CATtales (CATtales)

July 2010: Kathy Mattea At The Coalface

Grammy-winning country artist Kathy Mattea chatted to me at the #CambridgeFolkFestival during her only UK performance of 2010 about her latest release Coal.

#KathyMattea #country #interview

July 2010: Questioning The Quebes

The Quebe Sisters Band are Texas’ favourite Western Swing, Hot Jazz, Country performers and when Grace, Sophia and Hulda sing their vintage style three-part harmony, audiences are mesmerised.

This is what they had to say about Texas-style fiddling, visiting the UK and what it’s like to be in a family band.

#Quebe #CambridgeFolkFestival #country #jazz #interview

April 2013: Getting Under Skunk Anansie’s Skin

There are few female lead-singers quite as formidable as Skunk Anansie’s #Skin.

Independent, striking, strong. Just a few words that are frequently used to describe her.

But when I interviewed her and Skunk Anansie guitarist, #Ace, recently I discovered a softer, more poignant, side to her nature.

Here’s what they had to say.

#SkunkAnansie #rock #interview

July 2010: Gretchen Peters turns found objects into songs

I chatted with Getchen after her performance at the #CambridgeFolkFestival about song-writing and performing just before she was nominated for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The stage next door was rockin' but Gretchen was so terribly interesting I wanted to share it.

#GretchenPeters #country #interview

Dec 2011: Fish out of water, not!

Ex-Marillion frontman #Fish has been through the mill in recent years but even divorce and throat surgery have failed to keep him out of the water when it comes to touring. I caught up with him before one of his solo gigs when he was refreshing, frank, and honest about fame and the music business…and was delightful company too…

#Marillion #folk #rock #pop #fish #interview

Sept 2012: From Sex Pistol to Philistine

The backwaters of North-Norfolk is not usually the place where you would expect to see an ex-member of the Sex Pistols, one of the most rebellious bands of our time.

But there, in the backwaters of North-Norfolk, for one night only, was bassist Glen Matlock performing at the Voewood Festival with his band The Philistines.

I was fortunate enough to spend an evening in his delightful company. Not the most conventional of interviews, we shared a few laughs and Glen showed the more impish side of his personality. This is how it went….

#SexPistols #GlenMatlock #punk #rock #interview

Oct 2013: Texan punk rockers Bowling For Soup are back with a new album "Lunch. Drunk. Love." which sees the band return to the UK for their latest, and final, tour.

I was lucky enough to grab 5 few minutes with their lovely guitarist, Chris Burney, as the band prepared to go on stage. He rarely does interviews, so I was a lucky girl.

This is how it went.

#BowlingForSoup #ChrisBurney #rock #interview

Nov 2013: Still Feelin' The Noize

The 70s was one of the most memorable decades in music history, not least because of the impact of glam-rock and its influence on later muscians.

There's no doubt that one of the legendary bands of that time was #Slade and I was very lucky to be able to spend an afternoon with guitarist, and one of the most genuine men in the music industry, Dave Hill, who is still 'feeling the noize'. This is a little of that conversation.

#DaveHill #rock #pop #slade #interview

Nov 2013 - Lead singer of the Dead Daisies and ex-INXS frontman, Jon Stevens, talks about life on the road, being a real-life Crocodile Dundee and his brush with death.

It's only rock 'n' roll!

#Inxs #DeadDaisies #JonStevens #Noisework #rock #interview

Dec 2013: The Darkness are just ending a headline UK tour after re-forming in 2011. Drummer Ed Graham chats about the band getting back together, touring with Lady Gaga and swimming with sharks!

#TheDarkness #EdGraham #LadyGaGa #rock #interview

Feb 2014: Rock band The Answer have recently released their 4th album and are in the middle of a 31 date tour.

I caught up with them and chatted about performing around the world, touring with ACDC and playing Download.

This is how it went…

#TheAnswer #PaulMahon #rock #interview

April 2014: Magnum's Harry James and Al Barrow chat about the band's 42 years history, their latest album and current tour…and why the future is in collectibles.

#Magnum #AlBarrow #HarryJames #rock #interview

July 2014: I chat to John Jones of folk-rock band, Oysterband, at the Cherry Hinton pond at #CambridgeFolkFestival as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

#Oysterband #JohnJones #folk #interview

August 2014: FM at 30

Rock band FM are celebrating being in the business 30 years. I had a little fun with them backstage at Cambridge Rock Festival, this is how it went…

#FM #rock #CambridgeRockFestival #interview

March 2015: I caught up with rocker's Europe in Norwich on their latest tour. Mic Michaeli chats to me about the rock 'n' roll circus, the band's journey in a musical universe and their latest album War of Kings.

#Europe #EuropeTheBand #MicMichaeli #pop #rock #interview

April 2016: Earl Slick Talks Bowie and Station To Station

He's played with David Bowie, John Lennon, Yoko Ono Band, The New York Dolls…and now the legendary Earl Slick chats to CAT about his Station To Station tour and an illustrious career spanning over 40 years.

#EarlSlick #rock #blues #YokoOno #JohnLennon #NewYorkDolls #DavidBowie #interview

One from the vaults!

March 2008: Not The Hoople….Just Ian

Iconic singer frontman of Mott the Hoople agreed to speak for a very quick couple of minutes before he went on stage on his solo tour. Not the chattiest of interviewees, Ian Hunter didn't give much away…

#IanHunter #MottTheHoople #pop #rock #interview

March 2008: One from the vault!

Critically acclaimed Folk/Americana singer-songwriter, Amy Speace has a velvety and achy voice reminiscent of Lucinda Williams. A former Shakespearean actress, she now lives in Nashville, but I caught up with her on one of her UK tours very early on in her career.

#AmySpeace #Americana #Folk #interview

July 2002: One from the vaults!

English singer-songwriter, Beth Orton, was performing at Leicester's Summer Sundae Weekender amongst a vast array of musical styles over the two day festival when I caught up with her backstage with a group of journalists.

We chatted about her performance at the Eden Project, her latest album, and her collaboration with Johnny Marr.

#BethOrton #JohnnyMarr #folk #interview

July 2003: One from the analogue vault.

It had been a fairytale year for Australian trio, The Waifs, who had managed to create a stir on three continents as well as fulfilling their own personal ambitions. But despite their new found popularity, they'd managed to keep their feet well and truly on the ground.

#TheWaifs #CambridgeFolkFestival #folk #interview

July 2004: One from the analogue vault!

Winner of both the Horizon Award for Best Newcomer and the Best Album Award for Sweet England at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2004, Jim Moray is single-handedly turning folk music on its head. Taking traditional English songs he re-works them electronically to create some of the most powerful contemporary recordings in the last thirty years.

#JimMoray #CambridgeFolkFestival #folk #interview

July 2007: One from the analogue vault.

Renegade Sharon.

From her stints with the Waterboys, it seems that just putting an accordion in Sharon Shannon's hands makes her happy. Luckily for the soft-spoken Sharon, others are just as happy when she picks it up.

#SharonShannon #CambridgeFolkFestival #folk #Waterboys #interview

July 2007: One from the analogue vault.

More of Allison Moorer please!

This edition is one from my archive of analogue recordings from 2007 with the then Mrs #SteveEarle.

Grammy nominated alternative country singer, #AllisonMoorer, was performing at #CambridgeFolkFestival when I caught up with her and chatted about her forthcoming album and what makes her tick.

#Americana #country #interview

July 2002: One from the analogue vault.

This is another from my archive of old analogue recordings, a short chat with Cornershop's Ben Ayres before the band headlined at the 2002 #SummerSundae festival in Leicester's De Montfort Hall.

Hot from supporting Oasis the same afternoon in Finsbury Park, they delivered renditions of the band's number-one single Brimful Of Asha and The Beatles’ Norwegian Wood, sung entirely in Punjabi.

#Cornershop #BenAyres #pop #interview

July 2003: One from the analogue vaults.

After The Teardrop Explodes finally did explode in 1983, Julian Cope continued to beguile audiences with his eccentricity to become a modern-day folk troubadour and eco-warrior author on ancient monuments.

This interview is one from my vault of old analogue recordings from 2003. Sadly, only part of it has survived but it still remains one of the most philosophical conversations I've had the pleasure of being part of.

#JulianCope #TeardropExplodes #CambridgeFolkFestival #pop #interview

Feb 2017: There are some people who deserve to be in demand and bassist aficionado, Marco Mendoza, is one such person. He’s rocked the world with Ted Nugent, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders, and collaborated with music’s great, and now he chats with me about the excesses of rock n roll, divine intervention, and playing a bit of jazz.

When he writes that autobiography, I'll be first in the queue!

#MarcoMendoza #DeadDaisies #BlackStarRiders #ThinLizzy #Whitesnake #rock #tednugent #interview

Feb 2017: I spend a little time with Anthrax bassist Frank Bello on the last UK date of the band’s Among The Kings tour. He chats to me about being part of ‘the big four’, the band’s very own beer, experiencing music on vinyl and why he wants to pass on the torch of playing music to the next generation.

#FrankBello #Anthrax #BigFour #Metal #Rock #interview

March 2017: I chat on the telephone with Jake Burns.

When the punk revolution took hold in the 70s, Stiff little Fingers were at the forefront of the movement along with the likes of the Clash, Sex Pistols, and the Stranglers. But, the band of 4 from Belfast defined something a little more than simply rebellion. Writing about their own lives growing up at the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland, they confronted social change head on and took on the establishment and won.

40 years on Stiff Little Fingers are still out there touring, but this time talking to a whole new generation and still creating meaningful music.

#JakeBurns #StiffLittleFingers #punk #interview

April 2017: I’m joined on the telephone by blues drummer extraordinaire and veteran of the music business for over 50 years, Tali 'Icepack' Jackson.

A pure world-class multi-talented musician, Tali has played and recorded with absolutely everyone who’s anyone from Bob Dylan, and Bonnie Raitt, to Bob Marley and Bette Midler, and on his new CD is joined by no less than 9 Gold Grammy and Rock & Roll Hall of famers.

#TaliJackson #IcepackJackson #TaliIcepackJackson #BobDylan #BonnieRaitt #BobMarley #BetteMidler #TheMonkees #EllaFitzgerald #interview

May 2017: This was a particularly poignant interview for me as it was recorded the day after the terrorist atrocities at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

But it was a lovely conversation with Whiskey Myers' guitarist, Cody Tate, who showed that life must go on as we chatted about music, life…and the events in Manchester.

#country #rock #whiskeymyers #codytate #Manchesterattack #interview

July 2017: Amongst those bands at the forefront of the #punk movement of the 70s was The Vibrators’ with their seminal album Pure Mania influencing the genre and many other musicians at that time.

Forty one years later The #Vibrators are still performing and I spent some time with founding member Eddie who chatted about the punk scene, Past, Present & Into The Future and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. 

#JohnEdwards #EddieVibrator #JohnEddieEdwards #TheVibrators #PureMania #interview

July 2017: Guitarist Nigel Bennett ripped up the rule book of the 70s London music scene auditioning for major bands including the Sex Pistols and Iron Maiden before recording with The Members, playing in Julian Lennon’s band, with Tom Robinson and, of course, The Vibrators.

We had a little giggle before he played a charity gig in Norfolk when he confessed all about his naughty school days, what it’s really like to be on tour, how he loves America, and snake-skin boots!

#TheMembers #TheVibrators #JulianLennon #SexPistols #IronMaiden #TomRobinson #Punk #interview

July 2017: The Vibrators bassist, Pete Honkamaki, joined the band in 2003 having previously played in Finnish three-piece No Direction and subbing for the UK Subs.

Dressed head to toe in black and hidden under heaps of silver metal, his appearance is every bit the personification of the modern day punk scene he plays in. But when I caught up with him at a charity gig in Norfolk, he showed his hidden depths and gave some sound advice for life.

#TheVibrators #TimeToKill #UKSubs #NoDirection #Punk #interview

July 2017: I’m joined by multi-instrumentalist and punk aficionado David Donley. He’s played with almost everyone who’s anyone as well as being a member of Glen Matlock’s Philistines, Holy Holy, and almost The Cure.

Now he tells a few tales on the people in his phone book and the first vinyl release with a few friends as The Venus Reaction.

#GlenMatlock #ThePhilistines #HolyHoly #AdamAnt #TheVenusReaction #EdGraham #VivAlbertine #interview

August 2017: I have a rabbit with rockney legend Chas Hodges. As one half of Chas & Dave, he wrote and recorded exceptionally witty songs about life in a unique style of a London pub singalong, with a bit of music-hall humour and boogie-woogie piano thrown in.

Authentic and charming, Chas reminisces about the early days, provides some sound advice on life, and speaks about his other projects…down the allotment!

#Chas&Dave #ChasnDave #ChasHodges #interview

August 2017: The Jesus and Mary Chain have been back in the studio for the first time in 2 decades facing the difficulties of recording together to make new album Damage and Joy.

Much has been written about the chaos and violence of the band’s early live shows, their unexpected rise to mainstream Top of the Pops success, and their agonising decline. Now Jim chats to me about their seminal debut album Psychocandy, his tempestuous relationship with his brother Will, and why they don’t conform.

#JesusAndMarychain #TheMarychain #JimReid #interview

August 2017: Multi-instrumentalist Michael Steed has contributed bass, keyboards, and even penny whistle to some classic recordings as a full time member of some influential bands including Flesh For Lulu, Love Affair, The Marmalade, and The Rubettes.

His life changed in 1989 when he answered an advert in Melody Maker, one of the top magazines of the day, which led him on a journey to the US, Europe and even theatre land.

#FleshForLulu #TheMarmalade #LoveAffair #Rubettes #interview

September 2017: Today on the line I’m joined by drummer Bob Henrit who has quite a few tales to tell!

Ivor Novello Award winner and Hall of Fame inductee, Bob has been a member of The Roulettes, Unit 4+2, Argent, The Kinks, and almost Genesis as well as recording with Leo Sayer, Ringo Starr and Roger Daltrey. And it isn’t over yet.

#AdamFaith #TheRoulettes #Argent #TheKinks #Unit4+2 #CliffRichards #Genesis #interview

September 2017: The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential British groups of all time, with millions of record sales and countless awards and accolades to their name.

In this edition, I catch up with keyboard player Ian Gibbons who, as well as being a long-term member of the band, also has a long list of credits to his name including Love Affair, Dr Feelgood, Roger Chapman, The Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Ian Hunter and Chip Hawkes.

#IanGibbons #TheKinks #LoveAffair #DrFeelgood #RogerChapman #TheSweet #SuziQuatro #IanHunter #ChipHawkes #interview

November 2017: British country and folk musician Charlie Landsborough started performing professionally in the 1970s but it wasn’t until he appeared on an Irish TV show in 1994 with ‘What Colour Is The Wind’ that divine intervention opened doors onto a musical career that has spanned decades.

Now he chats to me about his numerous music awards, being inducted into the British Country Music Hall of Fame, and about sharing his childhood with a monkey!

#CharlieLandsborough #Country #Folk #interview

November 2017: It’s exactly 40 years since John Otway’s now legendary appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test with Wild Willy Barrett with gymnastic antics to ‘Really Free’.

It was this performance that shot John to fame but despite a financial backing of £2m, in today’s figures, from Polydor Records it was a further 25 years before he enjoyed his second UK Chart hit, ‘Bunsen Burner’.

Undeterred, John is now celebrating his 65th birthday with the recent release of a brand new album, ‘Montseratt’, and is already making plans for his 70th!

#JohnOtway #punk #interview

13 December 2017: I chat with the hottest band to come out of #Manchester since Oasis.

It’s contagious, it’s creating an epidemic, it caused by brothers Mark and Paul Hinks….it’s Some Kind of Illness!

#indy #SomeKindofIllness #interview

Feb 2018: In this edition I catch up with Sandy Newman, lead-singer and guitarist of pop sensation of the 60/70s The Marmalade.

The Marmalade may be best known for hits such as Reflections of my Life, Rainbow, Falling Apart At The Seams and Lennon/McCartney’s Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, but Sandy Newman is a whole lot more than that!

Singer-songwriter, solo performer and an all-round fabulous guy, Sandy chats to me about his early life and his formative years.

#marmalade #themarmalade #sandynewman #pop #music #Glasgow #Scotland #60s #70s #interview

July 2018: Gizz Butt became a household name in 1996 when he became lead guitarist with The Prodigy just as The Fat of The Land album became No1 in 38 countries at the same time.

But that’s not all he’s done in his musical career. He’s been in English Dogs, The More I See, The Destructors and played live with The Foo Fighters and The Beatles’ Pete Best.

Now he’s about to re-launch his band Janus Stark with an exciting new release and is planning a tour.

#punk #TheProdigy #EnglishDogs #TheDestructors #TheMoreISee #JanusStark #Prodigy #music #interview

August 2018: With a career spanning over 36 years and with record sales in excess of over 30 million albums Imagination released many classic Funk/soul-dance hits such as, Body Talk, Just An illusion, Flashback, and Changes.

It’s fair to say founding member and songwriter Leee John is one of the hardest working men in music, touring internationally, appearing in as well as producing and directing films, writing books, alongside charity work.

And it appears that his creativity is just warming up!

#LeeeJohn #Imagination #funk #soul #dance #music #retropia #policeandthieves #flashback #interview

August 2018: This tale is about the frontman of one of the most iconic bands of the last 40 years.

Best known for singles Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3), and What a Waste, Ian Dury & The Blockheads chalked up hit after hit until Ian’s death in 2000.

But Ian’s passing didn’t deter The Blockheads from continuing to produce and perform great music led by the distinctive vocals of Derek Hussey, one Ian’s closest friends and companions on tour.

#theblockheads #punk #funk #rock #iandury #derekthedraw #derekhussey #interview

September 2018: Guitarist Paul Guerin has been a major player on the international music scene for over twenty years.

He’s played alongside The Scorpion’s Michael Schenker, Thin Lizzy’s Brian Robertson, Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ Huey Morgan, Black Star Rider’s Ricky Warwick, and even music legend Eartha Kitt.

Now, Paul juggles his time between rock bands The Quireboys and the Down ‘n’ Outz, with Def Lepard’s Joe Elliott, as well as fitting in a few personal projects along the way too.

#PaulGuerin #TheQuireboys #DownNOutz #TheClan #interview

September 2018: True punks don’t age gracefully and Nigel Bennett, former Members member and current guitarist for the Vibrators, couldn’t care less.

I first met Nigel when he was performing at a charity gig in North Norfolk and we chatted about everything from his naughty school days to snake skin boots.

Now he’s lifting the lid on the reality of the music business with a new solo album “Another Bump in the Road” which chronicles the euphoria and exhaustion that comes with the occasionally glamorous job.

#NigelBennett #TheMembers #TheVibrators #JulianLennon #SexPistols #IronMaiden #TomRobinson #Punk #interview

September 2018: Pearl Handled Revolver have the blues or rather psychedelic, heavy rock, blues. And after four EPs, three studio albums, and their celebrated live album ‘Bootlegʼ, the band is celebrating ten years of performing.

I spent an enjoyable evening in the recording studio with them when keyboard player Simon Rinaldo, percussionist Chris Thatcher, and vocalist Lee Vernon were laying down some of their latest album and, boy, does it sound good.

#PearlHandledRevolver #SimonRinaldo #ChrisThatcher #LeeVernon #AndyParis #blues #rock #music #interview

October 2018: With classic songs like A Night To Remember, I Can Make You Feel Good, and There It Is, 80s soul band Shalamar sold over 25 million records worldwide and collected no less than 100 gold, silver, and platinum awards.

As well as thrilling audiences with a dynamic blend of funky feel good music, band member Jeffrey Daniel was regarded as a fashion icon and trendsetter, bringing street dance to the UK, and teaching Michael Jackson how to moonwalk!

#Shalamar #JeffreyDaniel #MichaelJackson #PaulMcCartney #80s #BodyPopping #Moonwalk #Backslide #Dance #Royal #StarlightExpress #interview

October 2018: South Londoner Ben was busking at Waterloo underground when Joan Armatrading happened to pass by. Immediately impressed, she invited him to join her on tour, supporting her at major venues across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the UK and Ireland.

Hailed as a latter day Bob Dylan, Ben has two albums and two EPs on his own label under his belt and is releasing a great new single, Midnight Blue, under the Nub Music label.

#BobDylan #JoanArmatrading #BenHolland #folk #interview