End soul. #coyi #whu
lowerblock.com/articles/wes... #irons
lowerblock.com/articles/wes... #irons
July 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
So, West Ham fans - as you wait for the Irons to sell their best players in order to buy some worse ones, here’s my gallery from the great days of Green Street and Upton Park. (Now, Mr Sullivan, a fit centre forward, please).
Chris Mason of the BBC, I put it to you that you are overexcited.
June 30, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Chris Mason of the BBC, I put it to you that you are overexcited.
Reposted by Alastair McKay
Say it with me. RFK Jr. is killing children.
June 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Say it with me. RFK Jr. is killing children.
Thought For The Day. How can we have any hope of sorting out any of the world’s problems when no one is brave enough to sort out the insulting monstrosity that is Thought For The Day on the R4 Today programme? Make it stop! Free my ears!
June 25, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Thought For The Day. How can we have any hope of sorting out any of the world’s problems when no one is brave enough to sort out the insulting monstrosity that is Thought For The Day on the R4 Today programme? Make it stop! Free my ears!
In his new book, Arthur Baker suggests that Tony Wilson was “David Frost meets Donald Trump.” This is terrifying, obviously, but I wouldn’t mind watching David Frost interview Trump, Nixon-style.
June 23, 2025 at 9:34 AM
In his new book, Arthur Baker suggests that Tony Wilson was “David Frost meets Donald Trump.” This is terrifying, obviously, but I wouldn’t mind watching David Frost interview Trump, Nixon-style.
A reprise (with some new bits) of one of my favourite interviews (as Sir Rod prepares for Glastonbury). open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
June 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A reprise (with some new bits) of one of my favourite interviews (as Sir Rod prepares for Glastonbury). open.substack.com/pub/alastair...
I enjoyed this (very) long profile of the PM, and the revamped New Statesman looks good. However, the correct cover line would be Hellbent On Compromise, which is a) true b) a good thing and c) an Edwyn Collins reference.
June 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I enjoyed this (very) long profile of the PM, and the revamped New Statesman looks good. However, the correct cover line would be Hellbent On Compromise, which is a) true b) a good thing and c) an Edwyn Collins reference.
When the new chair of Reform is called David Bull, you know that Martin Amis is writing the news.
June 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
When the new chair of Reform is called David Bull, you know that Martin Amis is writing the news.
Good to see the Daily Telegraph admitting to the devastation of Thatcherism.
June 9, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Good to see the Daily Telegraph admitting to the devastation of Thatcherism.