Melody Maker Magazine 14 March 1998 Natalie Imbruglia Radiohead Roni Size NP008

Original Melody Maker Magazine dated 14 March 1998, featuring Australian singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia as the main front-cover attraction.

This distinctive late-1990s issue combines a major Natalie Imbruglia cover feature with coverage of Radiohead, Roni Size, Catatonia, Shed Seven, Bernard Butler and numerous other artists from the British indie, alternative rock and electronic music scenes.

The front cover is dominated by a large, close-up colour photograph of Natalie Imbruglia, featuring her distinctive short, dark hairstyle, side-swept fringe and dark sleeveless outfit.

The main headline reads:

“Ooh! Aah! Natalie Imbruglia”

With the accompanying strapline:

“Sex, Soap & Secrets”

The striking portrait and bold orange-and-blue lettering make this a particularly memorable example of late-1990s Melody Maker cover design.

Natalie Imbruglia – Main Cover Feature

Natalie Imbruglia rose to international prominence during the late 1990s following her transition from television acting to a successful recording career.

This issue dates from the period surrounding her breakthrough album Left of the Middle and the international success of her single Torn.

The cover promotes a feature exploring aspects of her career, public image and personal life under the heading “Sex, Soap & Secrets”.

The reference to television is particularly relevant to her earlier acting career in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.

This makes the magazine an interesting original publication for collectors of Natalie Imbruglia, 1990s pop music, Australian entertainment and vintage celebrity magazines.

Radiohead – Make It Big Down Under

The upper-left section of the cover features a smaller photograph accompanying the headline:

“G'Day Computer! RADIOHEAD Make It Big Down Under”

This promotes coverage of Radiohead's success in Australia during the period following their acclaimed 1997 album OK Computer.

The headline plays on the album's title, providing a distinctive piece of contemporary music journalism.

This feature adds appeal for collectors of Radiohead, Thom Yorke and 1990s alternative rock memorabilia.

Roni Size – Massive Attack!

The right-hand side advertises:

“Massive Attack! RONI SIZE Has It Large”

Roni Size was one of the most prominent figures in British drum and bass during this period, particularly following the success of New Forms.

His inclusion gives the issue additional interest for collectors of 1990s electronic music, jungle and drum and bass.

Other Featured Artists and Entertainment Coverage

The bottom of the cover advertises an extensive selection of additional music features:

• Catatonia – reviewing the singles.

• Shed Seven – live coverage.

• Top of the Pops – feature comparing the television programme with the Pepsi Chart.

• Space – British alternative rock band.

• Bernard Butler – former Suede guitarist and solo artist.

• Symposium – British alternative rock group.

• Buzzcocks – influential British punk rock band.

• Lo-Fidelity Allstars – British electronic music group.

• 60ft Dolls – Welsh alternative rock band.

• Alan Davies – British comedian and actor.

• Dust Junkys – British alternative rock group.

• Lemmy – Motörhead frontman, featured in a darts-related cover reference.

The upper cover also promotes a competition to win Bluetones tickets.

Together, these features provide a broad snapshot of British popular music and entertainment in early 1998.

Collector Interest

This issue combines Natalie Imbruglia's late-1990s pop success with coverage of major British alternative and electronic artists.

It is particularly relevant to collectors of:

• Natalie Imbruglia memorabilia.

• Original Melody Maker magazines.

• Radiohead and OK Computer-era publications.

• Roni Size and 1990s drum and bass.

• Britpop and British indie rock.

• Late-1990s pop and television culture.

Magazine / Item Details

Condition

Pre-owned vintage condition with visible age-related handling and storage wear.

The following assessment is based on the single supplied front-cover photograph.

Front Cover: The main Natalie Imbruglia photograph remains clear and colourful. There is visible surface waviness, light creasing and general handling wear, particularly around the outer margins.

Spine / Left Edge: The left-hand edge shows some compression, small creases and minor wear. The folded spine area appears slightly uneven, consistent with handling and storage.

Right Edge: The right-hand edge shows some waviness and mild roughness to the thin paper stock. The pale outer margin has minor age-related discolouration.

Top Edge: The upper margin is slightly uneven and shows mild curling and handling wear. The upper corners appear softened.

Bottom Edge: The bottom border shows light waviness and some minor creasing. There is slight bending and unevenness around the lower corners.

Corners: General softening is visible around the corners, with mild bending from previous storage.

Discolouration: The pale outer margins show some age-related yellowing and toning. There are also a few small marks and areas of light discolouration.

Surface Marks: Minor rubbing and handling marks are visible, although the main printed image and text remain clearly readable.

Tears / Damage: No obvious major tears or large missing sections are visible on the photographed front cover.

Interior Pages: The interior pages and back cover have not been photographed, so their condition and completeness cannot be fully assessed.

Overall, this is a vintage reading and collecting copy showing normal age-related wear, while retaining a striking and clearly presented Natalie Imbruglia cover.

Please examine the supplied photograph carefully, as it forms an important part of the condition description.

Packaging & Postage

The magazine will be carefully and safely folded and packed inside a protective cardboard box for posting.

It will be securely packed to help reduce the risk of crushing, excessive bending and further damage during transit.