Les Back
@academicdiary.bsky.social
I teach sociology at the University of Glasgow and my interests are learning, teaching, books, ideas, culture and music.
Remembering dear friend Caspar Melville today who died last year. Caspar and I would take Goldsmiths students on an annual pop music history walks around Soho, London. Sorely missed RIP. A beautiful spirit.
February 9, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Remembering dear friend Caspar Melville today who died last year. Caspar and I would take Goldsmiths students on an annual pop music history walks around Soho, London. Sorely missed RIP. A beautiful spirit.
Just finished writing a feature on Laurie Taylor @ 90 for a Sociological Review Magazine… what a life Laurie has led. Should be out in May. He is recording a new season of Thinking Allowed at the moment for BBC Radio 4. 28 years of putting socioligy on the airwaves. 👏👏👏
January 28, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Just finished writing a feature on Laurie Taylor @ 90 for a Sociological Review Magazine… what a life Laurie has led. Should be out in May. He is recording a new season of Thinking Allowed at the moment for BBC Radio 4. 28 years of putting socioligy on the airwaves. 👏👏👏
Michael is the best guide to London’s secrets. More than 50 bodies wash up on Thames beaches every year the river police and the landlocked Met fight over those corpses and the enquiries that inequitably follow in order to justify their existence. Am returning with other souvenirs and sights
January 16, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Michael is the best guide to London’s secrets. More than 50 bodies wash up on Thames beaches every year the river police and the landlocked Met fight over those corpses and the enquiries that inequitably follow in order to justify their existence. Am returning with other souvenirs and sights
On Stepney Beach with dear friend and sparring partner Michael Keith. So good to see Michael, sharing stories by the Thames in the sunshine.
January 16, 2026 at 3:35 PM
On Stepney Beach with dear friend and sparring partner Michael Keith. So good to see Michael, sharing stories by the Thames in the sunshine.
Hoping to get the words out for Linton tonight… wonderful to be reminded of the depth of his contribution.
January 14, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Hoping to get the words out for Linton tonight… wonderful to be reminded of the depth of his contribution.
A small pilgrimage and a prayer for the victims of the New Cross massacre on my way to the event for LKJ tonight. Not forgotten.
January 14, 2026 at 3:27 PM
A small pilgrimage and a prayer for the victims of the New Cross massacre on my way to the event for LKJ tonight. Not forgotten.
It was my birthday last week… this wonderful record was the best of gifts marking BB King’s centenary. Derek Trucks says in the liner notes that BB was a ‘real life Santa Claus’.
December 20, 2025 at 10:11 AM
It was my birthday last week… this wonderful record was the best of gifts marking BB King’s centenary. Derek Trucks says in the liner notes that BB was a ‘real life Santa Claus’.
Here’s the details off Ben Carrington’s talk next week. Ben gave our Frisby Lecture at the University of Glasgow a couple of years ago. His award is really well deserved.
December 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Here’s the details off Ben Carrington’s talk next week. Ben gave our Frisby Lecture at the University of Glasgow a couple of years ago. His award is really well deserved.
Sad to hear of Steve Cropper’s passing today. He made such a contribution to the music of the civil rights era. I interviewed him for this piece in 1999. Rest in soul…
December 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Sad to hear of Steve Cropper’s passing today. He made such a contribution to the music of the civil rights era. I interviewed him for this piece in 1999. Rest in soul…
Beautiful night in South London looking north x
November 8, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Beautiful night in South London looking north x
In the Taybridge Bar, Dundee watching the old firm game and making a little musical pilgrimage for the late great Michael Marra… 💔
November 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
In the Taybridge Bar, Dundee watching the old firm game and making a little musical pilgrimage for the late great Michael Marra… 💔
With dear friend Professor Lez Henry (aka Lesley Lyrics) at the farewell for Dj and world builder June Reid.
October 24, 2025 at 5:32 AM
With dear friend Professor Lez Henry (aka Lesley Lyrics) at the farewell for Dj and world builder June Reid.
Saying goodbye today to Queen June Reid who wore the ‘crown of righteousness’. June chose a poem by David Harkins to be read as a farewell -“smile, open your eyes (and ears), love and go on.” A beautiful generous soul gone but not forgotten.
October 24, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Saying goodbye today to Queen June Reid who wore the ‘crown of righteousness’. June chose a poem by David Harkins to be read as a farewell -“smile, open your eyes (and ears), love and go on.” A beautiful generous soul gone but not forgotten.
A important new talk from Gargi Bhattacharyya
October 21, 2025 at 9:54 AM
A important new talk from Gargi Bhattacharyya
@kirsteen-paton.bsky.social amazing tips as always, Kirsteen.
October 14, 2025 at 10:54 AM
@kirsteen-paton.bsky.social amazing tips as always, Kirsteen.
I never really thought I had the literary chops for writing fiction, but @awtsn.bsky.social persuaded me to do this for her SO-Fi magazine for the Glasgow special.
October 1, 2025 at 1:13 PM
I never really thought I had the literary chops for writing fiction, but @awtsn.bsky.social persuaded me to do this for her SO-Fi magazine for the Glasgow special.
With my dear friend Michael Keith this week in Wapping. When we worked together at Goldsmiths I always thought we were like the academic Odd Couple! He was Jack Lemon though, the good looking one. Still the sharpest of minds. He almost smiles too 😘
September 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
With my dear friend Michael Keith this week in Wapping. When we worked together at Goldsmiths I always thought we were like the academic Odd Couple! He was Jack Lemon though, the good looking one. Still the sharpest of minds. He almost smiles too 😘
No secrets from you, Brenda. Kirkdale Bookshop in Sydenham. They have a lovely preloved section too. I picked up an ancient copy of Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler for my brother’s 70th birthday. Couple of old cockney geezers!
September 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
No secrets from you, Brenda. Kirkdale Bookshop in Sydenham. They have a lovely preloved section too. I picked up an ancient copy of Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler for my brother’s 70th birthday. Couple of old cockney geezers!
Found this in my favourite independent book shop in South London congratulations, Alice. 👏👏👏 @uofgsociology.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Found this in my favourite independent book shop in South London congratulations, Alice. 👏👏👏 @uofgsociology.bsky.social
So pleased to speak at this celebration of Michael Bull’s work in Lewes this week. Suitably it was in a local jazz venue with Bird and Monk blasting out. Michael mention a teacher had described him as an “academic dabbler” the highest possible form of praise in my mind.
September 26, 2025 at 9:17 AM
So pleased to speak at this celebration of Michael Bull’s work in Lewes this week. Suitably it was in a local jazz venue with Bird and Monk blasting out. Michael mention a teacher had described him as an “academic dabbler” the highest possible form of praise in my mind.
The heart of New Cross, South London - Rose’s kitchen. The food always looks like Caribbean Crown Jewels. Bumped into old friends but sadly Rose wasn’t there.
September 23, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The heart of New Cross, South London - Rose’s kitchen. The food always looks like Caribbean Crown Jewels. Bumped into old friends but sadly Rose wasn’t there.
Congratulations Dr Phavine Phung who was awarded her PhD today on quilting migration stories. Her exhibition is on in the Kingsway Corridor, Goldsmiths, New Cross, London
September 22, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Congratulations Dr Phavine Phung who was awarded her PhD today on quilting migration stories. Her exhibition is on in the Kingsway Corridor, Goldsmiths, New Cross, London
Back in New Cross, south London today to examine a PhD at Goldsmith passing Cummin Up take away this morning and the smoke of Jerk on the BBQ… the scent of home. ❤️
September 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Back in New Cross, south London today to examine a PhD at Goldsmith passing Cummin Up take away this morning and the smoke of Jerk on the BBQ… the scent of home. ❤️
Saw this at the Citizens Theatre tonight in Glasgow. A show about the Lockerbie bombing on 21st December, 1988, and the acts of love practiced by the local community to hold the belongings of the victims dear. Makes me very proud to be living in Scotland. Dealing with loss is what makes us human.
September 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Saw this at the Citizens Theatre tonight in Glasgow. A show about the Lockerbie bombing on 21st December, 1988, and the acts of love practiced by the local community to hold the belongings of the victims dear. Makes me very proud to be living in Scotland. Dealing with loss is what makes us human.
Love this Jackie Kay Plaza at Uni of Strathclyde - getting it right. Thinking spaces that include thinkers
September 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Love this Jackie Kay Plaza at Uni of Strathclyde - getting it right. Thinking spaces that include thinkers