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.

Art for heart’s sake – back in touch with Vinny Peculiar

Posted on January 14, 2022 by writewyattuk

“We all need a little more art in our life.” I can’t speak for you lot, but Channel 4’s Grayson’s Art Club has proved a big draw, so to speak, at WriteWyattUK Towers since the first UK covid lockdowns. Sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Andy Warhol, Artists Only, Big Star, Bonehead, Dave Hulston, David Bowie, David Hockney, Grayson Perry, Mott the Hoople, Oasis, Parlour Flames, Paul Cliff, Ray Davies, Robert Hughes, San Francisco, Shadrack 7 Duxbury, The Smiths, Vinny Peculiar, Worcestershire | Leave a comment

WriteWyattUK’s year in quotes, 2021 – part two (July to December)

Posted on December 30, 2021 by writewyattuk

As we draw closer to a new year, here’s the second half of my 12-month review of sorts, featuring quotes prised from the collected words of the WriteWyattUK website in 2021, this time involving the concluding six months, as yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Berlin, Beth Arzy, Blixa Bargeld, BOB, Caroline aherne, Cerys Matthews, David Callahan, Dean Leggett, Dot Allison, Echo and the Bunnymen, Han Mee, Hannah Peel, Henry Normal, Hot Milk, Hothouse Flowers, Howard Smith, Hue williams, J Willgoose Esq, Jetstream Pony, Jim Bob, Johnny Vegas, Keeley moss, Kim Wilde, Liam O'Maonlai, Linda Jennings, Magic Roundabout, Monkees, Newton Faulkner, Nick Davidson, Pip Blom, Public Service Broadcasting, Queen, Richard Balls, Richard Houghton, Saint Etienne, Sarah Cracknell, Seth Lakeman, Shane MacGowan, steve royle, Swansea Sound, The Amber List, the Pogues, The Pooh Sticks, The Royle Family, The Vapors, Tom Jones, Will Sergeant | 2 Comments

WriteWyattUK’s year in quotes, 2021 – part one (January to June)

Posted on December 29, 2021 by writewyattuk

As another challenging year moves towards its stuttering conclusion, here’s the first half of my 12-month review of sorts, featuring quotes prised from the collected words of the WriteWyattUK website in 2021, involving the opening six months as the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Adam Holmes, All the Colours of You, Amelia Fletcher, Andy Strickland, Beautiful People, Birling Gap, Boo Hewerdine, Brexit, Brick Briscoe, Brix and the Extricated, Brix Smith, Catenary Wires, Cathal Coughlan, CBGB's, David Stark, Departure Lounge, Du Kane, Eddi Reader, Ellie Rowsell, Femi Kuti, Glastonbury Festival, Holly Ross, Iain Templeton, Indiana, Jacinda Ardern, Jacknife Lee, James, Jaz Coleman, Jim Glennie, Joey Ramone, John Robb, K÷, King Rocker, Laura Marling, Lee Mavers, LUMP, Made Kuti, Martin Stephenson, Membranes, Mick Carroll, Mike Lindsay, Monty don, New York, New Zealand, NHS, Nigeria, Pete hughes, Peter Hook, Preston, Provincials, Rob Pursey, Robert Lloyd, Seb Hunter, Shack, Steve Hanley, Stoned Rose, The Beatles, The Bible, The Daintees, The Fall, The Ferret, The La's, The Loft, The Lovely Eggs, The Nightingales, Tim Allen, Tim Booth, Tim Keegan, Tunng, William Doyle, Wolf Alice, Yellow Submarine | Leave a comment

A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day – talking A Furious Devotion: The Authorised Story of Shane MacGowan with Richard Balls

Posted on December 23, 2021 by writewyattuk

After acclaimed music books on Ian Dury and Stiff Records, you could argue it was almost inevitable that established rock biographer Richard Balls would turn his attention to Pogues frontman and somehow living legend Shane MacGowan next. But there was … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cait O'Riordan, Dexys, Dublin, Elvis Costello, Fairytale of New York, Ian Dury, Kirsty MacColl, London, Microdisney, Norwich, Omnibus Press, Paul Ronan, Richard Balls, Sex Pistols, Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy, Stiff Records, That Petrol Emotion, The Clash, The Jam, The Men They Couldn't Hang, The Nips, the Pogues, Tipperary, Victoria Mary Clarke | Leave a comment

Reign or shine, you’ve stood by me – talking Queen with Richard Houghton

Posted on December 21, 2021 by writewyattuk

As Richard Houghton readily admits in his introduction to Queen: A People’s History, there was a sense of conflict for his 16-year-old self in 1976, knowing all too well it was far cooler to follow emerging ground-zero bands like The … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Misplaced Words with the girl who plays the tambourine* – talking Jetstream Pony with Beth Arzy

Posted on December 11, 2021 by writewyattuk

In late August, one of the highlights of Preston Pop Fest at The Continental in Preston, Lancashire, was a Sunday evening set from Jetstream Pony, an indie pop post-punk four-piece perfectly fusing US West Coast ‘60s sensibilities with homegrown UK … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aberdeen, Beth Arzy, Bigg Boss Man, Bobby Wratten, Brighton, David Gedge, Even as we Speak, Hannes Müller, Jetstream Pony, Kerry Boetccher, Luxembourg Signal, Misplaced Words, Pop Guns, Preston Pop Fest, Shaun Charman, Spinout Nuggets, The Field Mice, The Fireworks, The Jazz Butcher, The Monkees, The Wedding Present, Tony Bryant, Turbocat | Leave a comment

Christmas Wishing and Hoping for the Blessed – the Cerys Matthews interview

Posted on December 5, 2021 by writewyattuk

If the phone goes and it’s a private number, I’m often on the offensive, wondering what dodgy scheme or other someone’s out to try and sell to me. But there was really no need for Cerys Matthews to formally introduce … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged A Christmas No.1, A Christmas Wish, Alfie Boe, All Through the Night, Baby It's Cold Outside, BBC Radio, Cardiff, Catatonia, Cerys Matthews, Dylan Thomas, Fairytale of New York, Freida Pinto, Gavin and Stacey, Guy Chambers, Helena Zengel, Hue williams, Iain Templeton, Iwan Rheon, John Cale, Jools Holland, Llangollen, Mark Roberts, National Lampoon, Owel Powell, Paul Jones, Slade, Space, Steve Abbott, Swansea, Tom Jones, Tommy Danvers, Tommy Scott, Wales, White Christmas | Leave a comment

Stone Foundation / Steve Brookes – Guildford Boileroom

Posted on December 3, 2021 by writewyattuk

We’ve clearly still got some way to go with this bastard virus, and I’m not likely to go easy on preventative measures as we look for a continued safe return to the joy of live music and all that. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Boileroom, guildford, Neil Jones, Neil Sheasby, Outside Looking In, Steve Brookes, Stone Foundation, The Jam, The Sha La La's | Leave a comment

Turning on, dropping by and tuning in for the Swansea Sound experience – off to the Vale of Glam with Hue Williams

Posted on November 19, 2021 by writewyattuk

With so many new records in recent months it’s often been a case of ‘out at last’, albums long delayed after 18 or so months of lockdowns and various restrictions. But not the delightful debut LP from the remotely assembled … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 60 Ft. Dolls, Amelia Fletcher, Big Leaves, Catatonia, Catenary Wires, Dale Griffin, Glamorgan, Gruff Rhys, Heavenly, Hue williams, Ian Button, James Brown, John Peel, Kent, Live at the Rum Puncheon, Mark Cousins, Million Seller, Misty in Roots, Preston Pop Fest, Rhys Ifans, Rob Pursey, Robert Rotifer, Sea Urchins, Steve Gregory, Super Furry Animals, Swansea, Swansea Sound, Talulah Gosh, The Continental, The Fall, the Pastels, The Pooh Sticks | 1 Comment

Rage at the dying of the light – back into the world of David Lance Callahan, Dragon Welding, and The Wolfhounds

Posted on November 11, 2021 by writewyattuk

Of 22 acts on the NME’s celebrated C86 indie cassette compilation, The Wolfhounds, while uncompromising from day one, proved to be real slow-burners, given the benefit of 35 years’ hindsight. While Primal Scream and The Wedding Present found commercial success … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Andy Golding, Bright and Guilty, C86, Daren Garratt, David Callahan, Dragon Welding, Electric Music, English Primitive, Garage Peel, Iskra Strings, John Lee Hooker, John Peel, Katherine Mountain Whitaker, Martin Carthy, Mary Hansen, Matt Deighton, McCarthy, Pat Fish, Paul Clark, Preston, Preston Pop Fest, Purple Hearts, Romford, Stereolab, Stick in the Wheel, Terry Edwards, The Anti-Midas Touch, The Continental, The Jazz Butcher, The Primevals, The Wolfhounds, Untied Kingdom, Velvet Underground, Vernal Equinox | Leave a comment