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.

Digging that Ocean Colour Scene – the Simon Fowler interview

Posted on May 25, 2018 by writewyattuk

Simon Fowler was walking Cooper the cockapoo down by the river at Stratford-upon-Avon when I called, a day and a half after Ocean Colour Scene headlined Lancaster’s Highest Point festival. That Shakespearean link seemed apt, seeing as I associate festival … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Birmingham Mail, Damon Minchella, Highest Point Festival, Ian McCulloch, John Motson, John Power, Kendal Calling, Lancaster, Liam Gallagher, Marchin' Already, Moseley, Moseley Shoals, Noel Gallagher, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Oscar Harrison, paul weller, Simon Fowler, Steve Cradock, Stratford-upon-Avon, The Boys, The Fanatics | 2 Comments

Something to Hold On to – out on the floor with The Sha La La’s

Posted on May 24, 2018 by writewyattuk

Anyone who truly loves ‘60s Soul understands the thrill of flipping over a single and finding a lesser-known gem on the B-side. Whether it was Atlantic, Stax, Tamla Motown, or a Northern Soul rarity, there was something special about making … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged (Gotta Find) A Better Way, A Month of Sundays, Before I Let You Down Again, Curtis Mayfield, Darron Robinson, Dexy's, Feelin' Real, Fools Like Us, Hold On, John Lee, John Piccirillo, Motown, Northern Soul, Otis Redding, Sonic Keys, Stax, Sweet Life, The Jam, The Sha La La's, The Style Council, Vere Osborne | 2 Comments

Playing the mind guerilla – back in touch with Wilko Johnson

Posted on May 10, 2018 by writewyattuk

Five years after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, R’n’B guitar legend Wilko Johnson is still very much with us, in the form of his life, and more than happy to talk about the power of rock’n’roll and survival against all … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Blockheads, Canvey Island, Chess, Dr Feelgood, Dylan Howe, Essex, Game of Thrones, Hugh Cornwell, Ian Dury, JJ Burnel, Madness, Manchester Academy, Mollie Marriott, Norman Watt-Roy, R'n'B, Roger Daltrey, Southend, The Jam, The Stranglers, The Who, Wilko Johnson | 5 Comments

Alternative Nashville Skyline – back in touch with Gretchen Peters

Posted on May 4, 2018 by writewyattuk

Gretchen Peters knows how to make you feel at home when you’re calling, in my case quickly dispelling my glamorous image of her adopted hometown, suggesting Nashville’s like any other city I might know. “It’s looking a bit like England … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Arguing with Ghosts, Barry Walsh, Ben Glover, Blackbirds, Dancing with the Beast, Daniel Lanois, David Mead, Doug Lancio, Emmylou Harris, Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg, Nashville, Steve Earle, vinyl, Wrecking Ball | 3 Comments

A question of life balance – the Justin Hayward interview

Posted on April 27, 2018 by writewyattuk

If I made Justin Hayward feel old right from the outset of our conversation, he had the good grace to laugh and carry on talking to me. My genuine respect for his back-catalogue probably helped, mind. I was telling him … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Days of Future Passed, Decca, Forever Autumn, HG Wells, Jeff Wayne, John Lodge, Johnny Halliday, Julie Ragins, Justin Hayward, Mike Dawes, Mike Pinder, Nights in White Satin, Question, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, St Ives, Swindon, The Moody Blues, The War of the Worlds, Tony Visconti | 10 Comments

Back with a Special Beat Service – the Dave Wakeling interview

Posted on April 20, 2018 by writewyattuk

It gets a tad confusing with a few of the bands doing the rounds again all these years on, not least when original members have gone their separate ways, starting their own versions of the same group. Take The Beat, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 2 Tone, California, Dave Wakeling, Fine Young Cannibals, General Public, Here We Go Love, I Just Can't Stop It, John Peel, Mick Jones, OTT, Ranking Roger, Roddy Radiation, Saxa, Special Beat Service, Stand Down Margaret, The Beat Birmingham, The English Beat, The Selecter, The Specials, The Undertones, Tiswas | 3 Comments

Return to Deeply Vale – in conversation with festival pioneer Chris Hewitt

Posted on April 12, 2018 by writewyattuk

Forty years ago, an estimated 20,000 punters congregated in the North West of England for the third of the legendary if somewhat quirky Deeply Vale free festivals, just two years after 300 attended the first. Those looking on and duly … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Deeply Vale, Freddie Mercury, Glastonbury Festival, Gong, Graham Massey, Here and Now, Heywood, Ian Dury, John Peel, Morrissey, Nik Turner, Pink Floyd, Rochdale, Steve Hillage, The Fall, The Ruts | 1 Comment

Refit, Revise, Reprise by Damian O’Neill and the Monotones – a writewyattuk appreciation

Posted on April 6, 2018 by writewyattuk

The term ‘reluctant frontman’ seems to neatly describe unassuming Undertones guitar hero and songwriter Damian O’Neill. Whatever bands he’s featured with over the years – not least fellow notables That Petrol Emotion and The Everlasting Yeah – he’s always been … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Andy Ramsey, Brendan Kelly, Damian O'Neill, It's Gonna Happen, John O'Neill, Kev Hopper, Pledge Music, Press Play Studios, Rare, Refit Revise Reprise, Sean O'Hagan, That Petrol Emotion, The Everlasting Yeah, The Love Parade, The Undertones, The Wesleys, Val Doonican | 8 Comments

Studying the big Interrobang‽ theory – in conversation with Dunstan Bruce

Posted on March 30, 2018 by writewyattuk

By the time I picked up the phone to reach Dunstan Bruce, I’d given the eponymous LP by his new band Interrobang‽ nigh on three listens, and was loving it. In the words of the mighty Stump – somewhat channeling … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Alice Nutter, Billingham, Boff Whalley, Brighton, Chumbawamba, Daisy Asquith, Danbert Nobacon, Dunstan Bruce, Interrobang, Lancaster, Leeds, Mark Chadwick, Sham 69, The Levellers, Tubthumping | 1 Comment

Symptomatic for the People – researching The Common Cold with Ajay Saggar

Posted on March 22, 2018 by writewyattuk

While his working hours are spent at renowned Amsterdam concert venue The Paradiso, producer, sound engineer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ajay Saggar remains proud of his Lancashire past, 30-plus years after his introduction to the North West indie scene while promoting … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Action Records, Ajay Saggar, Amsterdam, Cornershop, Dandelion Adventure, Deutsche Ashram, Jean-Jacques Burnel, John Peel, King Champion Sounds, Lancaster, Marcus Parnell, Mark E Smith, Preston, The Clash, The Common Cold, The Continental, The Fall, The Stranglers | 5 Comments