Dominic Utton
U.K. Editor and Chief WriterDominic Utton is Q's U.K. Editor and Chief Writer and a journalist of over 25 years’ experience. He started out writing about bands in Manchester for the independent magazine Flux, which he co-founded… and is somehow still writing about the same Manchester bands nearly three decades later. Along the way he’s freelanced for and held staff positions on numerous magazines and newspapers, authored two novels and a bunch of non-fiction books, and written podcasts and TV shows in the U.K. and U.S. He also DJs regular Indie Disco nights and plays in a new wave/Britpop covers band. Liam Gallagher once called him “Mr. Fabulous”. It was in public, too. There were witnesses and everything.
More From Dominic Utton
On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 27, 2000: Ian Dury, Greatest Lyricist of his Generation, Dies
Dury's lyrics were by turns funny, tender, rude, cutting, romantic… and always whip-smart.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 24, 1990: Sinéad O'Connor Delivers a Masterpiece
'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got' reached No. 1 on this day, but it would be the album's second single that sealed Sinéad's legacy.Features A Best Friend's Betrayal, the Loss of an Unborn Child, or the Pain of a Doomed Love Affair? The Tragic Story Behind Stevie Nicks' 1979 Masterpiece, 'Sara'
From an impossibly tangled personal life, Nicks found inspiration for a song that still resonates 45 years later.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 23, 1991: 'Out of Time' Gives R.E.M. First U.K. No. 1
The album was the band's most successful to that point – but also included what is for many fans R.E.M.'s most hated songOn This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 22, 1965: Bob Dylan Releases 'Bringing It All Back Home'
Dylan’s fifth album marked the moment he went electric – and was also his big commercial breakthrough.Music Poet Laureate Simon Armitage tells Q About his Music Project 'Blossomise' for World Poetry Day
Armitage’s band LYR have released a five-track music-and-poetry EP as part of a project with the National Trust’s annual Blossom campaign.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 21, 1999: Blur Top the Album Chart With '13'
The album was the former Britpoppers' fourth consecutive No. 1 LP – and their masterpiece.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 20, 1977: T. Rex Play Final U.K. Concert
The Portsmouth show came six months before Marc Bolan's tragic death.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 19, 1957: Elvis Presley Buys Graceland
The 'Memphis Press-Scimitar' reported that the 'Traditional, Southern beauty of Graceland may well have saved Memphis its most famous resident.'Music RIP Steve Harley: Cockney Rebel and Creator of 'Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)'
'In many ways he was the angry young man of 1974-5. But he was just stating his case. He was stating: I'm me, this is me now. Look at me.'On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 18, 1977: The Clash Release 'White Riot'
The debut single by The Only Band That Matters was a clarion call for a generation.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 17, 1978: U2 Enter the Limerick Civic Week Pop '78 Competition
'I put a face on me and said: "U2 is not a great name, if you don't mind me saying".'On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 16, 1968: Otis Redding Becomes the First Artist to Score a Posthumous No. 1 Single
'Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay' was recorded just three days before Redding's death – and remains 'unfinished' to this day.The Q Interview 'We Were Bright, We Had an Attitude, a Revolutionary Kind of Vibe': Jah Wobble Talks Public Image Ltd, 'Plunging Into Death', Spiritual Redemption and the Beauty of the Bass Guitar
'Four strings is like the power of the cosmos. It conjures up something that shouldn't be possible, this immense weight, this power.'On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 15, 1955: Ray Charles Proves the Devil Really Does Have all the Best Tunes
Ray's revolutionary reworking of a gospel standard for 'I've Got a Woman' caused outrage, but laid the foundation for all soul music that followed.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 14, 1995: Tupac Shakur Becomes the First Man to Top the Album Charts While Imprisoned
'Me Against the World' would be described by the rapper as 'explaining my lifestyle, who I am, my upbringing and everything. It talks about the streets but talks about it in a different light.'On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 13, 1995: Radiohead Release 'The Bends'
The band's second album would silence the critics – and clear a way for greater glories to come.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 12, 2007: Amy Winehouse Makes Her U.S. Television Debut
Three-and-a-half magical minutes on David Letterman brought Amy to the world – and opened the floodgates for a generation of British female singers.Music The Vinyl Revival Continues: LPs Now Used to Calculate Cost of Living
Physical albums have been reintroduced as an official means of calculating inflation for the first time since 1992.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 11, 1996: Jarvis Cocker Cleared of 'Assaulting Children' After Waving His Bottom at Michael Jackson
'I was just sat there and watching it and feeling a bit ill, cos he's there doing his Jesus act,' Jarvis later explained.The Q Interview LIAM GALLAGHER & JOHN SQUIRE: THE NORTH WILL RISE AGAIN
'This here is what we do. John's playing out of his skin and I’m singing great, and it is what it is… It's not hard making music when you know what you're doing.' – Liam GallagherShows & Festivals The BBC 6 Music Festival is Back – We've Asked the Station's Presenters for Their Past Festival Highlights
'Seeing a huge stadium band up close, playing some of their biggest hits, was a gig I'll never forget.'Music 'Like Something From Outer Space' – 70 Years of the Fender Stratocaster, the Guitar That Changed the World
From Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan to the Arctic Monkeys, Nile Rodgers to Idles, the Strat has soundtracked more iconic moments than any other instrument.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 5, 1957: Mark E. Smith, Poet, Provocateur, Genius Is Born
'The great thing about rock and roll is, any idiot can play it. The bad thing about rock and roll is, any idiot can play it.'Music Never Heard of Zenana? Turns Out Their Forgotten 1986 Song Might Just be Europe's Next Club Banger
After recording one single before splitting, the all-female trio are making the most unlikely comeback, thanks to a chance find by a Bristol DJ.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 4, 2019: Keith Flint, Prodigy Frontman and Twisted Firestarter, Dies
'He took this role of the firestarter and turned it into this tangible persona that meant something to audiences, generation after generation after generation.'Music BRITs Roundup: Record Breaking Raye Seals Dominant Night for Women
'All I ever wanted to be was an artist, and now I'm an artist with an album of the year,' the six-time winner said. 'Thank you so much, this is too much - come on Grandma, let's go!'On This Day In Music On This Day in Music… March 2, 2016: Bob Dylan Sells Personal Archive to the University of Tulsa
The collection now spans 100,000 items including handwritten lyrics and master tapes and is located at a dedicated Bob Dylan Center in the city.Music Remembering the First BRIT Awards – Surprising for all the Right Reasons
Despite its reputation for stuffiness, the new ceremony would (mostly) embrace new wave and post-punk acts.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… March 1, 1973: Chris Difford Puts Advert in Newsagent's Window. Only One Man Responds, Magic Follows
Together Difford and Glenn Tilbrook would be dubbed 'The new Lennon and McCartney'.Music New Eels Album Incoming, Listen to Lead Single 'Time' First Here
What’s the time? 'EELS TIME!' apparently.Music Brett Anderson and Charles Hazlewood Unveil Orchestral Covers Album, 'Death Songbook'
The 12 're-imaginings' of tracks by Suede, Depeche Mode and others was recorded live with the Paraorchestra during lockdown.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 29, 2012: Davy Jones, King Monkee, Dies
'Wherever I go, people still shout out: "Hey, hey, we're the Monkees!" And I never tire of that.'The Q Lists The 10 Most Memorable BRITs Live Performances
Yes they’re often cheesy. Sure, they’re relentlessly slick. Okay, there’s a whiff of the corporate about the whole thing. But the BRITs do occasionally produce some cracking live performances. As we anticipate this year’s ceremony on March 2, here’s 10 of the most memorable…Music Raye Scoops BRITs Songwriter of the Year Award, More Surely to Follow
The 26-year-old Londoner will be contesting a record-breaking seven further gongs at this year's ceremonyOn This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 28, 1986: George Michael Announces Wham! Split
'Wham! is the story of our friendship because Wham! was an expression of our friendship, made into music.'On This Day In Music On This Day in Music… February 27, 1991: James Brown Is Paroled After Two Years in Prison
The Godfather of Soul was jailed for resisting arrest after a car chase across two States.Music 'Satanic' Taylor Swift Performing 'Demonic Rituals', According to Former Boyband Star
Boyzone member Shane Lynch warned: 'Rituals, ceremonies, everything to give light to the devil, to Satan. It's a satanic music industry.'On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 26, 1983: 'Thriller' Tops the U.S. Charts
The revolutionary, genre-mashing album would produce seven Top 10 singles and go on to become the best-selling LP of all time.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 24, 1992: Kurt Cobain Marries Courtney Love
The doomed union took place just one month after 'Nevermind' topped the U.S. album charts.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 23, 1985: The Smiths Score Their Only No. 1 With 'Meat Is Murder'
The Indie legends' second album was arguably their most adventurous release.The Q Interview Bodega: 'Believing in a Great Band Can Be a Life-Changing Thing'
The NYC Cultural Agitators give the skinny on 'Art Punk', brand identity and why their new album is about 'having a crisis of faith in rock music and trying to redeem it at the same time.'On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 22, 2004: 'Anarchy in the UK' Named Most Influential Record of the 1970s
Five days after their debut single reached its peak chart position in early 1977, the Sex Pistols were dropped by EMI for swearing on live television.Shows & Festivals Review: Ash at the 100 Club, London – Exhilarating Rock in a Legendary Venue
The three-piece delivered a storming set as part of BRITs Week for Warchild 24's series of one-off intimate gigs.Music More BRIT Awards Performers Announced: Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding to Join Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa and Others
The duo will perform their 2023 smash 'Miracle' at the ceremony on March 2.On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 21, 1970: 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' Hits No. 1 in the U.K.
Simon & Garfunkel's magnum opus would spend 331 weeks in the chart and over 30 weeks at No. 1 – and lead to the breakup of the songwriting partnership.Music Noel Gallagher to Sell Signed Custom Gibson Guitars for Teenage Cancer Trust
The 20 hand-signed '78 Custom Les Paul guitars will be available Saturday February 24 only.Music Never Tear Us Apart: What Killed INXS Frontman Michael Hutchence?
'He was just a beautiful, beautiful boy. He was a miracle. And if we only had him for a little while, we were lucky we had that miracle for a little while.'On This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 19, 1980: Bon Scott, 'Greatest Frontman of All Time' Dies
The AC/DC singer and legendary hellraiser's final hours remain the subject of controversy and conspiracy theoryOn This Day In Music On This Day In Music… February 18, 2000: John Lennon's Secret FBI Files Finally Revealed
President Nixon had ordered the Bureau to keep tabs on the singer after he was deemed a threat to national security.