Me with 1980s hair standing outside a tent, reaching in my pocket for my notebook.
Backstage at Sefton Park in August 1983, with my mate John D Hodgkinson from the Merseysound fanzine. The Icicle Works were supporting Nick Hayward in a show filmed for the BBC series Pop Carnival. Photo by Neil Hodgson.

Who am I?

In 1979 I became Liverpool correspondent (and token punk rocker) for Melody Maker. My first interview was the Cramps. My first interview with a Liverpool band was The Teardrop Explodes. It was their first interview too.

In 1988 I started working as the Liverpool Echo’s pop columnist. There was never any shortage of Liverpool bands to write about.

In 2008 I began a blog called Older than Elvis. It was about music, books, getting old, feminism and some personal stuff. And a series called Women’s History of Pop. Because somebody had to.

And now I’m here.

Disclaimer

I don’t write about new music any more, so please don’t ask because I’ll have to say no. (But if you want to pay me to write about old music, please get in touch.)

What do you get from my newsletter?

I’m going to be sharing memories, memorabilia and music, and I’m aiming to do it every Friday. Please join me, tell me what you remember – and tell me what I got wrong. I miss that.

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Thank you,

Penny

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A music journalist’s archive of post-punk Liverpool.

People

I was once the Melody Maker's Liverpool correspondent and token punk rocker. Then I was the Liverpool Echo's pop columnist. Now I'm here. Hi.