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Paolo Hewitt

Paolo Hewitt

Paolo Hewitt was placed in care before he had time to open up his eyes. He did four years in a nursery before being fostered by a woman who made Cruella De Ville look like a saint. At ten he was placed back into care, finally gaining his freedom at age 18. He relates all this just to illustrate why books and music are such important art forms to him. As the storm raged around him, it was these two art forms that allowed him shelter. This is why at age 14 when Enzo Esposito brought a copy of the New Musical Express into school. Paolo automatically knew what direction he wanted his life to take.

At age 19, Paolo moved to London, ostensibly to train as a teacher, in reality to find out if he could achieve his dream. He didn't have to wait long for his break. Unable to buy NME one week, Paolo purchased a copy of Melody Maker in which he was surprised to discover an advert looking for young writers. Within days Paolo found himself sitting in MM editor Richard Williams’ office talking about Spurs, Italy and clothes, having sent in examples of his craft from the student paper. Work followed soon after. Paolo's favourite writers on the music press at this time included Tony Parsons, Nick Kent, Danny Baker, Julie Burchill.

Within a year, Paolo was handed a staff job at MM. His beat included bands such as Dexys Midnight Runners, the Specials, Madness, the Jam and American r'n'b, both old and new. In 1983 he published his first book, The Jam: A Beat Concerto and moved to NME. Within a year he was writing mainly about the emerging Hip Hop scene, later becoming the first writer to cover the Acid House explosion.

Unfortunately, the NME found Paolo's affection for black music a difficult area and in 1990, Paolo decided to go freelance. Since then he has written for a number of publications both home and abroad as well as publishing a series of well-received biographies. These include definitive works on Oasis and The Small Faces. He also published a very well-received memoir detailing his time in care entitled The Looked After Kid. He currently has many fingers in many pies that he is waiting to warm up.

 

137 articles

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The 101'ers: Keys To The Legend

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 28 February 1981

ON THE WAY out of that pub, last Friday afternoon Joe Strummer suddenly gripped my elbow, and propelled me urgently away from the rest of ...

Adam & The Ants: Prince Charmless: Adam Ant: Astoria Theatre, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 9 October 1982

LAST YEAR Adam Ant became a Dexys Midnight Runners fan. He went to their shows, always gave them name-checks in the press and even sent ...

A Guy Called Gerald: Voodoo Guru

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 15 April 1989

Despite the praise heaped on A GUY CALLED GERALD'S hypnotic first single, 'Voodoo Ray', nothing much seemed to happen. Then the single hit the clubs ...

Marc Almond: Fridge, Brixton, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 June 1985

BREL OF ST. MARC! ...

Adam & The Ants: Ants Out Of Bondage

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 12 January 1980

In which Adam and the Ants reconcile their apparent predilection for S/M with their desire to succeed as musicians without grovelling. PAULO HEWITT passes judgement. ...

A Tribe Called Quest: Questin' Time

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

THEY TROOP into the hotel foyer. The New Soldiers Of Rap are jet lagged from eight hours on a plane but the assault on Britain ...

Aztec Camera: I'm Gonna Live Forever

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 January 1984

SCARCE ON the ground these past months, Roddy Frame is the new Boy Wonder, a precocious 19 year old currently calling all the shots. ...

Anita Baker: Compositions - A Return To Rapture

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Select, August 1990

FOR THE first time since her elevation to the forefront of female vocalists, Anita Baker has begun writing her own material. Furthermore, in an attempt ...

Big Daddy Kane: A Taste Of Chocolate

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Select, December 1990

WHEN BIG Daddy Kane released his debut LP, Long Live The Kane, in 1988, his producer Marley Marl's emphasis on slower beats and rhymes meant ...

Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Roxanne Shanté: Cold Chillin' Records: Licensed To Chill

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, John McCready, New Musical Express, 12 March 1988

Cold Chillin' Records was started in 1986 by Tyrone Williams. As manager of Marley Marl — a 23 year old producer, writer, arranger, and renowned New ...

Black Box, Loleatta Holloway: Loleatta Holloway: It's My Record (And I'll Cry If I Want To)

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

You might not know the name, but you'll have heard the voice of LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY. It was her earth-shaking vocal on Dan Hartman's 'Love Sensation' ...

Black Uhuru

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 6 June 1981

Paulo Hewitt goes to New York and tries to find some common ground with BLACK UHURU's crucial three. ...

Blancmange: Stuck In The Mould

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 19 March 1983

Paolo Hewitt attempts to cultivate a taste for Blancmange but finds their electronic packet mix still leaves him cold... but not freezing. ...

The Bluebells: Everybody's Somebody's Bluebell

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 12 June 1982

MATTERS FINALLY came to a head after the show that night. In the cramped dressing room, Ken McCluskey, the Bluebells' harmonica player, picked up a ...

Bomb The Bass: The Hawth Centre, Crawley

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 December 1988

PUMP UP THE CONCEPT ...

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.: The Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.: To Live And Die In L.A.

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 March 1990

The Devoux brothers have learned the rules of survival the hard way. In LA there are now 92,000 gang members, and mercy is not in ...

Boy George: From Culture Club To Vulture Club

Comment by Paolo Hewitt, Don Watson, New Musical Express, 26 July 1986

Boy George's romance with the Fleet Street scandal sheets came to an abrupt end when they turned on him in an hysterical anti-drugs campaign. But ...

Billy Bragg: Bill of Rights

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 January 1986

Can RED WEDGE kick new life into old Labour? Will our lovable lefty pop heroes transform Kinnock's party into a stylish outfit prepared for government? ...

Brand New Heavies: The Brand New Heavies: The Brand New Heavies

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Select, July 1990

THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES, after an early association with fellow rare groove outfit Diana Brown And The Brothers, came together in the late 70s. They ...

Bronski Beat: Bronski Beefs

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

SUNDAY, 'ROUND about lunchtime, and Jimi Bronski is scurrying around his small council flat in a vain attempt to clean up the mess. I stand ...

Bronski Beat, The Communards: Jimmy Somerville: The Age of Dissent

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 25 May 1985

In his first major interview since quitting pop stardom with Bronski Beat, Jimmy Somerville talks candidly to Paolo Hewitt about the political dilemmas success brings, ...

James Brown, Bobby Byrd: Bobby Byrd: Rare Byrd

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 May 1989

Over the years, BOBBY BYRD has been an integral part of JAMES BROWN'S career. PAOLO HEWITT spoke to him about his hot-and-cold relationship with the ...

Cameo: Product Of America

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 20 December 1986

His codpiece was banned from TOTP, his new single 'Candy' has been banned by Radio One, but LARRY BLACKMON has still led Cameo to the ...

Ray Charles: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 June 1983

RESPECT, WE CAME to the massive Hall and paid respect to the blind man who helped shape black music, lived a life of (partly self-inflicted) ...

Cherrelle: Positive Touch

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 5 July 1986

CHERRELLE's dream of soul stardom has come true, thanks to the trans Atlantic success of 'Saturday Love'. PAOLO HEWITT tunes in and turns on. ...

Cherrelle, The Human League, Janet Jackson, Alexander O'Neal, Prince, The SOS Band: Jam & Lewis: Double Funk

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 2 August 1986

"Sorry Lionel, but right now, we're busy with The Human League..." To turn down a job with Mr Richie these days you'd have to be ...

The Chimes: Sign of the Chimes

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 January 1990

Did you hear the one about the two Scotsmen and the London singer who may well be Britain's top soul band? Well PAOLO HEWITT has ...

The Chimes: The Chimes

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Select, July 1990

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN the irresistible rise of Soul II Soul and dance music's nationalisation of the charts, The Chimes have been lost In the shuffle. A ...

The Clash: Joe Strummer Answers The Call-Up

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 13 December 1980

WORKING ON THE theory that if you give him enough rope he'll either hang or save himself, the following pages are left basically for the ...

The Clash: Safe in a European home

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 6 June 1981

STANDING BY the toilet door, the kid recognised him instantly. The hair piled up in a scraggy mess. The white leather jacket. The beautiful punkette ...

George Clinton, Funkadelic, Parliament: George Clinton: The Mad Professor

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 8 January 1983

Paolo Hewitt gets funked by GEORGE CLINTON. ...

Coati Mundi: The Former 12 Year Old Genius (Virgin)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 May 1983

MUNDI BLOODY MUNDI ...

Colonel Abrams: Finger Lickin' God

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 4 January 1986

Is Colonel Abrams trapped in the black ghetto of religion and air conditioned fame or is he a genuine soul crusader? Paolo Hewitt meets the man ...

Culture Club: Colour By Numbers (Virgin)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 8 October 1983

TOP OF THE LOOKING CLASS ...

Culture Club, Helen Terry: Helen Terry: Hellenic Culture

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

CULTURE CLUB'S 'BOLSHIE' MEMBER — HELEN TERRY — LETS RIP ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: Tel-star

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 February 1987

Plenty of others have made the same journey from gospel to soul, via boxing; rather fewer have taken detours through the Army of the Rhine ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: The G.I. Blues of Terence Trent D'Arby

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 September 1987

TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY reveals the dark side of his pre-pop star life: the army experience that nearly crushed him, and the realisation that a square ...

Defunkt: Debunking the Funk

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 13 June 1981

BOWIE (JOE) beats the Apple and subverts Paulo Hewitt ...

De La Soul: Soul Deep High and Rising

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 April 1989

They're Public Enemy's favourite band and their debut LP 3 Feet High And Rising is the world's first psychedelic Rap album mixing Day-Glo, Disney, dance ...

Dexys Midnight Runners: Music Machine, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 2 February 1980

THREE GUITARS, three brass, one keyboard and drums and we have the... Next Big Thing. At present Dexys Runners may not have the repertoire that such an ...

Divine Styler featuring the Scheme Team: Word Power (Syndicate LP/ Cassette/CD)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

STRAIGHT OUTTA Los Angeles from Ice-T's new label, Syndicate, the Divine Styler's long and intense LP puts to shame most of the artists that Ice-T ...

D Mob: Married To D Mob

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 27 January 1990

PAOLO HEWITT lays his hands on D mainman of D Mob, Dancin' Danny D ...

Doves: Experimentalists' Melodic Journey

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Uncut, April 2000

THINGS FINALLY fall apart for Doves about a year ago. They've spent five years writing and recording, but very little material has been released. Their ...

Lamont Dozier

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 14 April 1984

HE LOOKS tired now, as if all that time spent playing, writing and dreaming up words and sound had finally drained him of life and ...

Sheena Easton: The Prime of Miss Sheena Easton

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 January 1989

A star in the States and yet either a twee girlie singer or second-string Prince collaborator in her home country, SHEENA EASTON, courtesy of that ...

Electra, Paul Oakenfold: Electra: Age of Chants

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 30 July 1988

Club DJ makes record shock! PAOLO HEWITT talks to PAUL OAKENFOLD, the man behind ELECTRA'S 'Jibaro', about his faith in the new Balearic Beat. ...

En Vogue: Sisters In Arms

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Select, October 1990

Can girl groups be taken seriously and is there brains behind the beauty? Tough R&B hitmakers EN VOGUE put the politics into pop and make ...

Everything But The Girl: Take The Melancholy Strain

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 December 1984

PUT SIMPLY, I wanted more than just a musical chit chat. ...

Richard "Dimples" Fields, Teddy Pendergrass: Teddy Pendergrass: Love Language (Asylum); Richard 'Dimples' Fields: Mmm... (RCA)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 25 August 1984

FAR TOO STEADY TEDDY ...

Five Star: Sibling Soul

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 24 May 1986

FIVE STAR are one of Britain's most successful chart acts, but their Dad still keeps them firmly in line. PAOLO HEWITT meets the stars who ...

Fun Boy Three: Funboy Fundamentals

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 5 March 1983

PAOLO HEWITT GETS DOWN TO SOME SERIOUS REASONING WITH THE FUN BOY THREE AND CONCLUDES THE FUN'S NO FAKE AND THE CONCERN'S NO CON. ...

Funkapolitan: Funkapolitan (London)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 8 May 1982

ON PAPER the chemistry looked fine. Take a young, English funk band with obvious American leanings, pair them off with the cool, experienced hand of ...

Marvin Gaye: Death Of A Midnight Lover – A Tribute To A Trouble Man

Obituary by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 April 1984

The romantic spirit of rising young black America in the '60s, Marvin Gaye evolved into a radical voice testifying pleasure and protest. A brilliant artist, ...

Marvin Gaye: For Once In A Lifetime

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 21 February 1981

AFTER NEARLY two hours in that bedroom, Lydia finally gave up. By any standards she'd waited long enough for her Marvin Gaye interview – a ...

Junior Giscombe: Secret Life of a Streatham Soul-Boy

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 8 May 1982

Paolo Hewitt rides the Soul Train to L.A. with Junior Giscombe ...

Junior Giscombe: Junior Showtime

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 23 February 1985

Now's the time lor Junior to put up or shut up. Having sold himself two years ago as the nice black kid from Streatham, he ...

Cat Glover, Prince: Cat Glover: Cat O' Fine Tales

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 25 November 1989

You know her as the legs-akimbo sex kitten playmate of Prince, the undisputed star of the Purple One's lascivious shows and a fine singer to ...

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: What's The Word?: Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: The Message (Sugarhill)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 9 October 1982

IN WHICH THE message from the apple-stretching New York would seem to read: don't get caught in a rap rut, move on and expand. Whether ...

Guy, Teddy Riley: Teddy Riley: The Life of Riley

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 June 1989

At 22 TEDDY RILEY is the most sought-after producer in America. His mixture of R&B and rap has created a new sound, dubbed New Jack ...

Haircut 100: Favourite Cuts and Pelican Shirts

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 20 March 1982

HAIRCUT ONE HUNDRED suffer white line fever. Paulo Hewitt pops the questions. ...

Herbie Hancock: Herbie Rides Again!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 August 1983

So how come a 43-year-old muso who's worked with Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis has only just cut his first scratching record? Doesn't he know ...

Paul Hardcastle: Leytonstone Now!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 11 May 1985

Paul Hardcastle was watching a TV show on Vietnam when he learned that the average age of American soldiers who fought there was just 19. Now ...

Material, Nona Hendryx: Nona Hendryx: Labelle-d By The Funk

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 16 January 1982

Paolo Hewitt sees eye-to-eye with NONA HENDRYX ...

Hot Chocolate: All Because The Lady Loves Hot Chocolate

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 March 1984

FRESH FROM his evening shower and now only half an hour away from facing 2,000 of his most ardent supporters, Errol Brown, a white towel ...

Ice Cube: AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Select, September 1990

FOR A WHILE THERE, Ice Cube's abusive and inflammatory lyrics came over like harmless cartoon sketches of life in American's black underclass. ...

Imagination: Body Talking

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 23 January 1982

Paulo Hewitt finds the spirit of IMAGINATION ...

Imagination: Lost in Muzak?

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 19 January 1985

Or, great headlines revisited. PAOLO HEWITT puts IMAGINATION in his typewriter and asks — are they on the way out? ...

The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield: Curtis Mayfield: So Proud — The Moral Standard of Soul

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 9 July 1983

Regarded by many people as the first conscience of American Black music, CURTIS MAYFIELD's illustrious career now spans 20 years — from being a teenager ...

Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones: Quincy Jones: The Mighty Quince

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 February 1990

QUINCY JONES, producer of everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, is now mixing jazz and hip-hop and working with Jesse Jackson and New Order. ...

Marshall Jefferson: Marshall Lore

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 February 1989

Over the last three years, former post office worker MARSHALL JEFFERSON's work as producer, writer and arranger, has resulted in some of the best House ...

Paul Johnson: Revelation from Paradise

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 January 1987

No one illustrates the depth and talent of UK soul more than PAUL JOHNSON, who's arrived at the doorstep to fame via gospel singing. Will ...

Stanley Jordan: Have Fingers, Will Fly!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 16 November 1985

When STANLEY JORDAN straps on his guitar, he can play rhythm, lead and the other fiddley bits all at once! PAOLO HEWITT, disbelief in his ...

Joy Division: Closer (Factory Records FACT XXV)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 26 July 1980

FROM THE beginning we were always dealing with something special. Joy Division, by the very nature of their set up, could never have been just ...

The Jungle Brothers: Guerillas in the Mix

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 23 December 1989

Commanding the corner where spiritual meets the street, "conscious rappers" THE JUNGLE BROTHERS are ready to lead hip-hop into its second decade with their landmark ...

KRS-One: The Rap Trap

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 January 1989

And the kids keep dying. Armed with only a Sony Walkman and a pen, PAOLO HEWITT goes looking for the solution to Rap's vicious side, ...

Larry Levan, Peech Boys: Peech Boys: Muscle Peech Party

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 27 August 1983

Paolo Hewitt checks for the Peech Boys' Console Companions Larry Levan and Michael "Mafia" Benedictus. ...

Living In A Box: Boxing clever

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

They came from nowhere to take the Top Ten by storm. But who were the mystery men of LIVING IN A BOX? Were they black? ...

LL Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out (Def Jam LP/Cassette/CD)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 September 1990

LL SYSTEMS GO! ...

LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Schoolly D: Yo Boys: Boys Keep Killing

Report by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 13 September 1986

The pervasive sound of hip hop becomes punctuated by an altogether more sinister noise — the bark of hand-guns — as, on the streets of ...

Madness: Adventures in Madonia

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 January 1984

With Mike Barson' departure from Madness are Camden's finest now fast approaching the pop parody stakes? or will a three day trip to Poland, fighting ...

Madness: The Italian Nutty Brigade

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 25 October 1980

All aboard the trans-Europe express as Madness go from Rome to Amsterdam, by Paolo Hewitt ...

Madonna: Madonna (Sire)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 October 1983

LAZY MADONNA ...

Marvin Gaye: Glad To Be Gaye: Marvin Gaye: Apollo Victoria, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 27 June 1981

APART FROM the odd dash of Las Vegas, a little hammed up stage behaviour, and a constant projection of distracting holiday snaps of our hero ...

Massive Attack: Big Thinking

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Select, April 1991

Once the Bristol dance trio were Massive Attack, now they're just MASSIVE but aim to be huge with 'Unfinished Sympathy', their new single. They're also ...

Massive Attack, Smith & Mighty, Soul II Soul: Smith & Mighty and Soul II Soul: Anyone Who Had A Sound

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 11 March 1989

Here PAOLO HEWITT gets on the Voice Beat with SMITH & MIGHTY and SOUL II SOUL. ...

Kym Mazelle And The Post-Acid World Of DEEP HOUSE

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 November 1988

With Acid House — the music not the lifestyle — being phased out after a summer of madness, what's next for the turntable terrors? Deep House, ...

Mel & Kim: Shop Girls Of The World Unite!

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 February 1987

Out of the shops and into the charts come MEL AND KIM – friendly, forthright, but kept strictly in line by their manager. PAOLO HEWITT ...

The Merton Parkas: Deals On Wheels

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 11 August 1979

The Merton Parkas, the first New Mod chartmakers, tell PAULO HEWITT that life's a lot easier in a Ben Sherman button-down than in a ripped ...

The Mighty Clouds of Joy: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

SANCTIFIED! ...

Ennio Morricone: Il Maestro

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 13 February 1988

Sampled by such hombres as Cameo and B.A.D., and the creator of a bandolier of classic film themes, ENNIO MORRICONE is a master of his ...

J. Walter Negro & The Loose Jointz: J. Walter Negro: The Writing on the Wall

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 2 January 1982

J. WALTER NEGRO shoots the pump with Paulo Hewitt. ...

Nips, The (aka The Nipple Erectors): The Nips: Ain't That a Shane?

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 2 February 1980

"ROCK 'N' ROLL is just a load of boring old rubbish. The people who play it think it's so fucking important and it's not. it ...

N.W.A: NWA: Straight Outta Compton (Ruthless import LP)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 15 April 1989

COMPTON DOES not sound like the kind of area you want to move to. Judging by this LP, most of its inhabitants seem to bear ...

Paul Oakenfold: "Acid is going underground. It's got to go that way because of all the fuss. The media are out to kill it"

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 October 1988

So where do we go from here, matey? Acid guru PAUL OAKENFOLD talks to Paolo Hewitt ...

Oasis: C'mon America...Let's Ave Yer! Seven Mental Nights On The Oasis Tourbus

Report by Paolo Hewitt, Select, May 1996

WITHIN FIFTEEN MINUTES of their plane taking off for Kansas, Oasis have assumed battle positions. Liam Gallagher is in the toilet with a couple of ...

The Police, Sting: Sting: A Policeman's Guide To Good And Evil...

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, September 1982

YOU MIGHT NOT have noticed, but there's been little activity on the Police front recently. This year, apart from a few sporadic live appearances, has ...

Bryan Powell, Betty Wright: Betty Wright, Bryan J Powell: ICA, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 October 1989

THE CURRENT dance mania, welcome as it is, may have obscured quality soul to a large degree, but the attitude it has engendered in ridding ...

Prince: Burning His Bridges: Prince: Graffiti Bridge (Paisley Park) **

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Select, October 1990

THE FIRST SINGLE from Graffiti Bridge, 'Thieves In The Temple', compared to Prince's past endeavours, is no more than a nominally interesting B-side. And it ...

Prince: Select: The Best Of Prince 1979-1989

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Select, July 1990

I MET PRINCE ONCE. It was at the main airport in Los Angeles. Walking towards my flight I glanced over my shoulder and realised that, ...

Prince: Sign O' The Times

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 4 June 1987

Prince isn't a star, he's an event. And so is the release of his new double LP. Paolo Hewitt is let to the subterranean bunker ...

Prince, Mavis Staples: Mavis Staples: My Prince Has Come

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 5 August 1989

After years in the doldrums MAVIS STAPLES, one of the female voices is back. A phone call from Prince resulted in a new album Time ...

Prince Charles & the City Beat Band: The Venue, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 21 May 1983

CHARLES FLAUNTISM — FUNK OR FAKE? YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY PAOLO HEWITT ...

Queen Latifah: The Royal Flavour

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 June 1989

All hail the new king and queen of Rap — namely hotshot producer DJ MARK THE 45 KING and his latest righteous rhymester, QUEEN LATIFAH. ...

The Revillos

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 22 September 1979

REVILLOS OR Rezillos or...whatever. Fay Fife and Eugene Reynolds have got a new set of backing players (?) and some fledgling singers behind them. What ...

Rockers Revenge: The Harder They Fall

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 February 1983

ROCKERS REVENGE FIND THEMSELVES WALKING OUT OF SUNSHINE WITH THEIR COVER VERSION OF 'THE HARDER THEY COME'. PAOLO HEWITT GETS HIS REVENGE IN NEW YORK ...

David Rudder: When the Hammer Falls

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 October 1987

Calypso is the music and voice of Trinidad and DAVID RUDDER looks set to give it international appeal. PAOLO HEWITT meets him. ...

Run-DMC: Run DMC

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 9 March 1985

Run DMC are two New Yorkers who set their raps to a raw rock backdrop and talked their way up the charts. Paolo Hewitt meets the ...

Shakatak: The Royalty, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 6 February 1982

Darkness on the edge of boredom ...

Shalamar: The Second Time Around

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 18 December 1982

LATE LAST March, under the advice of a close friend, Jeffrey Daniels, one third of a group called Shalamar, took a walk down the Kings ...

Roxanne Shanté: 'I Have Never Seen A Man Talk To An Ugly Woman. Never.'

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 7 October 1989

There is nothing that ROXANNE SHANTE won't rap about and no limit to who she disses. Here she talks to PAOLO HEWITT about men, music ...

Siouxsie & The Banshees: Kaleidoscope (Polydor)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 26 July 1980

STRANGE TO think that, as the Banshees' contemporaries head off for the fourth or even fifth time in the studio, Kaleidoscope marks only the third ...

Siouxsie & the Banshees: Juju (Polydor POLD 1034)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 20 June 1981

Single file Siouxsie ...

Soul II Soul: Volume 2: 1990 A Brand New Decade (10 Records L/Cassette/CD)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 19 May 1990

JAZZIE'S DREAM ...

The Specials: Too Much Too Young

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 21 June 1980

PAULO HEWITT joined the Specials Seaside Tour expecting fun and frolics. He found a band grappling with self-doubt and the 2-Tone monster. ...

Bruce Springsteen: The River (CBS)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 11 October 1980

LISTENING to Bruce Springsteen's The River is like taking a trip through the rock 'n' roll heartland as you've never experienced it. It's a walk ...

Bruce Springsteen: Palais Des Sports, Lyons, France

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 2 May 1991

COME ELECTION time, even the President of France must sometimes have to make speeches. And when the President makes a speech, nothing gets in his ...

Bruce Springsteen: Not The Me-Me-Me-Me

Report and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 9 May 1981

STACKED on the left of the typewriter are two blank cassettes which should contain the voice of Bruce Springsteen. But like Kevin Rowland and Elvis ...

Stetsasonic: A Giant Stet

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 24 September 1988

New York's STETSASONIC are pushing forward the frontiers of rap, way beyond girls, cars and gold, into politics and social awareness. Definitely a Stet in ...

Donna Summer: Donna Summer

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 24 July 1982

IF THERE's one song that Donna Summer should be singing right now it's our current number one, 'Fame'. Tailor made for her, 'Fame' is glossy, ...

Sylvester

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 1 December 1984

NOT EVEN the New York cool that infests a group like The Force MD's can prevent the obvious excitement that sweeps through them as Sylvester ...

Ten City: New Soul Children

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 4 February 1989

Spurning the sampler and the radio-friendly fast buck, Chicago's TEN CITY are committed to rekindling the spirit of classic soul. With 'That's The Way Love ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: Genuis Steals: Terence Trent D'Arby: Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby (CBS)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 July 1987

WITH HIS usual flourish of verbal arrogance, Terence Trent D'Arby has already proclaimed his LP the most outstanding debut of the '80s. Fine. The only ...

Third World: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 22 May 1982

OBVIOUS I know, but it seemed more than a coincidence that Third World should kick off their opening night in London on the first anniversary ...

Tina Turner: Tina Foiled! Tina Turner: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 23 March 1985

SOMEHOW, WHEN THAT first inevitable round of thunderous applause erupted and Tina Turner stood there, bathing in a lone spotlight, you couldn't help but feel ...

Luther Vandross: Labours Of Love Made Easy

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 April 1985

LUTHER VANDROSS used to sing jingles for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Now he licks his voice round painful love lyrics. PAOLO HEWITT hears his confessions about ...

Luther Vandross: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 26 February 1983

LUTHER KING! ...

Was (Not Was): Was (Not Was) (ZE/Island ILPS 7015)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 27 June 1981

Was is not the Was that was ...

The Weather Girls: Fat Is Where It's At

Profile and Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 24 March 1984

TWO TONS of fun, indeed! ...

Wham!: Make It Big (Epic)

Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 10 November 1984

LET'S START with Barry White. Now there was a man that I loathed. At the height of his success, I used to watch his videos ...

Wham! Teen Dreams Come True

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 18 June 1983

A sense of humour? Clubs, parties and late nights? Five months to write 'Bad Boys'? What is with these WHAM! guys? PAOLO HEWITT steps into ...

Bobby Womack: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

YEARS AGO when Bobby Womack bought his raw but stylised music to this same venue it was more a case of disintegration than any cause ...

Bobby Womack: The Great Provider

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 28 September 1985

"They call me a living legend/But I'm just a soldier who's been left behind/And now my heart can't take it/My feet won't make it/I'm the ...

Stevie Wonder: Breaking The Square Circle

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 22 April 1989

Perhaps the most innovative musician of the '70s, STEVIE WONDER has enjoyed mixed fortunes in the '80s, dividing his time between duets with Dionne Warwick ...

Working Week: Hot News for Cool Cats!

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, August 1984

As a new jazz scene begins to blow hot, SIMON BOOTH and LARRY STABBINS get hip with PAOLO HEWITT, rappin' about their new musical adventure ...

List of genre pieces

Acid Crackdown: Get Right Off One Chummy

Report by Paolo Hewitt, Sean O'Hagan, Steven Wells, New Musical Express, 19 November 1988

With the hysteria now reaching fever pitch and questions being asked in the (non-Acid) House, NME calls a time out to assess the damage in the tab-mad ...

Nelson George: Soul Destroyer

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 14 January 1989

As a columnist for Billboard and The Village Voice, Nelson George has been America's most incisive commentator on the changing face of black music culture. ...

Motown: I Hear A Symphony

Overview by Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker, 3 April 1982

TIMELESS music...a rare and precious thing...hard to find ...even harder to create: that's Motown music when it was in its heyday. It was a music ...

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