Gary Ryan

The Darkness frontman faces the ultimate quiz – on his own career

The Blur guitarist and solo star faces the ultimate quiz – on his own career

In Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?!, we quiz a grizzled artist on their own career to see how much they can remember – and find out if the booze, loud music and/or tour sweeties has knocked the knowledge out of them. This week: Keith Murray, frontman of We Are Scientists, who are set to commemorate the (in their words) “50th anniversary” of their 2005 debut album ‘With Love and Squalor’ with a series of live performances.

In Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?!, we quiz a grizzled artist on their own career to see how much they can remember – and find out if the booze, loud music and/or tour sweeties has knocked the knowledge out of them. This week: Jez Kerr from atmospheric Manchester experimentalists A Certain Ratio

1: What backwards message does the song ‘Evil Eye’ open with? “We were going to put something about George W Bush but the label...

1: According to the posters on the wall, what is the name of the club in which the ‘Disco Down’ video takes place? “(Laughs)...

Midway through her Manchester gig, Charli XCX addresses Douchegate. For those mercifully unaware of the spurious shit-storm, it involves LGBTQ fans requested she autograph increasingly...

Each night before introducing the post-truth anthem ‘Something To Believe’, Natalie Mering – aka Weyes Blood – conducts an audience straw poll: “Raise your...

An Extinction Rebellion protester https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdzd-lxOD84 What you’ll need: Did you know that Halloween celebrations generate over 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste from clothing and costumes alone?...

O come all Ye's faithful! Such have been the messianic pronouncements of Kanye West in the past that you might have expect Jesus himself...

1: Name all the stage monikers in your pre-Simple Minds band Johnny & The Self-Abusers. “I can’t do them all! Obviously I know I...

1: Which shock rocker recently covered your 1975 song ‘Your Mamma Won't Like Me’ for his ‘Breadcrumbs’ EP? “Oh, he’s a good friend of...

1: What Factory number is OMD’s 1979 debut single ‘Electricity’? “FAC 6.” CORRECT. “That’s a relief! (Laughs) Lindsay Reade, Tony Wilson’s ex-wife, confirmed with us...

1: Name the two frontmen of British rock bands who receive writing credits on your 2009 debut album ‘For Your Entertainment’. “Justin Hawkins from...

After a trio of fabulously rude, giddy records that were both sexually explicit and mordantly funny, Swedish pop powerhouse Tove Lo – beloved of Lorde, Courtney Love and Kylie Minogue – took some time out. “I was sick of myself,” she tells Gary Ryan as she headlines Girls To The Front, the NME gig series that celebrates badass women and non-binary artists. She reconnected with herself on upbeat new album ‘Sunshine Kitty’, which explores a new sense of peace. As she puts it: “It feels pretty cool to be comfortable in my own skin.”

‘When I met you in the restaurant/You could tell I was no debutante” sang Debbie Harry on Blondie’s imperious 1979 single ‘Dreaming’. In her...

1: Who once said of you: ‘If she’s so beautiful, stop standing there in your T-shirt and floppy fringe, and hush your hopeless falsetto...

1: To whom did you write a letter inviting her to your Royal Festival Hall gig in 2008? “Queen Elizabeth II. I’m already winning!” CORRECT. “Point...

Putting the ‘camp’ into summer camp, American Horror Story has returned for its ninth season with 1984: a knowing, love letter to the decade’s...

1: In 2005, Radio 1 had a competition to win a band/artist playing a gig at a listener’s school. Feeder were one of the...