Tom Dunne: Why music journalists need to be big and brave and honest

As John Landau did when he first saw a young Bruce Springsteen in 1974, music writers should not be afraid to sing the praises of brilliant new talent

Jon Landau was blown away by Bruce Springsteen when he saw him support Bonnie Raitt in 1974. PIcture: Monty Fresco/Evening Standard/Getty

Wed, 24 Jan, 2024 - 21:30

Tom Dunne

Tom Dunne is a music-lover extraordinaire who, as well as presenting radio and TV shows, can also be seen in the wild as the lead singer with Something Happens.

Charles Shaar Murray is a man who was known once in music circles as 'the rock critic’s rock critic'. He said that the mission of a music journalist was “to burst some f**king balloons, BBQ some dinosaurs, go out there, find the future and when we find it praise it to the skies". It’s a sentiment that still makes me high five the air.

“You said it, Charles,” I find myself saying, “Now, could you say it again, for the people at the back, and those who got here late!”