Martin Fitzgerald

What’s your new book Matthew?

Really looking forward to Australia and New Zealand. Being there. The shows as well. But being there.

Tickets here:

theanfieldwrap.com/tawlive

The shows will be good. Promise.

Correct answer!

Another Hold Steady Quiz done. This edition’s killer question -

What connects the following songs Black by Pearl Jam, Africa by Toto, Gold by Spandau Ballet and Jungle Fresh by Gorillaz vs Spacemonkeys?

A great night awaits someone

We’re entering the Covington Window

Every time I see Clive Myrie reporting from a potential war zone I take comfort from the fact that he’ll likely be accompanied by the travel alarm clock he once bought from me on eBay.

AUDITORY: AN UNRELIABLE GUIDE TO MY RECORD COLLECTION, written and narrated by Andy Miller

An audio version this week's INVENTORY is available now via the Backlisted Patreon. Viva the Cramps! Viva the inmates of Napa State Mental Hospital! @backlisted.bsky.social www.patreon.com/backlisted

Writer born in Ukraine wins 2026 Gordon Burn Prize Winner revealed at Northern Stage

It's a slog trying to get the literary world to leave London.

Last night I got to see amazing writers from around the world talk in Newcastle, and hear great live music.

I post this in the hope that the national press may feel compelled to cover it.

www.culturednortheast.co.uk/p/writer-bor...

I wouldn’t say you have no excuse to buy it now, but you definitely have less have of one

I really loved this book and meant every word of my blurb! Congrats @4hundredblows.bsky.social!

Let’s just hope books will still be allowed in July

The cover of my new book The Umbrella Man and Other Stories, next to the following quote - “Fitzgerald guides with a voice that ranges from raconteur to cultural critic to expert historian. Anything you need to know about the JFK assassination, and our memory of it, you’ll find in his superb book.” - Gautham Rao, Associate Professor of History, American University

Boys and Girls in America!

My new book will be getting a hardback US release on the 14th July. Pre- orders are available now via the link below.

shorturl.at/qCLMd

Thanks to @gauthamrao.bsky.social for the nice words

I’d love to! Just dm me or email me at full name+ the year Arsenal did the double at gmail dot com

The book cover for The Umbrella Man and Other Stories

“I wanted to write a book that would provide an easy fancy dress option for introverted children on World Book Day. I think I’ve done that.” - Martin Fitzgerald

OK, as it's World Books Day...
#firstXI

Final Destination

Searching for Dexys Midnight Runners

Field of Dreams

Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids?

The Hard Yards

And It's A Beautiful Day

Boot Sale

Butch Wilkins and the Sundance Kid

Three Weeks, Eight Seconds

The Bottom Corner

Mr Gig

Normal’s overrated

The book cover for The Umbrella Man and Other Stories

“I wanted to write a book that would provide an easy fancy dress option for introverted children on World Book Day. I think I’ve done that.” - Martin Fitzgerald

Loved it mate, let me know what you think

Live during wartime

I should say, it’s not a quiz about The Hold Steady. They’re just the team captains

As a non-writer, I always imagined writing about The Cramps to be as simple as stripping down to your leopard print undies and hurling yourself off the PA stack. But as always Andy brings so much more to the stage. Brilliant writing.

The Hold Steady Quiz - Weekender 2026 9th Edition

It’s very shortly the most wonderful time of the year. And this is the most wonderful quiz yet

A ★½ review of The Giant Gila Monster (1959) 50s Monster Movie, shot near Dallas and produced by Gordon McLendon - one of Jack Ruby’s closest friends. The film is mostly rubbish and makes the fatal monster movie mistake of using an actual animal...

The Giant Gila Monster, on the other hand, is not so fun.

boxd.it/cqmsxV

Talking of The Cramps. I met Miriam Linna in Dallas last year - the original, and Bob Dylan recommended, drummer in The Cramps. She was doing a talk about the B-movie The Giant Gila Monster - produced by an associate of Jack Ruby. She was more fun than my jet-lagged expression suggests.

YouTube video by Dr. Nuno C. Sousa, Psychoanalyst The Cramps at the California State Mental Hospital in Napa - Concert 1978

If through some inexplicable lack of curiosity you have never seen the 20-minute video tape of the Cramps playing live to the inmates of the Napa State Mental Hospital, and you need something to restore your faith in humanity, press play on this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jnk...

I very much enjoyed this. And do watch the accompanying video in the reply post.

Good luck!

"Jedi should be the Space SAS storming in when some bad galactic types need a good shoeing. Instead, these dullards toddle into situations and immediately reach for the herbal tea and the Jake Humphrey podcast"

Wrote this for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social

@annaannawalsh.bsky.social Happy Birthday! Xx