Articles by Michael Barron

What makes the late jazz pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk special and unique is that to find out more about him, we need to delve into the lives of other people and learn about them in […]

What makes “Outlaw Pete” fascinating is not just the story itself surrounding a “6-month-old, bank-robbing baby”, but the story behind the story.  “Outlaw Pete” began its life not as a book, but as the opening […]

If there was ever going to be a The White Stripes songs adapted into an animated book, one would have expected it to have been “Seven Nation Army”. The case is resolute. “Seven Nation Army” […]

Xs Noize was invited to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of The Beatles Yellow Submarine film by taking readers (courtesy of Titan Comics) through the new A4 hardcover 112-page graphic novel of the film by Bill […]

Xs Noize was invited to celebrate the London Folk Festivals fifth year at Cecil Sharp House. This event hosted by Folkonmonday offered a programme of sixteen acts across three categories of events: 1. live concerts, […]

In June and July XS Noize did something almost unique that few music zines would do and have done; introduce their readers to the amazing and sadly virtually untapped world of music-related graphic novels. The […]

This year would have marked Michael Jackson’s sixtieth birthday, so the time feels right to commemorate the King of Pop. To say he was iconic wouldn’t do him justice. With the many creative accomplishments Jackson […]

Following their successful gig at Strongroom Bar, Shoreditch, London back in June, Black Delta Movement has finally confirmed details about their long-awaited debut album, Preservation. Matt Burr, one of the Kingston-Upon-Hull five-piece primary songwriters and […]

2018 was always going to be the year where hopes of a triumphant return of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) would materialize after all 2018 is the bands twentieth anniversary and the tenth year since […]

Eat, Sleep, Trade, Repeat. DJ D-SOL is confirmed as Goldman Sachs next board chair and chief executive. This is not fake news or a pre-April fool’s joke, electronic dance DJ and music producer, DJ D-SOL […]

In June 2018, courtesy of SelfMadeHero, XS Noize guided readers through the less ordinary life of Johnny Cash as told by Reinhard Kleist in his unique graphic novel: I See a Darkness. XS Noize has […]

XS Noize was invited to City Beerfest 2018, held in Guildhall Yard, London. Whilst for many, beer is an essential festival ingredient; music is an essential ingredient for all. It was pleasing to XS Noize […]

It’s difficult to believe that twenty years ago, Gorillaz, “the world’s first virtual band” was born. The success of this brainchild of Damon Albarn and comic illustrator Jamie Hewlett lies in connecting “with fans by […]

Despite not having yet released a full LP; everyone seems to have an opinion about the Black Delta Movement (or at least an interest in their sound). Probably one of the most interesting comments to […]

It is almost fifteen years ago since Johnny Cash passed away aged 71. His global impact on music cannot be understated. One could even attribute superhero status to him. Why? After all only superheroes get […]

In 1997, Paul Draper, with his band Mansun, released their debut album, Attack of the Grey Lantern. XS Noize recently reviewed the twenty-first-anniversary re-issue, finding that this Mansun debut had stood the test of time, […]

What a stroke of luck, Hilary’s first teenage band experience was practically an overnight success, resulting in a stint international acclaim, two top twenty albums, four top forty singles (one of which would be named […]

Following their 2017 self-titled debut album which earned this LA band acclaim from BBC 6 & Classic Rock Magazine, Here Lies Man return with a sound which appears both highly scientific and mathematical; yet goes […]