This past year has been another incredible year of highs, and not many lows, and I’d like to thank everyone involved. That means all who have contributed to Mudkiss whether it be writing, reviewing, interviewing, or photographing, not forgetting all the artists, musicians, creative people, PR companies, record labels, and band managers - Melanie Smith

On a purely personal note, as many of you may be aware that live photography is my real forte and I have shot 46 shows of all genres and types this year and wanted to share some of my favourite moments in pictures with you all.

A Year In Photos - taken from the Mudkiss Photography archives: by Melanie Smith. www.mudkiss.com/myyearinphotos.htm

Mel shows off some of her favourite live show photographs from the year, and tells us why. Artists: Jessie Rose / The Virginmarys/ The Raveonettes/ Adam Ant/ The Phoenix Experiment / Dressing For Pleasure/ Sylver Tongue/ Chris Isaak/ Morten Harkett/ Scissor Sisters/ Jack White/ Tim Burgess/ The Damned/ Choking Susan/ Emilie Autumn/ Morrissey/ Ren Harvieu/ Palma Violets/ Jordan Reyne/ Icarus Line.

A few words from Andy Barnes: As the door to 2012 closes, one overriding word fills my mind....Thank you....on three separate levels.  Firstly, thank you to all the contributors to Mudkiss Fazine over the year, without your boundless enthusiasm and thirst for amazing underground music, we couldn’t exist.  We may have lost a few along the way, further education rightly taking priority, fortunately we’ve also gained a few, keeping the Mudkiss flag flying even higher in relation to interviews, album, single, EP and gig reviews, along with a whole raft of amazing images.

Secondly, thanks to you, the readers, who point your cursors and press your touch screens on a regular basis, bringing mudkiss.com, the Facebook pages or Twitter feeds to digital life. Your desire to hear something new and outstanding, fuels our yearning for discovery and dispersal of the word. A whole world of incredible music lies beneath the surface of mainstream day time radio, it’s our job to mind those seams and expose as much as humanly possible.

Thirdly, and most importantly, thank you to the artists we have featured and those we are yet to discover, as music becomes ever more a vocation and less a career, the sheer bloody mindedness of musicians to create, whatever the financial constraints or climate not only to be applauded, but also supported. Yes, it’s easy to obtain free music, but let’s make a communal resolution, buy just a touch more and help the bands and artists we love continue to produce such inspiring and thought provoking sounds and lyrics. Without them, the world would be a much more lacklustre place. Here’s to 2013, another voyage of aural discovery on the good ship Mudkiss.

A few words from a fine photographer & reviewer Shay Rowan: With a record breaking year of gigs under my belt - 2012 was an exceptionally fine year of music for me and the signs are all there that the coming year holds much promise indeed.
Having the opportunity to contribute to Mudkiss alongside such a talented set of photographers and writers whilst watching the site grow in stature and acquire increasing respect from all corners has certainly added to the pleasure. Without doubt the highlight of the year for me arrived in the form of a rain soaked morning photo shoot in the company of our illustrious leader Mel as we battled the elements to capture singer Little sparrow for this months [January] issue. Frustratingly cut short by the elements we both, nevertheless succeeded in getting some good results and I very much look forward to having another chance or two to learn from the 'master' again in the coming year as I look to sharpen up my photo skills!    - Shay Rowan

Freelance writer Teddie Dahlin takes a look back at 2012: As the year draws to a close, I find myself looking back at the amazing people I have met and had the pleasure of interviewing for Mudkiss. I started the year in a live chat with the beautiful and talented Anne Pigalle; French chanteuse and multi-artiste. Her erotique music and artwork is diverse and ever changing, yet still true to that which is punk inspired and different.

When Mudkiss was offered an interview with Killing Jokes Jaz Coleman, I practically begged my boss, Melanie Smith, give it me. Jaz is known as being tricky to interview and it was with mild trepidation that I met him at his West End hotel. I needn’t have worried, as it turned out. We got on famously and had an interesting chat about his past and his occult beliefs, which lasted much longer than the 45 minutes I had been allotted. He invited me and Mel to cover his Manchester gig.

Glen Matlock visited Oslo in May and we got together for lunch to talk about his solo tour and plans for the future. As many of you know; I knew the ‘other bassist’ of the Sex Pistols and it was a fantastic chance for me to meet Glen and talk a little bit about Sid, but mostly about what Glen has been up to after he was so famously fired from the job as Sex Pistols bass player in 1976. Glen is such a nice, easy going guy and it was a pleasure to meet him.

Oslo was proud to guest another punk icon this summer; Charlie Harper (UK Subs). He visited us to celebrate his close friend, Paul Mileman’s birthday and to play a gig with Pauls band Riots. I got a chat with him at the sound check and covered the gig. Such a gent and definitely still going strong.

Neon Leon and I chatted about his amazing musical career, spanning over 40 years in the business. He’s played with a lot of the great bands that came out of the east coast of the US and was famously a suspect in the murder of Nancy Spungen at the Chelsea Hotel, 1978. Mentored by the New York Dolls and the Rolling Stones, his life has certainly never been dull or without excitement. He is still touring, and making music.We look forward to seeing him in Oslo soon.

Finally as 2012 draws to a close I managed to get an interview with The Boys before the release of their new album. This is the first one from The Boys in over 30 years. They played Oslo and celebrated Casino Steel’s 60th birthday with two concerts in Casino’s home town, Trondheim. The new album has yet to be named and will be released next year.

Thank you to all the people who have read my interviews and who appreciate Mudkiss. We are a tight knit team at Mudkiss and we love what we do and will keep on delivering inspirational interviews and reviews for as long as you want to read about the movers and groovers; makers and shakers in the music industry.

An occasional interviewer for Mudkiss Helen Donlon: 2012 was a year of intense involvement with music writing for me - as a music book publicist, but also as a literary licensee and agent, a researcher, an interviewer and occasional critic. But largely it was other people's writing that occupied my daily (and often nightly) life over the last 12 months.With so much talent around it is difficult to name check everyone whose work affected me but here are a few…Sylvie Simmons, whose sensitive Leonard Cohen biography 'I'm Your Man' has just been named Biography of the Year by NPR's All Things Considered. Deservedly.

So I guess that only leaves me to wish you a Happy New Year!!

Let take a look back at what we did last year, you might want to revisit some of the dedicated reviews/interviews/ music or book reviews and features from the year of 2012.

LIVE SHOWS 2012 [95]

www.mudkiss.com/shows2012.htm

DECEMBER

• The Rainband/ Slydigs/Within Who @ HMV Ritz, Manchester 22/12/12
• Jessie Rose/ The Naughtys/ The Minx/ Chaddy @ Academy, Manchester 15/12/12
• Black Keys @ Manchester Arena 11/12/12
• Duncan Reid & The Bigheads / The Duel @ Buffalo Bar, London 05/12/12
• The Raveonettes @ Sound Control, Manchester 01/12/12

NOVEMBER

• Martyn Joseph / Luke Jackson @ The Met, Bury 30/11/12
• Dan Mangan/ Jason Collett @ The Haunt, Brighton 29/11/12
• Stiff Little Fingers/ Spear Of Destiny @ Sub 89, Reading, 23/11/12
• Kathryn Roberts/ Seth Lakeman @ The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge - 'Folk Roots Festival'10/11/12
• Vive Le Pink @ The Black Heart, Camden 23/11/12
• Buckcherry @ HMV Institute Birmingham 21/11/12
• Music For Cities: Tim Burgess/ Peter Hook & The Light/ Puressence/ Sivert Hoyem/ Jake Evans/ with guests Rowetta @ Manchester Cathedral 15/11/12
• The Revival Tour 2012 @ Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth 12/11/12
• The Boys/ Hard Luck Street @ Kampen Bistro, Oslo, Norway 09/11/12
• Jack White/ Willy Moon @ Empress Ballroom, Blackpool 06/11/12
• Damnation Festival @ The Student Union, University of Leeds 03/11/12

OCTOBER

• Barclay James Harvest @ HMV Ritz, Manchester 19/10/2012
• Texas Terri, Rat Scabies, Brian James @ St Pauls Church Brentford, London 26/10/12
• Scissor Sisters @ Manchester Apollo 20/10/12
• Ian Hunter & The Rant Band / Otis Gibbs @ Komedia, Bath 23/10/10 
• Terry Reid @ Blue Cat Cafe, Stockport 11/10/12 
• The Virgin Marys / Book Thieves @ Liverpool Academy 10/10/12 
• Ren Harvieu @ HMV Ritz, Manchester  09/10/12
• Mudkiss Music Showcase @ The Railway Venue, Bolton 05/10/12
• Twisted Wheel / Deadbeat Echoes @ Sound Control, Manchester 04/10/12
• Chris Isaak @ Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 04/10/12 
• Little Sparrow @ The Deaf Institute 02/10/12

SEPTEMBER

• The Rubys @ Day & Night Cafe, Manchester 28/09/12
• The Loaded Dice @ Joshua Brooks, Manchester 30/09/12
• Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia @ Camp & Furnace 29/09/12
• Beth Jean Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny @ Deaf Institute. Manchester 25/09/12
• Rae Morris @ Matt & Phred's Manchester 26/09/12
• Cheap Cuts @ Carsons, Middleton, Manchester 21/09/12
• Sam Forrest / Dark Town Jubilee @ Blue Cat Cafe, Stockport 19/09/2012
• Salford Music Festival [The Lowry Studio] 20/21/22 Sept 2012
• The Cult /The Mission @ Manchester Apollo 10/09/12
• Rochdale Feel Good Festival 2012 @ Rochdale Town Centre 01/09/12

AUGUST

• Charlie Harper/Riots/Diagnosis 666 @ Revolver, Oslo 5/08/12
• Boomtown Fair Festival @ Winchester 9th - 12th August
• Rebellion Punk Festival - Day 3 & 4 @ Winter Gardens, Blackpool
• Rebellion Punk Festival - Day 2@ Winter Gardens, Blackpool 03/08/12 
• Rebellion Punk Festival - Day 1@ Winter Gardens, Blackpool 02/08/12

JULY

• Morrissey/ Kristeen Young @ MEN, Manchester 28/07/12 
• Cambridge Folk Festival @Cherry Hinton Hall 27.07.12
• Warrington Music Festival @ Golden Square, Warrington 14/07/12
• Little Sparrow @ Wainsgate Chapel, Old Town, Hebden Bridge 08/07/12
• JP Cooper @ The Castle Hotel, Manchester 7/07/12
• No Ceremony /// Cloud Boat @ Salford Sacred Trinity Church 05/07/12
• Roxette @ MEN, Manchester 04/07/12
• Garbage/ The Jezebels @ Manchester Academy 1 03/07/12
• The Psychedelic Furs @ HMV Ritz, Manchester 02/07/12

JUNE

• Stone Roses @ Heaton Park, Manchester 30/06/12
• The International Swingers @ The Palm Desert, The Hood, USA 29/06/12
• Pearl Jam / X @ MEN, Manchester 20/06/12
• Guillemots / Lyxx @ The Hard Rock Cafe, Manchester 19/06/12
• The Rezillos @ Brundell Social Club, Leeds 15/06/12
• Dot To Dot Festival, Manchester 04/06/12
• The Chapman Family / White Swallow / Cry Baby Aeroplanes @ Mad Ferret, Preston 09/06/12
• Tom Williams And The Boat / The Gramotones / Clockwork Radio @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester 08/06/12 
• Choc Electrique/ Dressing For Pleasure/ Jeramiah Ferrari @ The Avenue, Leigh, Wigan 02/06/12
• Nice & Sleazy Punk Festival in Morecambe - June 1,2,3rd June 2012
• The Charlatans @ Manchester Apollo 01/06/12

MAY

• Buzzcocks: 'Back To Front @ Manchester Apollo 25/05/12 
• The Stone Roses @ Warrington, Parr Hall 23/05/12
• The Lady: Homage To Sandy Denny @ Royal Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool 19/05/12 
• Liverpool Sound City 2012 - Venues across the Liverpool 17/05/12 - 19/05/12
• Morten Harket @ The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 11/05/12
• Happy Mondays / Inspiral Carpets @ MEN, Manchester 05/05/12 

APRIL

• Chris Helme @ Salford Trinity Church, Manchester 20/04/12
• East End Babylon: Cockney Rejects @ Koko, Camden 26/04/12
• The Miserable Rich / Arthur Rigby & The Baskervylles / Stephen Langstaff @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester 20/04/12 
• LostProphets/ Modestep @ Manchester Academy 1 20/04/12
• The Jim Jones Revue/ Y Niwl @ 53 Degrees, Preston 19/04/12
•  Emilie Autumn @ HMV Ritz, Manchester 14/04/12
• Cast @ @ HMV Ritz, Manchester 07/04/12
• 2:54/Palma Violets @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester 04/04/12 
• Those Darlins/WhiteVinyl/The Calimocho Club @ The Ruby Lounge 03/04/12

MARCH

• Ian McNabb @ Manchester Academy 31/03/12
• The Rifles/ Daystar @ HMV Ritz 30/03/12 
• Feist @ Manchester Apollo 26/03/12
• Sharks/Crowns/Throwing Things @ The Star & Garter, Manchester 29/03/12
• Zulu @ The Victoria Pub, Dalston, London 30/03/12
• The Adjusters [Last Show] @ The Boulevard, Wigan 16/03/12
• Wasted Life @ The Box, Crewe 10/03/12
• Killing Joke/ The Icarus Line/The Crying Spell @ Manchester Academy 10/03/12
• Jordan Reyne @ Bolton Railway Pub 09/03/12
• The Stranglers/ The Popes/ Mike Marlin @ Liverpool Academy 05/03/12 
• The Jezabels/ Shinies/ Liberty Vessels @ The Ruby Lounge 02/03/12
• Sleigh Bells / Charli XCX @ Manchester Academy 2 02/03/12

FEBRUARY:

• Pulled Apart By Horses/The Computers @ Manchester Club Academy, 17/02/12
• Spector @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester18/02/12
• Melissa Etheridge @ Manchester Academy 16/02/12
• Jenny Lindfors/ Rachel Wright/ Seamus McLouglin @ The Castle, Manchester 07/03/12
• The Black Keys/Band Of Skulls @ Manchester Apollo 07/02/12

JANUARY:

• Wild Flag @ Sound Control, Manchester 31/1/2012
• The Maccabees/Trailer Trash Tracys @ HMV Ritz, Manchester 28/01/12
• Adam Ant & The Good, The Mad, & The Lovely Posse @ 53 Degrees, Preston 20/01/12
• Gasoline Thrill/Casino 13 @ The Railway Venue, Bolton 13/01/12

INTERVIEWS 2012 [54]

www.mudkiss.com/interviews2012.htm

 MUSICIANS:

1. The Delaplains: Catch This Train Before Glastonbury Beckons Interview by Andy Barnes
2. The Lost Souls Club: A Change Of Weather - Review By Matt Crane / Interview by Eva Jostakova
3. Jessie Rose: 2013 Will be A Biggy - Interview By Eva Jostakova
4. Sisterbutterfly: Revolution Is The Norm - Interview by Svenja Block
5. The Boys: First Boys Album In 32 Years - Interview by Teddie Dahlin
6. Neon Leon: Hero Instead Of Zero - Interview by Teddie Dahlin
7. Keith Levene: A Search For Absolute Zero - Interview by Kathy DiTondo
8. The Rubys: Shake You Free - Interview By Nigel Cartner
9. Chris Fox: At Odds With the World? - Interview By Melanie Smith
10. Rebekka Karijord: Embracing Life - Interview By Melanie Smith
11. John Curran: Eight Years Of Incassum, Not In Vain - Interview By Andy Barnes
12. Charlie Harper: Hanging Out With Charlie In Oslo - Interview By Teddie Dahlin
13. Turrentine Jones: Bringing Blues Back To Life - Interview By Nigel Cartner
14. The Gramotones: Playing A Round With The Gramotones  Interview by Andy Barnes
15. Rowetta Manchester: Diva Of Manchester - Interview By Nigel Cartner
16. John Maher: Buzzin About Another Reunion? - Interview By Melanie Smith
17. Carol Hodge: Music Is My Life, My Passion - Interview By Melanie Smith & Phil King
18. Louise Distras: Exorcising Demons - Interview By Melanie Smith and Phil King 
19. Nina Antonia & Jerome Alexandre: Just A Warning To The Curious - Interview By Melanie Smith
20. Jonny Cola And The A -Grades: Loving The Alien, Music With Rocks In - Interview By Chumki Banerjee
21. P.P Arnold: Woman In Chains - Interview By Chumki Banerjee
22. Glen Matlock: Flying Solo In Norway - Interview By Teddie Dahlin
23. Mark Laff: De-Stressing With Mr Laff, As We Discuss Punk And Beyond - Interview By Melanie Smith
24. Chris Helme: Doing It Himself - Interview By Nigel Cartner
25. Lost Prophets: We Love What We Do - Interview By Oliver Urwin
26. Blind Atlas: Like Honey To A Bear, Watch It Drip, Can't Keep Away - Interview By Chumki Banerjee
27. The Last Party: Bringing A Thousand Smiles - Interview By Nigel Cartner
28. Wolfcrusher: Europe...Or Andrew Lloyd Webber - Interview By Andy Barnes
29. Honningbarna: A Family Dinner WIth The Honeychildren? ...."Ah Faen" - Interview By Andy Barnes
30. The Icarus Line: [Joe Cardamone] Still On The Lash And Living The Wildlife? - Interview By Andy Barnes
31. Lindi Ortega: Behind The Veil - Interview By Phil King / Shay Rowan
32. The Computers: Music Is Dead - Interview By Callum Barnes
33. Furious: Rage Against The Machine, Take Elton John For A Slide On Their 'Duck Arse' Ride - Interview By Chumki Banerjee
34. Jaz Coleman:[Killing Joke] Still Alive And Altogether - Interview By Teddie Dahlin
35. thePictureshow: Karaoke With David Guest Under The Crying Tree That Never Sleeps? - Interview By Andy Barnes
36. Those Darlins: [Jessi Darlin] Heading To The UK In A Flurry Of Excitement, Pantie Throwing, Orgasms And...Wiffleball? - Interview By Mel
37. The Spires: Pretentious Or Fray Bentos?..The Lucid Abstractions Of Spires - Interview By Andy Barnes
38. Straylings: The Unravelling Of The Straylings - Interview By Nigel Cartner
39. Ricky Warwick: [Thin Lizzy Frontman] 12 Months on - You'r Still Only As Good As Your Last Gig - Interview By Andy Barnes
40. The Phoenix Experiment: Time To Step Into The Light Interview By Andy Barnes
41. Gaye Black: Much More Than A One Chord Wonder - Interview By Jeffrey Munday
42. Samara Kain: [Gasoline Thrill] Fuelled By The High Energy Ride Interview By Mel
43. Anne Pigalle: L'âme érotique [The Erotic Soul] Interview By Teddie Dahlin
44. Dressing For Pleasure: Its My Pleasure - Interview By Mel
45. Enter Shikari: Shikari Mate....Shikari, Standing Like Eco Statues Interview By Callum Barnes 

 CREATIVE AND INTERESTING PEOPLE:  

46. Alex Ogg & Russ Bestley - The Art Of Punk - Interview By Helen Donlon
47. Zoë Howe: An Almighty Writer - Interview By Helen Donlon
48. Bink: The Fashion World Isn't A World That Interests Me! Interview By Melanie Smith
49. Mick Middles: Recounting Tales Of The Stone Roses - Interview By Helen Donlon
50. Kris Needs: A Tale Of Ambiguous Picture Postcards – Interview By Helen Donlon
51. Chris Hewitt: A Musical Entrepreneur - Interview By Nigel Cartner
52. Anthony Pedone: [Writer/Film-maker/visionary & more] Prison, Punk, And Filming - Interview By Liz Lacey
53. Mary O' Meara: [Author] Between The Lines - Interview By Nigel Cartner
54. Chris Ward: [Playwright] Breaking Boundaries - Interview by Lorraine Reeves 
    

NEW MUSIC REVIEWS 2012

We had a massive number of albums, singles and EP’s sent across for us to review this year. So please check them all out on this link below.

www.mudkiss.com/musicreviews.htm

Blog Sound Of 2013: Who Will You be Listening To Next Year?

www.mudkiss.com/blogsoundof2013.htm

Best of year: Andy wanted to tell us what he predicts will be the ones to watch out for this year….from Metal to Folk and in-between!

Andy’s UK Metal Top Ten to watch out for in 2013: For those more inclined towards heavier musical aspects, here's a UK metal top ten of bands to look out for in 2013. Spires/Incassum/Talanas/Collibus/Bisonhammer/Agonyst/Dragged Into Sunlight/Huron /Sanguine/Kamikaze Test Pilots. - www.mudkiss.com/topukmetaltipsfor2013.htm 

Andy’s Top Tips for 2013: A selection of bands / artists I have high hopes will really break through in 2013, some new, some not so new, but all worthy far more attention. Golden Fable/Feldspar/Palma Violets/The Gramotones/The Delaplains/Christine Owman/Savages -  www.mudkiss.com/andystoptipsfor2013.htm

Andy Barnes shares his top 10 albums of 2012: www.mudkiss.com/andytop10albums2012.htm

BOOK REVIEWS 2012

We are very fortunate at Mudkiss that we have Den Browne who is a voracious reader, particularly of music related tomes. We are also very lucky indeed that Omnibus Books consider us worthy enough to send press copies for reviewing. This has been keeping Den a very busy Man indeed this year sourcing music related books. Check this long list of books reviewed by Den.

www.mudkiss.com/bookreviews.htm

 Books reviewed by Den Browne 2012

'Parellel Lives': by Dick Porter & Kris Needs - reviewed by Melanie Smith

MUDKISS SPECIAL FEATURES

www.mudkiss.com/features.htm

In addition to our own regular team, we had a few contributors, from Chanteuse Anne Pigalle, writer Mary M’Meara, singer, songwriter James DeMalplaquet and Liverpool lovely  Lacey.

Blue Cat Blues.............By Mary O'Meara

The closing of the Blue Cat will narrow a passageway that's already largely blocked....that passageway being a launch-pad for new bands, new songwriters, new talents to come and transfer their sounds from bedroom/garage to stage. Many did it and did it so successfully they moved rapidly on to bigger things. Karima Francis, Nell Bryden & Jessie Rose all stood on that stage as virtual unknowns. Haven, Lee Griffiths, even most recently Terry Reid plugged in and bared their souls at 17 Shaw Road. Read the full feature here

Anne PigalleE: HalTe Au Viol Artistique - By The Last Chanteuse - English translation [Stop raping artists] - "That is how it feels: not physically raped, but intellectually raped, for sure…"here

Liz Lacey: Notes From A Broad - Liz Lacey, a Liverpool lovely, is going to delight us with her quirky insights and essays. She has been a CEO of several organisations in the arts and education sectors, set up and run a number of businesses, including burlesque and cabaret events. She is now a freelance writer, or Mouse For Hire, self-employed management /PR consultant and lecturer. She returned to Liverpool from London in 1999, and has felt quite smug about this ever since. Keep watching folks. Catch her on this page 

James De Ma;plaquet: An exclusive piece of writing for Mudkiss readers. An A - Z guide to the making of the new album, and beyond -  'Miss You In The Day' - prior to release. http://www.mudkiss.com/themiserablerichatoz.htm

EVENTS/ REPORTS 2008 – 2012

www.mudkiss.com/reportsevents.htm

We had a couple of events this year from fire eaters to exhibitions, to a Coronation Street play, to a DVD review.

• Dia De La Muertos Fiesta: @ Hellfire Club, Manchester 02/11/12
• Black Monday: Last Days Of FAC251 Dvd
• 'Thirty One” charity album launch for CALM (The Campaign Against Living Miserably) @ The Band On The Wall, Manchester 13/02/12 
• Blank Generation: A Collection Of Original Punk Posters - Preview Night 26/01/12
• Coronation Street 1968: “The Wedding of Dennis & Jenny” @ The Lass O’Gowrie, Manchester 14/01/12

HAPPY READING