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.

Exploring the gravitational pull of Public Service Broadcasting – a writewyattuk interview

Posted on February 13, 2015 by writewyattuk

I’m not alone in my fascination for all things space-related, and was captivated as a child by the later Apollo missions, at least one of which I vaguely recall catching on telly at primary school in the early ’70s. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged British Film Institute, Dr Who, Everest, Gagarin, Kaiser Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers, NASA, New Order, Public Service Broadcasting, Rolling Stones, Sputnik, The Race for Space, Valentina Tereshkova, Willgoose, Wrigglesworth | 4 Comments

The Evergreen Bunnyman – in conversation with Will Sergeant

Posted on February 6, 2015 by writewyattuk

Some 36 years after Echo and The Bunnymen’s legendary live debut at Liverpool’s cult club Eric’s, they’re still very much with us. The band have 12 albums behind them and are starting on a 13th, and this month play dates … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Brian Eno, Dave Balfe, Echo and the Bunnymen, Ian Broudie, Ian McCulloch, Julian Cope, Les Pattinson, Liverpool, Mike Oldfield, Pete de Freitas, Pete Wylie, Poltergeist, The Teardrop Explodes, Will Sergeant | 8 Comments

What the Rambling Railwayman did next – the Geoff Burch story continues

Posted on February 5, 2015 by writewyattuk

Those who have been with me for a while on this blog know it involves a broad church of interests, from comedy and football (two subjects sometimes inter-linked, I admit) to music. There are other passions highlighted too, including nostalgia … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Railways | Tagged Basingstoke, Eurostar, Further Ramblings of Railwaymen, Geoff Burch, guildford, Ian Verrinder, Railways, Rambling Railwayman’s Recollections, South West Trains, Surrey, The Ramblings of a Railwayman, Waterloo, Woking | Leave a comment

Sweet harmonies – introducing Finch and the Moon

Posted on February 3, 2015 by writewyattuk

It’s been a happening few months for Caitlin Gilligan and Lee Parry, collectively known as Finch and the Moon. The harmony-driven acoustic pairing recently headlined an event at Manchester’s Castle Hotel, helping spread the word about their From Sand to Sea four-track … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Caitlin Gilligan, Calum Gilligan, Cathy Cassidy, Finch and the Moon, First Aid Kit, From Sea to Sand, Inside Llewyn Davis, Jonny Woodhead, Lee Parry, Manchester, Sarah Guthrie, Subject to Change, To Kill A Mockingbird, York | 2 Comments

Uninformed As I Am – the Jo Caulfield interview

Posted on January 30, 2015 by writewyattuk

Jo Caulfield is having a bit of a domestic crisis, and is pleased to be distracted by her gentleman caller. Let’s not panic though. These are First World problems. They involve the comedian and panel show regular’s cooker and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre | Tagged chorley, Chorley Little Theatre, Edinburgh, Graham Norton, Have I Got News For You, Jo Caulfield, Katherine Ryan, Lee Mack, Mike Gunn, Steve Martin, The Cramps, Valentine's Day | 3 Comments

More than Saturday night entertainment – the Julian Cope interview

Posted on January 22, 2015 by writewyattuk

“Before we start, I should warn you we’re in the middle of nowhere. If we keep cutting out, it might be because of the heavy snowfall we’ve had. If I suddenly disappear, you’ll have to ring back.” Julian Cope, legendary … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Avebury, Bill Drummond, Children of the Stones, Head On, Julian Cope, Liverpool, Pete Wylie, Reward, Tamworth, The Modern Antiquarian, The Teardrop Explodes, Trip Advizer | 7 Comments

Still diving for pearls – the Elkie Brooks interview

Posted on January 16, 2015 by writewyattuk

At the end of February, Elkie Brooks turns 70, and that seems difficult to believe. In fact, the Lancashire-born vocal talent agrees, chipping in with, “Likewise!” Elkie, born Elaine Bookbinder in Broughton, Salford, and brought up in Prestwich, North Manchester, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Alan Price, Devon, Elkie Brooks, Georgie Fame, Humphrey Lyttelton, lancashire, Lilac Wine, Pete Gage, Robert Palmer, Small Faces, The Beatles, The Lowry, Vinegar Joe | 8 Comments

Pleasure & Pain is part and parcel of T’Pau’s game – the Carol Decker interview

Posted on January 9, 2015 by writewyattuk

I’ve had hassle in the past about my vast collection of old football and music magazines, not least when moving to a house with less storage space a decade ago. But now and again I chance upon features trickier to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Bridge of Spies, Carol Decker, China in your Hand, Feargal Sharkey, Heart and Soul, Henley-on-Thames, Nowhere, Pleasure and Pain, Rewind, Ronnie Rogers, Shrewsbury, T'Pau | 1 Comment

9 by 7 – Jo Bartlett – a writewyattuk review

Posted on January 6, 2015 by writewyattuk

On first hearing Jo Bartlett’s 9 by 7, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. Only it’s a bit of an enigma. But like the best puzzles, it’s worth the effort decoding. You see, it has the mark of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 9 by 7, Danny Hagan, Ellie Goulding, Green Man Festival, Highway Found, It's Jo and Danny, Jo Bartlett, Mike Siddell, Nick Drake, Strike Back Records, The Cure, Waterboys, Yellow Moon Band | 1 Comment

Building on the past, towards a brave new year

Posted on January 2, 2015 by writewyattuk

It’s that time of year when we’re full of high hopes for the future and plans we can’t usually keep. But 2014 was a great year for all of us at writewyattuk (ok, so that’s just me), and 2015 promises … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music, sport | Tagged alt-J, Badly Drawn Boy, Big Country, Black Star Riders, Byrds, Craig Charles, Eddie Holman, Frank Skinner, From The Jam, Gary Numan, Hazel O'Connor, Inspiral Carpets, Jeff Wayne, John Foxx, Jon Ronson, Judy Street, Katherine Ryan, Manfred Mann, Marillion, Martina Cole, Miles Kane, Paul Carrack, Paul Hollywood, Reverend and The Makers, Rezillos, Saxon, Spin Doctors, Stranglers, That Petrol Emotion, The Beautiful South, The Everlasting Yeah, The Subways, The Undertones, The Wedding Present, Woking FC | 2 Comments