7760/20701
I am meeting some extraordinary people on this tour and even when I think I know a bit about them, the research throws up a whole load of stuff that I had no idea about. So what an honour to meet Paul Heaton today, even though Happy Hour by the Housemartins immediately takes me back to my sad first term at University, when it played constantly in the bar and was enjoyed unironically by the lads that hung around in there and delighted in bullying me. Why? Because I wore checked charity shop jackets and kipper ties? And yes I was 19 and being bullied. Only lightly though. They made a sound like a startled chicken whenever I came into the bar. I started bleating back at them occasionally (implying they were sheep). It was harmless fun, only magnifying my loneliness. But soon enough I'd find my tribe of idiots and more or less leave my own college behind. I named a character in a sketch after one of them and he rang up my producer to complain and I made a chicken sound in the background of the call. Then I punched the air and the frame froze and the credits rolled. Unfortunately I had to live the rest of my life, but at least I had that meaningless triumph.
Anyway I still liked the Housemartins even though their music anchors me back in that time and I had a best of the Beautiful South CD which I listened to a lot in the early days of touring. I listened to it again today and every song was an absolute banger, great tunes, lyrics full of wit and poetry and realistic love songs that acknowledged the ageing process and the bitterness that can creep into a relationship without necessarily destroying it. I found it remarkable that Heaton never received much critical success or awards for his work (before he finally won the Ivor Novello award at the age of 60), but he had something more valuable- the freedom to follow his own vision and a loyal fanbase. I can identify with that of course, even though my fanbase is a lot smaller and only mildly loyal, but as so often with this podcast, meeting incredibly talented people (far far more talented than me) who don't get the credit they deserve makes you realise that you're doing OK just to be getting by and carrying on regardless.
Heaton is down to earth and honest and uses his money to help other people (one suspects that the stuff that's been reported is the tip of the iceberg) and is incredibly modest. It was a real honour to meet him.
Tom Wrigglesworth was also excellent value. I don't think I've seen him since we shared a flat in Edinburgh in 2010, but neither of us can remember much about that year (or the flat at least), but he's been keeping busy with various adventures, but like us all has slowed down a bit since he had kids. But another very decent Yorkshire man (Heaton wasn't born in Yorkshire but was bred in Sheffield and a move to the south just cemented his Yorkshireness - my own move south, a bit younger, erased much of my Northernness, but I am still a Yorkshireman in my heart) and a very funny interview. Nice to be back in Sheffield City Hall too - back in the smaller (still 400+) room this time, but comfortably sold it out.
Paul Heaton and his entourage (friends and family- he's still a man of the people) were heading out on the town, but I eschewed the opportunity for a Happy Hour. Are the St Catz Bar Studs (passing) friends with the bloke who wrote Happy Hour? No they aren't. Punches the air. Freeze Frame. St Catz Bar Studs look confused as they remember none of this.
