★ Black Cloud Jamboree ★

@trargtweets I had read previously that he was considered after Connery but not sure how true that is.

@Stu_ART_P This is a fascinating suggestion! I have no doubt that #JeremyBrett could have played any role, such were his credentials as an actor. He could also have been a superb antagonist as well. Imagine a suitably scripted showdown between him and Lewis Collins.

Who could have been #JamesBond but wasn’t? I’m going to run through a few options - just my opinion - if you disagree that’s fine, whatever. #PatrickMcGoohan - no way he was ever going to do it because he didn’t want to, but he definitely had the magnetism. #RobertVaughn - he definitely possessed the sophistication and suaveness and I reckon he could have done it despite being more traditionally remembered in US roles (understandably as he was American). #MichaelBillington - definitely looked the part and could’ve jumped in there if Rog had decided to stop. #EdwardWoodward - could certainly have acted the role as well as anybody in the early 70s. He had the intensity, he had the charm, he certainly had the danger. #MichaelCaine - could he have done it? Yes of course he could, BUT I’m much more glad he made #TheIPCRESSFile and #GetCarter instead. #IdrisElba - should have been Bond, no question in my mind. Still could. #DianaRigg - a female Bond possibility and who better than Mrs James Bond herself? She could easily have done it. #GlynisBarber - yes, she would have kicked ass in the role. The talent, the glamour and the no-bulls*** attitude were all there. But overall, the biggest missed opportunity of them all was, in my opinion… #LewisCollins. He’d have totally smashed it as 007, but apparently came across as “too aggressive” 🤣 I know, what a joke. He was perfect for that part. Anyway, we had what we had and I’m grateful for all of it. Like I say, disagree? Let’s see your suggestions then.

@CinemaTweets1 Also John C Reilly and Robin Wright, and with an Ennio Morricone score too. One of my favourite films of the 90’s.

State of Grace deserves a mention on my timeline this week. Sean Penn has absolutely no business whatsoever being this good in this movie. He’s so god damn good here, it shouldn’t be allowed. Combine that with Ed Harris, Gary Oldman & my boy John Turturro- you get a massive hit.

@_CinemaHub_ @Variety There was a scene in the Rip which was like something out of Scooby Doo, with flashbacks pulling everything together as if the audience were children. Matt Damon’s character should have been called Velma.

@Variety "I don't know where that comment one from" Matt Damon said that Netflix films have to reiterate the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones.

Netflix executives "laughed" over the claim they demand movies and TV shows to restate plot points over and over for viewers. "We actually all laughed when we watched that bit at the Oscars, but there's no such principle," Netflix film boss Dan Lin said. "I mean, if you watch our movies or TV shows, we don't repeat our plot. So I don't know where that comment came from. Certainly, we are focused on making great movies." variety.com/2026/tv/news/n…

@Variety There was a scene in the Rip which was like something out of Scooby Doo, with flashbacks pulling everything together as if the audience were children. Matt Damon’s character should have been called Velma.

@Casual_Bob_ So sorry for your loss, Sharon. Rest in peace Bob, you will be missed 🙏🏻

Hi Im Bob's sister Sharon. I wanted to jump on to let everyone know Bob passed away on 3/16. Bob had colon cancer for the last 7 yrs & handled it with strength and a hopeful spirit. This music community kept him entertained on long days. He loved it. We will miss him terribly.

@Moody_Chops @batcountry1980 @LtGenScott @JVMonte2 100% and nobody that big now would dare try the things they did. That’s why I made the Bowie comparison. He’s the closest thing I would say, but I agree The Beatles are out there on their own, with all considered.

@Stu_ART_P @batcountry1980 @LtGenScott @JVMonte2 The Beatles were the world's biggest band, yet continually pushed the envelope. No one's done that before or since

What’s a truly exceptional album that’s named after a real place?

@batcountry1980 @LtGenScott @Moody_Chops @JVMonte2 Too many parents saying you’re not buying that record. He’s wearing make-up and a dress 😂

@Stu_ART_P @LtGenScott @Moody_Chops @JVMonte2 Mad, isn’t it? Culturally he was massive, but his sales in the 70s didn’t match that.

@batcountry1980 @LtGenScott @Moody_Chops @JVMonte2 Yes, I agree there, mate. I was surprised when I saw Bowie’s record sales from the 70’s on a post here once. My comparison is more in hindsight I agree 👍🏻

I think musically there’s an argument, mate. Sales wise, he wasn’t a titanic force like EJ. Work rate EJ was more like the Beatles too. In fact, he was busier. But I just think EJ was everywhere, a household name that dominated pop music, in a way Bowie wasn’t. He was more of an outsider artist, though still very popular. It’s with Let’s Dance that Bowie decides to be a huge pop star just to show how easy he could do it.

@batcountry1980 @LtGenScott @Moody_Chops @JVMonte2 I’ve always felt David Bowie was to the 70’s what the Beatles were to the 60’s I.e. ability to mix pop and the avant-garde. Always looking forward while also openly celebrating their past influences too.

I’d say EJ was the one that most matched their blend of critical and commercial success. And crucially both of them have pop music at the heart of what they do. He was writing singles for the charts and releasing ambitious albums. Add to that the actual sales figures and he is the closest to them. The only big difference is he doesn’t have the experimental edge they had. He doesn’t play it safe, but he’s not sonically adventurous like they were

@LesPurves There are many better years in the 70’s alone

Is 1974 the best year in album history? If you could keep only ONE of these albums and lose the rest forever — which survives? No ties. No hedging. One pick. #NowSpinning #VinylCommunity #RecordCollector #70sMusic

@henrywinter @KimEdwards48 They don’t care. It’s just one of their regular kick backs, albeit this one is now in the open! The only real deterrent would be point deductions in the years they cheated resulting in removal of trophies.

When will the authorities ever learn that fines rarely have any meaningful impact in an industry awash with money at the top?

@batcountry1980 Yes I definitely made up for missing them the first time round. I saw them at Heaton Park, Finsbury Park, Wembley, Etihad, and even went to V too 😂

@Stu_ART_P I was at Heaton Park. What a moment. Never thought I’d see them.

The Gold Road's Sure a Long Road: Alchemy on the Dancefloor 🧵 In November of 1989, The Stone Roses released the titanic double A-Side single, Fools Gold/What The World Is Waiting For. Two magnificent songs, each one a snapshot of the moment, but also a glimpse into the future. For if the music of The Stone Roses is a set of sonic scales, the rhythm and Funk balanced with melody and Jangle, then this schizophrenic single sees the weight shift with each side, as the dual forces of the band take turns grasping the creative reigns. Crucially though, there’s no ego at play here, no musical coup d'état being staged. They’re a brotherhood, a gang of dreamers gladly travelling the long road, a sharp contrast to Second Coming, an album that feels like the sonic scales crashing down, and the good times ending. 🧵

@batcountry1980 I sometimes forget what an influential and great track this is. Seeing it played live at Heaton Park was a great reminder. I still remember watching ToTP as a 12 yo too. It was a great youth movement and they were the front of the pack for me.

It’s pretty astonishing how Fools Gold has managed to retain its magic. Here’s a song that can be heard everywhere and anywhere, played to death by fans, used in every medium there is, yet still has the power to blow the listener away. I know it might be hard to do, but next time you play it try and hear it as if it’s the first time, and take in what a special song it actually is. A lot of that must go down to its uniqueness. We know Manchester in the 80s was an incredible time of experimentation, in more ways than one, and that more bands than the Stone Roses were genre mixing, but it still stands as a listening experience like nothing else. The definitive crossover record, merging Indie, Acid House, Hip Hop and Funk. It’s one of those iconic songs that challenges what’s possible with music, a chain reaction record of seismic impact and enduring appeal. And it’s the togetherness of the band that is the catalyst. By not only following Mani and Reni’s lead, but each member bringing their strongest energy to the music, the band crafted something both of its time and timeless, a song that now stands as their greatest achievement.

@batcountry1980 That’s around where my collection starts. I loved Millers run. Loved the Netflix series too. The Disney Born Again was a mess but hopefully they’ve learned from their mistakes on S2.

@Stu_ART_P 86 this was, mate.

Just had a re-read of Daredevil: Born Again, an excellent story. Frank Miller absolutely torpedos poor Matt Murdock’s life to smithereens, destroying everything: his career, his life, his sanity, before resurrecting The Man Without Fear in one of the most cathartic comebacks in superhero comics. More a hard-boiled noir tale than a traditional comic book story, Murdock’s descent is set in motion when an old love sells his secret identity for a fix, pretty bleak stuff for Marvel. Pulling the strings on his downfall is the Kingpin, essentially a New York Moriarty, the great spider sitting on a web of crime. Only difference is, this Moriarty weighs 450 pounds and can snap your neck like a twig. Piece by piece he takes Murdock apart, not physically at first, that would be too easy. The dialogue and narration are pure Miller: no wasted words, each line heavy with the weight of the world. Catholic undertones of faith, fear and redemption push the story forward, Supporting characters like Ben Urich get grounded, authentic voices, and his quiet stand against corruption is one of the story’s most moving threads, as is Karen Page’s tragic spiral and fragile search for redemption. The artwork by David Mazzucchelli is a perfect match, stark and atmospheric. Rain-slicked streets, venetian blinds casting jagged shadows, towering skylines dwarfing the figures below. Pure visual poetry. What makes Born Again so powerful is it isn’t really a story about Daredevil being broken, it’s one about how he can’t be. Miller pushes Matt Murdock all the way to the bottom, strips away everything that holds him up, till all the devil has left is faith, that inner strength that refuses leave him. It’s what makes him rise again when a barrel of chemicals blinds him, when the Kingpin tries to ruin him, and when the weight of Hell’s Kitchen itself rests on his shoulders. Nothing can hold him down. He always fights back. By the end of Born Again, we’re not dealing in superhero victories anymore. We’re dealing in miracles.

@PrimeVideo So they only know all the shit ones. Sounds about right.

A lesson in Sherlock history

@TonyJones000 State of Grace The Irishman

#Movies Which of these four movies is your first and second choice? 📽️🎬🎞️ 🎟️🍿

@TheStingisBack There’s Jeremy Brett, then there’s everyone else.

Sherlock Holmes is the most portrayed literary human character across film, TV, stage and radio. It’s estimated that over 100 actors (including animated versions) have worn his famous deerstalker. Who’s your favourite actor to play The World’s Greatest Detective?

@PaxtonRoadUpper Great pub, especially when sunny outside.

The Champion, Wells Street, W1