Minchella learned the business the hard way - perhaps the best way - on the pub circuit, playing professionally for the first time in 1987, two years before the golden break with Ocean Colour Scene.

As The Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows' fades out over the PA, the feedback groan of Barrie Cadogan's Gibson splits the air, a white umbilical guitar lead coiling obscenely into the amp. Five minutes into the gig and the band has put a grip on a crowd who twist with delight in the dark womb of the club.

Serious-minded songwriters have returned. Gone is the foul, metastasising era of Stock Aitken and Waterman and their 'Hit Factory', swept aside at long last by a tide of musicians dedicated to making music of depth that resonates with a music-loving public, a public which is awakening from its own bad dream of botox, gussets and 'Zig-a-zig-ah'.

Geek culture has been growing and getting more and more accepted and commercialized over the last decade. A far cry from when I was in high school desperately hiding my Star Trek addiction. Now, the top movies every summer are from franchises like Star Trek, Iron Man, or the Avengers.

Emerging Icons is a site that's chock-a-block with fresh, new musical talent and it's a real pleasure to share some of our favourite finds with you.

The Moody's forged their identity in the 60's and have since weathered the divisive egocentric storms groups normally endure. Last year was the 45th anniversary of their seminal album Days of Future Passed, of which Nights was a single.

This job ain't always easy you know. Each week we have to find just five Emerging Icons gigs to tell you about- but there is just so much amazing live...

Let's face it, it's one thing to sell out stadiums decades into your career, like the Rolling Stones are sure to do if they trot out their rumored 50th anniversary tour next year. But it's another thing to keep releasing actual, relevant new music. Remember that?

But how many of the geriatric set pushing 70 can still do what they do? With four sold-out shows in Newark and London, they're rumored to be planning a world tour tour next year, dubbed 'GRRRR! 50 and Counting'? You've got to hand it to the Rolling Stones, even if their motivation these days more likely is money for their families than creating great music.

Where my clemency for sunglasses begins to wither however, is when artists, particularly singers, wear their ocular devices with a perpetuity that is offensive. No one is guiltier of this crime than the prophet Bono.

Johnny Rogan's 1992 biography of The Smiths' leading duo and subsequent fall out is a big seller and the definitive take on one of the 80's best loved and most missed bands, at least until Johnny Marr and/or Morrissey release definitive autobiographies. It also has the potential to make a great biopic.

Despite leaving countless gigs soaked through with sweat, my carefully-coiffured hair transformed into sodden mess, I'd never yet been panting and perspiring before having seen the support act.

LMFAO has to be one of the worst band names that has graced the world of music. Apart from maybe Staind. Or Bananarama.

Axl Rose may have to admit defeat and join the establishment. Hard rock heroes Guns N' Roses and hip-hop pioneers Eric B. & Rakim are in the runnin...