John Robb "Punk Rock Ruined My Life: And Other Stories" Book Launch & Gaye Advert Interview at Jacksons Lane Art Centre Highgate, 3rd June 2026

We attended a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the excellent Jacksons Lane Arts Centre in the company of John Robb, the acclaimed music journalist, TV presenter, author, frontman of The Membranes and Goldblade and of course, a cultural ambassador for Blackpool. John was on tour promoting his new autobiography "Punk Rock Ruined My Life: And Other Stories". It was a night of two halves - the first section featured John delivering an impressive one-man blast through his early years, clutching the mic stand as if he was fronting one of his bands. Then after the interval, John introduced special guest Gaye Black, or Gaye Advert as she was once known in her time as the iconic bassist with The Adverts, to discuss her life in Music and Art. In fact, this format runs throughout the intensive nationwide tour, with John's 'solo' talk followed by a Q&A session with various musical pals depending on the show's location, these included such luminaries as Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai, Pauline Murray from Penetration, Holly from The Lovely Eggs, Steve & Paul Hanley from The Fall and Dave Rowntree from Blur.

John discussed his early life, growing up in Blackpool and how he felt it was such an uncool place that it meant he didn't have to worry about trying to be 'cool'. He talks about discovering music from a very early age and he was particularly taken by "Yellow Submarine" although he preferred the Pinky & Perky version rather than the Beatles original and admits he thought The Wombles were cool. He fell in love with Glam Rock, especially David Bowie and as an avid reader of the music press he found out about Punk Rock. In a bid to look Punk, John started buying clothes in local Oxfam shops, borrowing his Dad's string vest and piercing his ears using a compass and piece of cork. He nails what it was like growing up in the 70's, throwing in some nostalgic comments on those radioactive orange three-bar electric heaters and the state of English cuisine, where the only use of olive oil was when your Mum soaked a piece of cotton wool in it to stick in your ear when you had earache. It's these hilarious vignettes that have many of us laughing and sighing in recognition. 

 

Those shared generational experiences don't happen so much in modern life, and an example of this was Top of The Pops, where the whole nation was glued to the TV on a Thursday evening. John talks about forming The Membranes - taking the Punk motto of you don't need to be able to play music to form a band to a new level. He explains how The Membranes became cool in America and how Dinosaur Jr filmed the video to "Freak Scene" in his garden. Unfortunately, one hour just wasn't enough so we only get to the part where he takes his first steps into music journalism contributing to magazines such as Sounds and Zig Zag. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the book to continue on the journey and hopefully I'll find out if Punk Rock did ruin John's life or indeed, save it.

Please check out John Robb's web-site here for details on the remaining Tour dates and updates on all his many and varied projects. You can order "Punk Rock Ruined My Life" here. 

Gaye Black will be curating an Art Exhibition and appearing at the "50 Years of Punk" event at the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket which runs from 9th-14th June. For more information on her Art please check out her web-site here. You can also still download or stream our special Retrosonic Podcast with Gaye, where she discusses her life in music and art and plays some of her favourite records for us.

Retrosonic Podcast · Gaye (Advert) Black, Artist & Former Bassist with The Adverts

The Membranes at the 12 Bar Club with Exclusive Paul Slattery Photographs

The Membranes at The 12 Bar - Photo copyright Paul Slattery

The Membranes, Faerground Accidents & The November Five at the 12 Bar Club, Denmark Street, Saturday 20th December 2014 - Review by Sonic Yoof with photos by Paul Slattery.

So, a second visit in two days to the condemned 12 Bar Club, the legendary venue that has fallen victim to  the Crossrail project and associated works that threaten to tear out the heart of Tin Pan Alley and all the history that goes with it. Last night saw a sold out crowd with the first of these two nights and a bill of Sarah Pink, Anabollic Steroids, Eastfields, TV Smith with Leigh Heggerty and a late set by Viva Las Vegas, it was an excellent night.

The Membranes at The 12 Bar - Photo copyright Paul Slattery

Tonight sees John Robb's Membranes as headliners with support from Faerground Accidents and the November Five. The Faerground Accidents from Sheffield are rather brilliant and very influenced by the city's own Pulp in places and also some resemblance to Suede in parts. With a pumping organ/keyboard sound and Singer Bomar Faery wearing a nice line in Laura Ashley and lipstick a la Robert Smith, it was a really great set and a band I will definitely be  seeing  again live.
 

The Membranes at The 12 Bar - Photo copyright Paul Slattery

The November Five were next and played some awe inspiring Detroit sounding Rock and Roll. Both sides of the latest vinyl single were played, "Closure" and "Flame", and the last track "Breathe" was superb. All in all, a very entertaining band.

The Membranes at The 12 Bar - Photo copyright Paul Slattery

John Robb's Membranes then took to the stage to a packed house. The first song was the newish single "The Universe Explodes" which set the scene for a brilliant set. Grown men in Stovepipe hats moshed on the packed dancefloor as Robb and co unleashed a set of Beafheartian like songs, so very different to John's other band Goldblade, who played the night before. It was an intense performance that takes in the almighty "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" and an atonal "Myths and Legends" sending the crowd wild. The Membranes don’t play very often but when they do it is always a memorable occasion, catch them while you can.

Barnet Mark outside the 12 Bar Club - Photo copyright Paul Slattery

Many thanks to Sonic Yoof for the review and to Paul Slattery for the photos.

As well as fronting The Membranes and Goldblade, John Robb also runs the excellent (and essential) music web-site Louder Than War. He has also written one of the definitive books on the Punk movement, entitled "Punk Rock : An Oral History", which is a must for every music fan's collection.

The 12 Bar will re-open soon at a new location - Phibbers at 203 Holloway Road, London N7 8DL. Please keep an eye on the 12 Bar web-site or Facebook page for news on the official opening.

Goldblade at The 100 Club Monday December 10th

Goldblade, the rabble-rousing Punk Rock outfit led by ex-Membranes front man John Robb, play the 100 Club on Monday December 10th with support from The Fits and Vince Ray & The Boneshakers. Tickets are £10.00 and either available on the door, in person from the 12 Bar Club or in advance from We Got Tickets. Goldblade will release their new album "The Terror Of Modern Life" in 2013, so expect to hear some new songs at the gig! Don't forget to check out John Robb's excellent music web-site "Louder Than War" for up to date music news and reviews, interviews and features as well as discussion on international Punk Rock and Pop culture. This is going to be the first time for me to see Goldblade and I am really looking forward to it, so expect and review and photos as soon as we have sufficiently recovered!