About me

Keith Cameron

Photograph by Steve Gullick

I’m an author, journalist and sub-editor. I live in the borough of Bromley, within earshot of the M25, about as far out of London as you can get and still officially be in London.

I was born in Inverness on the third-to-last day of 1965. I grew up in Fort William, the small town situated at the south-western end of the Great Glen, home to Ben Nevis, outdoor-clothing shops and rain.

The first 45 record I ever bought was Tiger Feet by Mud. The first album I ever bought was A New World Record by the Electric Light Orchestra. The first gig I ever went to was The Stranglers at Glasgow Apollo (rear stalls, £3.50) on February 25, 1981. And so it began…

In 1987 I graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA (Hons) in Politics & Modern History and moved to London to study journalism. In 1988 I became a freelance contributor to the weekly music paper Sounds. After Sounds was closed down in April 1991, I began contributing to the New Musical Express. In 2001, I dug myself in at MOJO magazine and have remained there ever since, currently as Contributing Editor.

From 1988 until the present day I have interviewed a wide range of musicians, including: AC/DC, Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Kate Bush, Buzzcocks, Nick Cave, Edwyn Collins, Julian Cope, Elvis Costello, The Cult, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Echo & The Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Hüsker Dü, Jesus And Mary Chain, Mark Lanegan, Mark Linkous, Lydia Lunch, John Lydon, Jeff Lynne, Manic Street Preachers, Johnny Marr, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Kylie Minogue, Mogwai, Morrissey, Nirvana, Oasis, Pavement, Pixies, Robert Plant, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, R.E.M., Keith Richards, Simple Minds, Siouxsie Sioux, Sizzla, Sonic Youth, Bruce Springsteen, Steel Pulse, The Stranglers, Pete Townshend, U2, Eddie Vedder, Paul Weller, White Stripes, Wire, Neil Young.

As a writer I have contributed to many other titles, including The Guardian, The Times, The Sunday Times, Scotland On Sunday, Q and Kerrang!. From 1997-98 I hosted a show on XFM, London’s alternative radio station. In 1999, I compiled an album based on my XFM show, ‘The Carve-Up’, released by Loose Music. It features rare and exclusive tracks from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Mogwai, Arab Strap, Low, Mudhoney and many more. It’s available for offensively low prices on Discogs.

In 2013, my book Mudhoney: The Sound And The Fury From Seattle was published by Omnibus Press. In 2014, the US edition was published by Voyageur Press. An updated edition was published by Omnibus Press in 2022.

I am very lucky to be married to Jenny, and we are honoured to share this life together with our son Hamish.

17 responses to “About me”

  • John Parks
    September 23rd, 2016 at 6:30 pm

    Hi Keith, Would you come on BBC World News next week to review the Bruce Springsteen autobiography? We’re the BBC’s global news channel & reach 80 million people. If you can message me. Thanks, John

    Reply
  • Nathan King
    August 1st, 2017 at 9:59 pm

    Keith,

    Would you be interested in taking part in a radio documentary charting the past and present of specialist music-based independent local radio and the likely impact of digital and online radio platforms for the specialist music areas?

    Do let me know.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  • Miftah
    November 14th, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Hi Keith! Sorry if this kinda bothering, but there’s one-two questions i’d like to ask about Seattle Sound & Nirvana related. Hope you’ll replying to my email.

    Best wishes
    Miftah

    Reply
  • Steven Kravac
    September 20th, 2018 at 3:23 pm

    Hi Keith

    Urge asked me to reach out to you on this story.

    Urge Overkill – Nash Kato – King Roeser Available for Interview – 25th Anniversary of “Saturation” – Vinyl Re-Issue

    Wondered if there’s any interest in this as an interview or story/review?

    This was literally one of the biggest records of the 90’s and may be fun to revisit.

    Link to the press release is below.

    Thanks very much for your time!

    Steve

    Porterhouse Records

    http://www.porterhouserecords.com
    F/B: facebook.com/Porterhouse.Records
    T: @Porterhouse_Rec

    Click to access saturation_Press.Rel.pdf

    Reply
  • david stevenson
    November 9th, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    Hi Keith,

    You were a massive influence on me growing up. I think we spoke at a rocket from the crypt gig under shake some action in Croydon over 20 years ago. I to went into journalism but found that to make a living for my family I had to write about finance. Still it’s better than law which I flirted with. I did interview Jello Biafra years ago though 😉

    Reply
  • numavi
    February 18th, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    Hi Keith. Two new Numavi Records releases you certainly like:

    MELT DOWNER
    Melt Downer (former members of the legendary Killed by 9V Batteries – Wolfgang Möstl and Mario Zangl with drummer Florian Giessauf in the back) rattling DIY-punk to hackneyed ideas steeped in trippy shoegaze through to illusory art-pop.
    https://numavi.bandcamp.com/album/alter-the-stunt

    RED GAZE are musically more punk than post punk – more CRISIS than THE CURE, more INSTITUTE than INTERPOL.
    https://numavi.bandcamp.com/album/cuts

    We would love to hear from you!

    All the best from Vienna
    Susi & the Numavis

    Reply
  • Luca Nesi
    September 10th, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    I have just read your article on the Stranglers, Mojo from 2003, maybe. Brilliant stuff, full of details, emotional and brave. You must write a book on the music that moved you the most!

    Cordially
    Luca, an italian living in Sweden, born 62.

    Reply
  • Jeff Gomez
    September 23rd, 2019 at 6:36 pm

    Hey there, I’d love to send you a book on Guided By Voices for a potential blurb. Can you send me your email address if you’re interested? Much thanks!

    Reply
  • Paul Snell
    August 13th, 2020 at 8:50 am

    Hi Keith, I’m trying in vain to track down Greg Freeman, a photographer that worked alongside you at Sounds. Are you still in touch with him? Thanks, Paul

    Reply
    • Keith Cameron
      August 16th, 2020 at 11:43 am

      Hi Paul,
      Apologies for not getting back sooner – I was on holiday last week and out of email range.
      My only connection to Greg these days is via Facebook. I can try sending him a message and let him know you’re trying to get in touch.
      All the best,
      Keith

      Reply
  • James Mountford
    June 9th, 2021 at 4:17 pm

    Hi Keith,
    I write a periodical magazine around the band The Mission, at the same time researching and archiving material for a full book. Now I was an avid Sounds kid back in the late 80’s so recall your work, but I’m unsure whether you ever did anything around the band, even moving into 90’s, but if you have anything that’s worth archiving I’d been keen to liaise with you accordingly. Thanks and take care,
    James Mountford

    Reply
    • Keith Cameron
      June 10th, 2021 at 9:58 am

      Hi James,
      You are quite correct, I never wrote a single word about The Mission for Sounds, bar possibly a passing mention in a Reading Festival live review. Lovely guys, from what colleagues told me, but I wasn’t a huge fan. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
      All the best,
      Keith

      Reply

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