musicOMH.com - Blog

AOL buys Bebo

The third biggest "social networking" site, Bebo, has been gulped down.

Following News Corp's acquisition of MySpace, Microsoft's investment in Facebook and CBS's purchase of last.fm, AOL, part of media giant Time Warner, has reportedly paid US$850m for Bebo, which claims a global membership of about 40 million users.

So whichever social networking site you prefer, rest assured that a giant American conglomerate now supports your messaging, photos and events calendar.

The Great Fire Of Camden: Hawley Smoke

Amid much OMGing from news sites' comments forums, the full extent of the devastation visited upon NW1 on Saturday night hit home.

Confusion amongst some news organisations was the only light relief from seeing a well-known part of Camden engulfed in flames. On BBC News 24 the newscaster referred to the Hawley Arms as a "nightclub". No, it's a pub. Here's the evidence:

Better still were the names of celebrities listed as regular clientele. Heard of "Neil Fielding" or "Neil Gallagher"? Me neither.

So yes, along with just about everyone from London who has anything to do with music, I've of course been to the Hawley too many times to count. Yes, the beehive was there more often than not, sat on her own, eating lunch and not being interrupted. I've interviewed artistes there (on one occasion the beehive interrupted proceedings) too - the upstairs area being popular for such activities during daytime.

Despite the pub's reputation in mainstream news media as some fantastical glittering nirvana for "troubled" singers, it really was just a decent boozer. Probably a tad passé for some of the more trendoid tendencies of this world now, but it had charm, especially in the afternoons when it wasn't too packed.

The people behind the Hawley had only a couple of weeks ago launched their second pub, Clerkenwell's Wilmington Arms, which has a gig space, and a small record label, which had just released its first single.

They're sure to recover from this, as are the Canal market traders whose livelihoods are also threatened by the inferno of 9th February. There will be a rallying round. And some time soon, when the refurbishments are complete, the Hawley will have an excellent excuse for a big relaunch party. Hell, they might even attract some slebs along. Here's hoping it's not too long before we can toast the Hawley's reincarnation. And maybe it should consider a name change to herald its new era. The Phoenix, perhaps?

Best albums of 2007: the list

Our pick of this year's best albums:

http://www.musicomh.com/music/features/albums_review-2007_1207.htm

We'll still be sporadically publishing features and reviews in the music and film sections over the break, with normal service resumed on Wednesday 2nd January.

Meantime, thanks for reading in 2007, happy Christmas and all the best for your 2008.

Fanciful kisses,

Michael and all at musicOMH.com

Russell Brand goes to St Trinians

Russell Brand now tops the UK book charts with his Booky Wook – beating Nigella Express and Hamster Hammond by a hefty margin this week.

On Wednesday he pays homage to Jack Kerouac on BBC4’s Russell Brand On The Road. On 21st December the new St Trinians movie is out – and he’s in that too (with Stephen Fry, Rupert Everett, Lily Cole (!) and Girls Aloud (!!!!!)).

Big Brother was only watchable during Big Brother’s Big Mouth when Brand hosted it. His articles in the Guardian are never less than articulate. And his appearances on chat shows and panel game shows (such as I’ve seen) have been memorable. Then we have his 6Music and Radio 2 DJ tenures...

Yet there seems to be, for some, a niggling feeling, something akin to guilty pleasure, about liking him.

Is Russell Brand a good or a bad thing - an irritatant or a genius?

Norman Mailer, RIP

“Writing badly is a sin. I really think people who write badly are small monsters.”

Norman Mailer, founder of The Village Voice and Pullitzer Prize winning writer, has died aged 84.

He didn't like feminists either.