"Internet Killed the Printing-Press Star"

 

The Laddies Reunite in Edinburgh, Debut New Single “Internet Killed the Printing‑Press Star”

By A. J. McAllister

Brit‑pop trio The Laddies stormed back into the spotlight on January 10, 2025, igniting a raucous Edinburgh pub crowd with the debut of their new single, “Internet Killed the Printing‑Press Star.” The track’s title alone hints at the band’s trademark blend of cheeky nostalgia and modern commentary, but its origins are surprisingly personal: guitarist Craig Owen wrote it after watching a long‑running Manchester newspaper shutter its doors, a moment he described as “the end of an era you could hold in your hands.”

The Laddies — Ian Miller, Michael Newcastle, and Owen — first met as university students in the U.S., forming the band in 2014 before returning to the U.K. for a three‑year domestic tour that built them a fiercely loyal following. Their eventual split, though disappointing to fans, came from a place of honesty. As Newcastle explained, “We felt like we had gone as far as we could with our music, and each one of us wanted to try new things.”

That sense of unfinished business lingered for years, and judging by the Edinburgh crowd’s reaction, fans never stopped hoping for a reunion.

Live, the new single crackled with energy: jangly guitars, a punchy chorus, and a sly wink at the digital age’s takeover of everything analog. Founder Ian Miller said the decision to reunite came after “an outpouring from an intensely loyal base,” and the atmosphere in the pub made that loyalty impossible to miss.

Local newspapers — the ones still standing — have offered warm early reviews, praising the band’s renewed chemistry and sharpened songwriting. Manager Gordon Abercrombie added that inquiries about a potential U.S. tour have already begun trickling in. If momentum keeps building, The Laddies may be on the verge of their most exciting chapter yet.

 Internet Killed the Printing Press Star

by The Laddies

Verse 1

I found an old edition in a dusty drawer,
Ink‑stained fingers like the days before.
You used to set the type and make the headlines roar,
But now the screens are glowing more and more.

Pre‑Chorus

We heard the dial‑up singing through the static hum,
A brand‑new world arriving with a single thumb.

Chorus

Internet killed the printing press star,
Internet killed the printing press star.
Pixels took your pages and they carried them afar,
Now every story lives inside a glowing little bar.

Verse 2

You once were king of morning on the avenue,
Paperboys would shout the latest breaking news.
But hyperlinks replaced the things you used to do,
And every click rewrites the world we thought we knew.

Pre‑Chorus

We watched the modems blinking like a neon sign,
A million voices posting all at the same time.

Chorus

Internet killed the printing press star,
Internet killed the printing press star.
Scrolling through the headlines near and far,
Your columns fade away beneath the algorithm’s radar.

Bridge

Oh, you tried to keep the presses rolling,
But the future kept on scrolling.
Now the comments never end,
And the feed begins again.

Breakdown

Oh‑oh…
You were the first to tell us who we are.
Oh‑oh…
But now the cloud is reaching for the stars.

Final Chorus

Internet killed the printing press star,
Internet killed the printing press star.
Still we keep your memory in a folder on the bar,
A PDF reminder how we've come so far...