Author Archives: writewyattuk

About writewyattuk

This is the online home of author, writer and editor Malcolm Wyatt, who has books on The Jam, Slade and The Clash under his belt and many more writing projects on the go, as well as regularly uploading feature-interviews and reviews right here. These days he's living his best life with his better half in West Cornwall after their three decades together in Lancashire, this Surrey born and bred scribe initially heading north after five years of 500-mile round-trips on the back of a Turkish holiday romance in 1989. Extremely proud of his two grown-up daughters, he's also a foster carer and a dog lover, spending any spare time outside all that catching up with other family and friends, supporting Woking FC, planning adventures and travels, further discovering his adopted county, and seeing as much of this big old world as time allows. He can be contacted at thedayiwasthere@gmail.com and various social media online portals, mostly involving that @writewyattuk handle.

The Lemonheads: still giving reasons for being around – the Evan Dando interview

Posted on September 10, 2022 by writewyattuk

Three decades after their first proper breakthrough this side of the Atlantic, The Lemonheads have lined up a 17-date UK and Irish tour to celebrate fifth LP, It’s a Shame About Ray, playing the album in full. The Boston outfit … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 53 Degrees, Adam Green, Baby I'm Bored, Ben Deily, Boston, David Ryan, Elvis Costello, Evan Dando, Farley Glavin, It's A Shame About Ray, Jesse Peretz, Juliana Hatfield, Keith Richards, Lemonheads, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Mikey Jones, Mrs Robinson, Nigel Mogg, Preston, Rolling Stones, Some Girls, The Lemonheads | Leave a comment

Ready to plant my feet on solid ground – contemplating life off the road with Gretchen Peters

Posted on September 2, 2022 by writewyattuk

‘I work the high wire in the centre ringDefying gravity, that’s my thingGuess I never wanted no regular lifeI couldn’t stand to be nobody’s wife.’ This year marks the 25th anniversary of Gretchen Peters’ first UK tour, and she celebrated … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Barry Walsh, Blackbirds, Bryan Adams, Circus Girl, Gretchen Peters, Kim Richey, Mickey Newbury, Nashville, New York, The Secret of Life | Leave a comment

Dream on – catching up on The Orchids with John Scally

Posted on August 26, 2022 by writewyattuk

It’s always a pleasure to discover a band you previously knew little about, but instantly chimes with you. And that was the case for me in early 2017 when I chanced upon The Orchids live for the first time. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amelia Fletcher, Barrowland, Chris Quinn, Dale Griffin, Dreaming Kind, glasgow, Ian Carmichael, James Hackett, John Peel, John Scally, Keith Sharp, One dove, Pauline Hynds Bari, Penilee, Postcard, Preston, Preston Pop Fest, Prestwick, Rob Pursey, Ronnie Borland, Sarah Records, Simple Minds, Skep Wax, Splash One, The Chesterfields, The Continental, The Go-Betweens, The Orchids | Leave a comment

Reigniting the Spark – back in touch with Elliott Morris

Posted on August 19, 2022 by writewyattuk

It was November 2014 when I first chanced upon virtuoso guitarist and singer-songwriter Elliott Morris, his engaging playing and personality during a short set supporting Paul Carrack at Preston Guild Hall (reviewed here) making a big impression. I first interviewed … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bevan Morris, Blackheath, Carmarthenshire, Elliott Morris, Henry Webster, Indiegogo, Jack Carrack, Jimi Hendrix, Lee, Llangrannog, Lost and Found, Paul Carrack, Pentre Arms, Skye, Something Worth Fighting For, The Way is Clear | Leave a comment

Cool to be Kind – talking Sunbirds and The South with Phil Barton

Posted on August 13, 2022 by writewyattuk

When The Beautiful South split in 2007 after a highly successful two-decade run, it seemed that the end of the party had come too soon for co-founder Dave Hemingway. Hammy, as he’s known, was there from the outset, joining forces … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alison Wheeler, Bromley, Cool To Be Kind, Damon Butcher, Dave Hemingway, Dave Rotheray, David Bowie, Gaz Birtles, Ian Dury, Kenny Grant, Laura Wilcockson, Marc Parnell, Paul Heaton, Phil Barton, Ronnie Westrip, Ryan Adams, Strangers Almanac, Sunbirds, Sweet Refrains, The Beautiful South, The Posies, The South, Upminster, Whiskeytown | Leave a comment

Golden Years – celebrating ABBA at 50 with Carl Magnus Palm

Posted on August 4, 2022 by writewyattuk

I considered starting this feature/interview with the line, ‘Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall’ as a build-up to tracking down Carl Magnus Palm, seen as the world’s leading historian for a certain legendary pop quartet from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABBA Arena, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Bright Lights Dark Shadows, Carl Magnus Palm, Eurovision, Fleet Foxes, Mamma mia, Polar Music International, Stockholm, Sweden, The Beatles, Voyage, Waterloo | Leave a comment

Time Flashin’ By – discussing the everlasting allure of the Rolling Stones with People’s History author Richard Houghton

Posted on July 28, 2022 by writewyattuk

On the night Paul McCartney thrilled the crowd and a huge television audience at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival, a few of The Beatles’ celebrated ‘60s arch-rivals were giving it their all elsewhere, rocking Hyde Park, more than half a century … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Andrew Loog Oldham, Bill Wyman, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Exile on Main St., Ian Stewart, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Lemmy, Mick Jagger, Mick Taylor, Paul McCartney, Richard Houghton, Robert Frank, Robert greenfield, Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood | Leave a comment

The Chesterf!elds reveal the fine art of New Modern Homes – back in touch with Simon Barber

Posted on July 19, 2022 by writewyattuk

I do love a catchy indie pop song, and The Chesterfields have come up with the goods again on that front, ‘Our Songbird Has Gone’ released last weekend by Hamburg-based label Mr Mellow’s Music. It’s a fine tribute to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Andy Strickland, Automatic diamini, Davey Goldsworthy, Debbie Lee, Evolver, Gideon Coe, Hamburg, Helen Stickland, Helmut Heuer, James Harvey, John kennedy, John Parish, Kettle, Légere Recordings, Lee Grimshaw, Mark Barber, Mr Mellow's music, new Modern homes, Norway, Our songbird Has Gone, Paul Blow, PJ Harvey, Rob Parry, Rodney Allen, Sherborne, Simon Barber, Somerset, Spinout Nuggets, The Chesterfields, The Go-Betweens, The June Brides, The Loft, Yeovil | Leave a comment

Awakened by the Sound of the Morning – the Katy J Pearson interview

Posted on July 14, 2022 by writewyattuk

Katy J Pearson is powering her way through what’s shaping up to be a huge summer for her, promoting new album Sound of the Morning, out now via Heavenly Recordings. Having already delivered a string of well received record shop … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alligator, Ardyn, Bristol, Float, Glastonbury Festival, Gloucestershire, Gwenno, Heavenly Recordings, Kate Bush, Katy J Pearson, Later with Jools, Oliver wilde, Orlando Weeks, Paul McGann, Pip Blom, Samantha Crain, Sound of the Morning, Stevie Nicks, Stroud, Talk over Town, The Unthanks, The Wicker Man, Willow's Song, Withnail & I | Leave a comment

Remembering the Bickershaw Festival, 50 years on – back in conversation with Chris Hewitt

Posted on July 8, 2022 by writewyattuk

With Glastonbury behind us for another year, give or take BBC iPlayer highlights, there’s still plenty to savour on the festival calendar, but in this feature I’ll head far further north and back 50 years, to one of the most … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bickershaw, Bickershaw Festival, Bohemian Rhapsody, Captain Beefheart, CH Vintage Audio, Chris Hewitt, Dandelion Records, Deeply Vale, Elvis Costello, Glastonbury Festival, Harry Cohen, Isle of Wight Festival, Jeremy Beadle, Joe Strummer, John Peel, Northwich, Paul Rowley, Peter J Harris, Peter Trollope, Pink Floyd, Pistol, Rivington Pike Free Festival, Rochdale College, rocketman, The Development of Large Rock Sound Systems, The Grateful Dead, The Kinks, Tractor, Woodstock | Leave a comment