Fightmilk Interview (2020)

I fucking love Fightmilk (Bandcamp Page)

The first time I heard them as I was getting ready to go to see Art Brut in Manchester in early 2019. My mate had called and had a spare ticket… Could I be ready in an hour?

As I was getting ready, I quickly looked who was supporting to see if they were worth checking out or not. 

Thankfully I did… the first thing I found was the then recently released on 2018 debut album ‘Not With That Attitude’ album.

The opening track ’How You Move On’ had crashing guitars, barbed lyrics, and a Kirstie MacColl lilt to the vocals… from the opening line ‘Congratulations on your terrible tattoo’ you know you’re not listening to a band that take themselves too seriously. I was hooked! That track also has a fantastic, video as well which is worth checking out HERE

In hindsight I’m gutted that I didn’t get a chance to know the album prior to the gig as all the songs are superb and it’s brilliantly produced. It would have been good to recognise the songs rather than watching and thinking ‘hope that’s on the album’…

It’s a fully formed debut that takes no prisoners. there isn’t a weak track amongst the 10 on it, and several you could imagine popping up on soundtracks for TV Shows aimed at the 20 something market

If you were to pick up this album and listen to just a couple of tracks to start with I would also recommend ‘Four Star Hotel’ which tells the story of a failed rekindling of a relationship in Amsterdam; but you’ll soon be falling in love with the lush ‘Solving Crimes In Sweden’

For one of the only times since I was a teenager, I bought an album from the merch stand, from singer Lily Rae no less and had it signed / personalised by the rest of the band

The first thing I did after getting home was look at their Bandcamp to figure out what had come before… ‘Both Types Of Hayfever’ a compilation of 2 EP’s released in 2016/2017 on Fierce Panda was my next purchase… the songs on here have a rawer punkier edge but all the traits that attracted me to them are still there

Unfortunately, the next time they played Manchester I missed it as I was out of town, so the nearest thing I’ve had to seeing them live again was their Facebook ‘launch party’ for their current single, the magnificently titled ‘I'm Starting To Think You Don't Even Want To Go To Space’ which is also the lead single of the eagerly awaiting second album 

Again, another fantastic video which you can find here... HERE

As the perfect accompaniment to last week’s ‘Captain Handsome’ interview… I give you Fightmilk

How are you all?

Lily: I think we're all a bit sad.

Alex: And angry. But getting by as best we can.

How far were you along recording the new album before going into lockdown?

Alex: We spent two weekends in November back at Dean Street Studios with Keith TOTP and Jonny Solway - the same place and personnel we worked on the first album -  and got 8 songs between 90% and 100% done.

"Space" was done in that first batch, and we'd aimed to go back in for one last weekend in May to record a last batch of songs, and redo some out of tune guitars/add extra vocals etc. Obviously, we've had to put a pin in that. We're trying to figure out a way to finish everything off and get some more things out so that we can have LP2 out before the end of 2020, but...y'know.

We can't guarantee anything at this moment in time, which is heart-breaking, but hopefully everyone will understand.

Is there a name for it yet?

Lily: That would be telling. That's not the title! But no, we're currently dithering over what to call our big ugly second baby. 

How do you arrange the songs? For example, ‘Get A Grip’ has wonderful cascading guitars and harmonies that seem effortless. Is there one person or is this a team effort?

Alex: We don't have the luxury of time when we record (NWTA was done over about three weekends, and a couple of days for mixing), so there's not all that much opportunity to throw too much at the wall.

When we're writing, I usually end up banking a bunch of arrangement ideas in my head; most of the time, what we do live requires trying to hop between about 5 different guitar parts to find something that a human being could actually play. When it gets to recording, I'm usually armed with a notebook like a big nerd, but all the prep in the world can't prepare you for studio cabin fever.

There's a bunch of fun toys at Dean Street - Lily does a great eerie Mellotron part on one of the new songs, for example - so we all get overexcited and throw ideas at the wall. We just need to do it quickly!

Did ‘Not With That Attitude’ achieve what you wanted?  (not necessarily sales but in terms of reception?)

Lily: All we wanted was to make a good album, which we did, I think. We're a tiny band - we're not under the illusion that success can be measured by how much money we make.

The music industry isn't exactly designed with our best interests at heart. We will probably never quit our day jobs. But we'd rather be a good little band than a giant awful band. So yes, it did.

You’re very active across all Social Media.  

Would you say for new / upcoming bands this has replaced things like the NME to reach a wider audience?

Lily: Definitely. I'm not sentimental about music magazines. You wouldn't ever find us or half the bands we play with in Rolling Stone for example. They're for dads who use their phones exclusively for Facebook and Sudoku. It's essential for bands to have social media - it's where we share gigs, releases, interviews like this. The only downside is that it gets a bit saturated and you get neck-ache from scrolling.

 

With Music Streaming being the main way many people consume music, how hard is it to build an audience? I imagine there are pro’s and con’s?

Lily: I think it's a good thing - I've discovered so many new bands and artists that I love through streaming, even though Spotify is obviously the devil. The plus side is that you reach so many more people than you would otherwise a lot faster, and then suddenly there's people you don't know at your gigs. The downside is obviously that you end up being paid about £0.000000001 per stream but hey ho.

Alex: I hope that what Bandcamp has been doing since l*ckdown can maybe provide a good alternative to streaming. It's certainly the most direct way for bands to make money from what they do, but it's also a good algorithm-free means of discovery - particularly its artist-curated recommends section at the bottom of most folks' profiles. So that's been an indispensable companion/inescapable rabbit hole these last few months.

How did the Art Brut tour come about?

Lily: We know the Bruty boys tangentially through the big spiderweb of indie rock and roll, but Alex and Nick filled in for them on a BBC session when two of their card carrying rockstar line-up couldn't make it and they were convinced that at least two of us could play.

We also supported them at the Garage with Gaffa Tape Sandy and the rest is history! 

Did you see an increase in your ’audience’ following that tour?

Lily: We managed to shift some vinyl, so thanks to the Art Brut vinyl club. 

Nick: It's tricky to say - we've not been back to some of cities we played with them in yet. We were going to but then that got put on hold 'because of the germs', to paraphrase my friend's 3-year-old.

Which was your favourite night of that tour and why was it Manchester? (Other cities were visited but 😊 …)

Alex: It probably was Manchester to be honest! We got to see some folks we hadn't seen in a while, the floor on the stage was beautifully carpeted, and it was a super fun show.

Manchester's always a good time though - the last show we played there was with Milk Crimes, Nervous Rex and Adam Carpenter at the Castle Hotel in July 2019, and was probably the hottest room any of us have ever been in.

We required several pints of water being over ourselves between songs to remain hydrated and human. We really can't wait to go back, and not just because we can't wait to go literally anywhere.

 
The excellent Tea Towels which Healey designed now appear to be essential ‘band merch’. Have you considered branching out into other areas such as face masks?

Lily: I can't believe that in the year of our lord 2020, DIY bands are providing basic protective equipment to people during a pandemic instead of the government doing it. The tea towels were an inspired idea from Healey - but we're always arguing about what to make next, whether it's tote bags, spanking paddles or vegan bacon. It definitely feels like the days of t-shirts and stickers are dying out (though I love a sticker).

Healey: Personally I have far too many band t-shirts at this stage in life, I've actually been recycling them into face-masks! I've hit that age where I've become extremely boring and all I think about is homeware. Band merch homeware is the future and I will scream it from the rooftops. Give me band oven gloves, mugs and duvet covers, I want it all. 

Nick: I insisted on fridge magnet/bottle openers with our first run of merch. Convinced they'd go like delicious hot cakes. They did not. I think I've lost them now.

Who decides on the merchandise? 

Is this a thing done purely by the band or do your management/label have a say?

Lily: We decide everything! ‘Reckless Yes’ just benevolently enable our hare-brained schemes.


Are there any recordings of gigs that you could put out via Bandcamp?

Alex: I don't think there are actually that many live recordings kicking around, beyond a few really early ones which are still on my work computer. As and when I get access to that again, I'll sift through the archives and see what might be worth unleashing.

The only thing that springs to mind is a rehearsal recording where we're trying to get "Dream Phone" together, in which strings get broken, and for some reason the whole thing goes a bit metal. But anyone who's willing to pay to hear that should probably take a long look in the mirror first.

Your label ‘Reckless Yes’ have a great selection of new and up and coming artists, would you like to a ‘package tour’ with them once things like that are allowed?

Alex: Oh god absolutely. ‘Reckless Yes’ have quietly become one of the best labels around (which will be borne out by some of their new signings we can't talk about yet...), and it's been great seeing them develop since they signed us.

Nick was actually in the very tentative stages of trying to get that set up at the end of the year, so hopefully once the opportunity presents itself in 2021, we can make it happen in the future.

What’s the first think you’ll do when ‘Lockdown’ is fully over?

Lily: I'm going to take my band out for bowling and shakes.

Alex: I'm going to go bowling and drink shakes with the band.

Nick: This all screams Rowan's. We going to Rowan's? Let's go to Rowan's.

Finally… ‘Challenging’ Quick Fire Questions… 

Favourite gig as a performer?

Lily: It might actually be that tiny sweaty gig in Manchester for Hell Hath No Fury. We played with our milky compadres Milk Crimes and the lovely Nervous Rex. It was the sweatiest I've ever been. I tried to play a chord and my hand just slid off the guitar.

Alex: Leicester Firebug, November 2019 (last show of our first tour with Healey, ended with me on my back smashing a bottle against my guitar. That never happens.)

Healey: Last year we played Norwich and Bury St. Edmunds on the same day. The ‘Fightmilkmobile’ broke down as soon as we got to Norwich and we all had to get out and push the car round and round a car park to jump start the engine. Those two shows were still so fun to play, I think we were all high off the fact that we didn't have to call AA. 

Nick: That same Leicester gig Alex mentioned. Not sure what happened to the two of us, but we lost our minds a little bit. It was nice.

Favourite gig as a punter?

Lily: Probably Carly Rae Jepsen. I was on crutches, so I got to sit down. It was bliss. 

Alex: Finally getting to see Guided By Voices live last June.

Healey: Taylor Swift two years ago. Against all odds I got a free ticket and I uncontrollably burst into tears when Robbie Williams was the surprise guest. 

Favourite album 

Lily: Today it's Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen.

Alex: Pet Shop Boys "Behaviour"

Healey: that dog. "Retreat from The Sun"

Nick: Deftones "White Pony". Probably. 

Favourite single/song

Lily: THE RAT.

Alex: The Byrds "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better"

Healey: Petula Clark "Downtown"

Nick: Another vote for The Rat

All-time favourite band/artist

Lily: Dolly Parton

Alex: Three-way tie - Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, R.E.M.

Healey: Also Dolly Parton

Iain Key 2020 

Lily Rae (Captain Handsome) Interview (2020)

Picture Courtesy of Jon Mo Photography

Lily Rae, is the Dolly Parton loving, lead singer of the awesome Fightmilk who also has an alter ego, Captain Handsome for her solo work.

The talented songwriter signed to label 'Reckless Yes' midway through 2019, her a debut' EP, 'I Am Not An Animal'' was released in January this year following a couple of singles.

The songs have a fragility and 'darkness' compared to the lightness of Fightmilk, very sparse in comparison to the layered vocals and crashing guitars however it's utterly compelling and draws you in and can effortlessly be listened to over and over

Definitely worth buying from HERE or checking out via streaming services

Lily, how are you?

I'm doing alright!

Other than being a musician, what would you have been doing if you weren't on 'lockdown' 

I also work full time so that's what I've been doing. 

If lockdown weren't happening, I'd just be going into work. But I'd also be rehearsing and recording. I'd probably be looking after myself a little less, though I've ordered a lot of pizza in the last couple of months.

Why the name 'Captain Handsome'? 

I overheard someone use it on the 133 (bus) as an insult for a guy who was being really arrogant.

I fell in love with it. It's a very big, confident name to put on a poster, so I like that it's a bit misleading by the time I come onstage.

How did 'the band' come together for the EP? 

Obviously, you have Nick on side already, are Dexy and Heather people you've known for a while and wanted to work with before?

Dexy writes brilliant songs and is releasing his second album this year - I've known him for a long time and was just lucky that he had enough free evenings to come and volunteer his bass skills for me.

Heather, I met through working on a couple of different projects and she loves Dolly as much as I do, so it helps that she's the best violinist in the world. And then there's Nick. Everyone in this band is more musically talented than me so it sounds really good.

There is a Fightmilk album due hopefully later this year. Are there anymore 'solo' plans in the works?

I'm actually trying to get together a few little songs to release in the next couple of months or so - I treated myself to a really nice digital recorder and after a good two months of not being able to write anything, it feels like it's coming back a bit. I'm better when I have a project on the go.

Am I right in saying your Dad is a singer/songwriter?

He is! He was in a very cool rock band. He wore leather trousers.

What kind of music were you brought up on?

All sorts. The first band I really got into as a kid was The Proclaimers, my folks would play lots of Kirsty MacColl, the Smiths, the B-52s. 

I grew up in the 90s and was a bit too young to care about Britpop, but was really into Sleeper and Catatonia a bit later on.

When did you first having an interest in writing and performing?

Pretty much as soon as I started getting into music. I had a band at school from about 14. 

There was never any question about being a front-person - I wanted to be in charge of everything, front and centre, and had to really quickly get over a fear of singing in front of people. 

We'd play in assemblies and then, rightly, have the entire school take the piss out of us afterwards. We played everywhere from the 'Graveney Upper School' assembly hall to now-defunct pubs in Camberwell where the police had to come and stop a load of kids from drinking and being sick on the floor.

I love the EP, but I couldn't see 'Halloween' being performed by the band.

When you write do you set out for it to be for your own project or Fightmilk or does it just develop?

I promise you Halloween works with a full band! it wouldn't be anything without Heather's panic-attack violins. When I start writing I don't have either project in mind - it often just naturally unfolds as something that would sit really nicely in a Fightmilk set, or it needs something a bit different and might need to be suited somewhere else. 

I've written big pop songs as a way of avoiding the quiet stuff for a little while because I'm not a trained singer and certainly not a very good guitarist, so a lot of it is just trying to force myself to punch my demons in the face.

 

The stories that you tell in your songs are great, there is a real honesty about them, especially talking about relationships, which reminds me of Kirsty MacColl. 

You or people you know must have had some pretty shit relationships?

Ha, thank you! 

There's always an element of truth in the songs I write, and they're always inspired by real things or people. Some people get more than one song, some memories or events get looked at a different way a bit further down the line. 

A lot of the time it's not about an existing relationship at all, but the people are always real.

There are a number of great lines in your songs, such as... 'Did I cut myself shaving for this shit' ;  How can I convince you that we're stuck, A Four Star Hotel and still we didn't fuck' and 'You’re acting up when we’re down at the station, worrying about the background radiation'. What's the line / couplet that you're most proud of? 

To be honest I really love the line "Reading Carl Sagan, looking kind of vacant." 

I don't know if Carl Sagan has ever been directly referenced in a song. He's long overdue. 

You're (quite rightly) very vocal about the lack of representation of female fronted bands at festivals and getting most support slots. What do you think the issue is with promoters and booking agencies that means they won't give you the opportunity?

It's money. They think they'll lose money by booking bands that aren't four white lads cause that's what bands look like. But as soon as you stick a woman in the line-up, suddenly it's a feminist night, and feminism isn't fun for men, and then it's not a fun night, and people won't come. I promise you, it's that simple and it's that stupid 

Is there a way people can help in changing this?

Aside from "don't be a fucking sexist idiot", I'd suggest just supporting nights and venues and promoters that are consistently inclusive, and I don't mean once a year on International Women's Day. Go to the tiny tents they put aside for the women and new bands at festivals - do you really need to see Idles again? - and recognise lip service when you see it. 

Ask yourself what your own preconceptions are about bands that aren't all male.

As these are just your questions... who is the worse member of Fightmilk and why? (promise I won't tell them)

It's definitely me.

What is the first thing you're going to do once lockdown is fully lifted

Probably stay indoors for an extra couple of weeks, looking at my phone, just to be safe. the government is doing a pretty piss poor job of reducing the death rate, so better safe than sorry...

 

Finally - Five Quick Questions

 

Favourite gig as a performer: 

We've not done too many gigs as Captain Handsome yet, but my first ever outing was stepping in solo after a line-up change supporting Panic Pocket. I was on my own, and I had five songs and one of them was Prayer to God by Shellac. That was nice.

Favourite gig as a punter: 

Maybe FKA twigs, though Brixton Academy is not great for a smaller person! 

I did see Carly Rae Jepsen recently and holy fuck. I was on crutches so got to sit down on the balcony and cry like a baby. It was biblical.

Favourite album: 

At the moment probably “Nebraska” by Bruce Springsteen, or more usually “Titanic Days” by Kirsty MacColl.

Favourite single / song: 

”The Rat” by The Walkmen. An honourable mention to “You And Everybody That You Love Will One Day Die” by Slime City.

All-time favourite band / artist: 

Aaaaargh. This changes all the time... but my love never wavers for Dolly Parton.

Iain Key 2020

Little Man Tate Interview (2020)

I call myself a music fan but it was only when seeing that Little Man Tate we’re reforming did I remember how great they were and how much I used to follow their releases and occasionally see them live

I first heard them on Clint Boon’s show on XFM Manchester. He used to great music and often broke new bands giving them their first airplay. That would have been around 2006

The first track I remember hearing was ‘What You Got?’ and was immediately impressed by both the song and the video which was filmed in Blackpool 

It was around the time I saw them in Manchester, they already had a ready made audience built via My Space and word of mouth

Like their local neighbours, Arctic Monkeys, Little Man Tate were one of the first bands to build they’d fan base via the Internet and really engaged with their fans via their website

The second ‘single’ still stands up today and against, the video was brilliant. Once seen, never forgotten...

When the releasing their new singles there would be a CD and normally 2 7”s... this at a time when vinyl releases were generally frowned upon

The debut album was released in early 2007 featuring most of the bands set. 6 singles were on the album (if you include the hidden ‘What You Got’)

I imagine the reason for releasing so many tracks off the debut was the record companies decision, however it’s a shame as the band were prolific songwriters and gave a number of tracks away or non limited releases. I believe a couple of later of the releases off the album could have been prevented by better use of the b-sides. ‘Saved By A Chat Show’ could easily have been a single, as could the acoustic ‘You And Me Will Be Alright You Know’ which only appeared on the iTunes download of the album! 

18 months passed before the second album come out, the band moving from the ‘V2’ to Skint label. 

Whilst the early momentum with the press seemed to have disappeared ‘Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy’ is a great album with a number of potential singles on there. I remember seeing the band about this time and still thinking there was more to offer...

Sadly the band split the following year...

I caught up with guitarist, Maz to chat about what had gone before and the imminent 'reunion'

The line from ‘What You Got?’ ... ‘He’s in an indie rock band, he’s into LSD’… 

Was that about anyone in particular?

We wrote the song about the life of a reckless girl who parties too hard and lives for the weekend. Out of that we made up little characters that would feature, such as the boyfriend hooked on hallucinogens. 

LSD seemed to roll off the tongue nicely, no pun intended!  

You were one of the first bands to use the Internet. Looking back one of the first things I ever streamed was the ‘Live Gig At Boothys’. 

Were you conscious that you we’re doing some groundbreaking things?

To be honest, we thought we were a bit behind on that front. 

Lots of bands were already using MySpace and fan forums to promote themselves so we had to catch up. 

The Boothy’s ‘Live Gig’ was brilliant and made the whole event unique. Not only did Boothy exist, but his family were kind enough to let us film at their house in Sheffield. 

The record label managed all of that and had the idea to do it, we also got some Magner’s cider bottles turned into Boothy’s cider to celebrate, it was a great day. 

Don’t know many other bands who have done that!  

The actual video for ‘House Party At Boothys’ still looks great today and there are some fantastic comedy moments in it. 

Did those come from ideas the band had?

Ben Rollason was the director of that video and had some great ideas. I think pitched in with bits throughout the day but to be honest we don’t really remember much, no thanks to the off-licence down the road. A lot of stuff was based on the lyrics but the idea of dressing up as policemen came from Ben I think.

 I sometimes go past the road in Peckham where it was filmed and think about what a crazy day it was. I think there was a dancing chicken in the video.

You were very prolific and releases a number of tracks over a number of formats. Do you feel you may have ‘wasted’ any potential ‘A  Sides’ 

Yes definitely. We enjoyed some aspects of being on a major label but looking back, they made some terrible decisions about which songs to release. 

Hindsight is obviously a wonderful thing but we hated the whole pantomime of radio pluggers telling us one thing and A&R another, and then which Radio 1 presenters apparently ‘liked’ a particular track and we should release the stuff they were into. 

Don’t get me wrong, we had some very dodgy songs that we rushed off to make b-sides but songs like 'Hello Miss Lovely', 'Self Appreciation Club', 'Young Offenders' and 'Just Can’t Take It' could easily have been singles.

Were the label pushing you and trying to chase chart success? 

I think with the first album most definitely. They probably wanted to cash in on the Sheffield scene at the time and we were more than willing to indulge them! You do have some great experiences when you sign a big deal, especially as it’s all fresh and new, but you don’t appreciate how manipulative it can be at times. 

They knew we wanted to have music in the charts which is fair enough, but they rushed us into making the album, didn’t get a proper producer in and missed out on developing out talent. We were writing really good songs at that point and they ended up not going on the first album. 

If they’d been a bit more patient we could have easily had a top ten with Boy In The Anorak.

You were released by V2 after they’d been bought by Universal in 2007? 

Were there any signs that ‘clear out’ was on the cards?

Not really. We were always on tour so stuff to do with label takeovers were usually dealt with by our manager. V2 had told us that everything was going to be fine and we had other potential singles lined up to put out before a second album and a huge Blackpool gig at the end of 2007 but this was overshadowed a bit by the Universal thing. 

There were some good people at the label who I’m sure wanted to carry on working with us but it all came down to the people at the top who decided that the roster was too full. 

Thankfully we got a deal with Skint after and managed to get another album out and some tours so we didn’t dwell on it for too long, life’s too short!

How did signing to ‘Skint’ come about? They were more of a ‘dance’ label weren’t they? 

Yes they had the Fat Boy Slim connection which was strange as we weren’t suddenly going to go down a dance route but that was just our preconceptions. 

They were a good label and showed plenty of faith in us. They allowed us to make another album and keep touring which was a relief. At times we didn’t know what day it was and were exhausted beyond belief. 

The Skint deal allowed us to take some much needed time off and we enjoyed writing and recording the new material which featured on ‘Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy’

The second album featured some great sounds, including ‘Joined By An iPod’ and ‘Back Of The Pub Quiz’ to name but a couple but it may not have got the chance to find their audience it deserved. Will these tracks get a chance to be heard when you reform?

I’ve got a good pal called Steve who says he’s not coming to the gigs if we don’t play Joined By An iPod so although it’s not our most popular, there’s still plenty of songs that mean so much to different people. 

'Back Of The Pub Quiz' will definitely get an outing, love that song! People still ask us what was written on the back of the pub quiz, we’re keeping it a secret still!

Am sure you’ll have covered this in a number of interviews already and I heard the conversation you had on the ‘Boys In The Band’ podcast… but what has driven the welcome reunion now?

All of us were in agreement for the first time! Sometimes when offers have come in that’s not always been the case. 

We’ve also said a few times that if we did re-form, let’s leave it a decent enough time so that people can bring their kids who couldn’t come the first time, especially our own! 

We’ve stayed in touch over the years and been to each other’s various weddings and christenings so playing music with each other is no hardship. We just have to be fit enough to perform and put on a great show which will require some hard work!

Are there any plans to play outside Sheffield? Manchester maybe? Are you surprised by the reaction you’ve had from fans?

We said all along that we don’t want to get carried away with it all when things start happening so it’s important just to enjoy what we’ve got which is 2 hometown gigs in Sheffield. 

However, Manchester is a special place for us as we have great memories from playing there back in the day. I’ve got family over there too so they are hoping we do something so we’ll see.

Are there any chances of new material?

Not at the moment, we’re just enjoying rehearsing all the old songs and I’m sure that’s what people really want at a reunion show. We’re already having sleepless nights about the set-list!

Finally… 5 Quick Fire Questions….

Best gig you’ve performed

The Boardwalk Christmas Show, December 2006

Best gig as a punter

Joe Strummer at the Leadmill, Sheffield in 2002, a few months before he sadly passed away

All time favourite album

Blur - Parklife

Favourite song/single

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

All time favourite band / artist

The Stone Roses

Toby Hadoke Interview (2020)

Around 25 years ago or so my friend Paul started at Salford Uni doing a BA in Drama and the Arts and began doing some plays in Manchester. He excitedly told me one night in the pub, ‘Oh there is this bloke you’d get on with, he loves Doctor Who too’

Fast forward a few years and we’re in a different pub and I mention that a guy from Manchester University has written and released a comedy show based around Doctor Who… to which Paul says, ‘Yeah, that’s Toby, I told you there was someone else that liked Doctor Who’…

In February this year Toby and I finally met at Paul’s wedding, at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire, setting for the 1973 Jon Pertwee story ’The Time Warrior'

I can imagine that most people reading this, who are aware of Toby will associate him to the long running, award winning, XS Malarkey Comedy Club (formerly Murphy's Malarkey) he started in Manchester in 1997 aged just 23

Others will recognise him from the world of 'Cult TV,’ particularly Doctor Who, from the books he’s written, the many ‘extras’ he’s produced for the DVD and BluRay range, the numerous appearances on Podcasts and/or the fantastic, epic ‘Who’s Round’ series in which he’s interviewed over 200 individuals connected to the show, from both in front of the camera and behind the scenes

He’s a regular freelance writer who contributes to The Guardian, regular BBC Radio Broadcaster and actor, appearing in numerous shows, such as Corrie, Emmerdale, Shameless, Phoenix Nights to name a few

Despite ‘Lockdown’ Toby must one of the busiest men I know of and apparently has no end to his talents

Hello Toby, how are you?

I’m alright mate. Still not quite sure I’ve got lockdown right. 

I’m either wasting time achieving little or in a flurry of over activity. But, you know, I’m luckier than most: I have a garden, I have a box full of Seabrook’s crisps and Scampi fries, and as a self employed person in the arts, I am used to having to scramble for work and having little in the way of financial security or certainty about the future.

First and foremost I guess as a Doctor Who ‘fan’ I should thank you for all you’ve done.

The ‘Who's Round’ series has been fascinating, especially as it’s given so many people a chance to talk about their lives and careers. It’s especially poignant now as some people such as Lynda Bellingham, David Collins, Peter Miles to name a few are no longer with us. 

Was there a point when you were working on it that you realised the importance of what you were doing, not just for Doctor Who fans but for the wider ‘entertainment’ industry

No need to thank me - I only do it because it interests me, no-one has forced me to do any of it. Labour of love! But thanks.

Who’s Round? It’s all a bit of a blur really. I was doing it whilst itinerant and going through a divorce, so my life was a mess, but every couple of days my diary indicated I had somewhere to be and someone to talk to so it was a useful anchor. I think after I did Kevin McNally quite early on I realised that it was more interesting not just being about Doctor Who - most people have been interviewed and have said what they have to say over and over again, so making it a snapshot of a a 30 year period of showbiz history seemed quite worthwhile. Kevin was such a good and down to Earth interviewee despite being a very well known actor, and he emboldened me. 

Then, about half way through, Margot Hayhoe started introducing me to all sorts of AFMs and production managers who’d never been interviewed and had SO much new and interesting stuff to say, and that opened up a whole new dimension. 

And then, just as I was getting settled into it, Russell T Davies said yes and that gave it a real shot on the arm!!! 

Of all the actors you’ve interviewed and met. Is there one that you’d though ‘you’d have made a great Doctor’?

Ooh, tricky one. I think there’s still time for Jonjo O’Neill. We laughed a lot and he’s definitely got the chops for it. 

Some of the documentaries you’ve been involved in, such as spending weekends with actors, tracking down people whose work may have been forgotten, as well as working through the Doctor Who Cookbook have been the most interesting and informative of the range. 

What has been your personal favourite?

I am extremely proud of the Peter R Newman one because we tracked down people who’d never spoken and we solved a genuine mystery. No-one knew much about Newman at all and by the end we had pictures and even his voice. That’s the sort of thing I as a punter would have really wanted so I’m glad we delivered it. 

On the other hand, I’m not sure I’d have wanted a documentary about Whose Doctor Who, that was Chris Chapman’s idea... and yet it turned out to be a very moving and informative experience. So my first and my latest are my current favourites, but I’ve enjoyed them all. 

Do you have to pinch yourself that you have got to spend time with so many ‘heroes’ you had growing up?

It’s all I wanted as a kid, to meet my heroes. I’ve been very lucky. It can be very surreal at times and I never get blasé about it - fortunately, having a job to do gives you something to hide behind which calms the nerves. 

How did Murphy's Malarkey (later XS Malarkey) come about? You would you still have been at Uni at this time?

No, I was unemployed and doing the odd gig here and there. I’d been out of Uni a year or so. I was getting paid for comedy but I was quite lazy. I’ve always had imposter syndrome too so being a comic never seemed like a long term proposition. 

But my brother-in-law was in a band and they had a regular stint at a pub, Scruffy Murphy’s. The boss told him he wanted a comedy night and I was the only comedian my brother-in-law knew and so he put us in touch. 

I thought it’d last till Christmas (it started the first week of October). It’s still here 24 years later!

There can’t be many ’named’ comedians in the business who you haven’t booked at some point over the years. Are there any particular bookings / nights that really stand out?

We got Canadian comic Stewart Francis early on which was an early coup - he was a friend of a friend. And it was a great night (and, having been a free night, we charged entry and that made it instantly better). Peter Kay came quite early on too. 

Our tenth birthday had Toby Foster, Jimmy Cricket and Mark Steel which covered every style in comedy from the previous God-knows-how-long and was a satisfyingly balanced bill (if not in terms of gender and ethnicity, something we consciously address a lot more now - but this was 14 years ago). 

Stewart Lee doing the gig also have us a lot of attention and respect. I loved the moment when he took questions from the audience and someone said “Why is it £20 to see you in London and £3 here?” And he was genuinely shocked. He didn’t know we charged so little (some people only paid £1). He’s been a great advocate for Malarkey ever since. 

Is there anyone who you’ve not been able to get or would be on your list to perform at the club?

I really dreamed of getting Bob Monkhouse early on but that was never anything other than a pipe dream. We’ve been very lucky over the years. 

Most comics coming through the ranks have done the gig before offing the big time - that’s the nature of the circuit.

Who inspired you to do Stand Up?

I was a comedy fan without knowing it. I used to tape Whose Line Is It Anyway but I always thought of myself more as a comedy actor: I loved Monty Python etc. I used to watch the UK version of Saturday Live too. 

But I thought stand-up was for people made of sterner stuff than I (I got very into Bill Hicks who seemed so wise and brave) ... so I never really thought about doing it until a friend set up an open mic night and asked if I fancied it. 

I thought it’d be an interesting experience but actually I really enjoyed it. Quarter of a century later...

During Lockdown it’s been particularly difficult for a number of industries, including entertainment and the arts. You’ve been doing ‘online’ sessions via Twitch every week, how has this been going? Have you found a ‘wider’ audience, i.e. ‘beyond Manchester’?

To be honest I have no idea of the audience, someone else deals with that. I just turn up and open my mouth. But I think it’s been nice for people who use to come but moved away from Manchester, so yes, people are definitely watching who otherwise wouldn’t be able to. 

I think we’ll continue some form of remote gig whatever happens... the lockdown has taught us new ways of doing things. It’s been rather fun if odd - you really do need an audience to feed off - but we’ve finally worked out how best to pitch and do it and we’ve had some amazing acts who we’d never have been able to get normally because they’d have to travel so far. 

You seem to have been constantly busy during the period we’ve all been stuck at home, from transforming your back garden to producing cooking videos, appearing on podcasts to your writing projects. Would you have been ‘productive’ if you hadn’t been stuck at home?

I’m a bit disappointed to be honest. For the past 20 years I’ve convinced myself that if only I didn’t have so much to do I’d be able to get regular exercise, proper eating habits, and a proper productive work pattern which would result in me writing loads. 

Well, I finally got what I wanted and I’ve done NONE OF IT!!!

How’s Bernard been coping with it? 

He’s fine: he has company all the time and is very spoilt!

Since the age of 11 you’ve ‘lived’ with psoriasis. I’d not heard of the condition before hearing you talk about it on a podcast and was impressed by how open and honest you were about it on your blog. As well as comedy and culture you’ve done a lot to promote awareness of this… 

Have I? That’s good. 

I’ve been very lucky with the treatment I have received. I’m an out patient at the Royal Free hospital under a brilliant consultant dermatologist and she has given me exemplary care - so if I’m asked to do anything like sit on an advisory panel, give a talk or do a load of radio interviews then I’m more than happy. 

It’s a hugely misunderstood condition and there’s much work to be done.

Last year you took a month away from Social Media. How did you feel after doing this?  

Interestingly I’m considering ditching Twitter as we speak. 

The lack of nuance and it’s quick descent into ill-thought out fury is grating. It’s like living with tinnitus that has a grudge, a poor education and a huge sense of self importance. It’s a shame because there’s a lot that is good and it’s useful for work, but it can get quite stressful. 

I coped remarkably well stepping away from it. Still didn’t write that book though. 

What will be the first thing you’ll do once lockdown is fully lifted?

I’m quite a home bird and I don’t drink anymore so there’s nothing I’m that desperate for. My partner is vulnerable though so we’re being ultra careful. No takeaways in two months. So a massive takeaway I think, we have a fabulous Indian across the road: I’ll take one of those!

Iain Key 2020