Latest Features

William Gallix was born on 27 June at 9.38pm. He is currently screaming along to: 1. “Modern Art,” Bang Bang Rock & Roll (Fierce Panda, 2005) — Art Brut 2. “Instrumentally Scared,” Singles Anthology (1981; Motion Records, 2005) — Vic Godard & Subway Sect 3. “Skank Bloc Bologna,” Early (1979; Rough Trade, 2004) — Scritti Politi 4. “50 to a Pound” (Poptones, 2005) — The Paddingtons 5. “William,” The Others (Mercury, 2005) — The Others

David Grindley, who is reviving Joe Orton‘s posthumous masterpiece What the Butler Saw at the Hampstead Theatre (London), writes in The Observer: “In many ways, Orton has not had the respect he deserves as a playwright. To many, he is better known for the details of his unconventional life. For years, he lived in one room with his lover, Kenneth Halliwell. On 9 August 1967, Halliwell’s jealousy of Orton’s talent, celebrity and promiscuity drove him to bludgeon his protege to death before killing himself. These facts, and the salacious nature of Orton’s material, have blinded us to what a superior

The first issue of Vim Cortez‘s new Paris-based underground litzine, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, will soon be available, free of charge, in assorted bookshops, bars and galleries throughout the French capital. It includes fiction and poetry by the likes of: Tom Bradley, Andrew Gallix (yay!), GD, Steven Hall, Travis Jeppesen, Bob Short, HP Tinker and Matthew Wascovich. Non-Parisians can buy it via the zine’s website or through us, at 3:AM.

Wu Ming‘s innovative historical novel 54 was recently published in English translation by Heinemann in the UK. One of the five-strong collective, Wu Ming 1, is currently listening to: 1. “Sciopero” — Yo Yo Mundi 2. “Ho fatto Deu Etti e Mezzo, Lascio?” — Elio E Le Storie Tese 3. “The Anabaptist Loop” — Switters 4. “Ballate per Piccole Lene” — Afterhours 5. “Discovered Covered” — Daniel Johnston

Alasdair Gray‘s top 10 in the latest issue of pulp.net edited by Laura Hird. You can find Hird’s interview with the Scottish genius here. * Chuck Palahniuk is interviewed by Dan Epstein in Suicide Girls (who interviewed him for 3:AM back in 2001). * Don Letts talks to nerve about his new documentary: “. . . I believe the punk attitude is like the Force in Star Wars. It’s a birthright. And it’s out there somewhere, but probably not in the top forty. . . . Every other year there’s a punk rock revival. I was kinda over it. And

The force behind the Bookslam literary nightclub in Notting Hill (which sets out to be “a regular literary event in London that doesn’t make sane people want to stab themselves with rusty cutlery”) and City of Tiny Lights author Patrick Neate is currently listening to: 1. “Out on the Rolling Sea” — Olu Dara 2. “T Plays it Cool” — Marvin Gaye 3. “Optimistic” — Sounds of Blackness 4. “Soldierfied” — Life Savas 5. “Ndihamba Nawe” — Mafikizolo

Almost two years to the day since his last appearance for us, we will be presenting an evening with Steve Aylett at Filthy MacNasty’s on July 16 beginning at 9pm. A man who needs no introduction, on this occasion he’s not sharing the bill with anyone but has a whole evening to himself. Unless you count our two offbeat poets, Harry Fantastic and Clive Murphy, who are also appearing. The salient details are: An Evening with Steve Aylett, Saturday 16 July 2005, at 9pm Filthy MacNasty’s 68 Amwell Street Clerkenwell, London EC1 020 7837 6067 Nearest tubes: Angel or Farringdon

Brace yourselves for some serious Richard Hell action following the East Village Rimbaud’s post-Meltdown performance. First of all, there’s the publication of his majestic second novel, Godlike, set in the bohemian poetry circles of early 70s New York, which will form the basis of a forthcoming in-depth interview here at 3:AM. Then there’s a CD anthology entitled Spurts to be released in August. It covers Hell’s entire music career from the fabled Neon Boys (with Tom Verlaine) to the Dim Stars through Television, the Heartbreakers and inevitable Voidoids. In the accompanying booklet, the inventor of punk explains its raison d’etre:

3:AM columnist and Captains Of Industry label boss Ben Myers has just had his novel, The Book of Fuck, published in Italian. Ben is currently listening to: 1. “Sodom & Gomorrah (Blood The Natural Lubricant)” — Gay for Johnny Depp (Captains Of Industry) 2. “Arular” — M.I.A. (XL) 3. “The First Rehearsals” — Suicide (Blast First) 4. “Last Chance Disco” — Acoustic Ladyland (Babel) 5. “Mezmerize” — System of a Down (American Recordings)

A great new tune from disco punkers Flowers in the Dustbin: “Anarchy Panky (We’re the 1% Who Don’t Fit In and We Don’t Care)”. * A review of Daren King‘s Jim Giraffe: “Through acrimonious banter and relentless mockery, Jim exhorts Scott to defy sexual repression as an unorthodox cure for brain cancer. He claims to be Scott’s saviour and shares gems of jungle sex etiquette: ‘take her from behind, then run away’.” * Carbon/Silicon don’t seem to want to give us an interview, but don’t mind talking to the big guys. Tony James: “We started talking about it 10 years

Don Letts‘s new film, PUNK: attitude, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, is to be broadcast for the first time by the Independent Film Channel on Saturday 9 July (10pm ET/11pm PT). In the press release, Don Letts claims that “The only reason to reflect on the past is to see a way forward. This film is like a call to arms. Many young people today have forgotten how to empower themselves. They’re served innocuous helpings of MTV, which by its very ideology, is devoid of politics or anything radical. As punks, we said, ‘Never trust anyone