Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell began her career in pop writing on Jackie magazine in Dundee in 1967, when the big names were the Herd, Amen Corner, and of course, the Beatles and the Stones. After a brief detour round a couple of local papers, she went to work for Disc & Music Echo in Fleet Street in 1970, arriving there – entirely coincidentally – just as the Beatles broke up and Jimi Hendrix died. She interviewed Cliff Richard on his 30th birthday, asking him how it felt to be old, and dropped her notebook on the floor so she could bend down and look up Grace Slick's nose to see if it was true she had a metal plate to replace her septum.
When Disc merged with Record Mirror in 1975, Russell went with it, continuing a long tradition of interviewing people who died shortly afterwards (Paul Kossoff in 1976, Marc Bolan in 1977, Keith Moon and Sandy Denny in 1978, Judee Sill and Sid Vicious in 1979 and Tim Hardin in 1980). It was that kind of a job. Fortunately, other rock stars were more robust and long lasting. Including Debbie Harry of Blondie who turned up in the Covent Garden offices threatening to sort out Russell, following a bad review.
Leaving in the mid-1980s to go freelance, Russell worked for the London Evening Standard, TV Times and others too long gone to remember, before joining the Standard on staff in 1986. She left to go freelance again in 1989, later working for The Independent, The Sunday Times and The Telegraph. She is married to Kym Bradshaw, former bass player with the Saints.
81 articles
List of articles in the library
Loudon Wainwright III: He's shy, he's unfit for army service and his name is L Wainwright III
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc and Music Echo, 15 May 1971
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT is the archetype all-American boy. He looks like Trampas from The Virginian complete with fair fair and freckles. He even played baseball when ...
John Martyn: Say John Martyn… Louder
Profile and Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc and Music Echo, 11 December 1971
JOHN MARTYN's family are very proud of him. And to show that they are, they travel great distances to see him when he does big ...
America: Are America too good to be true?
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 1 April 1972
AMERICA ARE young, average age 19. They have only a few months of strong, regular professional experience behind them in Britain, plus one hit single ...
Judee Sill: A Sill-y Story: Judee Sill
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 8 April 1972
JUDEE SILL is quite a remarkable woman. When you consider her past it becomes apparent just how remarkable. She lost both her parents and her ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 6 May 1972
DAVID BOWIE is at last letting the Great British Public catch up with him. With grasshopper alacrity, he has kept ahead of us for years ...
Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson: Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge: Kris and the Delta lady
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 13 May 1972
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON and the Delta Lady — Rita Coolidge — arrived in London last week to a hero's welcome. Could it be that people are ...
Iggy Pop, The Stooges: Iggy & The Stooges: Kingsound (King's Cross Cinema), London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 22 July 1972
IGGY AND the Stooges made their first performance in over a year on Saturday night, Sunday morning. Despite the event happening in the dead of ...
Ringo Starr, T. Rex: T. Rex: Marc
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 5 August 1972
MARC BOLAN'S first film, titled Born To Boogie, is due for release on the cinema circuit in September. It would appear that it's a logical ...
Argent, Colin Blunstone, The Zombies: Plague of the Zombies
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Andrew Tyler, Disc, 14 October 1972
Were the Zombies one of the great neglected bands of the '60s? They had their hits, broke up and then created the sort of interest ...
Sandy Denny: Lady Mitchell College, Cambridge
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 14 October 1972
THERE APPEARS to be an army of green men all over Cambridgeshire. I thought it odd, at first, that every pub in the county should ...
Lindisfarne: The Boogie Merchants
Profile by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 4 November 1972
ROSALIND RUSSELL traces the history of the band, through their schooldays, previous groups in which they played, and their emergence first as Newcastle's top outfit ...
Deep Purple: Made In Japan (Purple TPSP 351 £3.25)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 16 December 1972
Deep in the heart of Japan ...
Grateful Dead: Europe 72 (Warner Brothers K 66019, £4.99) **
Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 23 December 1972
Dead boring ...
Colin Blunstone: Hard Work But Still No Miracles
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 10 February 1973
SLIMMING IS a soul-destroying business. While I'm drinking a mug of sugarless tea, Colin Blunstone is sitting opposite me, blithely assuring me that he is ...
Fairport Convention: Town Hall, Watford
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 10 February 1973
Fairport Below Par ...
Profile and Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 7 April 1973
RANDY CALIFORNIA isn't the state of the nation — it's the name of Spirit's lead guitarist. He's one of the two original members left from ...
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 7 April 1973
SPIRIT'S TOUR here has not been over-publicised, so it's all to their credit that they're managing to pull large crowds and have had no less ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 14 April 1973
IT'S FUNNY how you get preconceived ideas about places and people, and things usually turn out to be completely different to the picture you'd imagined. ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 5 May 1973
MRS CONNOLLY, where are you? Wherever you are, your son Brian is doing all right thank you. He has just bought a new car and ...
T. Rex: Exile of a Street Punk
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 16 June 1973
MARC BOLAN talks to Rosalind Russell as he prepares to get back into the swing of things. ...
Golden Earring: Earring is believing
Profile and Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 2 February 1974
IN RATHER general terms. I'd say that Southern Comfort has made as much impact on bands as Eric Clapton has in recent years — for ...
Slade: Hill Junior marches in, heats his hands at the fire and turns to warm his bum
Report and Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 16 February 1974
Was this Dave Hill's reaction to DISC'S awards? ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 23 February 1974
MAGGIE BELL, Queen of the Night, is emerging from the dark. She's been off the stage now for over a year, commuting back and forth ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 2 March 1974
Silly words from Terry Jones to Rosalind Russell ...
Maggie Bell: Queen Of The Night (Polydor 2383 239 Super £2.15)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 2 March 1974
WHAT CAN you say about an album that says it all by itself? Maggie made this album three times and took a year over it, ...
Marc Bolan & T. Rex: Zinc Alloy And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow (EMI BLNA 7751) ****
Review by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 2 March 1974
Bolan: more depth in style ...
The Bay City Rollers: Split! Nobby and the Bay City Boys Roll Their Separate Ways
Report and Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 16 March 1974
Rosalind Russell delves for the truth behind the departure of Nobby Clark from the Bay City Rollers ...
The Faces, Ronnie Wood: Ronnie Wood: Is This The Face Of Violence?
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 23 November 1974
Ros Russell finds Woody on the warpath ...
Suzi Quatro: Poker Queen of Hearts
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Disc, 23 November 1974
Rosalind Russell busts in on Suzi Quatro and discovers the games she likes to play ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 17 January 1976
IT'S NOT often you come across a small group of girls lying on their stomachs on a pavement on a cold, damp day. But if ...
Captain and Tennille: Togetherness Tennille-style
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 31 January 1976
CAPTAIN AND Tennille have the kind of wholesomeness that we once thought the Osmonds had sole proprietary rights to. They are both non-smokers, both vegetarians ...
Mud: Reading University, Reading
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 21 February 1976
MUD'S PERFORMANCE at Reading University on Thursday evening completely demolished all preconceived ideas I had about university audiences. Where was the laid back reaction we'd ...
The Three Degrees: Three Degrees: Palladium, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 17 April 1976
THREE DEGREES UNDER ...
Steely Dan: The Royal Scam (Anchor ABCL5161)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 29 May 1976
STEELY DAN have made it in the way Poco should have done. After all, their music is similar. 'Don't Take Me Alive' is one of ...
The Runaways: The Runaways (Mercury SRM 1 1090)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 25 September 1976
THIS ALL girl American group are the female version of the Ramones. They have one more redeeming feature — they're more tuneful. They're rebels, they ...
Jackson Browne: The Pretender (Asylum K53048)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 13 November 1976
IF YOU'RE into anything a little deeper than pop get this album. ...
The Eagles: Hotel California (Asylum K53051)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 11 December 1976
EAGLES' FAWLTLESS TOWERS! ...
Dolly Parton: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 4 June 1977
BIG BLONDE, GETS BIGGER ...
The Saints: Saints or sinners?
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 25 June 1977
THINK OF Australia. Think of Bondai Beach. Think of Fosters lager. Think of big butch lifeguards sunbathing on their surf boards. Ned Kelly. Botany Bay, ...
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 20 August 1977
Richman: hearing is believing ...
The Only Ones: The Speakeasy, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 3 September 1977
IF THE graffiti in the ladles' toilet of the Speakeasy is anything to go by the Only Ones are already the subject of attention. But ...
Thin Lizzy: Bad Reputation (Vertigo 9102 016)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 3 September 1977
ONE SIDED VIEW ...
Review by Tim Lott, Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 17 September 1977
He says there are... ...
Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Dr Hook bare their souls
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 24 September 1977
And Rosalind Russell closes her eyes ...
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 24 September 1977
RICHMAN MORE MAN ...
Marc Bolan, T. Rex, Tyrannosaurus Rex: Marc Bolan: Glam Rock Is Dead
Obituary by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 24 September 1977
Even people who didn't care for his records acknowledged his charisma ...
999, The Adverts, Motorhead: Is Gaye Well Equipped? Will These Boys Show You Their Equipment?
Report and Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 1 October 1977
How easy is it to start your own band? How much does it cost? Rosalind Russell looks at 999's equipment and goes round the shops ...
The Saints: Music Machine, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 15 October 1977
THE SAINTS opened their new British tour at the Camden Music Machine — that was their first and I hope only mistake. It's fine booking ...
Rod Stewart: Would you pay 1,000 dollars for Rod Stewart's heart?
Report and Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 29 October 1977
Rosalind Russell finds out the hard way ...
Barry White: On The White Line To Barry
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 19 November 1977
Barry cools down a heavy breathing Rosalind Russell, a bit more than arms length away ...
Allman And Woman: Two The Hard Way (Warner Bros.)*
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 26 November 1977
HARD ON THE HEARING ...
Gary Glitter: Silver Star (Arista SPAR-TY 1020)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 26 November 1977
Gary's growing ...
Gloria Jones, Marc Bolan: Marc Bolan: My Life Alone by Gloria Jones
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 26 November 1977
WHAT WERE you doing on the morning of September 16 this year? Were you, like me, numb with the shock of hearing that Marc Bolan ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 3 December 1977
...Are The Damned splitting up? Why is Captain Sensible embarrassed? What's the name of Rat's new band? All this and more is revealed by ROSALIND RUSSELL ...
Frankie Miller: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 10 December 1977
Frankie blows it ...
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 10 December 1977
Gen Xcellent ...
Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious: Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen: Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 8 April 1978
When SID VICIOUS was at the height of fame with the Sex Pistols, be was supporting an £80 a day heroin habit. His fix cost ...
Wilko Johnson: Thames Polytechnic, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 22 April 1978
Lookin' for a climax ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 27 May 1978
Blond hair, blue eyes and a tan send Rosalind Russell swooning homeward after talking to David Soul before the premier of his new film ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 21 October 1978
Ros Russell spends a night in Germany posing with David Lee Roth, Van Halen's front man ...
Rod Stewart: Blondes Have More Fun (Rlva RVLP8)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 25 November 1978
MORE LIVE THAN DYED ...
Charles Mingus, Joni Mitchell: Joni Mitchell: Mingus
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 30 June 1979
IF YOU WERE to point an accusing finger at me and say I'd no qualifications to review a jazz album, I'd agree with you in ...
Yellow Magic Orchestra: Yellow Magic Orchestra (A&M)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 30 June 1979
THE ONLY REAL SURPRISE about Yellow Magic's emergence into Western pop music is that they took such a long time coming. ...
Ellen Foley, Hunter-Ronson: Who the hell is Ellen Foley?
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 29 September 1979
Don't ask, just listen. Go into your friendly, neighbourhood record store and make them play her album. You won't ask any more, you'll buy it. ...
Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Marseille, Squeeze, Whitesnake: Are You A Whore For Rock 'N' Roll?
Report by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 20 December 1979
ROSALIND RUSSELL thinks most of you are ...
Japan: Ryerson Theatre, Toronto
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 5 January 1980
WEST OF JAPAN ...
Blondie: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 19 January 1980
YOU'LL HAVE realised by now, if you're a regular reader of RM, that the reporters rarely agree on anything. And I certainly don't agree with ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 2 February 1980
Now we can get back to those sexist headlines. Debbie Harry knows you need that to front a band, but don't forget the music and ...
Dan Hartman: Relight My Fire (Blue Sky) *
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 16 February 1980
DAN HARTMAN has obviously learned all he knows from listening to TV theme music. Shame he didn't pay more attention to the master — Aaron ...
Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie And The Bitter Pill
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 23 February 1980
Siouxsie isn't just concerned about being a rock musician, she has strong feelings on other matters as well. Interview by ROSALIND RUSSELL ...
The Tourists: It's Good To Be Back
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 23 February 1980
Not that the Tourists have been away. Rosalind Russell talks to Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart about why they don't want to be just a ...
Ellen Foley: The Venue, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 1 March 1980
APART FROM a brief appearance on Ian Hunter's London concert, this was Ellen Foley's debut In the UK. And judging by the reaction, she could ...
Marvin Gaye: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 21 June 1980
MARVIN GAYE'S show on Sunday was pure class. A bit schmaltzy in places, but still classy. When he arrived onstage in a conservative dark jacket, ...
The Rolling Stones: Emotional Rescue (Rolling Stones Records CUN 3911)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 28 June 1980
LAUNCH THE LIFEBOATS ...
The Mo-dettes: Moonlighting Mo-dettes
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 19 July 1980
IT MUST be some consolation to Mick Jagger, that when he's old and grey and his hips have seized up, he'll never be short of ...
Siouxsie & the Banshees: Kaleidoscope (Polydor 2442 177)
Review by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 26 July 1980
Siouxsie at the sharp end ...
Siouxsie & the Banshees: In From The Cold
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 2 August 1980
ROSALIND RUSSELL INTERVIEWS; SIOUXSIE AND STEVE SEVERIN WARM UP ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 16 August 1980
BLONDIE will head for the hills if there's a nuclear attack. ROSALIND RUSSELL will whitewash the windows and wrap her head in a towel. What ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 23 August 1980
DEREK GREEN tells ROSALIND RUSSELL the writing's on the wall for the record industry ...
Tape It or Levy It: Home Taping Survey Results
Report by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 30 August 1980
Who's to blame for the slump in the record industry? ROSALIND RUSSELL gets the answers ...
Interview by Rosalind Russell, Record Mirror, 24 January 1981
The queues of A&R men are stretching round the block to sign Jane Kennaway on a long term deal. Her single, 'IOU' has pricked their ...
back to LIBRARY
