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 Wedding Present / Andy Ruddy – Guildford, Boileroom

Posted on February 24, 2017 by writewyattuk

Many of the bands I love have graced my hometown in the past, yet for some reason it never quite happened with The Wedding Present. First time I went to see them was down the A246 in Fetcham in 1986, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Always the Sun, Andy Ruddy, Bizarro, Boileroom, Bradford, Charlie Layton, Danielle Wadey, David Gedge, George Best, Going Going, guildford, Hebden Bridge Trades Club, Marcus Kain, Philip Larkin, Seamonsters, The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience, The Wedding Present | 4 Comments

The Orchids / The Chesterfields / The Suncharms – Preston, The Continental

Posted on February 20, 2017 by writewyattuk

In these uncertain times, I’m all for reaffirmations that things ain’t so bad after all, and three treasured indie bands put plenty of smiles on faces at a Lancashire riverside pub venue on Friday night, serving up a feast of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Andy Strickland, glasgow, indie, James Hackett, Marcus Palmer, Preston, Sheffield, shoegaze, Simon Barber, The Chesterfields, The Continental, The Orchids, The Suncharms, Yeovil | 1 Comment

Four-eyed handsome men – introducing Doug Perkins and the Spectaculars

Posted on February 16, 2017 by writewyattuk

I wouldn’t expect the fervour of a 1950s audience when Doug Perkins and the Spectaculars make their latest return to Chorley Little Theatre this weekend. For the sake of the team at this Lancashire venue you’d hope those days of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged chorley, Chorley Little Theatre, Dave Spikey, Doug Perkins, Doug Perkins and the Spectaculars, Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Preston, rock'n'roll, rockabilly, Specsavers, The Continental | 1 Comment

Sofa, so good – talking about The Chesterfields with Simon Barber

Posted on February 9, 2017 by writewyattuk

With his monthly magazine deadline approaching, Simon Barber could probably do without a long chat with me about The Chesterfields. The 58-year-old – born the day after Paul Weller in the same Surrey town – is these days at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Andy Strickland, Brighton, Crocodile Tears, Davey Goldsworthy, Design, Evolver, Gulliver's, Helen Stickland, indie, Janice Long, John Peel, Johnny Dee, Kettle, NYC Popfest, Simon Barber, Somerset, Subway Organisation, Templecombe, The Chesterfields, The Continental, Yeovil | 6 Comments

Strictly for Dance Lovers – in conversation with Brendan Cole

Posted on February 2, 2017 by writewyattuk

Brendan Cole made his British television debut 21 years ago, and has been a Strictly Come Dancing draw since the Saturday night prime-time BBC One show’s 2004 debut. But forget the small screen for a moment. Right now he’s treading … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged All Night Long, Anton du Beke, Aylesbury, Brendan Cole, Camilla Dallerup, Craig Revel Horwood, Dancing with the Stars, Everything to Dance, Len Goodman, Natasha Kaplinsky, New Zealand, Paul Mercurio, Semley Ballroom, Strictly Ballroom, Strictly Come Dancing, Zoe Hobbs | 3 Comments

To Be Someone – Talking about The Jam with Den Davis

Posted on January 26, 2017 by writewyattuk

When a 1,500kg truck bomb was detonated in central Manchester in June 1996, the collateral damage included a vast collection of vinyl rarities belonging to Den Davis, collector and avid fan of The Jam. A few weeks passed before Den … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Football, Music | Tagged About the Young Idea, All Mod Cons, Brighton, Bruce Foxton, Corn Exchange, Cunard Building, Den Davis, From The Jam, John Weller, Liverpool, Manchester, Nick Heyward, Nicky Weller, paul weller, Rick Buckler, Somerset House, Stalybridge, The Jam, The Style Council, Y.O.U.N.G. | 11 Comments

Rose McDowall/Vukovar/Zvilnik – Preston, The Continental

Posted on January 23, 2017 by writewyattuk

A top night unfolded at the Continental in Preston as former Strawberry Switchblade and Sorrow chanteuse Rose McDowall visited en route for a Celtic Connections date in Glasgow. Rose was up to Lancashire from her adopted Oxfordshire for another Tuff … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Current Affairs, Night School Records, Preston, Rose McDowall, Sorrow, Strawberry Switchblade, Television Personalities, The Continental, Vukovar, Zvilnik | 1 Comment

By any other name – beyond Strawberry Switchblade with Rose McDowall

Posted on January 19, 2017 by writewyattuk

While Rose McDowall is best known for her work with early ’80s crossover indie pop act Strawberry Switchblade, she’s made many cult solo recordings over the years. Starting out as a stand-up drummer in Glasgow proto-avant-garde punk trio The Poems … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Bill Drummond, Bjork, Dave Balfe, David Jensen, Drahla, Echo and the Bunnymen, glasgow, Iceland, James Kirk, Jean Sibelius, Jill Bryson, John Peel, Korova, Night School Records, Orange Juice, Ornamental, Oxfordshire, Preston, Ramones, Rose McDowall, Since Yesterday, Sorrow, Spell, Strawberry Switchblade, The Continental, The Hug and Pint, The Poems, The Sugarcubes, Weather Prophets | 3 Comments

The Blue Aeroplanes – Manchester, The Ruby Lounge

Posted on January 13, 2017 by writewyattuk

It’s official. The Blue Aeroplanes are no less a beguiling sight and feast upon the left-over mince pies now as they were three decades before. This Bristol septet have just delivered the finest LP of the year (it’s only January, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Anti-Gravity, Beatsongs, Bec Jevons, Blue Aeroplanes, Bob Dylan, Bristol, Chris Sharp, Gerard Langley, Gerard Starkie, Jacket Hangs, John Langley, Mike Youe, Rodney Allen, Swagger, Tom Verlaine, Welcome Stranger!, Wojtek Dmochowski | 1 Comment

Moving the room with the James Taylor Quartet

Posted on January 12, 2017 by writewyattuk

There was some serious attention seeking going on when I called James Taylor at his home studio in Kent. It wasn’t down to him though, but his Cairn terrier, Heidi, after he shut her out of his studio in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Acid Jazz, Bach, Blow-Up, Booker T & The MGs, Caravan, Eddie Piller, George Benson, Georgie Fame, Herbie Hancock, Ian McLagen, James Brown, James Taylor, James Taylor Quartet, Jimmy Smith, John Peel, Jon Lord, Keith Emerson, Kent, Kylie Minogue, Medway, Mod, Pat Illingworth, Preston Guild Hall, Rochester, Ronnie Scott's, Starsky & Hutch, Stockholm. Mark Cox, The Prisoners | 1 Comment