CATtales

Dave Hill is a national treasure. Half a century after Slade’s first hit, surviving a stroke, depression and the departure of his former band mates, Dave is still going strong and entertaining Slade fans with live performances of the band’s hits - seventeen consecutive top twenty and six UK number ones to be precise.

We chat about Slade’s fourth-coming tour, their latest box set release All The World Is A Stage, what’s next on the horizon, and how Dave put on his ‘Batman cape’ to emerge as one of greatest glam rock icons of the era.

The Slade tracks featured are: Cum On Feel The Noise, Coz I Love You, Far Far Away, How Does It Feel, and My Oh My. For more information about Dave and Slade visit www.davehillslade.com 

Before becoming one of the biggest names in rock history, Status Quo honed their craft as a holiday camp act at Butlins in Minehead. Sixty years later, the same venue was the chosen to host the last performance of John Coghlan’s Quo’s farewell tour.

But John is not ready to hang up his drum sticks for good just yet….well…as he explains, he hasn’t got a dog after all. So what does a man with such a successful career behind him do? Well…make more music, of course!

The tracks features are: Rockin' All Over the World, Mystery Song and Down Down by Status Quo, and Lockdown by John Coghlan's Quo.

Photo credit: Will Ireland

Founding member of Buzzcocks, one of punk’s most seminal bands of all time that managed to fuse rapid-fire rebellious energy with pop craftsmanship, Steve Diggle is nothing short of a punk hero. 

With a plethora of hits under his belt including the classics Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve), What Do I Get?, Everybody’s Happy Nowadays, and Harmony in My Head, Steve never imagined that he would still be flying the Buzzcocks’ flag some 45 years later. 

Steve talks about the loss of his friend and fellow band member, Pete Shelley, 

how punk made people rethink their whole conscious about music, the meaning behind the song that means the most to him, and the latest Buzzcocks’ album Sonics In The Soul, due for release later this year.

The tracks featured are: the classic tracks Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve), What Do I Get? and Harmony In My Head, along with Manchester Rain and Senses Out of Control from Buzzcocks’ new album Sonics In The Soul.

To find out more about Steve Diggle and the release of the new album, visit Buzzcocks.com

Owen Paul is everyone’s favourite waste of time. Singer, producer and co-writer of the 1986 pop hit My Favourite Waste of Time, Owen was the overnight sensation who spent years honing his craft and who went on to forge a very successful career in the entertainment business.

Since that song topped the charts, he’s played a leading role in a major musical theatre production, toured the UK and Europe with Phil Collins as one of Mike and the Mechanics, and was harassed by The Osbournes in the infamous 'noisy neighbours' episode. 

But the love the live performance is in his blood and Owen returned to the stage in 2009 as lead vocalist for XSM featuring original Simple Minds members Derek Forbes and Brian McGee and has since released new solo material as well as remixed versions of his unforgettable 80’s classic.

The tracks featured are: My Favourite Waste of Time (original version), My Favourite Waste of Time (30th anniversary version), Breathe in Breathing Deep (Song for John), and Sleeping on the Same Pillow.  For more information about Owen visit www.TheOwenPaul.com

This tale is about a legendary guitar hero who has officially cheated death.

To successive generations of guitar aficionados, Wilko Johnson is a cult figure in the rock world. He’s been a Blockhead and a founding member of Canvey Island’s celebrated punk precursors: Dr Feelgood whose unwavering devotion to old-fashioned rhythm and blues and Wilko’s explosive guitar playing inspired everyone from Paul Weller to Joe Strummer. 

Life made a cruel twist in 2012 when Wilko was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer but it led to the most extraordinary year of his life which started with a farewell tour, included a part in Game of Thrones and an album with Roger Daltrey, and then culminated with the most surreal experience of all: a cure.

The tracks features are: Roxette and Milk & Alcohol by Dr Feelgood, Going Back Home by Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey from their album Going Back Home, and Say Goodbye from Wilko Johnson’s album Blow Your Mind.

To learn more about Wilko Johnson and his music visit wilkojohnson.com

Carl Palmer is a drummer’s drummer. His dazzling speed and mastery of the drums has secured him multiple awards and well as a respected place in history as one of rock and roll’s greatest drummers.

A consummate professional, a brilliant technician and a dynamic showman, he has thrilled audiences for nearly six decades playing with some of music’s most memorable bands from Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown to multi-platinum selling supergroups Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and ASIA.

When I caught up with him he was fresh from touring his ELP Legacy shows celebrating 50 years of the band’s third album and ahead of ASIA’s 40th anniversary tour this summer. But what I couldn’t wait to talk about was the release of an amazing boxed set: ASIA In Asia, and hear the stories behind the recording of the 1983 performance in The Budakon, Tokyo.

The tracks featured are: Here Comes The Feeling, Sole Survivor, and Heat of The Moment from ASIA In Asia – Live At The Budokan, Tokyo, 1983; and Tomorrow Night by Atomic Rooster.

ASIA In Asia – Live At The Budokan, Tokyo, 1983, is available from 10th June, follow this link to pre-order and read more about it on the CATtales blog.

Visit carlpalmer.com for more information about Carl and originalasia.com for the latest information on Asia.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Twenty years of interviewing fabulous musicians is no mean feat and I thought it deserved some kind of celebration, or at least to be marked in history for posterity.

So, I’ve recorded Cat O’nine Tales; nine special episodes of CATtales to look back on those early encounters where the recordings of the interviews no longer survive and the details only remain in written form.

After introducing my guest, I’ll give you a link address to read the interview and play some of their key hits for you to listen to whilst you enjoy it. 

Thank you to you the listeners and my fabulous guests for your support over the years, I hope you enjoy these special 9 Tales.

Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader has three BRIT Awards to her name, fronted punk outfit Gang of Four, harmonized with Annie Lennox touring with the Eurythmics, and topped the UK charts with Fairground Attraction.

But when I caught up with her at Cambridge Folk Festival she revealed a bit of her more private side as she reminiscing about getting old, Cambridge men and travelled around Europe with a circus!

This tale dates back to 29 August 2006, visit CATtales.co.uk/122 for the one with Eddi Reader and sit back and enjoy these tunes.

Visit eddireader.co.uk for information on Eddi and to listen to this again and to other tales, visit CATtales.co.uk.

Twenty years of interviewing fabulous musicians is no mean feat and I thought it deserved some kind of celebration, or at least to be marked in history for posterity.

So, I’ve recorded Cat O’nine Tales; nine special episodes of CATtales to look back on those early encounters where the recordings of the interviews no longer survive and the details only remain in written form.

After introducing my guest, I’ll give you a link address to read the interview and play some of their key hits for you to listen to whilst you enjoy it. 

Thank you to you the listeners and my fabulous guests for your support over the years, I hope you enjoy these special 9 Tales.

Karine Polwart’s edgy and evocative writing and vocal poise have been steadily winning her respect and affection in the UK and internationally over the past six years as a member of traditional groups Malinky and Battlefield Band. 

But now the Scottish Borders based singer-songwriter has established herself at the forefront of the UK folk-roots scene after scooping three prizes at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in February 2005. She’s also a wonderfully genuine person. Here’s how the triple-award winner now she sees the world. 

This tale dates back to 30 August 2005, visit CATtales.co.uk/121 for the one with Karine Polwart and sit back and enjoy these tunes.

Twenty years of interviewing fabulous musicians is no mean feat and I thought it deserved some kind of celebration, or at least to be marked in history for posterity.

So, I’ve recorded Cat O’nine Tales; nine special episodes of CATtales to look back on those early encounters where the recordings of the interviews no longer survive and the details only remain in written form.

After introducing my guest, I’ll give you a link address to read the interview and play some of their key hits for you to listen to whilst you enjoy it. 

Thank you to you the listeners and my fabulous guests for your support over the years, I hope you enjoy these special 9 Tales.

It was 30 years since The Proclaimers made their legendary TV debut on The Tube, performing the now classic song Letter From America. 

Back then, the charts were dominated by the likes of Rick Astley and Sinita and The Proclaimers were unlike anything seen before. The response to the two impassioned brothers singing their hearts out in their own accents about serious political issues was extraordinary and Channel 4’s switchboards were jammed with curious callers. 

This tale dates back to 29 August 2005 when Craig and Charlie Reid tell me what the journey has been like. Visit CATtales.co.uk/120 for the one with The Proclaimers and sit back and enjoy these tunes.

Twenty years of interviewing fabulous musicians is no mean feat and I thought it deserved some kind of celebration, or at least to be marked in history for posterity.

So, I’ve recorded Cat O’nine Tales; nine special episodes of CATtales to look back on those early encounters where the recordings of the interviews no longer survive and the details only remain in written form.

After introducing my guest, I’ll give you a link address to read the interview and play some of their key hits for you to listen to whilst you enjoy it. 

Thank you to you the listeners and my fabulous guests for your support over the years, I hope you enjoy these special 9 Tales.

There are few keyboard players as accomplished as Mick Gallagher. He’s contributed to albums by iconic punk-rockers The Clash, played with Paul McCartney, Roger Daltrey, Robbie Williams, Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox, and been a right Animal! 

But he’s most well-known for being a member of Ian Dury and The Blockheads. Three years after Ian’s passing, Mick chatted frankly about life with Ian, the future of The Blockheads and what it’s like to work with so many iconic names.

This tale dates back to 9 November 2003, visit CATtales.co.uk/119 for the one with Mick Gallagher and sit back and enjoy these tunes.