David Bowie died 10 years ago this Saturday. At the time I was commissioned to write this full page poem. I still perform it live. DAVID BOWIE IN HEDDON STREET In Heddon Street in January The London drizzle falls the same as softly as it did the night, the camera caught in failing light the famous phonebox, currant red with Ziggy Stardust in the frame A tinted showbiz biscuit tin Which drew the viewer in An atmosphere which seemed to speak of basement studios, upstairs flats,

Another extract from my book The Home Recording Handbook published by Dunlin Press earlier this year (links in bio/see Bandcamp). An ideal unwanted Christmas present. HOW ENGLAND GOT ITS ECHO In autumn of 1967 my family relocated to Balham in south-west London. A pop-crazed 14-year-old with my first guitar, I went out one day in search of somewhere selling guitar strings. As I walked down Balham High Road I came to a guitar shop called Watkins Electric Music and wandered in,