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.

Now the time has come – back in touch with Bruce Foxton

Posted on January 21, 2016 by writewyattuk

After an extended festive break, Bruce Foxton is all set for another punishing year for his band, with 100-plus gigs already arranged and a brand new album on its way. If anything, the anniversary circuit is old hat for Bruce … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Back In The Room, Bruce Foxton, Dennis Greaves, Dr Feelgood, From The Jam, Mike Randon, nine Below Zero, Paul Jones, paul weller, PledgeMusic, Rick Buckler, Russell Hastings, Smash the Clock, Somerset House, Sound Affects, Steve Barnard, That's Entertainment, The gift, The Jam, Tom Van Heel, Wilko Johnson | 12 Comments

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin – a writewyattuk book review

Posted on January 18, 2016 by writewyattuk

Some books have you hooked from the start, and the debut novel from Ali Benjamin offers a prime example … even if the last thing I reckon I’d want on the end of a hook would be a jellyfish. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged Ali Benjamin, Bill Bryson, children's fiction, Macmillan Children's Books, Massachusetts, New England Science Writers, Queensland, Reese Witherspoon, science, The Thing About Jellyfish, young adult fiction | Leave a comment

Took a long time to come – the Colin Blunstone interview

Posted on January 14, 2016 by writewyattuk

Some songs provide the soundtrack for key moments of our lives, whenever they were written. And many of those on mine were penned before I was even born, including at least a couple from The Zombies. I’m not quite sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Argent, Cat Stevens, Chris White, Colin Blunstone, Dave Grohl, Dave Stewart, Echo Bridge, Elton John, Mike Hurst, Neil MacArthur, Odessey and Oracle, One Year, paul weller, Rocket, Rod Argent, She's Not There, St Albans, Still Got That Hunger, Susanna Hoffs, This Will Be Our Year, Time of the Season, Tom Petty, Woking, Zombies | 4 Comments

Remembering Bowie, through Sound and Vision

Posted on January 12, 2016 by writewyattuk

There’s not a lot I can write here that hasn’t been covered elsewhere, but I couldn’t let the week pass without my own tribute to David Bowie, who left us on Sunday, January 10th, 2016, two days after his 69th … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Absolute Beginners, Blackstar, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Heroes, Hunky Dory, Lazarus, Let's Dance, Life on Mars, Mark Radcliffe, Mick Ronson, Rick Wakeman, Robert Fripp, Space Oddity, Starman, The Next Day, Tony Visconti, Ziggy Stardust | 3 Comments

Behind the scenes at the Little Theatre

Posted on January 8, 2016 by writewyattuk

I don’t tend to plug successful local community ventures and thriving venues so much on this blog. But organisations like the Chorley Little Theatre – not far from my doorstep – deserve credit for surviving in these days of austerity … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Bobby Ball, CADOS, chorley, Chorley Little Theatre, Chris Ramsey, Dave Spikey, Edinburgh Fringe, Ian Robinson, Jason Manford, Jenny Eclair, Jo Caulfield, John Bishop, Johnny Vegas, Justin Moorhouse, Lucy Beaumont, Mark Steel, Mike Harding, Peter Kay, Phil Cool, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sarah Millican, steve royle, Ted Robbins | 3 Comments

Learning from the Laughter Master – the Stephen K Amos interview

Posted on January 5, 2016 by writewyattuk

It’s fair to say Stephen Kehinde Amos has seen the world over the past decade or so, this highly-entertaining and likeable comedian charming audiences from Edinburgh to Sydney and several points in between. And while we’ve all had plenty to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre | Tagged BBC, EastEnders, Edinburgh Fringe, Hackney Empire, Joseph Purcell, Lenny Henry, Liverpool, London, Richard Pryor, Salford, Stephen K Amos, Sydney, The Laughter Master, The Lowry, The Real McCoy, Unity Theatre | 1 Comment

Into 2016 … and 103,000 hits can’t be bad

Posted on January 4, 2016 by writewyattuk

As the hands reached midnight on New Year’s Eve, the minions behind the scenes at writewyattuk.com polished off the last of the Irish cream (explaining at least one of those empty bottles that next morning) and got to work on … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Alan Davies, Bill Bailey, Buzzcocks, Cast, Dodgy, Dubious Brothers, Echo and the Bunnymen, Elkie Brooks, Graeme Garden, Gretchen Peters, Happy Mondays, Heaven 17, Ian McNabb, Julian Cope, Mark Radcliffe, Martha reeves, Midge Ure, Mike Harding, Noel Fielding, Public Service Broadcasting, Rick Wakeman, Slade, Smoke Fairies, Squeeze, Status Quo, The Chameleons, The Jam, The Rolling Stones, The Stranglers, The Undertones, Tom Robinson, Wolf Alice | Leave a comment

Thanks for the memoirs – catching up with Slade’s Dave Hill

Posted on December 18, 2015 by writewyattuk

Looking at the extensive list of past shows on Don Powell’s website, it’s clear that Slade are old hands at this touring lark. An impressive archive of on-stage engagements runs from March 1963, and it’s fair to say Don’s diary remains … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Bilston, Chas Chandler, Dave Hill, Don Powell, Graham Swinnerton, Jim lea, John Berry, Mal McNulty, Merry Xmas Everybody, Mud, Noddy Holder, Preston, Slade, Slade in Flame, wolverhampton | 5 Comments

The Adventures of the Crumpsall Kid – A Memoir by Mike Harding – a writewyattuk review

Posted on December 12, 2015 by writewyattuk

When you get to know and like an author or performer, there’s a concern when you get a chance to review their latest work that you won’t be able to give an honest appraisal. But within a couple of pages … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Bert Lloyd, Bombers Moon, Crumpsall, Danny Baker, Lonnie Donegan, Manchester, Mike Harding, St Bede's College, The Beatles, The Manchester Rainmakers, The Stylos | Leave a comment

Instant karma, Chameleons Vox style – the Mark Burgess interview

Posted on December 11, 2015 by writewyattuk

It’s difficult to get over to the younger indie kids how important BBC Radio 1’s John Peel Show was during the latter decades of the 20th Century. But I was hoping Mark Burgess could help, the front-man and bass player … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Chameleons, Chameleons Vox, Dave Fielding, Geffen, John Lever, John Peel, Manchester, Manchester Academy, Manchester City, Manchester United, Mark Burgess, Middleton, Reg Smithies, Script of the Bridge, Statik Records, Steve Lillywhite, Strange Times, The Cliches, The Red-Sided Garter Snakes, Tony Fletcher, U2 | 5 Comments