Bruce Dessau
bruce.dessau
- Bio
- Bruce specialises in music, TV and comedy. He writes for The London Evening Standard and is the author of biographies of numerous major figures, including George Michael and Rowan Atkinson. His latest book is Beyond A Joke: Inside The Dark World of Stand-Up Comedy (Random House). He is also the editor of comedy website beyondthejoke.co.uk
Articles by Bruce Dessau
The Stone Roses, Finsbury Park
Saturday, 08 June 2013
When the Stone Roses first made a splash with their eponymous debut album in 1989 they were almost perfect. The only mistake was a brief flirtation with flared trousers. Nearly a quarter of a century... Read more... |
CD: Camera Obscura – Desire Lines
Thursday, 30 May 2013
It says something about the commodification of modern music that Scottish poppets Camera Obscura are probably best known for "French Navy" because it is used by wine company Echo Falls on the... Read more... |
Depeche Mode, 02 Arena
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Even the most committed lover of long odds would not have bet on Depeche Mode still being this big when they first tinkled their way into the charts over three decades ago. The smart money would... Read more... |
Mick Hucknall, Hammersmith Apollo
Monday, 29 April 2013
There was a point about two-thirds of the way through last night's gig when someone lobbed something onto the stage in front of Mick Hucknall. It was not clear exactly what it was due to the sea of... Read more... |
CD: Ian McCulloch – Holy Ghosts
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
When I suggested reviewing Ian McCulloch's new album, our glorious editor was under the impression that it was just a live collection of ancient tracks. It is actually a double album – mainly old... Read more... |
Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Royal Albert Hall
Sunday, 24 March 2013
"Noel. Noel." Damon Albarn had to shout twice before Noel Gallagher joined him onstage to strum his guitar during Blur's neo-bluesy "Tender". Maybe Albarn's former Britpop rival wanted their historic... Read more... |
CD: Edwyn Collins – Understated
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Sympathy vote time is over. After Edwyn Collins suffered two cerebral haemorrhages in 2005 his comeback album, 2007’s Losing Sleep, was greeted with ecstatic reviews. It was a certainly pretty good,... Read more... |
CD: Billy Bragg – Tooth & Nail
Monday, 11 March 2013
If you want a jolting snapshot of how British pop culture has changed in the last three decades, take a look at the clip below of Billy Bragg singing "Between The Wars" on Top of the Pops in 1985.... Read more... |
10 Questions for Suede's Brett Anderson & Mat Osman
Monday, 04 March 2013
Suede, led by the arrestingly beautiful Brett Anderson, was one of the finest bands to come out of the UK in the first half of the 1990s. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1992, won the... Read more... |
CD: Johnny Marr – The Messenger
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Having excitedly put The Messenger on I thought my iPod was playing tricks and it had unearthed a previously unshuffled gem from Miles Kane. The opening track, "The Right Thing Right", is packed to... Read more... |
Rolf Harris, Royal Festival Hall
Saturday, 09 February 2013
Two very different Antipodeans are performing in London over the weekend. Having seen Nick Cave more times than you can shake a didgeridoo at, the time has come for this reviewer to scrutinise Rolf... Read more... |
A Liar's Autobiography
Monday, 04 February 2013
It is probably not unreasonable to argue that all of the original Monty Python's Flying Circus team – including lovely Michael Palin – were, and are, a complex bunch. But none were as complex as the... Read more... |
CD: Eels – Wonderful, Glorious
Sunday, 03 February 2013
"Gonna shake the house," rasps Mark 'E' Everett on "Bombs Away". It is the first track of his tenth album and it certainly sounds like a statement of intent. Everett has often come across as... Read more... |
Aimee Mann, Royal Festival Hall
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Aimee Mann must surely be one of the most unstarry of stars. While most of her fans were still in the bar thinking about what they might have as a pre-gig aperitif, she strolled onstage to join... Read more... |
CD: Biffy Clyro – Opposites
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Biffy Clyro's sixth album certainly wins in the value for money stakes. Opposites is a double album clocking in at 78 minutes which finds the Kilmarnock trio developing their big, expansive sound and... Read more... |
CD of the Year: Dexys – One Day I'm Going to Soar
Sunday, 30 December 2012
We're not doing a Best Gig of the Year chart on theartsdesk but if we did succumb to live listomania an unforgettable night in May would be certain to figure close to the top. One of pop's most... Read more... |
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