Episodes

  • 128: The other one with Slade's Dave Hill

    128: The other one with Slade's Dave Hill
    Dec 9 2022
    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 
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • 127: The other one with Status Quo’s John Coghlan

    127: The other one with Status Quo’s John Coghlan
    Oct 11 2022
    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
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    40 mins
  • 126: The one with Buzzcocks’ Steve Diggle

    126: The one with Buzzcocks’ Steve Diggle
    Jul 15 2022
    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
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    52 mins
  • 125: The one with Owen Paul

    125: The one with Owen Paul
    Jul 11 2022
    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
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    1 hr
  • 124: The one with Dr Feelgood's Wilko Johnson

    124: The one with Dr Feelgood's Wilko Johnson
    Jun 6 2022
    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
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    51 mins
  • 123: The one with Carl Palmer

    123: The one with Carl Palmer
    May 18 2022
    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
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    36 mins
  • 122: Cat o’ Nine Tales: Fairground Attraction’s Eddi Reader

    122: Cat o’ Nine Tales: Fairground Attraction’s Eddi Reader
    May 10 2022
    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.

    Tale 9:

    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.
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    25 mins
  • 121: Cat o’ Nine Tales: Malinky’s Karine Polwart

    121: Cat o’ Nine Tales: Malinky’s Karine Polwart
    May 10 2022
    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.

    Tale 8:
    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.
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    21 mins