| Post | Date | Excerpt | | Roxy Music and the story of Siren | 10/24/2025 | In 1975 the classic Roxy Music run came to an end with the release of Siren, the fifth studio album. Read the full story here! |
| The Smashing Pumpkins and the 28 (!) song masterpiece Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness | 10/23/2025 | In 1995 The Smashing Pumpkins released the fabulous double album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness. Read the story here! |
| INXS starts practicing with success on Listen Like Thieves | 10/14/2025 | In 1985 INXS release their fifth album: Listen Like Thieves was the prelude to worldwide success. Read it here! |
| In 1980 Talking Heads release the classic Remain In Light | 10/08/2025 | In 1980 Talking Heads released their influential, experimental and exciting album Remain In Light. A look back at a masterpiece! |
| Oasis and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, a British fairytale or more? | 10/02/2025 | In 1995 Oasis released (What's The Story)Morning Glory?, a sensation on the British Isles. The rest of the world quickly followed. |
| Underworld – Strawberry Hotel | 10/25/2024 | The latest Underworld album harks back and looks forward. A beautiful album by the dance duo hailing from England! |
| My 10 best Genesis songs | 10/25/2024 | My personal top 10 Genesis songs. The band played a huge part in my youth, particulalry during the Peter Gabriel era. |
| The Specials, the debut and the 2 Tone ska-revival | 10/19/2024 | On October 19, 1979, The Specials released their debut album, a classic album which was the pinnacle of 2 Tone craze. A look back! |
| Madness – One Step Beyond… | 10/19/2024 | On October 19, 1979, Madness released its debut album. One Step Beyond... is a happy, exciting, melancholy ska album. A look back! |
| Lloyd Cole And The Commotions – Rattlesnakes | 10/12/2024 | Lloyd Cole And The Commotions, one of the sounds of 1984? The story of the beautiful debut album Rattlesnakes |
| Kiss and the movie that couldn’t be mentioned | 10/11/2024 | In 1978 Kiss released a shitty movie: Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park. Was the European version, released a year later, any better? |
| The Police release their greatest album in 1979: Reggatta De Blanc | 10/02/2024 | In 1979 The Police released their second, and arguably best, album, Reggatta De Blanc. Read the full story and background here! |
| Apollonia 6, still underrated? | 10/01/2024 | Some 40 years later the Apollonia 6 album is finally given its due, as my memories have undervalued it. A look back at a more than nice album! |
| Prince & The New Power Generation – Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition | 10/28/2023 | The rerelease of Diamonds And Pearls is finally here. A great box-set dedicated to one of the lesser Prince albums. |
| Istanbul, tribute to a metropolis | 10/22/2023 | Istanbul, the greatest city in the world deserves attention. A Pop Life presents a personal and musical tribute! |
| New Radicals – Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too | 10/16/2023 | Late 1998 New Radicals released its successful debut album. The single You Get What You Give pushed the band towards the top of the charts. Within a year it was all over. A look back. |
| Sufjan Stevens – Javelin | 10/06/2023 | With Javelin, Sufjan Stevens has once again made an impressive, moving and truly beautiful album. A review. |
| Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols | 10/28/2022 | Late 1977 the Sex Pistols' debut album was finally released. Yet again coupled with chaos, police and success. The story of the punk classic Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols. |
| Elvis Presley – The Memphis Record: RCA combines the comeback recordings in 1987 | 10/16/2022 | In 1987 RCA released the umpteenth Elvis Presley compilation, but this one was different. A lot of thought went into this one, the songs were chosen with real care: The Memphis Record is a fine compilation! |
| Stereo MC’s – Connected: irresistable and funky | 10/05/2022 | In 1992 the Stereo MC's released their fantastic album Connected. A look back at an unexpected huge hit. The story of an irresistably funky dance and rap album. |
| Outkast releases the fantastic Stankonia! | 10/31/2020 | After the impressive Acquemini, Outkast almost effortlessly equalled it in 2000: Stankonia. The story behind masterpiece number two! |
| Today in 1980 Frank Zappa performed in Buffalo | 10/25/2020 | On October 25th, 1980, Frank Zappa and his alien, perfect band played in Buffalo, New York. A look back on a fantastic show and release! |
| Japan – Gentlemen Take Polaroids | 10/24/2020 | Japan released their fourth album Gentlemen Take Polaroids in 1980. An album without any weak links. The story behind another classic Japan album. |
| Help Paradiso! | 10/20/2020 | Paradiso has developed ten posters, which can be acquired for just € 15 each. Please help the Amsterdam Paradiso! |
| The Cult breaks through with Love! | 10/18/2020 | In 1985 The Cult released their second album Love. It pointed towards the rock band they were about to become, but still had new-wave and goth elements. The story of a great album! |
| Prince starts his genius run with the fantastic Dirty Mind | 10/11/2020 | In 1980 Prince released his third album. Dirty Mind was to be the starting point of the unequalled series of no less than eight consecutive genius albums. The story of Dirty Mind! |
| More Specials, the best album of 1980? | 10/04/2020 | The story on the second album by The Specials. Amidst chaos, fights, resentment and creativity the band emerges with the sublime More Specials. A look back. |
| Jesse Johnson – Verbal Penetration | 10/27/2019 | After leaving The Time, Jesse Johnson started a successful solo career. In 2009 he made Verbal Penetration, an impressive tour-de-force. |
| Prince releases his second album, the first real hint of what’s to come? | 10/19/2019 | Prince's second album pointed to the future and sounded more accessible and danceable than the year old debut. Could Prince deliver on his promise? |
| Fleetwood Mac after Rumours, the only way is Tusk? | 10/12/2019 | Is any band capable of making another classic album after the release of an album like Rumours? Fleetwood Mac tried. Did they succeed? |
| Prince – The 25 best live bootlegs! | 10/10/2019 | The A Pop Life panel has pondered the question which Prince performances resulted in the best live bootlegs. Bram, Edward, Erwin, Leon en Vincent went to work and came up with the ultimate list! |
| The Replacements start their 3-in-a-row brilliant albums with Let It Be | 10/02/2019 | In 1984 The Replacements released their first truly great album: Let It Be. Their subsequent two albums Tim and Pleased To Meet Me were arguably even more stunning. A look back at 3-in-a-row brilliance! |
| Japan – Obscure Alternatives | 10/27/2018 | The second Japan album signals a change in course. The band itself doesn't like looking back on it, but the album holds up surprisingly well. |
| Neil Young – Comes A Time | 10/21/2018 | In 1978 Neil Young released the Comes A Time album. It was highly anticipated, for it meant a return to the Harvest sound. A look back at a one-off Neil Young album. |
| The Waterboys say farewell to ‘the big music’: Fisherman’s Blues! | 10/17/2018 | In 1988 The Waterboys surprised a lot of people with their new album Fisherman's Blues. Where had their well-known and popular 'big music' gone? The story about a search for simplicity and honesty. |
| Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters | 10/13/2018 | In 1973 Herbie Hancock released a hybrid album. It unified rhythm and blues, jazz and funk. It was an instant mega success. The story behind the phenomenal Head Hunters! |
| Cat Power – Wanderer | 10/05/2018 | Cat Power made a new record. Once again, fantastic! The story of Wanderer. |
| Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See | 10/05/2018 | In 1993 Mazzy Star releases their second album, the beautiful So Tonight At I Might See. David Roback and Hope Sandoval are victorious. A look back. |
| King Sunny Adé – Juju Music | 10/31/2017 | In 1982 King Sunny Adé released his first (of three) album on Island Records. It was a smash hit. A look back on the African album that conquered the West. |
| 1999: Prince on his way to the top | 10/27/2017 | Prince makes his first double-album: 1999. It turned out to be Prince's breakthrough in the US. On his terms with an album that contains a lot of experimental music. Looking back at a crucial album in his career. |
| Junior Murvin – Police & Thieves | 10/23/2017 | 40 years ago Junior Murvin released the album Police & Thieves. The single carrying the same name became an anthem against police brutality in England and was combined with punk. |
| Iggy Pop – Lust For Life | 10/19/2017 | 40 years ago Iggy Pop released the adrenaline boost known as Lust For Life as a single. It still is a monumental song that introduced punk to the Dutch kids. |
| Crass – How Does It Feel | 10/16/2017 | In 1982 the Falklands Islands became a reason for war. Crass had something to ask Iron Lady Thatcher: How Does It Feel To Be The Mother Of 1,000 Dead? |
| Kiss Alive II | 10/14/2017 | Kiss: make-up and simple rock 'n' roll. A tribute to the second live/album. Is the music better than the image leads to believe? |
| The most hated album in jazz: Miles Davis’ On The Corner | 10/11/2017 | In 1972 Miles Davis released his funk album On The Corner. One of the most loathed albums of all times. And now we know better... |
| Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel Of Love | 10/09/2017 | Tunnel Of Love is the greatest album Bruce Springsteen made. The following tour was his most special. A story about a failed marriage, new love, beautiful music and the ideal of freedom in East-Germany. |
| Prince & The New Power Generation – O(+> | 10/06/2017 | The new album was partially introduced during the 1992 tour. Was it better than the disappointing Diamonds And Pearls? Unfortunately... |
| 25 years ago: the Bijlmer disaster | 10/04/2017 | In 1992 I lived in the Amsterdam Bijlmer when an El-Al airplane crashed on a flat, very near to my house. A shocking experience. |
| Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – The Live Anthology | 10/03/2017 | As a tribute to Tom Petty who passed away yesterday at the age of 66, a short biography and review of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Live Anthology. |
| Kamasi Washington – Harmony Of Difference | 10/01/2017 | After the epic impressive debut The Epic 2 years ago, Kamasi Washington is the jazz-man to keep an eye on. Is that still the case after the release of Harmony Of Difference? |
| Paisley Park Day – City Of Chanhassen Proclamation | 10/28/2016 | Paisley Park Day - City Of Chanhassen Proclamation |
| Amy Winehouse – Back To Black | 10/27/2016 | Family favorite Amy Winehouse - Back To Black is 10 years old. This album still sounds fantastic and still moves, even after listening all those times! |
| The best 12-inches | 10/21/2016 | The medium 12-inch or maxi-single became hugely popular during the 1980's. It created some beautiful music. A (small) inventory. |
| Prince – The Rainbow Children | 10/16/2016 | 15 years old already: Prince - The Rainbow Childen, a controversial album, but also an artistic highlight. A tribute to an unknown Prince album. |
| Prince Tribute Day – State of Minnesota Proclamation | 10/13/2016 | Prince Tribute Day - State of Minnesota Proclamation |
| Prince Day – City Of St. Paul Proclamation | 10/13/2016 | City of St. Paul Proclamation: October 13th, 2016: Prince Day! |
| Prince Day – City Of Minneapolis Proclamation | 10/13/2016 | City Of Minneapolis Proclamation: October 13th, 2016: Prince Day! |
| Dead Kennedys | 10/09/2016 | Dead Kennedys:live at the Melkweg soon and In God We Trust, Inc. turns 35 years old. A tribute to the American punk band. |
| Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Black | 10/01/2016 | 25 years ago today Public Enemy's last masterpiece was released: Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black. Saw them live at the time: impressive and unforgettable. A tribute to a hip-hop classic! |
| Concert | Date | Excerpt | | Cymande, 10/11/2025 | 10/11/2025 | 3/5: Cymande in Paradiso. It was a nice show which unfortunately turned a bit bland. Still a fun evening at my favorite venue. |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 10/31/2024 | 10/31/2024 | 5/5: The Wild God Tour one month in: perfection, emotion, mania and pleasure, from the audience as well as from the band. A concert to remember! |
| Brian Eno, 10/28/2023 | 10/28/2023 | 4½/5: Brian Eno shines with the Baltic Sea Philharmonic orchestra in a sold out Vredenburg in Utrecht. His first solo tour leaves you wanting more! |
| Public Image Ltd, 10/04/2023 | 10/04/2023 | 4/5: Public Image Ltd. at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. A great show by a great band. Too bad tapes were playing along as well. |
| Kendrick Lamar, 10/28/2022 | 10/28/2022 | 4½/5: Kendrick Lamar and Antwerp: veni, vidi, vici. The audience ate from his hands and the music and presentation were impressive. Again! |
| Cem Adrian, 10/22/2022 | 10/22/2022 | 1½/5: No match between us and Cem Adrian, who has found a nice niche for himself, but seems incapable of doing anything else besides mixing heavy music with sentiment and pathos. |
| Yekpare, 10/09/2022 | 10/09/2022 | 3½/5: As long as Yekpare follow their self-chosen assigment, the concert is overwhelmingly beautiful. Singer Ceylan Ertem plays her part as the trio's lead convingly in a sometimes sizzling concert. |
| Kendrick Lamar, 10/07/2022 | 10/07/2022 | 4½/5: Kendrick Lamar: veni, vidi, vici. The audience ate out of his hands and the music and presentation were impressive. Again! |
| Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, 10/16/2021 | 10/16/2021 | 4½/5: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis at Carré Amsterdam without The Bad Seeds? Cave came, saw and conquered. Convincingly. Again. |
| Altın Gün & Metropole Orkest, 10/01/2020 | 10/01/2020 | 2½/5: The cooperation with the Metropole Orkest and the special ambiance couldn't inspire the band. Too bad. |
| Raphael Saadiq, 10/24/2019 | 10/24/2019 | 3½/5: Raphael Saadiq at Paradiso: a nice evening with a superb band and too much talking. |
| New Order, 10/17/2019 | 10/17/2019 | 4½/5: New Order at last! Your Silent Face, Subculture, Bizarre Love Triangle, Plastic and a truly magnificent Tempation made for an unforgettable evening. |
| Orbital, 10/19/2018 | 10/19/2018 | 2/5: Disappointing Orbital during Amsterdam Dance Event at Paradiso. |
| Tales Of Anatolia, 10/22/2017 | 10/22/2017 | 2/5: A somewhat unfortunate combination. Zara, a Turkish singer, with Trilok Gurtu, an Indian drummer. Beautiful musical intermezzo's, at times exciting. |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 10/13/2017 | 10/13/2017 | 5/5: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are the top of music as art. This evening they proved it yet again. Cave is 60 years old, but is still as convincing and possessed as ever. Magical evening! |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 10/06/2017 | 10/06/2017 | 5/5: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are at the top of their game. Cave is sixty but he's still as convincing and possessed as he was way back when. Magical evening! |
| Maxwell & Mary J Blige, 10/25/2016 | 10/25/2016 | 4/5: Mary J Blige was impressive once again. Maxwell musically perfect. |
| Dead Kennedys, 10/17/2016 | 10/17/2016 | 4/5: Dead Kennedys at the Melkweg. Without Jello Biafra, and better than I had expected or hoped for. Very nice evening! |
| BJ The Chicago Kid, 10/07/2016 | 10/07/2016 | 3/5: The new D'Angelo? No. Yet, it was a nice evening, with a promising BJ The Chicago Kid and a great support act! |
| Volkan Konak, 10/18/2015 | 10/18/2015 | 2/5: Solid concert, but not really my genre. |
| The Orb, 10/07/2015 | 10/07/2015 | 2/5: Unknown and, for me, totally unexpected amateur set. Missed opportunity. |
| Miguel, 10/05/2015 | 10/05/2015 | 2/5: A poser, musically not too bad, but nothing extraordinary. |
| Morrissey, 10/28/2014 | 10/28/2014 | 4/5: Starting with The Queen Is Dead, the real show hasn't even begun yet. Complete emotion during Asleep. Morrissey at the top of his game. Very beautiful! |
| Fleetwood Mac, 10/07/2013 | 10/07/2013 | 4/5: Good professional show and it's indescribable how good Lindsay Buckingham is! |
| Sezen Aksu, 10/20/2012 | 10/20/2012 | 3½/5: As usual: a good and highly entertaining concert. |
| Radiohead, 10/14/2012 | 10/14/2012 | 4½/5: Band at the top of their game, a visual and musical total experience, which every music lover has to have experienced at least once. |
| Steve Ignorant (Crass), 10/15/2010 | 10/15/2010 | 3½/5: Good to have seen Steve Ignorant at least one time. The Crass songs were played with true conviction. |
| The Cult, 10/11/2009 | 10/11/2009 | 2/5: The Cult at half speed (sound wise), with Ian Astbury's voice being even more out of tune than usual. Disappointment. |
| Danko Jones, 10/29/2003 | 10/29/2003 | 3½/5: Decent rocking set by Danko Jones. Very entertaining evening. |
| Prince, 10/18/2002 | 10/18/2002 | 5/5: Top concert and top soundcheck. Definite highlight of this tour (for me). One of the most special concert experiences of my life! |
| Prince, 10/15/2002 | 10/15/2002 | Very impressive show with an even more impressive band! |
| David Sylvian, 10/11/2001 | 10/11/2001 | 4/5: A fairly pop oriented concert. Luckily David had brought along brother Steve Jansen; an inspiring sight to behold. A special concert by a very special man. |
| Sezen Aksu, 10/23/1999 | 10/23/1999 | 4/5: In cooperation with Willem Breuker Collectief, Sezen Aksu provided an impressive show. |
| Aziza-A, 10/30/1998 | 10/30/1998 | 3½/5: Very entertaining show by German/Turkish rapster. Never heard from her again. |
| The Time, 10/10/1996 | 10/10/1996 | 3½/5: Highly entertaining show by The Time. |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 10/18/1988 | 10/18/1988 | 3½/5: Good show by Nick Cave. Back then The Bad Seeds were still possessed. Exciting show. |
| Chris Isaak, 10/29/1987 | 10/29/1987 | 4/5: Very good show by Chris Isaak and his (at the time) perfect backing band. |
| Herman Brood & His Wild Romance, 10/06/1984 | 10/06/1984 | 3½/5: I have seen Herman Brood many many times live, particularly here at De Koog. I know I was here on this day because of circulating images of the soundcheck. |
| Herman Brood & His Wild Romance, 10/01/1983 | 10/01/1983 | 3½/5: I have seen Herman Brood many many times live, particularly here at De Koog. |
