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.

Charmed to meet ya – in conversation with Paul Hanley

Posted on June 21, 2019 by writewyattuk

Some books come your way with elaborate press releases. Others arrive on your desk in a more convoluted fashion. And the latter was certainly the case with Paul Hanley’s Leave the Capital. It was broadcaster Pete Mitchell who lent me … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 10cc, Brix and the Extricated, Buzzcocks, Cargo, Derek Leckenby, Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Hex Enduction Hour, John Peel, John Robb, Joy Division, Karl Burns, Keith Hopwood, Leave the Capital, Louder than War, Manchester, Marc Riley, Mark E Smith, Open University, Paul Hanley, Perverted by Language, Pluto Studios, Route, Sex Pistols, Steve Hanley, Strawberry Studios, The Beatles, The Clash, The Fall, The Tube | Leave a comment

Always have the bus fare hame – going wisely with Eddi Reader

Posted on June 15, 2019 by writewyattuk

Eddie Reader already had two Brit awards and had topped the singles charts by the end of the 1980s. But if you suspect this story’s merely a retro affair centred on big hit, ‘Perfect’, think again. The Glasgow-born singer-songwriter has … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Anthony Thistlethwaite, Billy Connolly, Boo Hewerdine, Cavalier, Coel, Eddi Reader, Fairground Attraction, Gang of Four, John Douglas, Kick Horns, Mirmama, Patience of Angels, Perfect, Robert Burns, Seamus Reader, Trashcan Sinatras, Vladimir Cosma | Leave a comment

Fylde under nature – talking The Membranes’ new record and much more with John Robb

Posted on June 5, 2019 by writewyattuk

It’s 35 years since music writer, Louder Than War founder and Membranes/Goldblade bass player/vocalist John Robb left the ‘Tatty Seaside Town’ later celebrated on 1988’s Kiss Ass … Godhead! LP. But he clearly still has plenty of time for his … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged BIMM, Blackpool, Chris Packham, Gene Vincent, Glove, Henge, Ian Curtis, Ian Hunter, Jimi Hendrix, John Robb, Johnny Kidd, Joy Division, Kirk Brandon, Liines, Louder than War, Manchester, Mott the Hoople, Nick Brown, Public Service Broadcasting, Queen Zee, The Clash, The Membranes, The Pack, The Ritz, The Subways, The Undertones | 2 Comments

Pip Blom / Talk Show / Jacob Slater – Band on the Wall, Manchester

Posted on June 4, 2019 by writewyattuk

Champions League Final? Well, there was no way that could ever live up to either semi, and perhaps this was my show of support for Ajax, nipping down to Manchester, erm, City to catch another Amsterdam outfit with youth on … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Amsterdam, Band on the Wall, Boat, Daddy Issues, Harrison Swann, I Think I'm in Love, Jacob Slater, Manchester, Pip Blom, Ruby, Talk Show | Leave a comment

The Rutles – The Continental, Preston

Posted on June 1, 2019 by writewyattuk

At the risk of patronising several accomplished acts, there have been some quality Beatles copyists treading the boards or taking to the studio to emulate the Fab Four over the past five decades, and I’ve a lot of respect for … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged All You Need is Cash, Barry Wom, David Catlin-Birch, George Harrison, John Halsey, Neil Innes, Paul McCartney, Preston, Ron Nasty, The Beatles, The Continental, The Rutles | 4 Comments

Whatever floats your Boat – the Pip Blom interview

Posted on May 30, 2019 by writewyattuk

In a sense, perhaps it was almost inevitable that Pip Blom would follow her parents into the alternative music market. It’s now three years since this Amsterdam-based singer-songwriter first shared her somewhat raw, lo-fi brand of indie guitar pop with … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Amsterdam, Band on the Wall, Eton Crop, Glastonbury Festival, John Peel, Kim Deal, Manchester, Micachu and the Shapes, Netherlands, Pip Blom, reading, The Breeders | 1 Comment

Robert Forster – Band on the Wall, Manchester

Posted on May 27, 2019 by writewyattuk

I missed out on The Go-Betweens live during their defining 1978/90 spell and the 2000/6 second coming, that latter period providing three LPs now nestling among my favourites of all time. But I had the pleasure of witnessing Robert Foster … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Uncategorized | Tagged 16 Lovers Lane, Australia, Band on the Wall, Brisbane, Grant McLennan, Inferno, Manchester, Marc Riley, Oceans Apart, Robert Forster, Spring Rain, Surfing Magazines, The Go-Betweens | Leave a comment

Out of the shadow of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine – the Jim Bob interview

Posted on May 25, 2019 by writewyattuk

Don’t expect hyperbole when talking to Jim Morrison. Despite that rock star name, this was never an artist seemingly at ease at being on pop’s top table. In fact, he’s been known throughout his career as plain Jim Bob; not … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 101 Damnations, 30 Something, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Cherry Red, Chrysalis, Crystal Palace, Darwen Live, David Essex, Elvis Costello, Fruitbat, Gigantic, Jamie Wednesday, Jim Bob, Manchester Academy, Phillip Schofield, Sheriff Fatman, Stephen Dalton, Steve Lamacq, The Clash, The Jam, Vox | Leave a comment

All Night Party People – in conversation with A Certain Ratio’s Jez Kerr

Posted on May 19, 2019 by writewyattuk

It promises to be a busy year for industrial punk-funk pioneers and indie-dance survivors A Certain Ratio, currently playing a series of UK dates to coincide with new Mute collection, ACR:BOX. After 2018’s acr:set compilation and their LP reissue campaign, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged A Certain Ratio, Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias, Band on the Wall, C.P. Lee, Eddie Thomas, Factory Records, Gordon the Moron, Grace Jones, Jez Kerr, Jilted John, Joy Division, Manchester, Manchester Musicians Collective, Manchester United, Manchester Youth Theatre, Martin Hannett, Mute, New Order, Pips, Russell Club, Shack Up, Tony Wilson | 1 Comment

The Undertones / The Neville Staple Band – The Ritz, Manchester

Posted on May 17, 2019 by writewyattuk

An early start caught me out, my train arriving after seven, The Neville Staple Band already in charge by the time I’d made it from nearby Oxford Road station. And to channel ska inspiration Prince Buster and fellow 1979 breakthroughs … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 1979, Bexhill, Billy Doherty, Buzzcocks, Damian O'Neill, Fun Boy Three, Hypnotised, John O'Neill, Manchester, Manchester Ritz, Mickey Bradley, Neville Staple, Paul Hanley, Paul McLoone, Pete Shelley, punk, ska, southampton, The Specials, The Undertones | 1 Comment