When 18 year old Mark Watson met the American jazz musician and poet Gil Scott-Heron after a gig in Liverpool in 1984 little did he realise that the star was going to play such an important role in his life.

Mark had just been released from 9 years in the care system and could barely read or write. Nevertheless he WAS streetwise and blagged his way into the backstage area of the Royal Court theatre in the hope of shaking Gil's hand and praising him for his performance.

Something about Mark's character affected Gil and he invited him to become a roadie with the band and over the years their relationship blossomed and Gil became his friend and mentor.

Fast forward to 2022 and Malik al Nasir ( Mark changed his name when converting to Islam 30 years ago) is doing a PhD at Cambridge University and has just released a book - Letters to Gil - describing the impact Gil had on his life and telling HIS story about how the musician saved him where the care system in the UK had failed.

Malik is this month's guest in the Misadventures in Music podcast with Ian Prowse and Mick Ord - both huge Gil fans.

It's a genuinely astounding story about generosity of spirit and the power of music."

Track Listing

1. "Cane" from the album "Secrets" based on a novel called "Cane" by Gene Toomer about post slavery segregation in the rural south where he grew up. It aligns with my fathers experience in the cane fields of Demerara in Guyana. The song is adapted from the characters in the book and poems about them. "Karintha" and "Becky".
2. "Washington DC" from the album "Moving Target" This was the song that first introduced me to Gils work and caused me to go to that fateful meeting at the Royal Court Theatre in 1984 which forever altered the course of my life.
3. "On from a broken home" from the last album "I'm New Here". I was with Gil when he wrote this poem in 1988 whilst we were on tour in the US with Ritchi Havens. I'd been telling Gil about my issues and he said "you're not the only one with issues" and proceeded to read me what he'd just written. That was 88 but it didn't get released until 2010.
4. "Immigrants - Free at Last" by Malik & The O.G's (Song features Gils drummer Rod Youngs & Gils percussionist Larry McDonald). It was my response to the xenophobia that we faced growing up by people always telling us to "go back to where you came from". After working with Gil I attained the knowledge to answer that trope.

Following on from episode 3, Ian Prowse and Mick Ord discuss male artists who have changed musical direction.

Following on from the episode 3 of the Misadventures In Music with Ian Prowse and Mick Ord... Our presenters discuss male artists who changed their musical direction for the better or worse.

Ian starts with a band close to his heart in The Waterboys. It's discussed how their huge success with This is the Sea with probably one their most notable songs on it - The Whole Of The Moon. Ian explains that the band were on the verge of U2 style stardom and all they had to do to follow the success of the last album - to find out what happened next, check out the latest episode.

For links and track listings - go over to Urbanista Music Magazine

One of the most fascinating things we love about musicians, is when they decide to completely change their direction. Whether thats musical direction or they simply fall out of love with the business. We have all experienced moments when our favourite music icons leave their fans confused and scratching their heads, wondering what happened. Or in some cases when it's an ex band member, who completely rips the band apart with them to go do something else.

In this podcast episode we look at a few female artists that interest both Ian and Mick and explore the music they started creating and then suddenly decided to change direction in music or actually quit altogether. This episode looks at their reasons for doing so, was it the right choice or should they have stayed?

Our hosts discuss stars such as Alanis Morisette, Anne Briggs and Bobby Gentry and the fascinating stories on both their music and lives.

Welcome to the second episode of Misadventures in Music with Ian Prowse and Mick Ord.

In the second episode of the Misadventures In Music Podcast - Presenters Ian Prowse and Mick Ord look back on the work of Pogues frontman Shane McGowan.

The conversation looks back on MacGowans English upbringing and his identity as an Irishman, discussing how his accent developed from when he was cockney teenager to his now evident Irish twang. 

The guys also discuss the current state of MacGowans health and attitude after interviewing a producer of Shanes' documentary, Siobhán McAndrew. The documentary that was also produced by julien Temple and Johnny Depp is called Crock Of Gold - A few rounds with Shane MacGowan.  

You can listen to the interview with Siobhán in the bonus Material available on the MIM channel.

Ian also talks about his band Pele touring with the Pogues and his experience of the man, and his aura around the venues they played.

There's no doubt that everyone who has contributed to this episode has huge respect for the man, poet and musician. But Shane is most certainly a complex man.

Read More about the interviews and podcast on Urbanista Music Magazine

Urbanista Mag brings you the first episode in a new series of podcasts from Amsterdam & Pele Frontman Ian Prowse and former BBC Producer Mick Ord - Misadventures in Music

In this episode the the guys discuss protest songs with Mick and Ian choosing a powerful mix of artists that inspired them from the Punk and New Wave era.

The discussion casts an insight on what it was like hearing and seeing bands such as The Jam & The Clash for the 1st time and why anger played such a huge part in the success of Punk Bands across the UK and USA. But more so, how the music became a channel of information and opinion you didn't get through mainstream TV and News.

About Ian Prowse & Mick Ord

The presenters of this show have a pedigree in the world of music - Ian Prowse is a successful musician with Bands Pele and Amsterdam who achieved success in the early 90's and is now touring a new album The Story of Ian Prowse. 

Mick Ord began his career as a journalist in the 80's and went on to become head of the BBC in Liverpool. Mick now runs a crisis media company but still championing the music and bands he loves across the UK.

Music Licence

All music is licensed via PRS

Ian Prowse and Mick Ord discuss the career of Lindisfarne musician Alan Hull with documentary producer Ged Clarke. The songwriter penned hits such as 'Lady Eleanor' and 'Fog On The Tyne' but relatively little is known about his work away from the North East.

Ged joined the boys after the airing of his hugely popular BBC documentary featuring Sam Fender, Sting and Elvis Costello to name a few. 

The documentary is available on iPlayer for 12 months

Playlist

• Lady Eleanor by Lindisfarne which Hull wrote ( based on the Edgar  Allan Poe short story The Fall of the House of Usher)
• One More Bottle of Wine  - Alan Hull
• Breakfast - Alan Hull
• Statues and Liberties - Alan Hull
• The Money Game - Alan Hull
• January Song -  Lindisfarne (from their best-selling album 'Fog on the Tyne')

Nobody embodies the spirit of Rock n Roll more than Little Richard.

It could be argued that his whole career was a misadventure in music so he's THE perfect subject for our latest podcast. Ourguest is the much-respected author/broadcaster, Spencer Leigh, whose biography of the man himself, Send Me Some Lovin', is out now.

Born Richard Wayne Penniman, Little Richard claimed he invented rock'n' roll.  He didn't, but his songs - Tutti Frutti, Lucille, Good Golly Miss Molly and many more - changed the rock 'n' roll landscape forever.

He was a huge influence on the Beatles, Hendrix and Prince and he lived his life as though he was continually on stage. There really was no one like Little Richard."

find out more here:   http://www.spencerleigh.co.uk/

Paul Hemmings, co-founder of the amazing Viper Label is our guest in episode 9 of the Misadventures in Music podcast with Ian Prowse and Mick Ord.

Paul, ex-Las's and Lightning Seeds guitarist, co-founded the label in 1999 with another ex-La's stalwart and solo artist in his own right, Mike Badger.

The label specialises in vintage blues, rock n roll, country &  gospel recordings and has released more than 150 "roots" albums and singles along with notable releases from the La's and Captain Beefheart, in addition to noted Merseyside artists such as Edgar Jones & Mr Badger himself.

Paul's love of these iconic recordings shines through and he's already agreed to return to our studios in the future to continue the Viper story and showcase the vintage roots recordings of which he is rightly so proud."

PLAYLIST - all from Viper Label

1) Buddy Jones - Rockin Rollin Mama   - from Out There - The Wondrous Roots of Rock n Roll

2) The Reefer Song - Fats Waller  - from Ultimate 30's and 40's Reefer Songs

3) Then We'll Need that True Religion - Rev Edward Clayton  from The Very Best of American Religious Songs

4) Rock Me - Sister Rosetta Tharpe                               as above

5) Riot in Cell Block Number 9  -  The Robins ( from Banged Up - American Jailhouse Songs)

6) Folson Prison Blues - Johnny Cash ( as above)

7) Space Guitar - Johnny Guitar Watson --- from Hot Guitars album

8) Bo Meets The Master - Bo Diddley --- The Ultimate Halloween Party

All music is licensed with PRS - Read more about the Viper Label here

Bass-playing singer Billy Kinsley is one of the last surviving stalwarts from the Merseybeat era when Liverpool bands were topping the charts on a regular basis.He started playing in bands at the age of 14 and in the Sixties went on to form The Merseybeats and The Merseys. 

In the Seventies, he founded Liverpool Express, went on tour with Rod Stewart and played alongside Chuck Berry – neither experience he remembers with any joy whatsoever!

Paul McCartney cited "You Are My Love" as one of his favourite love songs and Billy performed to massive crowds in Brazil where they were hugely popular.

Billy looks back with his customary scouse humour on a sparklingcareer spanning 60 years, with Ian Prowse and Mick Ord, in episode 19 of this really special Misadventures in Music podcast.

 Enjoy.

Here's a link to the playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Fn0GyotpWKV4ZIcMDAVMg?si=c282854fffc84be7

Rory Taylor runs the Positive Vibration Festival, regular Reggae Socials at District and represents international reggae artists at home and abroad.  He is on a mission with Positive Vibration to bring reggae to a wider audience.

Rory came to Liverpool to study law in 2003.  He is an intellectual property lawyer who is also passionate about raising the profile of reggae in Liverpool and beyond. In 2013, as part of a collective, Rory began Positive Vibration with a small event in the Kazimer gardens featuring local DJs and a couple of bands.

Rory and Positive Vibration have brought a range of acts to its Baltic-based festival include Lee Scratch Perry, Roni Size, Sister Nancy and many others. 

Rory also works with the Jamaican High Commission and tourist board, linking up with organisations and charities as well as artists and musicians. For an example of Rory’s close working relationship with the Jamaican High Commission, Rory was contacted to look at ways of promoting the Jamaican netball team whilst based in Liverpool:

Tracks

Baba Brooks Band - Teenage Ska

Toots & The Maytals - Do the Reggay.

Bob Marley - Concrete Jungle.

King Tubby & Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown

Madness - Night Boat to Cairo

Sister Nancy - Bam Bam

Prince Fatty ft. Shniece and Horseman - The Model.