Jon Savage Journalist Profile

Articles

“The Secret Public,” on Music and Queer Culture, by Jon Savage: Book Review

Jan 24, 2025 | airmail.news | Blake Smith |Jon Savage

The Secret Public: How Music Moved Queer Culture from the Margins to the Mainstream by Jon Savage Looking back on the popular music of the 1950s to the 1970s, it’s almost unbelievable how performers from Liberace to the Village People were embraced by clueless (and often homophobic) heterosexual audiences. Didn’t the rhinestones and leather chaps set off any alarm bells?
The Faber Interview: Jon Savage

Jun 12, 2024 | faber.co.uk | Imogen Whiteley |Jon Savage

The idea was that each person would play what they thought was the heaviest record and everyone else would listen. While his peers put on songs by Black Sabbath and Deep Purple ‚Äď ‚Äėwhich I just thought were pish,‚Äô he sighs ‚Äď Savage played The Velvet Underground‚Äôs 1968 slab of noise, Sister Ray. ‚ÄėThey all fled,‚Äô he chuckles.
The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Resistance Shaped Popular Culture (1955-1979)

Jun 1, 2024 | literaryreview.co.uk | Jon Savage

A boy I knew as an adolescent, five years older than me and rather intimidating, looked like James Dean, loved Elvis and dressed as a Teddy Boy. I assumed it was some kind of virile self-identification. Growing up a bit of a sissy, I took against Dean, Presley and Teds. How surprised I was when this alarming boy started to live with a series of handsome young men and play a leading role in a gay group devoted to biking and leather.
Oasis' Definitely Maybe, 30 Years On

Apr 4, 2024 | esquiresg.com | Jon Savage

It’s late January, 1994. Alerted by a friend, I go to see a new Manchester group, Oasis, at The Water Rats near King’s Cross in London. There’s a buzz: the smallish venue is packed, which makes it difficult to see what is happening on the low stage. A couple of numbers in, I get it: they’re good.
Live Forever: Oasis's 'Definitely Maybe', 30 Years On

Feb 15, 2024 | esquire.com | Jon Savage

Camera PressIt’s late January, 1994. Alerted by a friend, I go to see a new Manchester group, Oasis, at The Water Rats near King’s Cross in London. There’s a buzz: the smallish venue is packed, which makes it difficult to see what is happening on the low stage. A couple of numbers in, I get it: they’re good.
The invention of the Teddy Boy

Feb 6, 2024 | newstatesman.com | Jon Savage

Just over 40 years ago, in October 1983, Time magazine’s European edition led with a cover depicting a feral Mohican punk, there to embody “The Tribes of Britain”. The story inside defined various youth subcultures – punks, skinheads, mods, rockabillies and Teddy boys – as “a symbolic throwback to the original tribes of Britain”, warring factions defined by costume and class that could explode into violence at any point.
#MusicExchange: Jon Savage returns with new track Hold Back the River

Oct 18, 2023 | bizcommunity.com | Martin Myers |Jon Savage

Jon Savage was the lead singer of the South African globe-trotting rock band Cassette, who won the South African Music Awards in the Best Rock Album category in 2007 for their debut album Welcome Back To Earth. He also co-wrote multiple collaborations for the 5FM collaborations including the The Parlotones ft Khuli Chana song Sleepwalker and the Van Coke Kartel/Seether collab track Goodbye Tonight.
Ecco come il nazismo stroncò i suoi giovani contestatori

Oct 2, 2023 | italiaoggi.it | Jon Savage

Le città tedesche grandi e piccole non erano mai state roccaforti naziste, perciò nei primi anni di guerra alcuni esponenti della generazione cresciuta sotto Hitler iniziarono a fondare i propri gruppi dissidenti. Queste bande di quartiere, di origini prevalentemente operaie, fondevano vaghi sentimenti antinazisti col variopinto stile wide boy.
Podcasting reinvigorating newsrooms in Africa

Sep 13, 2023 | bizcommunity.com | Nic Newman |Jon Savage

Podcasting has reinvigorated newsrooms in Africa, taking root on the continent and branching out and gaining traction - with significant innovations and interesting trends relevant to news organisations wanting to reach younger audiences.
7 entries shortlisted in the NYF Radio Awards for SA's Hot 102.7FM

Mar 23, 2023 | bizcommunity.com | Jon Savage

The New York Festivals has announced its Radio Awards shortlist, with seven entries from South Africa listed, all from the radio station, Hot 102.7FM. Image supplied. South Africa's radio station, Hot 102.7FM has seven entries listed in the New York Festivals Radio Awards ShortlistHot 102.7FM broadcasts to the greater Johannesburg area and beyond.