
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. He is 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. He created the People’s History series of fan recollections of classic rock bands and is the Managing Director of Spenwood Books.

LEN LIGGINS was awarded the honorary title of ‘Legendary’ by no less a person that the DJ John Peel more than 35 years ago. Len is a singer and violinist and a founding member of The Ukrainians, which plays traditional Ukrainian music heavily influenced by Western post-punk. His book The Ukrainians: From Kyiv To The Kosmos, co-authored with band mate Peter Solowka, was published by Spenwood Books in 2024.

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.

JENNY PARKS is a Yorkshire-born poet who lives in North Wales with her husband Duncan. The Important Things in Life is her first published volume of poetry. All proceeds from the book are being donated to fund research into Parkinson’s, which Duncan was diagnosed with in 2000. Over £3,000 has been raised from book sales to date.

BRUCE PEGG is a professional musician and music historian who currently works as a writer and editor. He is the author of Brown Eyed Handsome Man: The Life and Hard Times of Chuck Berry (Routledge, 2002), the definitive biography of the rock and roll pioneer, along with several critical essays about the musician. He also wrote the extensive liner notes that accompany Rock and Roll Music: Any Old Way You Choose It, Bear Family Records’ comprehensive 16-CD collection of Berry’s entire studio output and select live recordings. Born and raised in Leicester, England, Bruce currently resides in central New York. His writing about music, running, and spirituality can be found at brucepegg.com.

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). He regularly publishes feature interviews on his website at www.writewyattuk.com. When not walking his beloved rescue Labrador-cross Millie, Malcolm’s spare time is spent catching up with family and friends and supporting Woking FC. He can be contacted at thedayiwasthere@gmail.com.

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 such as Kevin Rowland, Frank Turner, Amelia Coburn and Meryl Streak along with journalists and authors such as Daniel Rachel and Tony Fletcher.
Iain’s love of music began with The Jam and The Clash as a 12-year-old in 1982, and over the next couple of years he was introduced to the likes of The Smiths, The Housemartins and Billy Bragg. He describes the latter’s debut album, Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy, as lifechanging, citing the artist’s unique ability to educate and inform via a mix of pop, politics and love songs the reason he’s remained a devotee ever since.
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.

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.

As a Nottingham teenager, LORAINE BURGON wanted to study art but then she fell in love with a local musician. Alvin Lee became a rock superstar, with his band Ten Years After. From the age of 17 until she was 27, Loraine she shared the evolution of his exceptional journey. Later she worked as a fashion designer whilst being a mother to one fine son.
When her left home, Loraine fulfilled her teenage dream and went to study 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.