John Earls
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johnearls.bsky.social
John Earls
@johnearls.bsky.social
Director of Research at Unite the Union, writer, music & arts lover, Wealdstone FC season ticket holder, #MDANT, London-Irish. Post in a personal capacity. Subscribe to my blog on cultural and other reflections at https://johnearls.substack.com/
Happy 76th birthday Tom Waits.
NME, 19 October 1985.
📸 Bleddyn Butcher.
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
“…I'm in distress, I need a caress, what do I get?..”
December 6, 2025 at 7:12 PM
We couldn’t. UTS!
Good luck and safe travels to Stones fans at today’s FA Cup 2nd round match against Grimsby (birthplace of Patricia Hodge). We’re away to a team only 22 league places above us. It’s what the Cup is all about. We couldn’t (again), could we? It’s Grimsby Town v @wealdstonefc.bsky.social UTS!
December 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Good luck and safe travels to Stones fans at today’s FA Cup 2nd round match against Grimsby (birthplace of Patricia Hodge). We’re away to a team only 22 league places above us. It’s what the Cup is all about. We couldn’t (again), could we? It’s Grimsby Town v @wealdstonefc.bsky.social UTS!
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reposted by John Earls
I especially enjoyed this week’s ’Hanging Out a Window’ from John.
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is out and it’s a review and some reflections on Steve Lamacq and Gina Birch’s podcast about the Sex Pistols.
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
Read and subscribe (free) here:
johnearls.substack.com/p/right-now-...
Right! Now! - the Rise and Fall of Sex Pistols
Review and reflections on a podcast series about punk rock’s most famed and fated band
johnearls.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:23 AM
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is out and it’s a review and some reflections on Steve Lamacq and Gina Birch’s podcast about the Sex Pistols.
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
Read and subscribe (free) here:
johnearls.substack.com/p/right-now-...
Right! Now! - the Rise and Fall of Sex Pistols
Review and reflections on a podcast series about punk rock’s most famed and fated band
johnearls.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by John Earls
On Paul McGrath’s birthday, a reminder of one of the great defensive performances of all time.

Italy. Giants Stadium. 1994.

Unfit, but utterly unbeatable
December 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Postie’s been.
Thank you @tufac.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Picture taken at Tate Modern yesterday. Not an exhibit but the view out of a window.
📸 John Earls
December 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by John Earls
Where the railway used to run (manylyn)
#TomTomos
#LlunYDydd
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Playing this tonight, entirely prompted by reading @helenbarrett.bsky.social’s excellent review of Jane Eisner’s biography of Carole King for @financialtimes.com (£) www.ft.com/content/45db...
December 3, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The ‘Theatre Picasso’ exhibition at Tate Modern has divided critics (although much of the ire seems to be more about the catalogue) but bar a few display reservations I really enjoyed it and liked the curatorial challenge. Runs until 12 April 2026.
December 3, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Notes from Kenton Rec.
December 3, 2025 at 9:43 AM
“Outsized talent, a willingness to collaborate, extreme dedication, ordinary pain and hard-won wisdom”. @helenbarrett.bsky.social is excellent on the songwriting genius of Carole King in this review of Jane Eisner’s biography for @financialtimes.com (£)
www.ft.com/content/45db...
Carole King — the genius and hard-won wisdom of a great American singer-songwriter
Jane Eisner’s compelling, compassionate biography explores the forces that shaped the artist behind ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow?’
www.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
‘Another Dimension’ by Charles Bell and the Contemporary Jazz Quartet (London Atlantic, 1963).
Charles Bell (piano), Bill Smith (guitar), Ron Carter (bass), Allen Blairman (drums).

Why don’t we know more about Charles Bell?
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Spent a lovely couple of days at Rudloe Arms Hotel. Amazing food and hospitality and lounges featuring Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson furniture and Terry O’Neill prints including this glorious Bowie live in Los Angeles from 1974 Diamond Dogs tour.
December 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Hockney, Handel and an Irish hat-trick. ICYMI my latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column has some recent cultural highlights. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
Recent cultural highlights
Some very enjoyable David Hockney, a surrealist Handel and a statue on Dublin's Sheriff Street for Troy Barrett
johnearls.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
‘L’uomo Pogue’
The Face, April 1988.
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
George Harrison.
📸 Paul McCartney.
November 29, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Happy birthday to the wonderful @chrisstovell.bsky.social. One of the best.
View from the birthday cold tub. But not in my birthday suit. Water temperature 10°c
November 29, 2025 at 9:15 AM
“Picked you up and let you down and I never said a word
But I'm different now and I'm glad that you're my girl…”
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is just out and it has some cultural highlights and recommendations from the month of November. Read and subscribe (free) here:
johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...
Recent cultural highlights
Some very enjoyable David Hockney, a surrealist Handel and a statue on Dublin's Sheriff Street for Troy Barrett
johnearls.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Another fabulous evening of ballet from Ballet Black performing double bill SHADOWS at @sadlerswells.bsky.social. Such a consistently excellent and exciting outfit. Never disappoint.
November 27, 2025 at 10:01 PM
“Sometimes you need to have a bigger push at one end”. Terrific episode of @ballet-voices.bsky.social with Cassa Pancho of fabulous Ballet Black. Looking forward to seeing them again tomorrow night. Can’t believe it is their @sadlerswells.bsky.social debut. voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/cass...
Cassa Pancho » Voices of British Ballet
When Cassa Pancho decided to interview Black female ballet dancers in the UK for her degree dissertation in 1999, she could not find any. So she seized the moment, setting out on the path that was to ...
voicesofbritishballet.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 PM