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.

Beyond the sex and drugs – the Shaun Ryder interview

Posted on September 17, 2015 by writewyattuk

Madchester legend Shaun Ryder is in a great mood, despite being part-way through a rash of interviews as rave culture icons Happy Mondays gear up for their latest anniversary tour. If you’re expecting the unpredictable character that left interviewers like … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 24 Hour Party People, Bez, Black Grape, Celebrity Big Brother, Happy Mondays, I'm a Celebrity, Manchester, Pills'n'Thrills and Bellyaches, Rowetta, Salford, Shaun Ryder, Singing in the Rainforest, Twisting Your melon | 3 Comments

Taking the Big Red Bus to town – celebrating Tuff Life Boogie’s autumn return

Posted on September 10, 2015 by writewyattuk

If you follow the alternative and indie music scene and you’re based in the North West, you may know a little about Tuff Life Boogie. Then again, this is hardly a story of self-aggrandisement or any of that self-serving twaddle. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Action Records, Big Red Bus, Blitz, Dandelion Adventure, Galley Beggar, Icicle Works, JD Meatyard, Jez Kerr, John Peel, lancashire, Preston, Rico La Rocca, Stanley Brinks, The Boo Radleys, The Continental, The Stone Roses, The Wave Pictures, Thomas Truax, Tuff Life Boogie | 3 Comments

Yes to priories, prog rock and further excess – the Rick Wakeman interview

Posted on September 6, 2015 by writewyattuk

It’s half eight in the morning when I make contact with Rick Wakeman. And despite his memorable past contributions to the BBC’s Grumpy Old Men series, he’s bright and breezy. So what time did this revered ivory-tinkler and prog rock … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged . Lancaster Music Festival, Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Brentford FC, Camberley Town FC, Cat Stevens, Chris Squire, David Bowie, Elton John, Grand Order of Water Rats, Grumpy Old Men, Hunky Dory, Jon Anderson, Lancaster Priory, Middlesex, Morning Has Broken, prog rock, Rick Wakeman, Space Oddity, Strawbs, WakemanFest | 5 Comments

Destiny Calling for Justin Moorhouse

Posted on August 29, 2015 by writewyattuk

Sometimes it seems that the comedy world decamps en masse to Edinburgh in summertime, and Justin Moorhouse is no exception. And while the East Manchester born and bred salesman turned stand-up comic and actor might not be partaking in any … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre | Tagged Anne Reid, Chorley Little Theatre, Comic Relief, Dave Spikey, Destiny Calling, Edinburgh Fringe, Eric Cantona, Jennie McAlpine, Justin Moorhouse, Les Dawson, Looking for Eric, Manchester, Peter Kay, Phoenix Nights, Richard Osman | 4 Comments

Liberty Way, above and beyond – my continuing travels with Woking FC

Posted on August 24, 2015 by writewyattuk

I wasn’t ready for the new season. It arrived far too early. I didn’t doubt that Garry Hill and Steve Thompson had put our new-look squad through its paces, but I hadn’t even had my summer holiday. Could it really … Continue reading →

Posted in Football, sport | Tagged Dan Holman, Garry Hill, Halifax Town, John Goddard, Kevin Betsy, Macclesfield Town, Nuneaton Town, Scott Rendell, Steve Thompson, Telford United, Tranmere Rovers, Woking FC | 1 Comment

Something Only We Know by Kate Long – a writewyattuk review

Posted on August 22, 2015 by writewyattuk

You know that paragraph at the beginning of books, explaining that what you’re about to read is a work of fiction, with names, characters, places and incidents purely down to the author’s imagination? When I read a Kate Long novel … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged books, Chester, E.H. Shepard, Kate Long, lancashire, Shropshire, Something Only We Know, The Bad Mother's Handbook | Leave a comment

Really wild at heart – the Steve Backshall interview

Posted on August 21, 2015 by writewyattuk

It’s 9am and wildlife expert, travel adventurer, TV presenter and author Steve Backshall is already on his second conference call, facing at least half a day fielding questions. But he’s in high spirits, despite only having returned the night before … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure & Travel, Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged Bagshot, Chris Packham, David Attenborough, Deadly 60, Gerald Durrell, Live and Deadly, National Geographic Channel, Rough Guide, Simon King, Steve Backshall, Strictly Come Dancing, The Falcon Chronicles, The Really Wild Show, Upuigma | 1 Comment

The Long road to literary success – in conversation with Kate Long

Posted on August 13, 2015 by writewyattuk

As someone who struggles to find the time to finish his own books, it’s fair to say I’m impressed by Kate Long’s work ethic and her take on the whole process. And from what I’ve since learned, I’d say this … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged adoption, Alan Garner, anorexia, Arvon, Bad Mothers United, Blackrod, Catherine Tate, Emma Woolf, Kate Long, Kes, lancashire, Michael Bond, Paddington Bear, Rivington, Robert Pattinson, Sarah Waters, Shropshire, Simon & Schuster, Something Only We Know, The Bad Mother's Handbook, Yorkshire | 2 Comments

Squeeze into a new era – the Chris Difford interview

Posted on August 13, 2015 by writewyattuk

Catching up with Chris Difford’s blog earlier this week, I realised how close we were to a new Squeeze album, the band’s first since 1998, the result of a project also serving as the soundtrack to a new BBC comedy … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Boo Hewerdine, Cashmere if you Can, Chris Difford, Cradle to Grave, Danny Baker, From the Cradle to the Grave, Glenn Tilbrook, John Cooper Clarke, Jools Holland, Leo Abrahams, Lucy Shaw, Peter Kay, Ridiculous, Squeeze, The Last Temptation of Chris, Up the Junction | 15 Comments

St Anthony: An Ode to Anthony H. Wilson

Posted on August 11, 2015 by writewyattuk

I’ve probably said this before, but I don’t tend to do plugs on this blog. But this is a project I feel deserves wider recognition, involving a touching tribute to Anthony H. Wilson, the mouthpiece-turned-icon for so much great music … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Christopher Eccleston, Factory Records, Iggy pop, John Cooper Clarke, Joy Division, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Manchester, Mark Radcliffe, Mike Garry, New Order, Richard Madeley, Shaun Ryder, Steve Coogan, Tony Wilson | 4 Comments