Category Archives: Music

The Undertones – Chester Live Rooms

“Summer’s really here and it’s time to come out, time to discover what fun is about.” Yep, The Undertones are back, taking on a series of mostly-weekend commitments to mark the 40th anniversary of becoming a proper functioning band, good … Continue reading

Posted in Music | 4 Comments

Getting up close and personal with Toyah

Regular readers of this blog won’t be surprised that this scribe is an avid viewer of BBC 4’s Top of the Pops re-runs, a point I soon confess to my latest interviewee, Toyah Willcox. “Oh, God bless those!” The more … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A jaunting we will go, with The Undertones – the Mickey Bradley interview

I tend to find books on bands traditionally take the formulaic approach, rather predictably following artistes from rags to showbiz riches, preferably with plenty of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll clichés en route. In many cases, and somewhat inevitably, acts lose a … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Proof perfect pop idol here to stay – the Will Young interview

  (PLEASE NOTE: This interview largely centred around Will Young’s proposed Symphony at the Tower show in Lancashire on Friday, July 1, which was unfortunately cancelled on the day of the show. I’ve subsequently updated where I felt I could, … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bruce Foxton – Smash the Clock (Absolute/Bass Tone Records, 2016)

So Bruce Foxton has a top-40 hit, 33 years after he last troubled the charts with debut solo single, Freak. In at No.31, pop-pickers, thanks largely to the 21st-century phenomenon of crowd-funding pre-orders, with new LP Smash the Clock his … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Further Adventures of The Wonder Stuff – the Miles Hunt interview

Miles Hunt was taking a break from archiving material in the studio when I caught him on the phone at his rural Shropshire base, not far from his Black Country roots. “Not so far at all. It’s still Midlands, innit”. … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What the world needs now – the John Lydon interview

“Hallo, is that John?” I ask my illustrious interviewee, somewhat needlessly. “It is … ‘allo!” “Good day to you. It’s Malcolm here, calling from Leyland, Lancashire.” “Fantastic. Let’s take the scenic route!” It’s seven months since the release of What … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Discovering the negligible risk of exposure to local radio activity

It’s an odd thing for me to end up on the other side of the mic. but that’s what happened when this writewyattuk scribe was a live guest of networking guru, magazine proprietor, MC, public speaker and community radio host Keith Bradshaw. The … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stand up for James – the Jim Glennie interview

When I caught up with Jim Glennie, revered bass player of the band James, he was just a few hours off a low-key live show back on his old patch in Manchester. Admittedly, that was a while ago, the date … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New beat route to Shakin’ Street – the Ciaran McLaughlin interview

This coming week sees the latest live outing for The Everlasting Yeah, at Putney’s Half Moon. Meanwhile, this month marks the 30th anniversary of the recording of Manic Pop Thrill, the debut LP by That Petrol Emotion, the band that … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments