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.

Getting the run down on The Higsons, four decades on – the Terry Edwards interview

Posted on April 22, 2023 by writewyattuk

Among this weekend’s 2023 Record Store Day releases, I was intrigued to hear word of the vinyl release of a mini-album featuring two cult early ‘80s 12” singles by post-punk/funk pioneers The Higsons, celebrating their brief liaison with 2 Tone … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged 2 Tone, backs Records, Blockheads, Charlie Higson, Colin Williams, dave Cummings, Davey Payne, David Bowie, Del Amitri, Earl Bostic, Gallon Drunk, guildford, Holy Holy, Hornchurch, Jerry Dammers, John Peel, Mark Bedford, Mike Garsoin, Norwich, Paul Whitehouse, Run Me Down, Serious Drinking, Simon Charterton, Stuart Mcgeachin, Terry Edwards, The Curse of The Higsons, The Farmer's Boys, The Near Jazz Experience, The Specials, Tindersticks, University of East Anglia, Waap!, Wah! | 2 Comments

Let me tell you about Sweden (and Denmark, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester …) – catching up with Hugh Cornwell

Posted on March 31, 2023 by writewyattuk

Early May sees the return of former Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell to the road for three more UK headline dates, celebrating last October’s acclaimed Moments of Madness LP. Following a 23-date nationwide tour late last year, he has shows in … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Birmingham, Black and White, Copenhagen, Dave Greenfield, Five Minutes, guildford, Hugh Cornwell, Jet Black, Johnny Soxx, London Lady, Lund, Lytham, Malmo, Manchester, Moments of Madness, Monster, Pat Hughes, raggare, Stockholm, Sweden, The Stranglers, The Undertones, Wilko Johnson, Windsor McGilvray | Leave a comment

Fill in the pages of tomorrows yet to be – talking Dodgy with Nigel Clark

Posted on March 18, 2023 by writewyattuk

What is it about dogs that they get vocal the moment interviews start? It’s normally my rescue lab-cross, Millie, but in this case Dodgy frontman Nigel Clark’s Bedlington whippet-cross is doing all the barking. “As soon as I say hello … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Andy Miller, Beck, Bromsgrove, Ceredigion, Chris Helme, Dodgy, Fela Kuti, Free Peace Sweet, Good Enough, Hollow Horse, Homegrown, Ian Broudie, John Bonham, Longbridge, Mathew Priest, Nigel Clark, Ray Davies, Redditch, Ribchester, Sly and the Family Stone, Smithers-Jones, Stand Upright in a Cool Place, Staying Out For The Summer, Stuart Thoy, Supernaturals, The Dodgy Album, The Kinks, The Who, What Are We Fighting For | 3 Comments

Keeping life and soul together – in conversation with Nik Kershaw

Posted on March 11, 2023 by writewyattuk

As our video interview got underway, Nik Kershaw – surrounded by recording hardware – told me in response to my opening enquiry that his studio was previously in the cellar of his rural East Anglia home, near the Suffolk/Essex border, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Chesney Hawkes, David Bowie, Elton John, Fusion, Genesis, Giles Smith, Human Racing, Ipswich, Live Aid, Nik Kershaw, riotcvhie Blackmore, The Riddle, Tony Banks, Wouldn't It Be Good | Leave a comment

Treading Gently forward – beyond The Jam with Steve Brookes

Posted on March 5, 2023 by writewyattuk

When I spoke to Steve Brookes earlier this week, he was at home in Camberley, Surrey, having played Thames Side Brewery in Staines that weekend, this accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter clearly enjoying gigging as much now as five decades ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Ben Gordelier, Boileroom, Bruce Foxton, Camberley, Chess Records, Dan Jennings, Dave Waller, guildford, Hoodoo Zoo, Jim Webb, Keeping the flame, Paolo Hewitt, Paul Jones, paul weller, Rick Buckler, Steve Brookes, Stone Foundation, The Beatles, The Members, The Style Council, Thin Lizzy, Tread Gently, Woking, Woking FC | Leave a comment

Journey to the Art of Darkness – talking The History of Goth with John Robb

Posted on February 25, 2023 by writewyattuk

Ah, the dreaded label. An integral part of music culture down the years, but an all too easy way to categorise, and often proving nonsense. Punk, post-punk, alternative, indie, indie pop, twee pop, shoegaze, soul, funk, jazz funk, heavy soul, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Action Records, Blackpool, David Bowie, Goth, John Robb, Johnny Marr, Joy Division, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Mick Mercer, Preston, The Cure, The Doors, The history of Goth, The Membranes, The Sisters of Mercy | Leave a comment

Overcoming these doubts – in conversation with Marlody

Posted on February 18, 2023 by writewyattuk

There’s a stunning debut album doing the rounds right now from a talented singer-songwriter starting to earn plenty of critical acclaim, building a steady following after initial interest from a South East indie label. Marlody’s I’m Not Sure At All … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amelia Fletcher, Ashford, Cate Le Bon, Heavenly, Judie Tzuke, Kate Bush, Kent, Liz Phair, Low, Marlody, Mitski, Rob Pursey, Skep Wax, Smoke Fairies, The Japanese House, the National, The Unthanks | Leave a comment

Heart for heart’s sake – back in touch with Graham Gouldman

Posted on February 16, 2023 by writewyattuk

Master songwriter and 10cc founding member Graham Gouldman is raring to go for next month’s 16-date tour with his semi-acoustic show, Heart Full of Songs. Graham, joined by multi-instrumentalists/vocalists and 10cc live bandmates Iain Hornal and Keith Hayman, plus percussionist … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 10cc, 1966, Andrew Gold, Brian May, Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Jeff Beck, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, Neil Finn, Ringo Starr, Strawberry Studios, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, Wax | Leave a comment

All fired up and still seeking the love remedy – back in touch with Andrew Roachford

Posted on February 2, 2023 by writewyattuk

Andrew Roachford was suffering from the dreaded ‘man flu’ when I called, but insisted, tongue firmly in cheek, ‘I’ll live’, this veteran singer-songwriter looking to steadily build up his energy reserves for impending rehearsals ahead of a 21-date UK tour, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Acantha Lang, Al Green, Andrew Roachford, Beverley Knight, Cuddly Toy, Jeff Beck, London, Maxi Jazz, Mike + The Mechanics, Mike Rutherford, Music Venue Trust, Roachford, Stephen Roachford, Stevie Wonder, Twice in a Lifetime | 2 Comments

Finding her voice again – the Sam Brown interview

Posted on January 29, 2023 by writewyattuk

I still can’t get used to online video interviews, and this one with Sam Brown was definitely one that caught me out. When in-person one-to-ones are ruled out by time and impracticalities, it’s arguably the next best thing, somewhat more … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged April Moon, Concert for George, Danny Schogger, David Rotheray, Dorset, George Harrison, Homespun, Joe Brown, Joni Mitchell, Jools Holland, Melodyne, Number 8, Of the Moment, Pete Brown, Pink Floyd, Sam Brown, Sam Moore, Small Faces, Squeeze, Stop, Tea, Ukelel, Valentine Moon, Vicki Brown | Leave a comment