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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 12h

Doing Stoppards is what keeps the Hampstead going since they lost their ACE grant. Enjoyed Rock'n'Roll on my last visit.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 12h

My first gig was the Meddle tour , where Pink Floyd opened with all of Eclipse. An inveterate music nerd, obviously I would say that, while DSOTM is good, you need to hear the earlier, more spacey version.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 13h

Used my first bonus for Musical Youth (main to the superb Joan Armatrading) but had to double up on The Crown. A masterpiece.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 13h

Bloody hell but House of Dynamite is tremendous. In 1981, I used to show Dr Strangelove or Failsafe to public meetings for CND. Today, I’d show this 2 demonstrate how easily nuclear war could happen. On Netflix soon but really worth seeing on big screen. Props to Kathryn Bigelow for getting it made.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 16h

Tempting to say Be Here Now or later albums by subsequently cancelled artist (Morrissey, Arcade Fire or Ryan Adams are all in the can no longer listen to category) but honest answer is the only album I've ever returned (to Nottingham Selectadisc) because 'it's awful'. Neil Young's Landing on Water.

The dreadful cover of Neil Young's Landing on Water, which remains a huge, stinking turd of an LP, which I bought on release day and returned the following day. A Neil Young completist, I still don't own a copy.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 2d

Salt Books is an excellent publisher who put out exciting books that most multi-nationals wouldn't go near. Think I've bought more @saltpublishing.com titles than any other Indie (bar the ones that publish me, anyway) Why not help them grow? gofund.me/f8293c76d

Donate to Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026, organized by Christopher Hamilton-Emery

Help Salt Publish Brilliant New Books in 2026 For twenty-… Christopher Hamilton-Emery needs your support for Keep Independent Publishing Alive – Support Salt Books 2026

gofund.me

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 2d

No, that was The Times.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 2d

Spectator. Just got home so checked. It's on p158 of LAFE.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 2d

Indeed he read him. I bought David’s copy of Albert Angelo from his son not long before he died. A review first ed, though dunno where he reviewed it.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 3d

Jumble queen is BSJ's best album but doesn't get the love because it's not on Dandelion (and the new label made her add a pointless Elton John cover, which spoils it slightly).

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 3d

Until quite recently I'd often see him in Sheffield, at The Crucible to watch a play. A long, rich life. RIP.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 4d

I lasted 5 minutes or so - for all the reasons mentioned. Last night though I watched History is Made at Night, which I have a feeling you recommended. If so, many thanks. Wonderful genre busting classic.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 5d

Recently sponsored the Not Anymore You're Not prize for the over 65s..

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 5d

In which a 13 year old predicts the demise of Elvis while his 48 year older self writes 'Show Some Emotion was as important to me as Spiral Scratch and do you know what, it still is.' Me too, Marcello, me too.

DJ Punctum @djpunctum.bsky.social · 6d

Young Punctum blog update, and we get into 1977. The first month of it, anyway:
funthirty.blogspot.com/2025/09/janu...

JANUARY 1977

I didn’t go into 1977 thinking this was going to be an auspicious year or for that matter anybody’s “year.” How could I have done? I was...

funthirty.blogspot.com

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Reposted by David Belbin

David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 7d

Last Orders. A poem by my dear friend, John Lucas, published in 2000. John was a fine poet, professor, critic, novelist, cornet player and publisher. He died a few days ago, at 88. It's his poetry he'd most want us to remember him by, and we still have that. But oh how much I'll miss his friendship.

Poem about an old man's last visit to his local pub by John Lucas, from the collection 'On The Track' (2000).

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 7d

Last Orders. A poem by my dear friend, John Lucas, published in 2000. John was a fine poet, professor, critic, novelist, cornet player and publisher. He died a few days ago, at 88. It's his poetry he'd most want us to remember him by, and we still have that. But oh how much I'll miss his friendship.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 7d

I get through a stand alone burner every year or two, as Macs no longer have them and, anyway, built in ones are usually poor quality. Spend at least £20 and you should get something decent.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 7d

Just finished this terrific two parter, and today learn that Chris Dreja, the original Yardbirds bassist (whose reunion version I saw perform and who very nearly joined the band that became Led Zeppelin), has died, aged 79, after a long illness. RIP.

Sexy Andrew Hickey Costume @andrewhickey.500songs.com · 10d

The new episode of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs is now up! This one looks at the formation of Led Zeppelin, and looks in detail at the inspirations behind the songs on their first album.

Song 180: “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, Part Two — “Inspiration is What You Are to Me”

For those who haven’t heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the first part of a two-episode look at the song “Dazed a…

500songs.com

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 8d

So it's not a short story so shouldn't have won but the novel is worth a read.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 8d

Nice utterly irrelevant inclusion of the Dan in a quirky, somewhat silly film but, as I reflect on it an hour after coming out, loving the mad.

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Reposted by David Belbin

David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 8d

A walking tour of the common, a bunch of speakers, an even bigger bunch of books. A month ahead of the 100th anniversary of Greene’s arrival in Nottingham, an account of the annual festival celebrating his life and work. Where I had a blast - before I was burnt out. open.substack.com/pub/davidbel...

Greeneland Goes to Berkhamsted

A bonus post before the novel begins in a month's time

open.substack.com

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 8d

A walking tour of the common, a bunch of speakers, an even bigger bunch of books. A month ahead of the 100th anniversary of Greene’s arrival in Nottingham, an account of the annual festival celebrating his life and work. Where I had a blast - before I was burnt out. open.substack.com/pub/davidbel...

Greeneland Goes to Berkhamsted

A bonus post before the novel begins in a month's time

open.substack.com

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 9d

Dry the Rain. Pleased to demonstrate that The Beta Band were in top form at their reunion show in Rock City, Nottingham, over 22 years after I last saw them.

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Reposted by David Belbin

Bertrom. @bertrom.bsky.social · 10d

Martin Lewis died in obscurity in 1962; a retired art teacher who had found some success in his early career, but was largely forgotten. He spent his last three decades teaching other people how to etch. History chose Edward Hopper, but Martin Lewis was his mentor.

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Reposted by David Belbin

David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 10d

Greeneland goes to Berkhamsted. An account of the excellent 2025 Graham Greene Birthplace Trust conference, full of terrific talks on the fiction with an entertaining @aiannucci.bsky.social interview, movies & free subscription link to my serial novel, Greeneland. www.davidbelbin.com/blog/2025/09...

Greene's grandson, Jonathan Bourget, presents the festival toast

Somewhat fuzzy photo of Ianucci being interviewed by Richard Greene (no relation) because my seat was at the back of the crowded hall.

The haul of stuff I brought back from Berkhamsted, which I'll be writing about on my next Substack post shortly. https://davidbelbin.substack.com

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