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.

A life in denim, leather and spandex – the Biff Byford interview

Posted on February 14, 2014 by writewyattuk

With heavy metal survivors Saxon’s wheels of steel set to grind to a temporary halt at Preston’s 53 Degrees on Saturday, February 15, I managed to lure lead singer Biff Byford away from the studio to talk heavy metal. Quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 53 Degrees, 747 (Strangers in the Night), Barnsley, Biff Byford, Doug Scarratt, Heavy Metal Thunder, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Justin Lee Collins, Lemmy, Motorhead, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Nibbs Carter, Nigel Glockler, Paul Quinn, Preston, Saxon, Wheels of Steel | 1 Comment

Spin (and) the bottle – the Chris Barron interview

Posted on February 7, 2014 by writewyattuk

AMID a harsh stateside winter, MALCOLM WYATT spoke to a housebound Chris Barron to talk about the Spin Doctors’ past and present, ahead of a three-date UK visit which includes a brief trip to Lancashire. If you reckon the Spin … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Blues Traveler, Burnley Mechanics, Chris Barron, Croydon, If The River Was Whiskey, Islington, New York City, Pocket Full of Kryptonite, Spin Doctors, Two Princes | 1 Comment

Mixing it up with an alternative jazz statesman – the Stuart McCallum interview

Posted on February 1, 2014 by writewyattuk

A RISING star on the alternative jazz scene is back on his old patch, teaming up with his former guitar tutor for five dates as a duo in the North. Here, writewyattuk catches up with Stuart McCallum to talk about … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Cinematic Orchestra, Jazz, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Leeds College of Music, Leyland, Linder Sterling, Manchester Jazz Festival, Matt & Phred's, Mike Walker, Northern Ballet, Preston, Richard Spaven, Stuart McCallum, The Continental, University of Salford | Leave a comment

Helen Dunmore – The Lie

Posted on January 29, 2014 by writewyattuk

We’re already seeing a surfeit of news stories and TV documentaries marking the centenary of the First World War, with the library and bookshop shelves full of related publications. Some are already established classics, some are new spins on past … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged Birdsong, Coleridge, Cornwall, First World War, Helen Dunmore, Poldark, Sebastian Faulks, The Betrayal, The Greatcoat, The Lie, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, The Siege, Winston Graham, Zennor in Darkness | 1 Comment

Tubthumping, suffragism and pantheism – the Boff Whalley interview

Posted on January 17, 2014 by writewyattuk

With ‘one-woman suffragette musical’ Wrong ‘Un about to embark on a 21-day national run, starting at The Lowry Studio, Salford Quays, writewyattuk caught up with the play’s author on the phone from his home in West Yorkshire. Lancashire-born and bred … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Alice Nutter, Boff Whalley, Burnley, Chumbawamba, Danbert Nobacon, Ella Harris, First World War, Jill Liddington, Otley, Red Ladder, The Lowry, Tubthumping, Wrong 'Un | 1 Comment

What to expect in the Premier League in early 2014

Posted on December 30, 2013 by writewyattuk

On the verge of the New Year, writewyattuk gets the crystal matchball out and takes a punt on what we might be reading about this time next month concerning the English top flight, club by club. Arsenal Arsene Wenger pledges to ensure … Continue reading →

Posted in Football, sport | Tagged Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Premier League, Tottenham | Leave a comment

It’s a wonderful life (and a marshmallow world, apparently)

Posted on December 24, 2013 by writewyattuk

I left it a little too late this year. You know how it is – all those work deadlines (some met, some over-hanging) and family commitments. The focused part of you wants to get your workload out of the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Christmas, Darlene Love, Freddy King, It's A Wonderful Life, James Stewart, Kirsty MacColl, Phil Spector, Slade, The Crystals, The Greedies, the Pogues, The Ronettes, Wizzard | Leave a comment

Martha inspires 53 Degrees in a December Heat Wave

Posted on December 16, 2013 by writewyattuk

I’ve just re-read the chapter dedicated to Martha Reeves in Gerri Hirschey’s excellent 1984 biography Nowhere to Run – The Story of Soul Music. It includes a description of the Alabama-born, Detroit-raised chanteuse warming up for a post-Vandellas era show … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 53 Degrees, Dancing in the Street, Detroit, glasgow, Heat Wave, Jimmy Mack, Larry Crockett, Martha reeves, Mod, Nowhere To Run, Preston, Preston's Got Soul, Stevie Wonder, Vandellas | 5 Comments

Glenn Tilbrook – 53 Degrees, Preston

Posted on December 10, 2013 by writewyattuk

I’ve said it before, but I’m pleased to see 1991 Squeeze LP Play getting some kudos again all these years on. And it seemed fitting that Glenn Tilbrook started off his solo show at Preston’s 53 Degrees with one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 53 Degrees, Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, Happy Ending, lancashire, Leslie Mendelson, Pandemonium Ensues, Play, Preston, Squeeze, The Fluffers, Transatlantic Ping pong | Leave a comment

Glenn’s happy wending on the road

Posted on December 6, 2013 by writewyattuk

After nearly 40 years on the road, with the band that made his name and various solo and side-projects, Glenn Tilbrook remains as committed as ever to the live cause. You’d have thought he’d have been ready for a break … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Charlton Athletic, Chris Braide, Chris Difford, Chris McNally, Glenn Tilbrook, Happy Ending, nine Below Zero, Simon Hanson, Squeeze, The Fluffers, Up the Junction | 10 Comments