Banned Biographies

Interview With Paul Brightman of Sham 69, Swampstomper and (Almost) Chelsea

This is the second Banned Biographies Interview episode with Paul Brightman of Sham 69, Swampstomer and (almost) Chelsea. During the episode, Paul talks about his introductions to music and playing in bands, juvenile delinquency, politics – both in bands as well as in the wider world – the pros and cons of touring and his hopes for the future both with his own project, Swampstomper, and with Sham 69.

A quick warning, the first few minutes are spent discussing the affect that COVID-19 has had on him including his own brush with the virus and, very sadly, losing close members of his family. We don’t dwell on this issue very long, but if you don’t want to listen to that part of the conversation then skip ahead about 5 minutes.

You can find Sham 69  at www.officialsham69.com, officialsham69 on Twitter and Instagram, and at SHAM 69 – Tim V on Facebook. You can find Swampstomper on Facebook by searching for Swampstomper or typing in facebook.com/SwampStomping as well as on reverbnation.com/swampstomper.

There were some technical issues with this interview. Paul’s microphone settings were wrong before we started recording and then, once sorted , I couldn’t hear him through my desk for a reason I couldn’t figure out, so we ended up both using onboard microphones, which is never ideal, but I’ve managed to get it sounding fine. Then, about 20 minutes in he lost internet connection and his computer automatically updated!

I’m more than happy with the final interview, and I thank Paul for sticking with it. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation just as much as I enjoyed talking to him.

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Twitter: @BannedBiogs

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

The Slits Review

I'm back to catch up with what's been happening since last month's episode about The Slits went out , give some shout outs to new followers as well as those that have been interacting, as well as highlight some other podcasts - both music-based and not - that I'm listening to and you might also like, and tell you what the subject of the next episode will be .

While you're waiting for the next episode to drop on Friday 26th February 2021, why not go and leave a rating and review on iTunes, they really do help and you get a special shout out on these review episodes. But most of all, I hope you enjoy the next episode. Take care and stay safe.

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Typical Girls(?) - The Tale of The Slits

The Slits are one of the most significant female punk bands of the late 1970s. Not only did they bravely (or foolishly) leap into the fray with little, if any, musical ability, but through sheer emotion and desire created some great music, setting the stage for a future generation of Riot Grrrls.

Their success seems on a par with a band like The Velvet Underground’s in the 1960s. Neither bands sold huge amounts of records at the time but their influence has been huge and ongoing. 

Though much derided in their short existence, what the Slits achieved and what they meant to succeeding generations of young female rockers and pop stars cannot be underestimated.

Join me on an episode that charts the highs and lows of the lives and careers of some of punks least typical girls.

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Twitter: @BannedBiogs

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign Interview Review

I'm back to catch up with what's been happening since the Christmas Day episode went out where I interviewed the guys from the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign, give some shout outs and tell you what band will be the subject of the next episode, which will be a return to the regular documentary format.

As ever, I hope you're doing well. 2020 was a hell of a year and 2021 has started off in much the same way. I've found solace in producing this podcast for you all and hearing your reactions to it and having chats with a whole load of you, so thank you for that and I intend and look forward to keeping on with that. Please do reach out on social media or via email and please do spread the word about the show, but most of all enjoy!

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Interview with the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign

In a change to our regular programming, instead of a documentary about an iconic band this month, I bring you the first in what I hope will be a regular feature of the podcast peppered between the documentaries.

In this episode I sat down over Zoom to chat with Paul Lally, Paul Banks and Ellie Porter from the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign.

Lally set the group up two years ago after Shelley passed away in order to commemorate the singer with a blue plaque on his childhood home. £12,000 and a lot of fundraising activities later, the plaque was unveiled on 4th December 2020 by Malcolm Garrett, the artist who was recently awarded an MBE and designed early Buzzcocks album and single covers.

The Campaign isn't stopping there though, in this interview you'll find out what other plans they have for the years ahead as well as some personal stories including how they each discovered the music of Pete Shelley, Buzzcocks and punk in general.

Visit their site to find out how you can help out either financially or as a volunteer: peteshelleymemorial.com  

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Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

The Undertones Review

Welcome back to Banned Biographies, I'm back to cover some of the reaction to the Teenage Kicks: The Story of The Undertones episode, give some shout-outs and to let you know that the next episode will be a very different affair.

Instead of a documentary episode I've conducted my first interview for the show. You may remember during the Love Bites: The Story of Buzzcocks episode that I mentioned the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign. They recently unveiled a blue plaque at Pete Shelley's childhood home in the first of many initiatives to memorialise him.

It will be out on Friday, 25th December 2020 as a present to all of you who have listened over the last eight months, or even if you've just started listening, but it's especially for those who may be spending the season alone because of lockdowns or protecting their family members. 2020 has been a bit crap, here's to a better 2021.

As a present to me, why not tell your friends to subscribe and listen. Also, don't forget to leave a rating and review, it only takes a few seconds and really makes a difference. But most of all; enjoy!

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Twitter: @BannedBiogs

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

Teenage Kicks: The Story of The Undertones

It all started on a two-week camping trip in County Donegal, Northern Ireland in August 1974. Friends Michael Bradley, Billy Doherty and brothers Vince and John O’Neill decided they wanted to start a band. The group had existed as an idea for about six months in the minds of John, Vince and Billy.

For a while, the unnamed group hade no instruments with which to practice, so there were no songs either. But it didn't stop them discussing the future of the band, who would play what instrument, and what kind of songs they were going to make. 

There was one more obvious problem that needed to be overcome: They didn't have a singer. Doherty invited local Irish Dancing legend and choir boy, Feargal Sharkey to join as singer and soon The Undertones were born, playing scout halls, school halls and social clubs before their big break.

This unlikely group of lads from Derry, a town which was in the midst of getting over the Bloody Sunday shootings of 1972, made a point of rebelling against the fervent political and sectarian turmoil of their surroundings by making some of the most innocent, pop-influenced music of all the 1970s punk bands, a couple of which have stood the test of time and feature on compilations to this day.

Teenage dreams really are hard to beat.

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Twitter: @BannedBiogs

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com

The Clash Review/The Undertones Preview

Welcome back to Banned Biographies, I'm back to cover some of the reaction to London Calling: The History of The Clash episode, give some shout outs, announce the winners of the Joe Strummer badge giveaway with Pin Icons and to let you know that the next episode will be about Northern Ireland's originators of pop punk, The Undertones!

I seem to have lost a week somewhere this month, hence this episode coming out on Thursday rather than Monday. I have a fair amount of editing to do on The Undertones episode, but not a staggering amount, so I'm hoping that I may even get it out on time on the 27th November, but if not I'm confident it won't be more than a week late.

In the meantime, why not go and leave a rating and review on iTunes, call it an early Christmas present from you to me! Enjoy.

London Calling - The History of The Clash

The Clash are so much more than simply a punk band, they infused elements of reggae, dub and later R&B and rap which marked them out as unique in a sea of Sex Pistols soundalikes that were springing up in Britain in the late 1970s. They were also the most genuinely political bands of the original wave of UK punk.

While the Sex Pistols’ debut gig at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall has been acknowledged as the starting point of that city’s punk and new wave scene, The Clash’s first gig at Eric’s, supported by The Specials on the 5^th May 1977, was a similar watershed moment for Liverpool. The gig was witnessed by people who would later form Big In Japan, The Teardrop Explodes, Wah!, Dead or Alive, The KLF, Frankie Goes To Hollywood fame and Echo & The Bunnymen.

The Clash's influence can still be heard in American political punk bands such as Rancid, Anti-Flag, Bad Religion, NOFX, Green Day, and Rise Against! as well as in the political hard rock of early Manic Street Preachers.

Outside of rock music, Chuck D has credited the Clash as an inspiration for Public Enemy, in particular for the way their use of socially and politically conscious lyrics gained attention from the music press.

Join me on the deepest of dives Banned Biographies has taken so far into the lives and careers of the members of probably THE greatest UK punk band ever.

The Clash Preview, Part 2

So, there wasn't a main episode last month, but that doesn't mean I wasn't busy. In this short preview episode I tell you a little about what's gone on this month including getting on two UK radio stations, figuring out that there have been more iTunes reviews than I realised, and the chance for three lucky listeners to win a limited edition Joe Strummer enamel pin badge from Pin Icons (@PinIcons on twitter).

The Clash episode will be out on Friday, 30th October 2020 and is the longest episode yet. Make sure you check the social media channels and that you're subscribed to the podcast on the podcast platform of your choice so you get the episode as soon as it drops. In fact, why not tell your friends to do the same, and don't forget to leave a rating and review, it only takes a few seconds and really makes a difference. But most of all; enjoy!

Contact

Twitter: @BannedBiogs

Facebook: @BannedBiographies

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E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com