Aretha Franklin certainly sped up Nothing Compares 2 U.

theyknowwhatimean on the subject of Marc Bolan this is the episode of TOTP that not only got me into him but also wanting to be a bass player, and by extension into music and my later career playing and other roles in the industry- so thanks for my life Marc! 

Steve Currie was an excellent bassist who sadly died in similar circumstances to Marc less than four years after the former's death in Portugal. He was also an Inland Revenue employee like I was in my teens, and inspired me to play in several bands that played up and down the UK but with little success. The lessons I learnt though enabled me to be useful at acquaintance's independent labels organising band and office related activities, and becoming a chartered accountant during this time led me to working for various large and independent organisations in the business since, which I continue to do in addition to other clients and my own other business interests.

I still play in a regular gigging funk n' soul revue band as well as playing for other bands at gigs and occasionally recordings as necessary. I didn't make a fortune out of playing but even without accountancy and my businesses it would have provided a liveable wage, but instead music shaped a path for me that gave me sort of a best of both worlds if you will, long term security with the ability to still be involved in something I love.

The industry is changing but by no means is it dead, despite the doomsayers who are stuck in the linear model of album sales (70s), music video glamour (80s) and live (90s) as the singular routes to success. There are both still big sellers in Adele and Taylor Swift, whatever your opinions on their respective outputs, as well as countless others earning from liveable to very comfortable wages performing and recording music. The changes also bring new roles for non-musicians with areas such as rights management from the start for new artists, social media development, etc. so the potential is there.

My advice to you from experience remains from when we have conversed in another thread about University which is to perhaps find a career outside music initially for the long term, but one that can potentially be adapted into the industry. In the meantime keep your hand in playing, assisting, recording, etc and look for opportunities that way. I said before as well perhaps finding work after taking time off from University and finding out who you are before possibly going back after getting some money behind you could be an option- I personally had a much clearer idea of who I was and what I was trying to achieve in my mid to late twenties than I did at eighteen.

Whatever route you chose chap I wish you well with it, and if you feel like being bored some more feel free to inbox me if you want to ask anything else

This is extremely lame but a good cheer up for those who need it:

Confidence in me, is confidence in you, is confidence in hiiiighh speeeeeeeeed!!

The opening chord progression on Spies is nearly identical to Exit Music for a Film.

Jeeze, you can't move for Where Is My Mind? covers on Youtube can you? It's a real shame as it's basically the Pixies equivalent of Wonderwall.

I think Morrissey is terribly underrated as solo artist. Coming from a band as iconic and brilliant as The Smiths, it is very hard to make a solo career (especially a long running one) of much value. But Morrissey has done extremely well, releasing so many great songs and albums, and I would argue World Peace is None of Your Business, his latest release, is his best album.

Just listen to 'Speedway', off Vauxhall and I. It's a fan favourite that really sums up Morrissey solo.

I'm glad Johnny Marr has really kicked off his solo career again. The Messenger is a terrific album.

Ahh I've been playing some Iron Maiden CDs for the past two days. Maiden were the first band I ever got into and the reason I got obsessed with music. I put Rock in Rio on just yesterday and after all these years it still blows me away! I remember listening to it as a kid right after it's release and thinking already back then that it was really immense. It's still in my top 3 favourite albums of all time, Dickinson was just unbelievable at that time and the setlist is as good as it can possibly get!

Yesterday I bought the original Maiden England VHS+CD set from 1988 which was the last missing piece of my Maiden collection. It should arrive in a day or two - I can't wait!

Beady’s Here Now

You should listen to Fez - Being Born and Ultra Violet (Light My Way) by U2.

You know, there was a time when U2 weren't a bunch of self-parodists, when they actually made great albums, like The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, and Pop. It's only within this century that they've regressed into mediocre shit. They were relevant for one more decade than Oasis, may I remind you.