He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction....

In a way, the sad passing of Dennis Hopper brings ever nearer the eventual end of the Rock and Roll era. As a very young man, Hopper played an important role in the movies that defined this decade - the 1950's - starring in both 'Rebel without a cause' and 'Giant;' both films which starred James Dean and which ushered in a newer, less prosaic cult of celebrity - that of the lionised dead one.

After these landmark movies, Hopper played the role of Billy Clanton in John Sturges' epic 1957 release, 'Gunfight at the OK corral.' It remains one of his best performances - deliberate and methodical, understated and reflective - many would say wholly uncharacteristic of much, indeed all, of his later work. Dennis Hopper was not the greatest actor the world has ever seen. In some ways he is reminiscent of Robert Mitchum decades earlier - a maverick, a one-off - someone who really shouldn't be making movies - and throughout his career he did what he could to avoid making them...

Hopper saved his best performances for characters he could really identify with. In Wim Wenders sprawling 'An American friend,' Hopper played the part of career criminal Tom Ripley - an outsider much like himself - which provided additional scope for his flawed genius. 'Apocalypse now' offered a glimpse into the real Dennis Hopper, at any rate his particular brand of mania, where everything can and does go - willing to introduce a new world with a shrug or tainted word.

Hopper's best two films were made 17 years apart. The existential hubris of Peter Fonda's 'Easy Rider' provided a template for counter-culture film-making for years to come. Hopper's pot-smoking, flag hating stereotype was the epitome of late 60's cool - analagous and antagonistic to Brando's portrayal of Johnny Strabler in Laszlo Benedek's 'The wild one.' It's a great film and Dennis Hopper's performance makes it great. Without question Hopper's crowning achievement was his portrayal of Frank Booth in David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet.' It is one of the truly great cinematic performances and shows how versatile Hopper really was. His terrifying portrayal of such a psychopathic monster has yet to be bettered in modern cinema - it was typical of Hopper to completely see himself as Frank - a man corrupted by demons, out of control, yet someone he could relate to and someone, he felt, he could bring to life.

In all of his films, and thoughout his career, Dennis Hopper brought the characters he played to gasping, fatal life.

Dennis Hopper 1936-2010

'Blue Velvet'

'Easy Rider'

'Apocalypse Now'

Out of this world...

The 5th Galaxy Orchestra are one of a handful of bands, from all over the world, currently engaged in a competition to see who can most sound like Air. What separates T5GO is their applique approach to pop music - and the evident humour that very importantly accompanies it - check out their rather wonderful 'My Ultra Space Nintendo world,' also on YTube - that's enough abbreviations...

'My Ultra Space...

In Bill we trust...

Bill Hicks - comedian. There, we've said it. The recent docu-pic , 'American: The Bill Hicks story' chronicles the incredibly full and rich life of one of America's greatest performers. Bill's life and contribution to stand-up comedy has been well documented. However, this most recent film shows a side to Bill that few will have been privy to - that of the relationships with his family and friends and how these relationships comprehensively defined him. It's a story absolutely about love. Love of, and for Bill - more though, about the things that Bill was passionate about, consumed by, moved to tears and fury over. One of his most celebrated comedy monologues begins with the oft quoted phrase, 'It's just a ride.' Watching this film is exactly that - just a ride. A ride that lasted, for Bill, just 32 years. What never fails to move and inspire though is that his work NEVER seems to date. The performance never fails to exceed even the most jaded of expectations. The words, and the truth inherent in those words, is never lessened by Bill's inability to breathe with them. Bill Hicks - comedian. There, we've said it again.

Grand Prix...

Scotland's very finest release their brand new album,' Shadows,' on May 31st. It will of course be all the things that a Fanclub album usually are - i.e. better than everything else. It's been a while since their last recording - 5 whole years in fact - and, if the taster from 'The Official Website is anything to go by, then we are all in for the most treatable of treats. It's also nice to see the BBC giving them some exposure for the new record - here's hoping the soon to be ensconced Tom Ravenscroft will, like his father, twenty - yes 20! - years ago, will play some tracks. With luck, at the wrong speed... A national tour will coincide with the release of the album from the 27th of May to early June. Go and see Scotland's greatest ever band....