The director who made his name in 1994 with the slacker classic ‘Clerks’ talks to me about suffering a massive heart attack in 2018, tasting death and going back to the operating table for ‘Clerks III’. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Forget Pizzagate, the new conspiracy du jour among conservatives involves an apparently nefarious plot to get us plebs to eat insects. I speak to advocates of consuming micro-livestock about how their environmentally friendly messaging got hijacked by the right. (The Independent) Continue reading →

On her new album, the actor and singer performs Seventies classics with icons like Smokey Robinson, Jackson Browne and Willie Nelson. She talks to me about her teenage escapades on the Sunset Strip, bonding with a former One Direction star, and ‘bubbling’ with Wes Anderson. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The Afrobeats superstar talks about launching his own festival in Atlanta, soundtracking the World Cup in Qatar, and how he ended up donating £450,000 to Nigerian orphanages over a Rolls Royce mishap. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Carl Barât talks to me about his fateful first meeting with bandmate Pete Doherty, recording their exhilarating debut album with The Clash’s Mick Jones and blagging their way to stardom. (The Independent) Continue reading →

After winning the Booker Prize for debut novel ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’, the author returns to the short-story form with new collection ‘Liberation Day’. He talks to me about his fascination with Custer’s Last Stand, what John Steinbeck taught him about socialism and learning to embrace uncertainty. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Former bank robber Gregory David Roberts escaped from an Australian prison in 1980 and fled to Mumbai where he worked as a doctor in the slums and became embroiled with the Indian mafia. He speaks to me about life on the run, turning his experiences into a bestselling novel and being played by Charlie Hunnam in the new Apple+ series. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The star of ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ died on Tuesday leaving behind a remarkably varied legacy from her 80-year career in Hollywood. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As indie frontman Alex Turner reveals his unexpected love for intense combat sport Muay Thai, I head to an LA training session with the singer’s personal coach to explore the appeal of the ‘art of eight limbs’. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The LA-based trio bring together gospel, soul and progressive electronics on beguiling debut album ‘Angels & Queens’. Singer Jacob Lusk talks to me about leaving his ‘American Idol’ experience behind, life lessons from G-Funk icon Nate Dogg and supporting Harry Styles. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Before his death in 2019, the master of the voodoo groove fulfilled his lifelong dream of recording a country and western album. I get the lowdown on disagreements with the artist’s estate from producer Shane Theriot, and finds out why the funk and blues icon turned to Hank Williams and Johnny Cash in his final hour. (The Independent) Continue reading →

With her electrifying new thriller ‘Double or Nothing’, the 33-year-old becomes the first female author to pick up Ian Fleming’s mantle. She talks to me about Britishness, the power of myth, and test-driving sports cars. (The Independent) Continue reading →

It’s been 50 years since the reggae pioneer helped bring Jamaican culture to the world with his starring role in ‘The Harder They Come’. He talks to me about new album ‘Refugees’, convincing Cat Stevens to let him record ‘Wild World’ and why he’s still singing ‘rude songs’ at 78. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The Prince of Darkness has recruited Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and his old Black Sabbath partner Tony Iommi for new album ‘Patient Number 9’. He talks to me about being shy, moving back to England, how love saved him from booze and drugs, and his determination to finish his farewell tour. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The last leader of the Soviet Union, who has died at 91, enjoyed an unusual second act as a spokesperson for Western brands. I look back at how Mikhail Gorbachev came to embody the triumph of capitalism. (The Independent) Continue reading →

After finding fame with comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, the New Zealander is leaving the laughs behind on his debut solo album ‘Songs Without Jokes’. He talks to me about winning an Oscar with The Muppets, pissing off Morrissey with The Simpsons, and Taika Waititi’s detachable penis. (The Independent) Continue reading →

On new album ‘Lifetime Achievement’, the 75-year-old troubadour weighs his accomplishments. He talks to me about love, death and why being covered by Johnny Cash is worth more than his Grammy. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As his globe-hopping goodbye tour nears its climax, 81-year-old Clinton is still causing chaos while enjoying his victory lap. (The Independent) Continue reading →

A decade after she was sent to a Russian penal colony for protesting Vladimir Putin with punk rock in a church, the musician and activist talks to me about the revolutionary potential of pop, how she fights depression, and her debut mixtape ‘Matriarchy Now’. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning actor and singer talks to me about navigating social media, his movie musical ambitions and directing his first film, the groundbreaking trans romcom ‘Anything’s Possible’. (The Independent)

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This synthetic opioid, 100 times stronger than morphine, is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. I investigate how misinformation and panic have exacerbated the crisis and what people can do to stay safe. (The Independent) Continue reading →

A century after the poet’s birth, Larkin’s friend and biographer Andrew Motion talks to me about his controversial prejudices, his keen sense of mortality and why he continues to deserve a place on the national curriculum. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Michael Pollan’s new Netflix series ‘How to Change Your Mind’ makes a convincing case for the medicinal value of psychedelics. If they have so many health benefits, shouldn’t we all have access to them? (The Independent) Continue reading →

The groundbreaking guitarist talks to me about reuniting the iconic band with his brother, relationships with men and women during the swinging Sixties, and his viral tweet about pubic hair. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As her semi-autobiographical comedy bows out after five superb seasons, the actor, writer and director talks about the joys of filming in London, discovering her Ukrainian heritage and gently changing the world. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The former Allman Brothers pianist and honorary Rolling Stone talks to me about inadvertently giving ‘Top Gear’ its theme tune, celebrating 40 years with the world’s greatest rock’n’roll band, and the ‘big loss’ of Charlie Watts. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Thirty years on from the flop that ended his Hollywood career, underground animation legend Ralph Bakshi talks to me about casting an unknown Brad Pitt, his friendships with Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola and the wildest adult cartoon you’ve never heard of. (The Independent) Continue reading →

On the eve of their UK tour, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of the seminal Eighties pop rockers sit down for an emotional conversation about grief, primal therapy and finding catharsis on stage. (The Independent) Continue reading →

New documentary ‘This is National Wake’ tells the story of an outlaw group whose very existence was an act of defiance. Guitarists Ivan Kadey and Steve Moni, along with director Mirissa Neff, talk to me about banned tours, police harassment and saying ‘f*** you to the system’. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As their electrifying second album ‘Supernova’ is released, the game-changing British alt-rock duo talk to me about representation, redefining rock stardom and why the Grammys need to get with the times. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As the legendary director’s exercise in poor taste ‘Pink Flamingos’ turns 50, the Pope of Trash talks to me about his preferred royal pronouns, groundbreaking ‘Simpsons’ appearance and why his films still have the power to shock. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Led by the charismatic Father Yod, The Source Family grew to fame in the Seventies with their radical commune, psychedelic music and star-studded health food restaurant. Family member Isis Aquarian and director Jodi Wille tell me about plans to publish the group’s fascinating archives. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The late stand-up’s new work is the first Netflix comedy special to come from beyond the grave. This poignant and hilarious goodbye from the master of the shaggy dog story is a must-watch. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The ‘Game of Thrones’ creator sits down with me at the Santa Fe Literary Festival to discuss toxic fans, the enduring influence of Marvel’s Stan Lee, and the new HBO series ‘House of the Dragon’. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The Mexican-born, New York-based author talks to me at the Santa Fe Literary Festival about finding herself as a writer, her work with unaccompanied children seeking asylum and her ongoing project to capture the borderlands in a sonic essay. (The Independent)
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At the Santa Fe Literary Festival the bestselling crime writer tells me about what mobsters have in common with classical mythology, social media skirmishes and why the left needs to reclaim patriotism. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Fourteen years after his death, the iconoclastic comedian’s material regularly goes viral on social media. I talk to Carlin’s daughter Kelly, his manager Jerry Hamza and director Judd Apatow about new documentary ‘George Carlin’s American Dream’ and why the taboo-busting stand-up is still having the last laugh. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter speaks to me about writing protest music for modern times, dreamy new single ‘Purple Haze’ and becoming the ‘black Bruce Springsteen’. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As the Michael Mann-directed ‘Tokyo Vice’ arrives in the UK, I look back at the ground-breaking Eighties series which inspired it, from its super-chic aesthetic and unprecedented budget to its rock’n’roll guest stars. (The Independent) Continue reading →

At LA’s SoFi Stadium, the 79-year-old breathes fresh life into the classic tunes that established him as the planet’s greatest living songwriter. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Ahead of his appearance at the Santa Fe Literary Festival, the bestselling author talks to me about the real-life moment that inspired ‘A Time to Kill’, why innocent people are still being locked up, and what aspiring thriller writers need to get right in chapter one. (The Independent) Continue reading →

On a new live album, the 80-year-old living legend and former Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young troubadour revisits his Seventies solo records. He talks to me about being dumped by Joni Mitchell, pulling his music from Spotify, and military madness in 2022. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The iconic Sixties trumpeter talks to me about his hit-filled career with the Tijuana Brass, writing ‘Wonderful World’ for Sam Cooke, signing the Carpenters to his record label and releasing a new album with his wife of 49 years, Lani Hall. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Backstage at Coachella, the Italian band tell me about their first impressions of the festival, their urgent new protest song for Ukraine, and what it means to be a rock star in 2022. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The 20-year-old pop sensation showed composure beyond her years at the California festival, delivering a performance of power and verve that made smart use of cameos from artists including Blur’s Damon Albarn and R&B star Khalid. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Danny Elfman’s booking was undoubtedly a gamble, but it’s one that pays off many times over as the ‘Simpsons’ composer delivered a multi-faceted, unusual Coachella debut. (The Independent) Continue reading →

After headlining the festival in 2014, Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire returned to Coachella this year for a surprise performance, which delivered both profound joy and healing. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Twenty-five years ago this week, a band of blond brothers from Oklahoma released a single that took the planet by storm. They tell me about scary fans, collaborating with punk rockers, and how the iconic ‘MMMBop’ is actually a ‘really depressing’ song. (The Independent) Continue reading →