Monday 30 March 2026.

Monday 30 March 2026. Very sad news that a legendary music pr has passed away Keith Altham R.I.P.....age 84... A successful rock and roll scarred author, broadcaster, and New Musical Express features editor, Keith Altham interviewed the likes of the Beatles, the Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, Frank Zappa, the Small Faces, Cliff Richard, Dusty, Cilla, Scott Walker, Ray Davies, Jim Morrison and The Beach Boys on innumerable occasions. In the early ‘60s he wrote for the legendary fan magazine Fabulous from its inception. Subsequently he became England’s most successful independent rock press agent for three decades from the early ‘70s representing most of those he had previously interviewed. On radio, Altham was a major contributor as news reader and interviewer for three years on BBC 2’s "Scene and Heard" which was "the music paper of radio" during the ‘60s and early ‘70s, More recently he contributed to BBC Radio 2’s programme on "The Changing Styles of Music Journalism" "Music Hype" and Virgin FMs "Tribute to Jimi Hendrix." Altham is also accountable for giving Hendrix the idea of setting fire to his guitar, and is recorded as being the last person to interview him before his death; for saddling Reg Presley of the Troggs with his surname and turning Slade into skinheads for publicity purpose in the early ‘70s. His first book The PR Strikes Back in the form of open letters to his famous clients over many years including The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Sting, The Beach Boys, Status Quo, Phil Collins and The Who revealing his true feelings about them was printed by Blake Publishing and serialised in the Daily Mail in 2002. K.A. Publicity, which he founded in 1971, represented the cream of British rock music over two decades including for several years, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beach Boys, Police, Slade, Status Quo, The Animals, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, The Kinks, Scott Walker, Eddy Grant, Genesis, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, The Jam, The Stranglers, Marc Bolan, The Moody Blues, Steve Marriott, Carole King, Joan Armatrading, Elkie Brooks, and Manfred Mann. Altham retired his Press Agency and in 1993 BBC Radio 4 made Altham the subject of a tribute programme "The Godfather of Music PR" on which Sting, Roger Daltrey and Jagger testified to his skill. ------------------- ------------------- Saturday 28 March 2026. GARBAGE live at The Royal Albert Hall. plus special guests PLACEBO (rare, stripped back performance). This is show number 6 of the 7 TCT RAH shows. I have seen Placebo more times than Garbage , so would prefer if they were the headliners. Placebo are however down to play a 75 mins set. 2026 sees the 30th anniversary of the Placebo excellent debut album. Oddly, even though they are headlining tonight ,later this year Garbage are headlining The Roundhouse , but tonight's support act Placebo are playing the much bigger Wembley Arena. I first saw Garbage headlining The Reading Festival in 1998. I first saw Placebo supporting Prodigy at Battersea Power Station in 1997. --------------- Everyone has come in early as Placebo are the support act. The venue is rammed solid sold out. There is arena floor standing again. Again, the cameras are here , so Placebo are shown on the big screen , but Garbage are not. PLACEBO arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 60 mins. The venue said they down to play for 75 mins , but it was actually 60 mins. Placebo brought a “stripped back” set which still saw a 6 piece band (!including violin and keyboards) reimagine their acclaimed back catalogue. Singer Brian Molko “admitted to feeling a flutter of nerves" . But they launched into a good set that began with their cover of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Jackie’ before hits including ‘Special Needs’, ‘Pure Morning’ ,‘Taste In Men’ and ' Special K'. Several of their big songs not played as they played lesser known and rarely played tracks , and most tracks were reworked, so more slow paced laid back rather than their usual full tilt. A good set , but not as mega as expected. Full Placebo setlist played tonight.... Jackie (Sinéad O’Connor cover) (First time live since 2015) Special Needs Begin the End (!First time live since 2015) Pure Morning (First time live since 2018) Taste In Men Blind Follow the Cops Back Home (First time live since 2011) Beautiful James Slave to the Wage Special K Post Blue Meds Centrefolds ( First time live since 2004) As usual during the interval , we had the videos of the TCT teenagers and around 20 took to the stage to great applause from the crowd. GARBAGE arrived on stage at 9.15pm for their 1 hour 40 mins set. Five of them on stage , all of them are dressed in black. Shirley Manson is loud on vocals , and the band are nice and very loud , and overall they make a great noise. Lots of lights , including strobes. Shirley Manson was talking and swearing a lot. She walked into the stalls seats a couple of times. She gave thanks to Placebo for joining them tonight, when they could have headlined themselves. All the songs rocked along nicely and the encore was their two biggest hits. Before tonight , I thought Placebo may steal the show , but Garbage held their own as headliners , and they were great. Full Garbage setlist played tonight... There’s No Future in Optimism Hold Fix Me Now I Think I'm Paranoid Vow Run Baby Run The Trick Is to Keep Breathing Not My Idea The Men Who Rule the World Wolves Lovesong ( The Cure cover) (Live debut) Chinese Fire Horse Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) When I Grow Up Push It The Day That I Met God Encore: Stupid Girl Only Happy When It Rains

Posted 28th March 2026