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John Earls
Writing for Classic Pop since our first issue, John has been to Adam Ant’s house, sworn at by Bob Geldof, touched Johnny Marr’s favourite guitar, interviewed Richard Coles on his vicarage bed and serenaded with Last Christmas by Shirlie Kemp. John first specialised in writing about music as editor of Teletext’s Planet Sound music column from 2000-09 and now writes about pop for a range of magazines and national newspapers. A Luton Town fan, John also writes about football. His bucket list interviews for the magazine are Grace Jones, Kylie, Siouxsie Sioux and Andrew Ridgeley.
In our exclusive Thompson Twins interview, Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie and Joe Leeway share their story together after nearly 40 years… Pioneers who were a riot of colour and mischief,…
The Human League Interview
When Classic Pop met for its Human League interview in autumn 2024, Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Sulley offered a remarkably candid insight into their usually private world… It’s…
Review: Dee C. Lee – Just Something
Review: Dee C. Lee – Just Something (Acid Jazz) ★★★★ ½ The former Wham! member and Style Councillor returns with Just Something – a stunning modern soul classic As Dee…
Review: Thompson Twins – Into The Gap 40th Anniversary Reissue
Review: Thompson Twins – Into The Gap 40th Anniversary Reissue (BMG) ★★★★☆ For its 40th birthday, Thompson Twins’ biggest commercial moment receives a thorough 3CD set filling in all the…
Review: Tears For Fears – Songs For A Nervous Planet
Review: Tears For Fears – Songs For A Nervous Planet (Concord) ★★★★☆ As if Curt and Roland’s first ever official full live album isn’t enough, there’s an additional bonus EP…
Review: Kylie Minogue – Tension II (BMG)
Review: Kylie Minogue – Tension II (BMG) ★★★★☆ Sequel albums are rare, yet Kylie justifies her decision to return to the studio with Tension II – an intense nine-song blast…
Review: The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World
Review: The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World (Polydor/Fiction) ★★★★★ Some albums need more time to surface. Now, after 16 years, The Cure are back to break your heart…
A Lexicon Of Life – Martin Fry Interview
More than 40 years since becoming a star, Martin Fry tells his life story in A Lexicon Of Life. Alongside his battles with cancer and alcoholism, Martin reveals to Classic…
Album Insight: Pet Shop Boys – Elysium
One of the most controversial albums in the Pet Shop Boys catalogue, Elysium was the peak of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe trying an LP that wasn’t solely about the…
Interview: Richard Coles remembers the Communards
After more than a decade as TV’s go-to vicar, it’s easy to forget how influential Rev Richard Coles was alongside Jimmy Somerville in political pop mavericks Communards. It seems a…