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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.
We deep dive into The Human League’s The Virgin Years LP boxset featuring best-selling albums like Dare, Romantic? and more. Here’s what we think… Something of a misnomer, this vinyl…
a-ha interview: “Diplomacy doesn’t really work in a-ha”
Seemingly on the verge of splitting for the third time when last year’s documentary a-ha: The Movie brought their simmering tensions to the boil, with typical contrariness the band are…
Duran Duran’s Medazzaland – a look back
Duran Duran’s Medazzaland is the record that could have sunk the band – especially when John Taylor left. But, as Nick Rhodes tells Classic Pop, they continued with a bold…
Depeche Mode – Playing the Angel: The 12″ Singles review
Could this be the best Depeche Mode 12” boxset since 1990’s Violator? Read our full review of the band’s 10-disc dance triumph… Effectively the last hurrah for multi-format physical singles,…
Seal: Seal Deluxe Edition Boxset review
The latest deluxe boxset from Seal is a timely reminder that he remains one of Britain’s premier league pop stars and that producer Trevor Horn is a right raver when…
Reviewed: Blondie – Against The Odds: 1974 -1982
Blondie’s long-delayed boxset is well worth the wait (and the weight), reaching beyond the golden hits to show how inventive the New Yorkers really were Buy Blondie – Against The…
Review: Too-Rye-Ay: As It Should Have Sounded
Too-Rye-Ay is now finally living up to Kevin Rowland’s vision, with extras showing the battle to get it right, here’s our review… Buy Too-Rye-Ay: As it should have sounded CD boxset…
Blondie interview: “Innovation is probably our greatest strength”
Generally a band determined to look forward, even Blondie can’t help revisiting their past when faced with a long-planned, gigantic boxset marking their imperial first phase. With Debbie Harry, Chris Stein…
William Orbit interview
The producer of landmark music for Madonna, All Saints, Blur, Pink and Britney Spears, maverick musician William Orbit enjoyed an influential career as an ambient pioneer, classical reinventor and rave mainstay. Then…
New Order interview: Power, Corruption & Lies
Power, Corruption & Lies marked the moment when New Order completed the transformation from Joy Division. In 2020, during lockdown, NO members Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert told Classic Pop…