Twas a sad day indeed last year when the announcement came to us that the Boo Radleys were packing it in. One of the last shining stars of the fading Creation Records roster, the Boos spent most of the 90's proving to us time and again that great music can push the envelope of creativity AND still come from the heart namely, the heart of guitarist and songwriter Martin Carr.

Well, the Boos may be gone, but Carr's far from history. Reinventing himself under the guise of Brave Captain, he's about to release his first new material since the breakup of the band. The 6-track mini-album, "The Fingertip Saint Sessions Volume 1" is due August 14 on Carr's newfound label, Wichita Recordings (formed by former Creation exec Dick Green and Carr's best friend, Mark Bowen.) All six tracks were recorded with the help of SFA and Gorky's producer Gorwel Owen, and the two are almost wholly responsible for every lick of music on the record - and that includes Carr's first stab at lead vocals.

Martin's been a supporter and acquaintance of Excellent Online for years, and we're pleased and proud to have been given the opportunity to conduct an interview with him just two weeks before the release of the new record.

Interview by Shane Brown

When you conjure up the image of the original British Invasion, what exactly comes to mind? The Beatles on Sullivan, sure. The Stones doing "Satisfaction," likely. Perhaps thoughts of the Dave Clark Five, the Yardbirds, maybe Gerry and the Pacemakers. Or maybe, just maybe, you think about Herman's Hermits -- a band that really didn't get a big enough nod in most music history annals, despite the fact that they managed to outsell the Beatles globally in 1965. With the help of tracks like "I'm Into Something Good," "There's a Kind of Hush," "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," and many others, the band were catapulted into stardom during the mid-60's. The fresh-faced leader of the Hermits was Peter Noone, a boy then of only 16 who had already made a name for himself acting on the BBC soap, "Coronation Street." Today, Peter Noone still maintains a hectic schedule. Having recently completed a US "Teen Idols Tour" with Davey Jones and Bobby Sherman, he's about to embark on a rather lengthy British tour. Noone has also recently launched his on-line project, www.peternoone.com, where Noone chats regularly (almost daily) with his fans. We were lucky enough to talk to Peter exclusively for Excellent Online as he was preparing a few warm-up shows for the UK tour.

Despite their relative anonymity in the U.S., thousands of fans abroad would clamor for the opportunity to share a couch and more than a few giggles with James Dean Bradfield. James was in good spirits and spoke for quite a while on this unseasonably hot autumn afternoon, the last day of the Manic Street Preachers' brief, topsy-turvy tour of America.

In the two weeks since the band landed in America, they had experienced the troubles they've come to expect from previous attempts to visit this continent -- "The curse has returned," remarked bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire during technical glitches in the middle of their penultimate performance (also in Los Angeles at the Troubadour). Familiar though this bumpy road was to the band, it became much more than laughably unpleasant when Bradfield was struck with laryngitis right at the start of things, forcing a cancellation of their second sold-out show in New York. Consulting a specialist, Bradfield was treated with cortisone injections which, due to his inexperience with steroids, affected him with "God-awful mood swings." Nature got in on the fun when Hurricane Floyd prevented the Manics from getting out of New York and making their Boston show on time, thus resulting in another cancellation.

After that, however, everything seemed to settle down and fate left the Manic Street Preachers alone. They are about to complete the tour, head back home to Wales (London for Bradfield), and have no other commitments save to plan their "Manics Millennium" show at Cardiff Stadium for New Year's Eve. A sense of relief is evident on James' face as he greets me for a chat.

Interview by Lisa Y. Garibay

At least according to the British music press, it seems that Nicky Wire has gone a bit haywire as of late and that the Manic Street Preachers have become the rock dinosaurs they once sought to destroy.

And depending on your level of cynicism, you might say the band's U.S. tour of 11 dates in nine cities -- with at least one last-minute cancellation -- isn't exactly the sign of a young-and-hungry act who'll do anything to make in the States.

Regardless, when I spoke to Nicky Wire from his home in Wales on the eve of the tour, he was affable and relaxed and seemed anxious to laugh off the criticism that's been leveled at his band.

Interview by Ross Raihala

It's September 1999, and the Super Furry Animals are making their way through the States in support of their brilliant third album, "Guerrilla." During the band's stop in Chicago, Excellent Online got to tag-team SFA frontman Gruff Rhys to find out the scoop on the new records, the current tour, and the whirlwind of critical acclaim that's usurping the band as we head into 2000. A full transcript of the interview is below, from start to finish. Thanks to Adam and all at Flydaddy for the assistance in this interview.

Interview by Shane Brown and Kari Winn

The Freestylers have just released one of the most important dance albums this year. What makes the album so important is the simple fact that you can dance to the entire record -- just put it on and it busts out the beats throughout! I found out about the Freestylers when my friend recommended them to me; at about the same time, I also heard them at a club. I picked up the import version of "We Rock Hard" and it totally knocked me on my ass.

On March 23, 1998, the Freestylers played at the World Club in Hollywood. They brought it all together with a full band, breakdancers, keyboards, and a DJ that took the place to a new level. Their concert really does the album justice because it sounds like a big party and that's exactly is what was happening on stage.

A few days later I was given the opportunity to interview them at a video shoot. As I drove up there were tons of people all around, a bunch of RV's, catering trucks . . . A video shoot for an unknown electonica band? It looked more like a Metallica video. I'm glad that Mammoth records are behind the Freestylers because they'll be the biggest dance act this year.

I was introduced to Aston Harvy and Matt Cantor who are the main music writers. DJ Jay Rock also joined the interview in its final stages.

Interview by Ajay Sharma

Excellent Online caught up with Harri from Kent towards the beginning of their U.S. tour with The Cardigans.

Interview by Stuart Forrest Reid

It's the day after Love and Rockets' penultimate show on their mini-tour about the U.S. to promote their latest record, Lift. Over 1,000 people (not all wearing Bauhaus t-shirts) turned out for free show in Anaheim, California, that more than exceeded their expectations. The band threw themselves into selections from Lift (RIP 20 C, Delicious Ocean, Holy Fool) and included some surprises -- a classic (Mirror People) and a wholly unexpected cover of T-Rex's 20th Century Boy (most recently covered by Placebo for the film "Velvet Goldmine"). Daniel Ash, David J, and Kevin Haskins had just finished a photo shoot in the offices of Red Ant Records in West Hollywood. They were extremely positive about sitting down for an interview, not minding at all that they were inside while outside the cloudless, 85-degree December day passed them by.

Interview by Lisa Y. Garibay

On the final night of their fourth and final U.S. tour of 1998, I spoke with Ross, Will, and Wojciech from Symposium. The band were in a good spirits, having just come offstage, and knowing that they would by flying back to London the next morning. The previous time they had been through the Metro, James Iha was in the house, and Ross had seemed a little bit starstruck at the sight of one of Chicago's best known pop stars milling about. He probably expected Michael Jordan to waltz by next. So I began by asking them who else they've gotten a chance to meet while touring....

Interview by Stuart Forrest Reid

The Candyskins have had a tough go at it. Debuting in 1991 with their album, "Space I'm In," the Oxford 5-piece created a sound that was Britpoppius Rex -- a wonderful pop sensibility unfortunately about four years ahead of its time for success. Mocked by the press and dropped by labels, most bands in the same boat would surely abandon ship. But the Candyskins are no Jurassic beasts -- they rode the storm to an unexpected UK Top 40 hit with 1996's "Monday Morning." Now, with the release of their fourth album, "Death of a Minor TV Celebrity," currently out in the States on the astounding Velvel label, the band are trying once again to conquer our side of the pond, drumming up grass roots support by mounting a massive tour of some less-than-massive venues throughout the US. On October 11th, the band took to the stage at Chicago's Schubas, and Excellent Online was front row center. Delivering a blinding set to a packed house of both old fans and new, this was the sound of a band in the middle of an energized rebirth, a band taking baby steps to greatness.

After the show, we had a chance to sit down with Candyskins frontman Nick Cope

Interview by Shane Brown and Stuart Forrest Reid