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.

Tripping the dark fantastic with The Membranes – in conversation with John Robb

Posted on December 1, 2016 by writewyattuk

It’s fair to say that the bands topping the bill at this weekend’s Un-Peeled Christmas Party at The Continental, Preston, Lancashire, are enjoying something of a renaissance. Post-punk outfit The Membranes and C86 outsiders The Wolfhounds have both released LPs … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Blackpool, Dandelion Adventure, Dark Matter/Dark Energy, Death to Trad Rock, Folk Devils, Joe Corre, John Peel, John Robb, Johnny Marr, Kevin Shields, Mark Tilton, Mott the Hoople, My Bloody Valentine, Nick Brown, Overend Watts, Peter Hook, Preston, punk, Section 25, Sisters of Mercy, Spike Milligan’s Tape Recorder, Steve Albini, TEDx, The Fall, The Membranes, The Undertones, Un-Peeled, Wardruna, Wolfhounds | 7 Comments

A weekend to savour (pt. II) … The Undertones – Kentish Town, The Forum

Posted on November 25, 2016 by writewyattuk

What a weekend, with Friday’s blinding set from The Vapors in Liverpool followed by a road-trip to Kent for a rare Woking FC away win, then up to the smoke for The Undertones’ 40th anniversary tour finale. That said, let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Billy Doherty, Damian O'Neill, Feargal Sharkey, Heartbreakers, John O'Neill, John Peel, London, Mickey Bradley, Paul McLoone, Teenage Kicks, The Undertones | Leave a comment

A weekend to savour (pt. I) …The Vapors – The Loft, Liverpool Arts Club

Posted on November 25, 2016 by writewyattuk

I could say I’d been waiting 35 years for this weekend to come, but that’s being a bit melodramatic. One thing’s for sure though – I finally got to see a band I suspected I’d never catch live, and they … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged David Fenton, Ed Bazalgette, guildford, Howard Smith, Letter From Hiro, Liverpool Arts Club, Magnets, Michael Bowes, New Clear Days, Shoot! Dispute, Steve Smith, Top of the Pops, Trains, Turning Japanese, Waiting for the Weekend | 4 Comments

All that matters is here – the Hannah Peel interview

Posted on November 24, 2016 by writewyattuk

Among the festive-themed adverts on our TV screens right now is a touching Aardman-animated tale made for the Alzheimer’s Research UK charity. The Santa Forgot story follows a little girl, Freya, who while preparing for Christmas realises much of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged All that Matters, Alzheimer's Research, Armagh, Awake But Always Dreaming, Barnsley, Christopher Eccleston, Craigavon, dementia, Donegal, Erland Cooper, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Gary Numan, Hannah Peel, Hull, Italo Calvino, John Foxx, Liverpool, Mary Casio, Memory Tapes, music box, Orkney, Santa Forgot, Selina Wray, Shoreditch, Simon Tong, Skelmersdale, Still Alice, The Magnetic North, The Verve, Tommy McLaughlin, Villagers, Wellcome Collection | 3 Comments

Back and Beyond with The Vapors – the Ed Bazalgette interview

Posted on November 17, 2016 by writewyattuk

Ed Bazalgette was walking purposefully around central London one dark November afternoon when I caught him on the phone, searching for a quiet spot and a suitable cafe to conduct our interview. He clearly knows his way around, having … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Aidan Turner, Bruce Foxton, Class, David Fenton, Debbie Horsfield, Dr Who, Ed Bazalgette, Eleanor Tomlinson, Green Wing, guildford, Houdini & Doyle, Howard Smith, Joseph Bazalgette, Justin Chatwin, Liverpool Arts Club, Manchester, Michael Bowes, New Clear Days, Peter Capaldi, Poldark, Steve Smith, The Jam, The Members, The Stranglers, Turning Japanese | 7 Comments

Discovering the roots of Nine Below Zero – the Dennis Greaves interview

Posted on November 10, 2016 by writewyattuk

When I got through to Nine Below Zero front-man, guitarist and vocalist Dennis Greaves, he just happened to be doing a little shopping in South East London. “I’m in Lidl in Lewisham, doing my domestics! I’ve gone out to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 13 Shades of Blue, Aaron Keylock, Aaron Neville, Ben willis, Brian Bethell, Charlie Austen, Charlton, Chuck Berry, Colne, Dennis Greaves, Eric Clapton, Glenn Tilbrook, Greenwich, John Mayall, Kenney Jones, Lewisham, Little Milton, Mark Feltham, Marvin Gaye, Matt Munro, Mickey Burkey, nine Below Zero, Peabody, Pelton Arms, Ray Davies, Rolling Stones, Senor Soul, Squeeze, Sting, The Kinks, The Stranglers, The Who, Tuffnell Park, War | 2 Comments

Celebrating the Best of Times – the Glenn Tilbrook interview

Posted on November 3, 2016 by writewyattuk

Glenn Tilbrook’s clearly not one for putting his feet up at home. Barely off the plane a few days after a major US tour with Squeeze, he’s already on the road again. What’s more, he’s fielding calls from the likes of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Best of Times, Chris Difford, Cradle to Grave, Cradle to the Grave, Danny Baker, George Harrison, Glenn Tilbrook, Happy Ending, Liverpool Philharmonic, Lucy Shaw, nine Below Zero, Simon Hanson, Squeeze, Stephen Large, The Fluffers | 3 Comments

Un-Peeled 2016 – Preston, The Continental

Posted on October 31, 2016 by writewyattuk

Something for everyone … or at least anyone with taste. And all for £12.50 – 10 quality acts, the common denominator an invitation to record sessions for John Peel back in the day. If you don’t know the history, Un-Peeled … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | 4 Comments

True Confessions, Undertones style – the Billy Doherty interview

Posted on October 28, 2016 by writewyattuk

With The Undertones’ mighty 40th anniversary jaunt returning to the North of England this weekend, drummer Billy Doherty is hoping he won’t be needing a paramedic this time. The Northern Irish five-piece follow sell-outs in Gateshead and Holmfirth with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Billy Doherty, Bruce Foxton, Damian O'Neill, Derry, Feargal Sharkey, Joe Strummer, John O'Neill, John Peel, Mickey Bradley, Paul McLoone, The Clash, The Jam, The Membranes, The Rolling Stones, The Undertones | 4 Comments

The Time Has Come – the P.P. Arnold interview

Posted on October 27, 2016 by writewyattuk

‘I’m doing fine! I have to go out this morning and see a tailor who is hemming a dress for me. We’ve had two days off organising all this luggage I’m carrying around. I am the original bag lady! I’ve got … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Barry Gibb, First Cut is the Deepest, Graham Nash, Ike & Tina Turner, Immediate, Jimi Hendrix, Los Angeles, Mick Jagger, Mike D'Abo, Paul Jones, PP Arnold, Ram John Holder, Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Steve Cradock, Steve Marriott, The Manfreds, Tom McGuinness, Zoot Money | 2 Comments