The John Robb Tapes

Poly Styrene possessed one of the great voices of punk rock and was an inspiration to generations: a brilliant imagination, highly visual songs and perceptive lyrical vision, Poly had her day-glo moment in the mainstream, before devoting her life to Hare Krishna and releasing occasional solo releases.

In this interview, Poly gives John Robb a fascinating insight into growing up and her days in X-Ray Spex.

Yes there are swears 

John talks on the phone to Daniel Ash who describes in detail the series of events and the unlikely spaces in which Bauhaus birthed Bela Lugosi’s Dead back in 1979. 

The sparse, darkly atmospheric track pioneered the iconic post-punk/goth movement, and remains one of the most influential songs of all time.

Take a read of John’s full article here: https://uk.lush.com/article/john-robb-tapes-daniel-ash-0

Birmingham. 1993.

He describes the band’s intelligence, cynicism and naive idealism as all being in place in this interview as they try to come to terms with the reality of being in a group.

January. 1990.

There is, unsurprisingly, a bit of swearing.

Manchester. 2019.

John squeezes into the back seat of a car with SloSilver and Stephanie Finegan: the artist duo behind the band Glove.

They drive through the vibrant city centre of Manchester and talk; a conversation which races along in a parallel universe to the Trump world we are being crushed by - this is not a world of narcissism and blubber - this is a world of hope and ideas and a band who have constructed a soundtrack for it.

John describes that conversation in the back of the car. Find out why he believes Glove is the future.

Sheffield. March. 2010.

At a sold-out 600 capacity venue, the crowd eagerly await this live In Conversation with poet and artist, Patti Smith, who is touring with her recently released book, Just Kids.

She arrives just one minute to stage time and tells John: ‘ask me anything’.

This funny and highly emotive interview digs deep into the proto-punk scene in New York as well as the loving relationship she had with artist Robert Mapplethorpe.

John remembers his meeting with Patti and her true free spiritedness in the article here.

This episode contains swearing.

New York City. Summer. 1989.

John interviews Nirvana in a hot and claustrophobic flat - an on-the-road crash pad they’re sharing with label mates, Tad.

In this interview, a young Kurt Cobain talks about the creative process, the intensity needed to reach the peak of his songs on stage, and hints at a song he’s just written - a song believed to have gone on to become ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.

For an intimate account of this interview and gig, read John’s full article here.

This episode contains swearing.

The John Robb Tapes unearths the incredible archive of old interviews that music journalist John Robb has amassed over the years, along with more recent conversations with contemporary bands, acts and figures.