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 →

As bulldozers move in on the infamous Sunset Strip venue, I look back at the eventful history of Johnny Depp’s former club, where Tom Petty played, the Pussycat Dolls were born, River Phoenix died and Jason Donovan almost did the same. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As Josh Tillman prepares to release his fifth Father John Misty album, he’s declining interviews and keeping a low profile online. I explore why the former internet prankster turned off and dropped out. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The former ‘Saturday Night Live’ star talks to me about growing up obsessed with British punk, plans to reunite with ‘Portlandia’ collaborator Carrie Brownstein and filming Judd Apatow’s pandemic comedy ‘The Bubble’ in Berkshire. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As Willis hangs up his blood-stained vest for good, I pay tribute to a star who could always be counted on to save the world with a wisecrack. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Having appeared in everything from ‘Chinatown’ to ‘Friends’, Hong is one of Hollywood’s most prolific and recognisable character actors. He brings all that experience to bear in the mind-bending new film ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The comedy great sits down with classical cellist Jan Vogler and talks to me about the pandemic being this generation’s ‘most challenging time’, his cure for depression and shooting a majestic concert movie at the Acropolis of Athens. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway bring their portrayal of WeWork founder Adam Neumann and wife Rebekah Paltrow to the screen, I talk to screenwriters Lee Eisenberg and Drew Crevello about the scandalous rise and fall of the $47bn tech start-up. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As the musician and artist’s cult TV series ‘Painting With John’ returns, he tells me about going viral in Russia, New York in the Eighties and how he hopes to inspire his viewers with his unorthodox art show. (The Independent) Continue reading →

A century after the ‘On The Road’ author’s birth, Kerouac’s close friend and collaborator David Amram talks to me about their ‘stoned-out’ parties, his misunderstood Catholic faith and his work’s enduring relevance. (The Independent) Continue reading →

After 30 years as the ‘Cheech and Chong of hip-hop’, rappers B-Real and Sen Dog talk to me about calling time on traditional record releases, how modern rap has lost its edge and, of course, weed. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As his band release twelfth album ‘Oochya!’, frontman Jones talks to me about their controversial pandemic show in Cardiff, touring with Bowie and the Stones and the small town negativity that left him questioning their success. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Patrick Haggerty became the first out gay artist to release a country album in 1973. He talks to me about putting out a follow-up almost half a century on, his rural childhood and inspiring a new generation of queer musicians. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Early footage from Amazon’s wildly expensive new fantasy series ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ suggests CGI demons have already stolen its soul. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Three decades after the Sultans of Schwing first partied on to the big screen, director Penelope Spheeris talks to me about on-set rivalries, Rob Lowe’s controversial casting and why she wasn’t invited back for the sequel. (The Independent) Continue reading →

‘Tupac Shakur: Wake Me When I’m Free’ is a new touring exhibit dedicated to the rapper’s life, and a reminder of his activist mother’s extraordinary legacy. (The Independent) Continue reading →

After a career spent playing vampires, cowboys and Jack Bauer, the hell-raising actor has established himself as a real-life country singer. He talks to me about his activist mother, his time behind bars and why ‘24’ is unfairly maligned. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As the ‘Bodyguard’ showrunner reveals the tricks of his trade in a new online course, I learn why Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are his unlikely storytelling gurus. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The Ronettes singer, who recorded the immortal ‘Be My Baby’ and survived an abusive marriage to producer Phil Spector, has died at 78. Her voice will live forever. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 dystopian masterpiece, with its themes of anti-immigrant paranoia, humanity in crisis and a planet on the verge of collapse, has never felt more timely. Screenwriter Timothy J Sexton tells me why it’s more hopeful than you remember. (The Independent) Continue reading →

After the death of the author and journalist at 87, I pay tribute to a singular writer blessed with staggering powers of perception. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Over two and a half hours in Los Angeles, the K-pop superstars demonstrate how and why they’ve become the world’s biggest band. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The bestselling author talks to me about teaming up with Dolly Parton, what really happened to Jeffrey Epstein, and how close Idris Elba came to playing his hero Alex Cross. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As he prepares for his band’s farewell tour, the flamboyant frontman talks to me about the Scout photo that got him the job of vocalist for Deep Purple, the misery behind his biggest hit, and the tragic recent death of ex-wife and music video star Tawny Kitaen. (The Independent) Continue reading →

The Grammy-nominated artist created his new album to complement psychedelic therapy. He tells me about making music in a remote Ecuadorian cave and listening to what plants have to tell us. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Half a century after ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ was first published, I investigate what the gonzo journalist’s masterpiece owes to his collaborator, Oscar Zeta Acosta. (The Independent) Continue reading →

Research from Johns Hopkins and NYU suggests that psychedelic drugs can significantly reduce pain and distress for those with terminal illnesses. As the British government faces calls to reschedule these substances, I talk to some of those who’ve already chosen to take the trip. (The Independent) Continue reading →

As his hit animated coming-of-age series returns, the comedian talks to me about going from adolescent growing pains to working with his idol Mel Brooks. (The Independent) Continue reading →