Charles Shaar Murray
Encyclopedia
Charles Shaar Murray is an English
music
journalist
. His first experience in journalism came 1970 when he was asked to contribute to the satirical magazine Oz
. In particular, he contributed to the notorious Schoolkids OZ
issue, and was involved in the consequent obscenity trial.
He then wrote for IT (International Times)
, before decamping to the New Musical Express
in 1972 for which he wrote until around 1986. Subsequently he worked for a number of publications including Q magazine, Mojo
, MacUser
, New Statesman
, Prospect
, The Guardian
, The Observer
, The Daily Telegraph
, Vogue
, and The Independent
. He currently writes a monthly column about his lifelong love affair with guitars in Guitarist
.
In addition to his magazine work, Murray has written a number of books:
His first novel, The Hellhound Sample, ISBN: 1900486784, was published by Headpress in summer 2011.
Broadcasting credits include:
He has also sung and played guitar and harmonica as "Blast Furnace" with the band Blast Furnace and the Heatwaves
and currently performs with London blues band Crosstown Lightnin'.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. His first experience in journalism came 1970 when he was asked to contribute to the satirical magazine Oz
Oz (magazine)
Oz was first published as a satirical humour magazine between 1963 and 1969 in Sydney, Australia and, in its second and better known incarnation, became a "psychedelic hippy" magazine from 1967 to 1973 in London...
. In particular, he contributed to the notorious Schoolkids OZ
Schoolkids OZ
Schoolkids OZ was issue 28 of the Oz magazine, famous for being the subject of a high-profile obscenity case in the United Kingdom in June 1971. The OZ trial ended on 5 August 1971.-History:...
issue, and was involved in the consequent obscenity trial.
He then wrote for IT (International Times)
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
, before decamping to the New Musical Express
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
in 1972 for which he wrote until around 1986. Subsequently he worked for a number of publications including Q magazine, Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, MacUser
MacUser
MacUser is a biweekly computer magazine published by Dennis Publishing Ltd. and licensed by Felden in the UK.In 1985 Felix Dennis’ Dennis Publishing, the creators of MacUser in the UK, licensed the name and “mouse-rating” symbol for MacUser to Ziff-Davis Publishing for use in the rest of the world....
, New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
, Prospect
Prospect (magazine)
Prospect is a monthly British general interest magazine, specialising in politics and current affairs. Frequent topics include British, European, and US politics, social issues, art, literature, cinema, science, the media, history, philosophy, and psychology...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, and The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
. He currently writes a monthly column about his lifelong love affair with guitars in Guitarist
Guitarist (magazine)
Guitarist is a monthly music making magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. The magazine features reviews of newly released guitars, amplifiers and other equipment, plus interviews with guitar players, features on the guitar industry, news articles, and features on playing...
.
In addition to his magazine work, Murray has written a number of books:
- Shots From The Hip, ISBN 0-14-012341-5, selected writings from his first two decades as a journalist
- Blues on CD: The Essential Guide, (1993), ISBN 1-85626-084-4
- Crosstown Traffic: Jimi Hendrix and Post-War Pop, a musical biography of Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, ISBN 0-571-20749-9. This won the Ralph Gleason Music Book Award. - Boogie Man: Adventures of John Lee Hooker in the American 20th Century, a biography of John Lee HookerJohn Lee HookerJohn Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, ISBN 0-14-016890-7. This was shortlisted for the Gleason award. - David Bowie: An Illustrated Record, with Roy CarrRoy CarrRoy Carr is an English music journalist. He joined the New Musical Express in the late 1960s and has edited NME, VOX and Melody Maker magazines...
, ISBN 0906008255
His first novel, The Hellhound Sample, ISBN: 1900486784, was published by Headpress in summer 2011.
Broadcasting credits include:
- "The Seven Ages of Rock" (BBC2, 2007) as series consultant and interviewee
- "The South Bank Show" (ITV, 2006) Dusty Springfield - interviewee
- "Inky Fingers: The NME Story" (BBC2, 2005) - interviewee
- "Dancing in the Street" (BBC2) - series consultant
- "Jazz From Hell: Frank Zappa" (BBC Radio 3) writer and presenter
- "Punk Jazz: Jaco Pastorius" (BBC R3) writer and presenter
- "The Life and Crimes of Lenny Bruce" (BBC R3) writer and presenter
He has also sung and played guitar and harmonica as "Blast Furnace" with the band Blast Furnace and the Heatwaves
Blast Furnace and the Heatwaves
Blast Furnace and the Heatwaves were a London, UK-based blues and rhythm 'n' blues band, flourishing in the 1970s and 1980s. Lead singer and harmonica player "Blast Furnace" was the alter-ego of then New Musical Express journalist and rock and blues historian, Charles Shaar Murray....
and currently performs with London blues band Crosstown Lightnin'.