After life-altering vocal surgery, the 62-year-old New Jersey rocker doesn’t know if he’ll ever tour again. He talks to me about the drug experience that scared him straight, singing ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’ with Prince William and Taylor Swift, and advice for his son ahead of his forthcoming marriage to ‘Stranger Things’ star Millie Bobby Brown. (The Independent) Continue reading
The German auteur has been Oscar-nominated for ‘Perfect Days’. He talks to me about the meaning behind the film, dropping Columbo into Cold War Berlin and how he ended up in a fashion show in front of Zinedine Zidane. (The Independent) Continue reading
The Australian-born actor has become a go-to Hollywood baddie, from ‘Rogue One’ to ‘Robin Hood’. As he prepares to play Christian Dior in a new Apple TV+ show, he tells me about growing up a sensitive child in a tough Melbourne suburb, how he nearly gave it all up in his thirties, and why he doesn’t think AI will kill off acting. (The Independent) Continue reading
The funk pioneer was celebrated in speeches by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis, Motown songwriter Janie Bradford and civil rights lawyer Ben Crump. (The Independent) Continue reading
The Luna Luna fairground, which first opened in Germany in 1987, has been resurrected in Los Angeles (The Independent) Continue reading
The British actor who spent nearly a decade playing geeky Tamwar Masood on the BBC soap has since starred in ‘Tenet’, ‘Don’t Look Up’ and the Beatles-themed romcom ‘Yesterday’. He speaks to me about his unexpected film career, his new Netflix drama, and his experience of being ‘mildly famous’. (The Independent) Continue reading
I speak to the rapper’s godfather Jamal Joseph and Staci Robinson, the author of the newly published ‘Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography’, about Shakur’s legacy and the guiding influence of his mother. (The Independent) Continue reading
Forty years after their debut, goth pioneers The Cult are returning to their post-punk roots on tour as Death Cult. Over curry in Los Angeles, singer Ian Astbury talks to me about stepping in for Jim Morrison, playing football with Vinnie Jones, and video shopping with David Bowie. (The Independent) Continue reading
The 78-year-old guitarist and songwriter has overseen a new box set celebrating The Who’s greatest album and the doomed rock opera it might have been. He talks to me about predicting the birth of the internet, getting old before he dies and why his 2003 arrest still haunts him. (The Independent) Continue reading
Blessed with an abundance of photo-ready vineyards and Michelin-rated restaurants, this laidback region has blossomed into a foodie paradise. I dig in. (The Independent) Continue reading
The 78-year-old folk rock icon talks to me about Woodstock and the Sixties, the death of David Crosby and his new live album from 1971. (The Independent) Continue reading
As he prepares for a special performance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Booker Prize-winning novelist talks about his love of classical music, the trouble with the monarchy, and why he’s more concerned about Putin than edits to Roald Dahl. (The Independent) Continue reading
With eclectic music venues and chic restaurants, this trendy area of Los Angeles is well worth taking the time to explore in full. (The Independent) Continue reading
Whether you’re on the hunt for finger-lickin’ barbecue or groundbreaking plant-based cuisine, the United States serves it up in giant portions. (The Independent) Continue reading
From epic Wild West vistas to alligator-filled wetlands, America’s National Parks are home to some of the most beautiful wilderness on the planet. (The Independent) Continue reading
Documentary filmmakers Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace talk to me about digging up footage of The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and LCD Soundsystem, and their ethical debates over including Ryan Adams. (The Independent) Continue reading
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)
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
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 Collected Works of Kevin EG Perry 