Our Authors

David Lewis Gedge

lives in Brighton and is the founding member, lead singer and guitarist for the semi-legendary Indie band The Wedding Present and his ‘other’ band, Cinerama. He is also the author of several books, including two volumes (so far) of his illustrated autobiography, Tales From The Wedding Present.

Richard Houghton

lives in Manchester. The author of more than 20 books on music, including authorised fan histories of Jethro Tull, Simple Minds, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Stranglers, Shaun Ryder, Fairport Convention and The Wedding Present, Richard created the People’s History series. He is the Managing Director of Spenwood Books.

Len Liggins

was awarded the honorary title of ‘Legendary’ by no less a person than DJ John Peel more than 35 years ago. A singer and violinist, Len is a founding member of The Ukrainians, which plays traditional Ukrainian music heavily influenced by Western post-punk.

Peter Solowka

is a guitarist and co-author, with Len Liggins, of The Ukrainians: From Kyiv To The Kosmos, published by Spenwood Books in 2024. A member of Indie legends The Wedding Present until 1990, Peter lives in Oldham.

Bruce Pegg

is the author of Goin’ Down De Mont; A People’s History of Rock & Pop Concerts at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall (Spenwood, 2022) & Brown Eyed Handsome Man: The Life and Hard Times of Chuck Berry (Routledge, 2002). From Leicester, UK he now lives in central New York state.

Malcolm Wyatt

is a Surrey-born music writer and editor who lives in Cornwall with his partner, Jayne. A foster carer with two grown-up daughters, he is the author of Solid Bond In Your Heart: A People’s History Of The Jam (Spenwood Books, 2025), Wild! Wild! Wild! A People’s History of Slade (Spenwood Books, 2023) and This Day in Music’s Guide to The Clash (2018).

Iain Key

is a recognisable face on the Manchester Music Scene from many years in the late ’80s and ’90s. Iain rediscovered his love of writing about music during the pandemic which saw him invited to join the team at Louder Than War. Since late 2020, he’s written over 400 pieces including music, book and gig reviews, and also produced a weekly music show, Indie Brunch, featuring both music and interviews with new and established acts. Away from Louder Than War, Iain has worked in the telecoms industry for over 25 years, is a lifelong Manchester United fan and shares his home with three cats, Storm, Shadow and Thunder, and occasionally his son, McKenzi.

Chris Charlesworth

Between 1970 and 1977, Chris Charlesworth was a staff writer and editor for Melody Maker, the UK’s best-selling music weekly in an era when rock stars fell over themselves to appear in its pages. Initially the paper’s News Editor, Chris was for four years MM’s US Editor, based in New York, and regularly rubbed shoulders with rock’s most iconic heroes. He now lives in Surrey, England.

Loraine Burgon

As a Nottingham teenager, Loraine Burgon wanted to study art but aged 17 she fell in love with local musician Alvin Lee. Alvin became a rock superstar with his band Ten Years After and Loraine shared the evolution of his exceptional journey for the next ten years. She then worked as a fashion designer whilst being a mother to one fine son. Loraine eventually fulfilled her teenage dream of studying for a BA (Hons) Fine Arts degree, graduating in 2001. Writing a dissertation gave her the confidence to start writing about her rock ‘n’ roll years whilst pursuing her art. Her son’s family have made her a proud mother-in-law and grandmother. Loraine now lives in Scotland.

Billy Bragg

is one of Britain’s premier singer-songwriters and political activists. He has mixed pop and politics in a career spanning 40 years. He’s had a No.1 single, shaken hands with Queen Elizabeth II and appeared at Wembley Stadium. He is from Barking, Essex.

David Marx

Originally from Swindon, but having lived in London, New York and Berlin, David Marx has since settled in the Bruges area of Belgium. He has written and produced several albums of his own music, as well as writing the foreword for a number of music-related books (No More Heroes by Alex Ogg, The Wrong Outfit by Al Gregg, Bringing It All Back Home – Bob Dylan’s 2nd Big Bang by Jochen Markhorst). In 2022, he published his first book of poetry, Lying In The Arms Of Venus De Milo.

Iain Matthews

A British singer-songwriter who has ploughed a singular furrow in the folk-rock scene and is one of the main architects of what is now known as Americana. An early member of Fairport Convention, he left the band during the recording of their third album to form Matthews Southern Comfort, securing a UK No. 1 single with a cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’. In 1979, he reached No. 13 on the US charts with a cover of Terence Boylan’s ‘Shake It’. Iain now lives in The Netherlands.

Will Boisseau

A freelance writer who has edited two books on punk music DIY OR DIE! Do-It-Yourself, Do-It-Together & Punk Anarchism (Active Distribution, 2024) and Smash the System: Punk anarchism as a culture of resistance (Active Distribution, 2022). He has written for numerous punk fanzines.

Ian Smith

Writes reviews for music magazines. He has previously edited two books on Stiff Little Fingers.

Georgia Rose Lucas

The daughter of Sandy Denny, heralded by many as Britain’s finest ever female singer. Georgia Rose lives in Australia.

Dylan White

Lives in London. A former record plugger and legendary promo man, he has worked with everyone from Paul Weller and Oasis to Billy Bragg and U2.

Susan Gillan

Worked at Dundee’s famed Caird Hall for over 35 years and worked or witnessed hundreds of shows at the Hall. She lives in Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

Neil Cossar

Was guitarist in the late seventies group The Cheaters. Signed to Parlophone Records but never troubling the charts, they were named ‘hardest working band of the year’ by BBC Radio 1 after playing 321 gigs and recording an album in 1982! During the nineties, Neil worked as a radio DJ in Manchester, UK, before moving into music PR. His client list included Def Leppard, INXS, Joan Baez, Glen Campbell, Jean Michel Jarre, Natalie Imbruglia, The Hollies, Feist, The Stranglers, Barenaked Ladies and UB40. Neil launched his music trivia site This Day in Music.com in 1999.

His published works include This Day In Music (Omnibus, 2010), Bob Dylan – The Day I Was There (Spenwood, 2025), David Bowie – A People’s History (Spenwood, 2025), Bruce Springsteen – The Day I Was There (Spenwood 2025) and The Jam – The Day I Was There (with Richard Houghton) (Spenwood, 2025). Neil is presently playing music again, touring with The Guilty Men (theguiltymen.co.uk).