| IAN BIRCH
Editor-in-Chief, TV Guide
Ian Birch began his publishing career as a writer in the late 1970s at Melody Maker, then one of the worlds leading music weeklies. In 1981 he moved to the newly launched Smash Hits, which became the UKs most celebrated and award-winning music magazine. He moved to the United States in 1990 to edit Us for three years, returning to the UK to join Emap as its Editorial Director. He launched and relaunched more than 10 titles including Elle, Red, Heat and Closer. He is a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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This is a photo from the mid-80s when Ian Birch was at Smash Hits. Ian is at the far left with his head below the poster. Neil Tennant, now of the Pet Shop Boys, is also in the photo (looking sideways between the woman in the hat and the man with champagne (who happens to be Mark Ellen, founder of Q and Mojo magazines.) |
Ian Birch's Playlist for The AMC Afterparty
( denotes: check out the song!)
 I Saw Her Standing There
The Beatles
Elton John recently described seeing the Beatles in concert as "like seeing God." I agree. Even though I saw them when I was 11 at the Ritz cinema in Belfast. My mother incredibly got tickets because she knew a cameraman at the local TV station, who clearly had major influence. She took me and all I remember is the noise of screaming teenage girls and the sight of The Beatles far away on stage in those sharply tailored suits. Perfect.
Brown-Eyed Girl
Van Morrison
Every Friday afternoon at school in Belfast, we had a double period of French. It was in the brand new language laboratory. Van Morrison, who then fronted the group Them, would often rehearse in a building close by. I would slip my headphones from my ear to my cheek (the teacher didn't notice) and instantly got lost in the opening chords of Gloria. I chose Brown-Eyed Girl because it swings and it's sexy. Now, why can't Bono sing like this?
"Suffragette City"
David Bowie
I saw Bowie with my girlfriend at the time (now wife) on his legendary Ziggy Stardust tour when he was on fire as an artist and performer. It was January 5, 1973, at Greens Pavilion in Glasgow, Scotland. He played this. Magic.
Blitzkrieg Bop
The Ramones I had started as a lowly freelancer for the mighty UK music weekly, Melody Maker, and to my amazement, they asked me if Id like to go on tour with The Ramones. Their tour bus was full of American comics they had had shipped over. Bliss.
"Teenage Kicks"
The Undertones
Barely teenagers, this Irish band released one of punks perfect singles in 1978. I interviewed lead singer Feargal Sharkey in his moms kitchen in Derry. Not a publicist, agent, minder or stylist in sight. Happy days.
Check out the AMC Afterparty playlists of:
Dana Fields | Raymond Roker | Brandon Holley | Rob Gregory | Steve Murphy
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