Rock fans of a certain age are jubilant today following the announcement that Melody Maker, the weekly music paper regarded as the ‘Bible’ during the 1970s, will begin a new life as a monthly music magazine this summer. It will be staffed by some of the writers from the decade that began with Paul McCartney telling the other Beatles he didn’t need any help from his friends any more and ended with a Who tribute band topping the MM singles charts with a song about firearms at the UK’s poshest public school.
Financing for the relaunched paper is believed to have come from a consortium of anonymous wealthy rock stars whose careers gained momentum by support from Melody Maker between 1970 and 1975. “I’m hoping to get on the front page again,” said one from his moated mansion in Surrey. “When our drummer is released from prison the band might even reform to play the Marquee, which we’ll reopen for the occasion.”
Another was hoping that his investment will result in more favourable LP reviews than was the case in his heyday. “I don’t want MM giving me another slagging,” he said. “If they do there’ll be more unpleasant surprises in the mail like the putrefying offal we sent them in 1971.”
Chris Welch, who spent a decade and half toiling for MM, will resume his role as Features Editor and contribute his weekly gossip column under his pseudonym ‘The Raver’. “I’ve stayed in touch with Jiving K. Boots and he’s agreed to do an interview with me,” says Chris. “He’s been very busy tending his allotment but many of his fans are hoping the Boots band will record again and maybe even make a live appearance at a pub in Catford, supported by Yes.”
Mrs Welch, the former Marilyne Rangecroft who for many years was secretary to late MM editor Ray Coleman, is unwilling to join the team. “This is an opportunity for me to finally clean my husband’s study as he’ll be out of the house for once,” she says. “There’s 10,000 prog rock LPs on shelves in there that haven’t been dusted for years.”
Chris Charlesworth, MM’s News Editor from 1970-73, will resume that role early in May when the new look MM will hit the streets. “Unfortunately, the funding isn’t there for me to become the paper’s US correspondent again which is very disappointing,” he says. “But as News Editor I’ll redouble my efforts to reform The Beatles by writing speculative stories that suggest they might, and I’ll call Harvey Goldsmith again so he can tell me he’s offered Colonel Tom Parker half a million quid for Elvis to finally perform concerts in Britain.”
Former Assistant Editor Michael Watts, customarily tight-lipped about his activities, has declined to comment but a close friend believes he’s still displeased that David Bowie wasn’t entirely truthful to him during their 1972 interview when Bowie came out as gay. “Michael is weighing up his options,” says a close friend. “He’s hoping a séance can be arranged to finally nail David on that issue.”
Favourite for the position of MM’s Editor is acclaimed music journalist Richard Williams who edited the paper at the close of the decade but, like Watts, he is reticent about his plans. “He might take on the role if he can write a column on motor sport,” says a former colleague. “Fast cars, fast jazz and fast women are still his forte.”
It is believed that Geoff Brown will become Melody Maker’s new Production Editor, a role he served on Mojo magazine for many years until his recent retirement. “I like producing,” says Geoff, father of 11.
Melody Maker’s top photographer Barrie Wentzell, now living in Toronto, is unlikely to become involved but says he will make his photo archive available to the new look MM, “at a very competitive rate”.
