September 2014

One small step for Word In Your Ear, one giant stride for Monday nights in the pub

September 23, 2014 David Hepworth 0

Last night’s show was our best yet. Thanks to the people at the Islington we managed to get the visuals working and so we we could put on […]

Stevie Nicks biographer Zoe Howe added to our Ben Watt live podcast recording

September 13, 2014 David Hepworth 0

We’re delighted to say that Zoe Howe‘s joining us at our next Word In Your Ear Podcast recording at the Islington on September 22nd. She’ll be […]

A Quiet Word with Ben Watt at the Islington

September 8, 2014 David Hepworth 0

Ben Watt’s worn a variety of hats in the last thirty years: half of Everything But The Girl, solo artist, deejay, producer, club owner and […]

Word In Your Ear

David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and chums cast an occasionally jaundiced eye over the goings-on in the worlds of music and entertainment.

UK Subs formed in 1976 when Charlie Harper was 32. They’ve had over 80 members, some of whom he can’t remember. They never split up and are touring in 2026 to celebrate his 82nd birthday. “I vowed I’d keep playing as long at the Stones – which I’m now starting to regret!” After 50 years on the punk frontline, he’s the first to see the humour in going deaf and “having to have the occasional sit-down”. This fond and honest conversation looks back at …

… seeing the Stones at Ken Colyers’ jazz club and drinking with them in the Porcupine

… making £4 a day – “a fortune” – playing tube stations in 1964: “ex-buskers never get stagefright”

… “dreadlocks, Afros, convoy cuts” – confessions of a teenage hairdresser

… what he learnt from Joe Strummer and the 101-ers

… his punk epiphany: seeing the Damned at the Roxy in 1976

… playing France’s Hellfest to 30,000 people and why the spirit of ‘77 still burns on the West Coast

… famous fans: Guns N’Roses, Hanoi Rocks, Dinosaur Jnr

… the UK Subs’ run-in with US Immigration

… skiffle, Jesse Fuller, Woody Guthrie, Big Bill Broonzy, Donovan and mid-‘70s R&B

…the onstage rigours of getting old: “I don’t get adrenaline anymore and have to have the occasional sit-down!”

… Where Did I Leave My Glasses? Why Did I Come Upstairs? – our fantasy tracks for the senior citizen!

Order UK Subs tickets here: https://ww.uksubstimeandmatter.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16899&Itemid=161