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Thanks all. Think I have cracked it now. Substitution apparent at long last.

I have a full grid and have eventually solved the normal clues (they were buggers). I only submit puzzles electronically now, but if I were to send this would I be marked correct without demonstrating that I have understood the substitutions?

I tend to agree with the antipathy felt by some towards 18 12s genre, but I have spent many a happy night in a smoky dive with a few pints enjoying the stuff played live. Happy days😊

I managed to pick up a copy of the Times yesterday and have now completed this after a few sessions, inc. some alcohol-inspired guesses about what was happening. As a fan of 18,12's genre - I appear to be one of few on the forum - as well as others, although I do draw the line at much of today's so-called pop, I got him pretty quickly.
I was wondering whether the schoolboy/schoolperson (?!) version of (b) might have got a look-in somewhere but too much to ask, obviously.

Still ploughing on with this. Now have a full grid, think I have the thematic entries, can't parse 1 clue which means I am missing one letter in the hint, which is holding me up.

If what I have so far is right, part c of the message is 9 letters, the first 5 of which could be the start of a fruit and the last three of which could be the end of a word meaning shoddy. Could someone confirm if these are correct?

Thanks

Yes to the first bit but it looks like you've opted for the wrong 2-letter abbreviation for Greek.

Thanks Peter m. That gives me what I need to figure out what the last 9 letters signify. So we just enter the new thematic entry in all 3 spots?

I was assuming from the preamble that the substitution would produce the letters of the name in 18, 12 where relevant, but unless I'm missing something we have to overwrite letters to get the name? So 'complete' seems wrong in the preamble?

Or do we have to do something more cunning that gets us the relevant letters in the name from the substitution?

OK figured it out now. Extremely underwhelmed. No need to solve the three clues, the hours wasted trying to find versions of the second and third that matched my letters were a complete waste of time and the final grid is an abomination.

Happy New Year to all

I agree, smellyharry. Even having had help, I was really cross when I finally completed this: as a musician I struggled, I don't know how others managed. It didn't help not knowing about 18 12 and his show, but even so...
Happy new year to Admin and solvers

Away for Christmas so late to the party. I have a full grid - including the name at 18 12. I didn't really know much about him in his "serious" career but I loved the show.
I am at a total loss about the substitutions. Does it make it harder being non-musical? The "description of a substitution" is not obvious to me.
The normal answer to 22,31 I have as ICUAMC and, having trawled through the internet, I have come up with a substitution AG. Is this correct?
If so, then I need to make the same sort of substitution to 11,17 which I have as JTTW and 37,41 which I have as OLTOB. Are these correct, and if so, what do I need to Google to get the substitutes? I must have visited 100 websites already. Any pointers/hints would be greatly appreciated. Happy New Year to all.

all correct...you need another similar title to substitute in...
the 9 letter word at the end from the extras is a good one to google and will give you what you need...