Sisyphos LIVE DJ Mix (Easter Sunday)

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Western Ravers Locked Up in China

Suspects may be detained for weeks or months before charges are laid or given a travel ban preventing them from leaving China. Courts don’t generally grant foreigners bail......” Continue reading

Simon Napier Bell: the Dodgy Business of Popular Music: The Birth of Black (Pop) Music

In New York, Harlem had become the capital of black America. It attracted black intellectuals and artists from across the country. “The world’s most glamorous atmosphere,” said young Duke Ellington when he first visited...... Continue reading

Simon Napier Bell: the Dodgy Business of Popular Music: The Beginning of Records . . .

Thomas Edison was born in Ohio in 1847. At age fifteen he began to study telegraphy, four years later he got a job with Western Union where he invented a device to electrocute the cockroaches in the office...... Continue reading

Simon Napier Bell: the Dodgy Business of Popular Music: the Beginning . . .

Nobody wanted to hear songs they didn’t know so new songs had to be force-fed to the public. The best way was to persuade top ballad singers to feature them in their concerts. To persuade them they were bribed – from the very beginning, that was the nature of the music business. No song was played till someone was paid....." Continue reading

Simon Napier-Bell on Reaching His 100% Crowd-funding- I Wouldn’t Recommend It.

"I don't think I'd go through it again. And I don't think I'd recommend crowd-funding whole-heartedly to new artists. It can be tough and confidence sapping......." Continue reading

Simon Napier-Bell: Don’t You Know Who I Am?

In 1982, when Japan played their last gig - six consecutive nights at Hammersmith Odeon - David Bowie turned up at my invitation. At the car park entrance he opened the back window of his limo and told the security guard, “I’m David Bowie......" Continue reading

Simon Napier-Bell On Tour With Mark Bolan (T-Rex)

    Simon Napier-Bell: “In the 70s I happened to be in Tokyo when Marc Bolan was there on tour. I was no longer managing him but he suggested I come along with the band to Osaka to see his show there. We went on the midnight bullet train and the band members boarded the [...] Continue reading

Simon Napier-Bell: Gay Culture’s Musical Roots

"From the beginning, the backstage area of pop was a haven for gays - TV producers, set designers, clothes designers, stylists and especially managers. Mostly the artists themselves were not gay, which gave their introduction to gay culture all the more impact....." Continue reading

Simon Napier-Bell: George Michael & Recording Careless Whisper

The saxophonist from LA appeared to be playing the part perfectly, but each time George told him, 'No, it's still not right, you see….' and he would lower his head to the talkback microphone and patiently hum the part to him yet again. 'It has to twitch upwards a little just there! See ...? And not too much....' Continue reading

Simon Napier-Bell- Eartha Kitt, Wham & the 2 Faces Of Fame

. The pop business isn’t like the movie business – fans fall for artists who are meant to be the real thing, not false faces. For pop stars, the stage begins each day on the public side of their front door. That’s where the paparazzi will be waiting. And you’d better not be hiding too much of your real self......" Continue reading

Berlin Soul – Psalm 23 Show

Berlin Soul Syndication enquiries


If you are a radio station interested in broadcasting our weekly radio Show Berlin Soul please contact:
Jonty Skrufff @ jonty@skrufff.com

Jonty Skrufff tour dates