Words: Oli Spleen, B&W Images: Estate of Fred W. McDarrah Ten years ago this June, a gunman walked into Pulse, an LGBT+ venue in Orlando Florida and opened fire. Forty nine people died as a result. Deeply shaken by the news of this tragedy I was honoured to be asked to write a poem for…
Words: Oli Spleen Feature image: Corrina Eastwood, March for Palestine, Central London, October 11th 2025Images below: Eamonn Burke-Duggan, Hastings Jews for Justice protest Saturday 21st March 2026 On Saturday April 11, police outnumbered peaceful protesters on Hastings seafront as seven people were arrested simply for holding signs opposing genocide. In February the High Court ruled…
Words: Oli Spleen. Gig photos: Jeff Pitcher. “I’ve killed so many men, but I saved one” – Lydia Lunch says as she puts an arm around me to pose for a photograph at The Piper, Norman Road. She’s just torn through an incredible set with her band Big Sexy Noise. Any attempts to define the…
Oli Spleen The second to last time I saw Nick Hudson was at the start of March 2023. I had booked a two week trip to visit him in Tbilisi Georgia in the hope of performing a gig together and maybe bashing out a couple of Charles Aznavour covers while soaking up the sights and…
Text: Oli Spleen. Photo: Oli with long-time friend and trans activist Fox Fisher. By Proud Parkers Photography. When Hastings Independent Press first launched over eleven years ago, its founding mission was to offer a unique community-led alternative to the mainstream fearmongering, scapegoating and divisive rhetoric that is the fodder of the daily tabloids. For many…
Oli Spleen On September 10, Moth Light Press will publish a book to commemorate two hundred years of Hastings poetry. Poet Town: The Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts will be released in two paperback editions, featuring images of the contemporary poets in their chosen locations, brilliantly captured by photographer Maxine Silver. The first section of…