Matt Thorne
@8minutesidle
Author of six novels, three children’s books, one film and critical study of pop star Prince. MA Convenor in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. New book FAMOUS: Ego, Envy and Ambition in Rock, Pop and Hip-Hop out now.
Much preferred Prince’s adaptation of The Odyssey (Glam Slam Ulysses) to Christoper Nolan’s.
Absolutely EPIC James Brandon Lewis Quartet show at Cafe OTO tonight; one of the longest shows I’ve ever seen there.
Every time I go to the 02, I can't help but think of Prince, especially when it's a band he covered (B-52s, joint headliners with Devo tonight), but I reckon this was one of the most fun nights there since his legendary residency.
Lovely event at the new Lake District Book Festival, ably chaired by Ludovic Huntley-Tilney.
Random title, cover and track selection, but still a whole new Prince album (out 30th July) of unreleased music is very welcome.
Very enjoyable night watching Paul Simon, marred only by the lack of One-Trick Pony songs…
Delighted by this two-page piece on FAMOUS in the Daily Mirror today.
mdjthorne 19s R.I.P. J.H. Prynne, as fascinating a critic as he was a poet. One of those rare writers who was unfailingly interesting.
Ten years after his tragic passing, still nothing helps more than talking about him with others who loved him. There was @polishedsolid's #IWonderU40 conference at the weekend and today 6Music is devoting a "Prince Forever" day to him. I'm on Huw Stephens show this afternoon (starts at 4pm).
I’ll be appearing at the virtual part of this on Friday. If you’re in New York, do go along on Saturday or Sunday, these Prince conferences are always excellent.
Surely the only band who are ever going to slag off Su Pollard onstage at Wembley.
Had a great evening at Sound Affects in Brighton talking about new book FAMOUS.
Had a great time talking to Miranda Sawyer at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social about my new book FAMOUS last night.
Delighted by this review of FAMOUS in The Times today, so funny and perceptive and got exactly what I intended to do with the book.
Delighted (and grateful) to have my new book Famous: Ego, Envy and Ambition in Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop included in the Observer nonfiction highlights of 2026.
If I was a magazine subeditor, it’d be hard to resist ‘Sonic Woof’ (Thurston Moore Group, Oslo, tonight).
@pressfuturist.bsky.social Just found a copy of “inv 5”, do you remember what it was?