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.

Sound affects on a midsummer’s night

Posted on June 22, 2013 by writewyattuk

ON such a warm and sticky night at a packed 53 Degrees in Preston, there were always likely to be technical imperfections in this From the Jam performance. But while I couldn’t quite hear enough of Bruce Foxton’s backing vocals … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 53 Degrees, All Mod Cons, Back In The Room, Bruce Foxton, From The Jam, In The City, Preston, Russ Hastings, Setting Sons, Sound Affects, The Jam, Tom Van Heel | 5 Comments

Road to Rouen – Ben Hatch

Posted on June 14, 2013 by writewyattuk

For those who enjoyed the last thrilling instalment of life on the open road with the Hatch family – 2011’s Are We Nearly There Yet? (with my review here) – I should stress that the follow-up – Road to Rouen – involves … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged are we nearly there yet?, ben hatch, Bill Bryson, Brighton, david hatch, Dinah Hatch, France, Michael Palin, Pamplona, Paris, Road to Rouen, VW Passat | Leave a comment

Otis Redding – a personal appreciation

Posted on June 5, 2013 by writewyattuk

WHEN I saw Noddy Holder recently, the former Slade frontman recalled how it was down to Little Richard that he got involved in music, something you could see in the way he always projected that mighty voice of his. While I can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged BBC 4, Booker T & The MGs, Eddie Floyd, Georgia, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Monterey, Otis Redding, Ready Steady Go, Sam and Dave, Sam Cooke, Stax, Steve Cropper, The Beatles | 9 Comments

Back (on the phone) with Bruce Foxton – the writewyattuk interview

Posted on May 31, 2013 by writewyattuk

Before I begin, let’s go back in time. I’m not talking about the day Paul Weller and Steve Brookes first stepped on to a stage at Woking’s Working Men’s Club in November 1972, nor the May 1974 milestone (yes, 39 … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged Back In The Room, Big Country, Bruce Foxton, Charles Rees, From The Jam, Mark Brzezicki, paul weller, Rick Buckler, Russell Hastings, Steve Cropper, Steve Norman, Stiff Little Fingers, The Jam | 6 Comments

Bruce Foxton – Back in the Room (Absolute/Basstone, 2012) – a writewyattuk review

Posted on May 31, 2013 by writewyattuk

I really didn’t know what to expect with Bruce’s first solo album in more than a quarter of a century, but I’m pleased to say my critical sense was uncompromised by the end result – 12 strong songs ensuring a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged Back In The Room, Big Country, Bruce Foxton, Charles Rees, From The Jam, Mark Brzezicki, paul weller, Russell Hastings, Steve Cropper, Steve Norman, The Jam | 6 Comments

Out on the town with Noddy and Mark

Posted on May 20, 2013 by writewyattuk

I’M proud to say I was in the company of glam rock royalty at the weekend, 50 years after Noddy Holder’s introduction to that business called show. And judging by his musical contributions to a night of good, honest chat with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Chas Chandler, Dave Hill, Don Powell, Dr Who, Freddie Mercury, Jim lea, Mark Radcliffe, Noddy Holder, Preston Charter Theatre, Slade, Strictly Come Dancing, Suzi Quatro, Vic, walsall, wolverhampton | 6 Comments

Mission accomplished … but the public service beat goes on

Posted on May 9, 2013 by writewyattuk

In which writewyattuk runs the rule over the eagerly-awaited debut LP from Public Service Broadcasting – Inform, Educate, Entertain … and discovers a ready-made classic. It’s always a nervous experience when a band you’ve learned to love during the incubation … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Everest, Inform Educate Entertain, Night Mail, Public Service Broadcasting, ROYGBIV, Signal 30, Spitfire, Willgoose, Wrigglesworth | 3 Comments

Wilko Johnson – we salute you

Posted on April 27, 2013 by writewyattuk

WAS it really a month ago Madness were fighting off the bitter winter elements outside Broadcasting House, with their special guests including a certain guitar legend? You had to fear for Wilko Johnson on such a freezing cold night with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Alison Moyet, Blockheads, Canvey Island, Dr Feelgood, Fender Telecaster, Geno Washington, Ian Dury, Kennington Cricketers, Lee Brilleaux, Madness, Norman Watt-Roy, Oil City Confidential, Wilko Johnson | 8 Comments

Record Store Day – beware the corporate take-over

Posted on April 21, 2013 by writewyattuk

I’LL start with an admission. I tend to buy quite a bit of my back-catalogue from charity shops these days. Then there’s a few I borrow from the library, my young, free and single era replaced by an almost-middle-aged, economical … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Action Records, Bens Collectors Records, Cob Records, David Hepworth, guildford, Ian Rankin, John Peel, paul weller, Pete Paphides, Porthmadog, Preston, Public Service Broadcasting, Records Store Day 2013, Strypes, Wedding Present | Leave a comment

Reasons to be Grateful, Part 53

Posted on March 31, 2013 by writewyattuk

OI OI! They may be missing the main man these days, but The Blockheads are going strong, judging by Friday night at Preston’s 53 Degrees. Cutting to the chase, Derek Hussey – familiar on-stage long before his promotion to front-man … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 53 Degrees, Blockheads, Chaz Jankel, Dave Lewis, Derek Hussey, Ian Dury, John Roberts, Johnny Turnbull, Mickey Gallagher, Norman Watt-Roy, Preston, Wilko Johnson | 5 Comments