Julian Marszalek

Julian Marszalek

Julian Marszalek is the former Reviews Editor of The Blues Magazine. He has written about music for Music365, Yahoo! Music, The Quietus, The Guardian, NME and Shindig! among many others. As the Deputy Online News Editor at Xfm he revealed exclusively that Nick Cave’s second novel was on the way. During his two-decade career, he’s interviewed the likes of Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Ozzy Osbourne, and has been ranted at by John Lydon. He’s also in the select group of music journalists to have actually got on with Lou Reed. Marszalek taught music journalism at Middlesex University and co-ran the genre-fluid Stow Festival in Walthamstow for six years.

Articles by: Julian Marszalek

Doves - Lost Souls

“An album that refuses to wallow in self-pity… Having gained their musical chops in the dance arena, they wisely apply those dynamics to their newfound idiom”: The prog heart of Doves’ Lost Souls

By Julian Marszalek published

After chart success as Sub Sub, the Mancunian trio transformed themselves into a defiant but optimistic guitar-driven band

Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At The Hollywood Bowl, August 18, 1967 cover art

"The sheer firepower of the Jimi Hendrix Experience is palpable throughout." The Jimi Hendrix Experience's Live At The Hollywood Bowl, August 18, 1967

By Julian Marszalek published

An early onslaught in the US finds The Jimi Hendrix Experience establishing their credentials on Hollywood Bowl August 67

King Crimson - Larks Tongues In Aspic

“Their best work under the banner has always been the result of collaboration rather than dictatorship”: King Crimson’s 50th anniversary version of Larks’ Tongues In Aspic

By Julian Marszalek published

Steven Wilson adds an understated sheen to an album that’s weathered the decades well

David Bowie posing as ZIggy Stardust

“I wanted to define the archetype messiah rock star. That’s all I wanted to do”: the epic oral history of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust album

By Julian Marszalek published

How David Bowie became Ziggy Stardust and turned rock’n’roll on its head

Steven W Tayler

"I’ve been lucky to work with some really decent people who have come back for more." Stephen W Tayler's fascinating life in music

By Julian Marszalek published

Fresh from remixing a number of prog classics, production ace Stephen W Tayler takes centre stage with a new solo album and DVD that encompasses visuals as well as sound.

Hawkwind

“The way things are going, maybe psychedelics could be a good thing. It’s a doom-laden world at the moment.” Hawkwind's Dave Brock calls it as he sees it

By Julian Marszalek published

Hawkwind's thirty third studio album, 2021's Somnia, was a concept album inspired by sleep

Hawkwind Warrior on the edge of time album

Has Steven Wilson's remix of Hawkwind's Warrior On The Edge Of Time become the definitive version?

By Julian Marszalek published

Steven Wilson's version of Hawkwind's Warrior On The Edge Of Time gets a vinyl release. Can we let him have a go at Hall Of The Mountain Grill too?

Ultravox's Quartet album

From underground trailblazing to commercial success: Ultravox's Quartet saw George Martin take them further into the mainstream – but at what cost?

By Julian Marszalek published

Ultravox – Quartet (Deluxe Edition): Steven Wilson burnishes art-poppers’ watershed 1982 album

The Lemon Twigs group shot

The Lemon Twigs have backed The Zombies and played with Todd Rundgren: they also drive each other crazy

By Julian Marszalek published

Brothers in a band often spells trouble, but Baroque/power-poppers The Lemon Twigs have found the secret of happily co-existence

Adrian Belew and David Bowie

“David Bowie’s Lodger was supposed to be called Planned Accidents… I was the accident!” Adrian Belew on being poached from Frank Zappa’s band

By Julian Marszalek published

King Crimson and Talking Heads veteran recalls having to record for Bowie without hearing the songs first

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

By the time you read this, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard will probably have released another album

By Julian Marszalek published

With 24 albums in just over a decade – and five last year alone – are King Gizzard challenging their fans to process too much music? "I think we are primarily challenging ourselves,” says Stu MacKenzie

black and white candid shot of King Crimson's Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew by candlelight at the Portobello Hotel, London in 1981

Adrian Belew: "Robert Fripp always gave me encouragement"

By Julian Marszalek published

From Frank Zappa and David Bowie to Talking Heads and King Crimson, guitarist Adrian Belew discusses his colourful career so far...

Jean-Michel Jarre: Oxymore cover art

Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxymore: an album that asks more questions than it offers answers

By Julian Marszalek published

Oxymore: team-up project between Jean-Michel Jarre and the late Pierre Henry offers mixed results

Motörhead Iron Fist (40th Anniversary Edition) cover art

Another Motorhead album celebrates its 40th birthday, and it's quite the party

By Julian Marszalek published

Three Amigos’ farewell sumptuously re-packaged with added demos, booklet and essential previously unreleased live set

The Godfathers: Alpha Beta Gamma Delta cover art

The Godfathers have just released their best album in more than three decades

By Julian Marszalek published

Reinvigorated rock’n’rollers The Godfathers make an offer you can’t refuse on Alpha Beta Gamma Delta

Osees - A Foul Form album art

Osees have mutated again and this time it's explosive punk rock

By Julian Marszalek published

Album of high velocity punk from Californian name-changers Osees obliterates all before it

Black Midi

Black Midi - Hellfire: "a dense and labyrinthine album"

By Julian Marszalek published

Not yet rated

Timely missive from the nine circles courtesy of London art-rock headspinners.

1st Congregational Church Of Eternal Love And Free Hugs cover art

Kula Shaker: still stuck in a world of pot, patchouli and letting it all hang out

By Julian Marszalek published

More than 25 years on, 1st Congregational Church Of Eternal Love And Free Hugs finds Kula Shaker moving from ’67 to ’68.

Nad Sylvan

Nad Sylvan: W.B. Yeats, music and me...

By Julian Marszalek published

The Swedish vocalist discusses reworking some of Yeats' famous poetry for his latest solo album Spiritus Mundi

Pure Reason Revolution: Above Cirrus cover art

Pure Reason Revolution - Above Cirrus: "a multi-faceted beast"

By Julian Marszalek published

Not yet rated

Art-rockers set their sights high on second post-comeback album

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Night Gnomes: "their best yet!"

By Julian Marszalek published

Not yet rated

Australian space cadets are back with their best album yet.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Omnium Gatherum cover art

King Gizzard and The Wizard Lizard cast psychedelic net wide on 20th album

By Julian Marszalek published

Aussie cosmonauts King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard hit melodious peak with freakouts and chill-outs on Omnium Gatherum

Scarlet Rebels: See Through Blue cover art

Scarlet Rebels add fun to the art of political dissent on See Through Blue

By Julian Marszalek published

See Through Blue is a convincing album of hook-laden rebel rock from Welsh firebrands Scarlet Rebels

Bill Nelson with the Axe Victim guitar

Bill Nelson: A life in music

By Julian Marszalek published

The Be-Bop Deluxe mainman and solo artist in his own right reflects on the highs and lows of his career

Brian Setzer: Gotta Have The Rumble album artwork

Brian Setzer's Gotta Have The Rumble: shooting from the hip with infectious precision

By Julian Marszalek published

Rockabilly rebel Brian Setzer still walks the Stray Cat strut on Gotta Have The Rumble