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.

Going back to my roots – talking an crann and more with The Undertones’ Damian O’Neill

Posted on January 13, 2023 by writewyattuk

Getting on for 45 years since The Undertones recorded debut single ‘Teenage Kicks’ at Belfast’s Wizard Studios, there’s still plenty of love out there for the band and its members, as seen in recent acclaim from critics and fans alike … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged An Crann, Ash, Belfast, Damian O'Neill, Dave Hattee, Derry, Dig What you Need, Dimple Discs, Erland Cooper, Hannah Peel, John Peel, Kevin Sharkey, Liam Bradley, Loughinisland, Paul Tipler, Positive Touch, Sean O'Hagan, That Petrol Emotion, The Everlasting Yeah, The Love Parade, The Magnetic North, The Undertones | Leave a comment

WriteWyattUK’s quotes review of 2022, part two – July to December

Posted on December 31, 2022 by writewyattuk

July Chris Hewitt on Jeremy Beadle involving him in 1972’s Bickershaw Festival, ultimately setting him on his career path:“Jeremy was targeting all the colleges and universities, contacting social secretaries, saying you can have free admission if you help work on … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Abba, Adam Leonard, Amelia Fletcher, Bad Manners, Bickershaw Festival, Blancmange, Buster Bloodvessel, Carl Magnus Palm, Cass Browne, Catenary Wires, Chris Hewitt, Dave Hemingway, Dave Pegg, Davey Goldsworthy, David Newton, Don Powell, Elliott Morris, Evan Dando, Fairport Convention, Graham Jones, Gretchen Peters, Haircut 100, Ian Broudie, Invaderband, Jeremy Beadle, John Scally, Kate Rusby, Katy J Pearson, Lemonheads, Lightning Seeds, Neil Arthur, Noddy Holder, Orchids, Paul McLoone, Phil Barton, Richard Hawley, Richard Houghton, Rob Pursey, Sandy Denny, Senseless Things, Simon Barber, Slade, Sunbirds, Swansea Sound, Syd Minsky-Sargeant, Terry Hall, The Chesterfields, The Mighty Lemon Drops, The Undertones, Working Men's Club | Leave a comment

WriteWyattUK’s quotes review of 2022, part one – January to June

Posted on December 30, 2022 by writewyattuk

January Vinny Peculiar celebrating his 14th solo LP Artists Only, and a magpie’s approach to songwriting: “Those chords have been used by everyone. But you get to a certain point in life when you think, well, everyone’s used them, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Alfie Templeman, All Change, Altered Images, Barry McGuilty, Bob Hardy, Boo Hewerdine, Brick Briscoe, British Sea Power, Cast, Clare Grogan, Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Dana Gavanski, Franz Ferdinand, Gwenno, Hugh Cornwell, James Douglas Clarke, Jaz Coleman, Joe Mount, John Power, Killing Joke, Louise Wener, Mark Kingston, Mark Radcliffe, Martin Clunes, Martin Noble, Metronomy, Mick Shepherd, Mickey Bradley, Miles Hunt, Neil Sheasby, Ocean Colour Scene, Phil Odgers, Sea Power, Simon and the Astronauts, Simon Fowler, Simon Wells, Sleeper, Stefan Cush, Stone Foundation, Stranglers, The Amber List, The goa Express, The McGuilty Brothers, The Men They Couldn't Hang, The Undertones, Tony Michaelides, U2, Vinny Peculiar, Wonder Stuff, Youth | 1 Comment

Waiting for the family to arrive – back in touch with Don Powell

Posted on December 23, 2022 by writewyattuk

If it’s Christmas, it must be time for another chat with a member of glam-rock legends Slade. And it seems that drumming colossus Don Powell has had another happening year. While the credits on 1973 classic ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ read … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Chas Chandler, Chuck Berry, Dave Hill, Denmark, Don and the Dreamers, Don Powell, Jim lea, John Howells, Les Glover, Lise Lyng Falkenberg, Merry Xmas Everybody, Noddy Holder, Paul Cookson, Pink Floyd, Slade, wolverhampton | Leave a comment

Taking the Westway to the sea with Graham Jones – talking Haircut One Hundred, Boys Wonder, and more

Posted on December 22, 2022 by writewyattuk

Haircut One Hundred are back, celebrating their 40th anniversary with a live show and special edition of Pelican West, the debut LP that saw them on their way all those years ago. And that was all I needed by way … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Bob Sargeant, Boys Wonder, Cornwall, Girlschool, Glen Matlock, Graham Jones, Haircut 100, Haircut One Hundred, Jimmy Pursey, Les Nemes, Marc Fox, Nick Heyward, North of a Miracle, Orange Juice, Paint and Paint, Pelican West, Porthtowan, Roundhouse, Shepherd's Bush Empire, The Beat | Leave a comment

Missing You – a tribute to Terry Hall and Iain ‘Tempo’ Templeton

Posted on December 21, 2022 by writewyattuk

“Love, there was so much love, enough to last a hundred years. Laughs, we had so many laughs, how come they turned into tears?” I wasn’t sure it was common knowledge when I got the sad message from Iain ‘Tempo’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Academy of Contemporary Music, Coventry, Fun Boy Three, Iain Templeton, Ian Broudie, Lightning Seeds, Liverpool, Michael Head, Shack, Terry Blair & Anouchka, Terry Hall, The colourfield, The La's, The Specials | 2 Comments

A Christmas gift for you from Swansea Sound – back in touch with Rob Pursey

Posted on December 8, 2022 by writewyattuk

This time last year, Swansea Sound were reflecting on a happening few months, this indie-pop supergroup of sorts, founded remotely mid-lockdown, not even having met in person until their late August 2021 debut at Lancashire’s Preston Pop Fest, yet soon … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Amelia Fletcher, Buzzcocks, Christmas, Daniel Ek, Elon Musk, Heavenly, Hue williams, Ian Button, Jeff Bezos, Live at the Rum Puncheon, Mark Zuckerberg, Preston Pop Fest, Rob Pursey, Slade, Spotify, Swansea Sound, The Catenary Wires | Leave a comment

Blancmange / Alice Hubble – Lancaster, Kanteena

Posted on December 6, 2022 by writewyattuk

Admittedly, I should have got this review together a while back … but sometimes life gets in the way. Instead, consider this as much a heads-up to two of my long-playing highlights of 2022, each deserving proper recognition. Besides, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Football | Tagged Alice Hubble, Blancmange, Chris Pemberton, Don't Tell Me, Happy Families, Hexentanzplatz, Kanteena, Lancaster, Liam Hutton, Living on the Ceiling, Private View, Stephen Mallinder, Tom Hilverkus | Leave a comment

Still walking in the sunshine – celebrating five decades of Bad Manners with Buster Bloodvessel

Posted on December 2, 2022 by writewyattuk

Ska legends Bad Manners are out and about again this month, veteran vocalist Buster Bloodvessel and his band bringing their stage prowess and hits catalogue to 27 UK venues, allowing himself just five nights off before New Year’s Day’s Glasgow … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Alan Sayag, Bulgaria, Buster Bloodvessel, Dance Craze, Dublin, Finsbury Park, Hackney, Ivor Cutler, Lip Up Fatty, London, Magical Mystery Tour, Magnet Records, Margate, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Salford, ska, ska revival | Leave a comment

First-class return to Holly Head, and beyond – the Kate Rusby interview

Posted on November 24, 2022 by writewyattuk

After a successful 2022 on the back of her most recent LP, 30: Happy Returns, Kate Rusby is rounding off the year with her latest festive tour, hailed as the start of Christmas for many. The ‘Barnsley Nightingale’ will be entertaining audiences … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 30: Happy Returns, Adele, Barnsley, Celtic Connections, Damien O'Kane, Dave Burland, Dave Pegg, folk, Hand Me Down, Hannah Peel, Holly Head, Holmfirth Folk Festival, Jason Manford, Kate Rusby, Kathryn Roberts, Katy J Pearson, paul weller, Pure Records, Richard Hawley, Ronan Keating, Seth Lakeman, The Equation, Trad Fest, Underneath the Stars Festival, Yorkshire | Leave a comment