Frank Sidebottom - Eight Years Gone

June 21st, 2010 was a horrible day. We lost Chris Seivey, a musician and artist best known to the world as Frank Sidebottom.
He was a fun guy and a joy to know and he left many people at a loss.
We still have his music and comedy and hopefully later this year the documentary about Chris' life will be released. It has already had a successful screening at SXSW in the US, and we're all looking forward to it.
Chris - we miss you always. Thanks for the memories.

Frank Sidebottom - Seven Years Gone

It's that time again. Hard to image that Chris Sievey - the man who was Frank Sidebottom passed away so long ago now. June 21st 2010.
Not a day goes past that I'm not reminded of his humour, and his fantastic music.
He is forever missed.
This year, however, is doubly sad as we also lost Chris' youngest son, Harry earlier this year. He was also very talented, and it was almost like being with a younger version of Chris in his company. Such a tragedy to be taken so young. The post is dedicated to both of you. Blimey. 

Frank Sidebottom - Five Years Gone

Hard to believe, but it has been five years since the wonderful Chris Sievey was taken from us.
There's not a day goes by that I personally don't think about the fun, laughs and great music the man gave us, and no doubt I bore friends with stories of him far too often.
Since his passing, the world has come to appreciate both Chris' music and the iconic image of Frank Sidebottom more and more. The Michael Fassbender film Frank opened even more doors for people to check out the legend, despite merely being 'inspired' by the great man's story.
A book, written by legendary rock journalist Mick Middles, entitled Out of His Head covers a lot of ground for those looking to delve deeper into the Frank/Chris mythos, and is highly recommended.
we continue to remember the man as he was, and mourn the loss to the world, and more so his family and friends.
Chris, as always, I salute you. I'll sink a few for you for old times' sake.

Frank Sidebottom... Four Years Gone.

As another year passes without the great Chris Sievey, we can reflect again on his legacy, and on how much we miss his genius.
The past year has seen an enormous amount of Frank Sidebottom activity. There was the unveiling of a statue in Timperley, which I was proud to be part of the fundraising team. I ran the fund's eBay sales for around 8 months, sending all manner of Frank-related merchandise out to like-minded fans. I also put together a DVD containing the last major project Frank worked on, the Celebrity Sleepover pilot. A limited run of 100 copies sold out within a week, raising over £1,137 for the Marie Curie Cancer Charity. The actual unveiling was a glorious day, with thousands of fans bringing the main road in Timperley to a standstill; with the police forced to close the roads for nearly an hour. Entertainment laid on at the nearby Stonemasons Arms was wonderful, including The Stags, the brilliant 60's psych-garage band, including Oh Blimey Big Band member Dave Arnold, and Chris' son Harry Sievey, who performed his own unique material as well as a stunning (if unrehearsed and gloriously ramshackle) short set with Rick Sarko and Barry Spencer of The Freshies.

It was an incredibly emotional day; a culmination of over two years of fundraising and organising. Timperley Councillor Neil Taylor really excelled in getting the project finished, and it's not only a glorious tribute to a comedy and musical legend, but something Neil should be eternally proud of.

Harry Sievey fronting the Oh Blimey Big Band with Jon Ronson

Also, the Jon Ronson scripted film Frank hit UK cinemas in May. Although not a biopic, it certainly brought a lot of attention in the direction of 'our' Frank, which can only be a good thing. It was also a pleasant surprise that it was really enjoyable, too. Prior to its release, Ronson undertook a spoken word tour, and played packed rooms with his personal story behind the writing of Frank, with the emphasis this time on the reality of his time in the Oh Blimeys. Several shows ended with several Frank songs performed by the Big Band with Ronson on keyboard and Harry on vocals; Frank's head (or at least the facsimile made by Dave Arnold) displayed on stage, like some kind of ritual.

Dave Arnold

The real Frank/Chris story is yet to be told, but the crowd funded documentary Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story is still in the process of being finished, and will be released in due course. From what we've already seen, it should be a fascinating and enlightening film.

Frank with Dennis and Lois (as seen in the Elbow video)

With all the attention Chris' creation has been getting of late, it personally makes me really sad that he isn't here to enjoy it. Although, he would have probably shrugged, dismissed the accolades, had another pint and cigarette, before finding a way to de-rail it. He always preferred to do it his way.
Chris, we miss you. You know we do, we really do. Thank you.

Frank Sidebottom... Three Years Gone

It has come to that time of year again. The horrible realism that the wonderful Chris Sievey is no longer with us. This year has seen a flurry of activity relating to Chris, and his timeless genius creation Frank Sidebottom.

As well as the planned statue which is due to be erected in Timperley village sometime soon (it is currently at the foundry being created), there is the documentary being made by Steve Sullivan who directed the short Magical Timperley Tour film in 2006. You can view this in full below.

The documentary was a massive hit on Kickstarter, raising more than twice the initial target, and I personally would like to thank everybody who got involved and helped out. I was interviewed for the project last December just before the fabulous Frank Night took place at the Night and Day in Manchester. This was a brilliant event, with appearances by punk writer and musician John Robb, actress Maxine Peake and former drummer from The Smiths Mike Joyce. The night was topped off by a set from Chris' old band, The Freshies fronted by his son Harry. It was brilliant to see bassist Rick Sarko and guitarist Barry Spencer rip through the best power pop music ever written. The fact The Freshies never made it to be as big as The Beatles is the biggest tragedy in the world. There has also been a film made based loosely on the Frank legend, simply called Frank, it was written by one time Oh Blimey Big Band (south version) member Jon Ronson, who would go on to be a successful writer and journalist, scoring a massive hit with his book The Men Who Stare At Goats, which was made into a film with George Clooney. Frank stars Prometheus' Michael Fassbender as a mysterious, avant-garde singer in an American rock band, and according to Ronson, is definitely NOT based solely on Mr Sidebottom. The photo (below) of Fassbender in costume may not back that up completely. And the actor's own official website features a picture of the Islington "Stewie's Stencils" graffiti of Frank on the page for "Frank news".

Michael Fassbender as "Frank" in the upcoming film

Hopefully, as the years go by, instead of mourning a cult musician/comedian, we will be celebrating the rightful iconic status of Chris - his music, and his most famous creation.
As ever, I raise a glass to you Chris, and wish you could be here to share it with me, and the thousands that loved everything you did. Thank You.

Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story launches on Kickstarter!

Regular readers to this blog will know one of my biggest heroes was Chris Sievey, better known as Frank Sidebottom. I was lucky enough to get to know Chris little, and he is sorely missed by many.
Steve Sullivan, who made the short film of Frank's Magical Timperley Tour is putting together, with the approval of the Sievey family, a documentary about Chris, his "almost famous" band, The Freshies (who I still remember hearing on Manchester's Piccadilly Radio long before Frank came on the scene) and of course, Mr Sidebottom himself. Steve has been talking to Chris' friends and family, and fans over the past few months (I was interviewed in December, and have provided my archive of live footage for use), but in order to make the film the best it can be (and fund the costs of setting up more interviews with people instrumental in Chris' life) the project has launched on crowd funding site Kickstarter. That's where you come in. From as little as £1, you can help make this film a marvelous reality. Basically, you are pre-ordering the DVD or Blu-ray. But there are many more incentives for the more generous and affluent out there. You can have a chance to own something that Chris cherished. It may well be something as small as a Subbuteo player, or as random as a Mr Blobby with one leg who dances like a horse. Who knows? If you're a fan, you won't want to miss out. Higher pledges get a chance to own some of the complete gigs that I filmed, and DVD versions of early Freshies videos.
Head over to the Kickstarter page now and join the lovely people who have already pledged their support. Don't worry if you don't have the cash until payday, the money will not go out of your bank until the funding ends on May 31st.
You know you should, you really should. Thank you.

Review: John Cooper Clarke - South of the Border live DVD

Recorded at a sell out show at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 2010, this is the first official recording of a full John Cooper Clarke show. John has been a cult figure on the British music and cultural scene since he burst onto the punk circuit in the mid '70s, with hits such as Gimmix! Play Loud! (released on coloured triangle shaped vinyl) and I Married A Monster From Outer Space.

During 2010 was the subject of a documentary, eventually screened on BBC3, and released on DVD - Evidently, John Cooper Clarke - which is in itself well worth checking out (available on Amazon) and while following John about the makers filmed the London show among others.

If you are unfamiliar with John, he was billed as the "punk poet" (a title he doesn't like), and had hit albums and singles with his poems set to music. He is a former heroin addict, (who shared a house with the Velvet Underground's Nico at one point) and appeared opposite the Honey Monster on the Sugar Puffs adverts (a accolade also shared by Henry McGee). John's shows are just him a microphone and a plastic bag of notebooks with his prose on. More a stand up comedian now than straight poetry recital, and genuinely funny in a way modern so called comics could only dream of.
Coming on stage to the Saint theme tune, his Salford twang still present, and uncompromising in his observations, which range from child like wordplay to highly intelligent prose. His poems appear on the National Curriculum, and it's about time he got the recognition he deserves.
With an 85 minute running time, and with a machine gun delivery there are more gags per second than any slick stand up desperate to peddle their DVDs of their tightly honed shows every Christmas. You know, the ones that appear in the pound shops a few months later.

As well as the full show, which you will find yourself re-watching over and over to catch the lines you missed while laughing too much, there are two short extras; a clip of the soundcheck and, more importantly (especially if you are familiar with my interests) a recording of the classic song 36 Hours, recording in Sheffield with Frank Sidebottom on keyboard and guitar. Frank toured with John in 2009 and 2010, and it was his last major appearances before the untimely death of Frank's creator, Chris Sievey. This alone is worth the price of the DVD.

Anyone of a certain age will remember John and enjoy this, those too young to be around during punk, should buy this, and the documentary and learn how comedy and word play can be done.
10 out 10.