Joe Banks

OK, this is starting to get a bit spooky now - apparently the phones are still down between Athens and Crouch End, so my chat on Greece's Channel 1 will have to wait again for another day...

Συνέντευξη Joe Banks (MOJO, Guardian) στο Κανάλι 1 90.4 Συντονιστείτε

Delayed from a couple of weeks ago, I'm going to be talking about Peter Hammill and the book on Greece's Channel 1 radio in a short while: approx. 5.10pm UK / 7.10pm Greek time. You can listen live here: www.kanaliena.gr

www.e-tetradio.gr/Article/4482...

I was at Burning Shed yesterday signing 400 pre-order copies of the book😉Thanks to everybody who got in early. It was amazing to finally get my hands on the physical result of all those months of researching and writing. I think it looks fantastic, and it weighs a blummin' ton (1.5kg to be precise)!

Progzilla Progzilla Radio - The Show That Never Ends.

Thought you'd heard enough of me gassing on about Peter Hammill/VdGG? Think again! Tonight from around 9pm, hear me go Inside The Generator on Progzilla radio, a new weekly voyage through the VdGG back catalogue beginning tonight with The Aerosol Grey Machine... progzilla.com/listen/

"PURE Presents Peter Hammill" - PURE with Howard Thompson - Apple Podcasts Podcast Episode · PURE with Howard Thompson · 11/22/2025 · 2h 45m

This was really interesting, Peter Hammill's show on WPKN radio last night, highlighting a lot of the lesser known stuff - at least lesser known by PH fans - he's been involved with. That version of 'Traintime' with the Lille National Orchestra is just tremendous. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

I certainly don't hate it, and there's some great imagery, but the quotation mark thing can become trying...

I have some sympathy for Brunner's view...

A cinema poster by Peter Strausfeld for a screening of Alphaville and La Jetée at Academy Cinema One, London, in 1966. Two-colour graphics (black and pink) with a linocut showing Anna Karina peering through a window patterned with reflected lights.

This is the poster for the 1966 screening of Alphaville and La Jetée at which JG Ballard first saw two films he would often mention as SF favourites. He reviewed La Jetée in New Worlds shortly after. John Brunner (at the same screening) reviewed Alphaville in the following issue. He hated it.

If this style/story sounds a little familiar, then yes, I too had some trouble believing that Douglas Adams hadn't just ripped it off wholesale for HHGG, but apparently not. Yet the final paragraph of Chris Priest's Sheckley obit for The Guardian says it all:
www.theguardian.com/news/2005/de... 3/3

With Sheckley happy to entertain whatever amusing idea or scenario comes into his head from chapter to chapter. It's occasionally a bit smart-alecky, but often very funny, with demi-gods and planet makers alike revealed as insecure narcissists, while reality itself is entirely malleable 2/3

Back on my slow tour of classic SF with Robert Sheckley's Dimension Of Miracles (1968). It's an absurdist, space-hopping romp about a man who accidentally wins a galactic lottery, with its talking, sentient prize just one of the plot's MacGuffins, as the book is more a series of comic episodes 1/3

Nice one! That cartoon sleeve is interesting... One of the first gigs they played Silver Machine I think. Twink on drums because Terry Ollis was, err, otherwise engaged...

Severin Films ***SEVERIN BLACK FRIDAY 2025 TITLE REVEAL #8*** THE FINAL PROGRAMME THE WORLDWIDE UHD PREMIERE TWO DISC COLLECTION WITH 6+ HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDING THE FIRST-EVER HOME VIDEO...

Ah, this is the new release of The Final Programme that Michael Moorcock has been interviewed for. Plus @pulpcurry.bsky.social commentary. Looks pretty comprehensive, though no 'unearthed half hour of Hawkwind' unfortunately... @breakfastruins.bsky.social

www.facebook.com/severinfilms...

WPKN 89.5 Community Radio - WPKN.ORG WPKN is a 10,000-watt non-profit listener-supported community radio station; broadcasting at 89.5 FM and streaming online at WPKN.org

Peter Hammill: radio host. Yes, he's going to be hosting his own show this Friday (21 Nov) at 3pm EST / 8pm GMT on WKPN 89.5 (an independent radio station out of Bridgeport, USA). Press Play to Listen Live here wpkn.org on Friday to hear which tracks get the PH seal of approval...

YouTube video by RatPackFilm THE WAVE - US Trailer (English) ** HD ** NEW

Saw the 2008 German film The Wave last night @tpfilmclub.bsky.social, a school-set drama about the allure of fascism. While a little on-the-nose, it's a powerful, well-acted film which illustrates both the attractions and dangers of group-think. Relevant then... www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9vd...

Prog - In Search Of New Space To tie in with the release of a nine-disc boxset reissue of Hall Of The Mountain Grill, Prog magazine asked me to do a piece looking at the events around its recording. I also snuck in a quick intervi...

You can now read the piece I did for Prog magazine on Hawkwind's 1974 album Hall Of The Mountain Grill online here: www.loudersound.com/music/albums...
But you might want to read the original, pre-edited version here 😉 www.daysoftheunderground.com/post/prog-in...

Ha, that's great

That'd be brilliant

Thanks!

As I said, I've never seen Bowie talk about PH in print, so that's quite something if that's the case! Be great to track that down...

The Progressive Rock Show broadcast Sunday 16th November 2025 If you would like to contact Graham please email graham@progzilla.com

For anybody who missed it last night 😉, here's your chance to hear me rambling on about Peter Hammill & VdGG, talking about my upcoming book Rock and Role, and most importantly, listen to a great selection of PH tracks. Enjoy... progzilla.com/the-progress...

As consulted (kind of!) for Days Of The Underground...

For the title alone 😉 And Tik-Tok!

Progzilla Progzilla Radio - The Show That Never Ends.

I'm going to be on @progzilla.com radio tonight at 8pm (UK time) talking about all things Peter Hammill/VdGG, plus a selection of great PH tracks, all courtesy of Graham Harfleet and his Progressive Rock Show. Join us! progzilla.com/listen/

Err, a lot of greats there...

Great essay here on SF satirist John Sladek, who should by rights be talked of as one of the greats of the new wave. This debut novel is great - and decidedly prescient - but his short stories are particularly wonderful. The collection Keep The Giraffe Burning is a good place to start...

Poster for King Crimson listening event Sunday 7th December 2025 in London at The Water Rats Theatre.

I'm speaking at the King Crimson Lizard listening party in London next month with mighty Jo Kendall and lovely Mike Barnes. We'll be exploring the album's turbulent background and aftermath, and listening to the 2025 Steven Wilson remix of this Crimson classic.
www.tickettailor.com/events/themo...

Thanks! Yes, I had an audio recording the Argentina tracks, but seeing him perform them really makes all the difference. Love TMOMY...

I'd normally agree, but this actually works for me!

One of *the* great Robert Calvert pics, now colourised! (courtesy of Christopher Scurrah) #hawkwind