Depending on how you found this blog, or if you’ve read any of my other articles, you may already know I have a weekly radio show on a community radio station called 88.6 Plenty Valley FM. My show is called “Trash Disco” and airs every Saturday night at 10pm. It’s predominantly an 80s music show, but generally play new stuff from 80s bands as well if they are still active.
In June this year (2017) I holidayed in London. I decided while I was there I would try and make contact with some 80s artists and see if they were up for an interview. I didn’t really expect much of a response from anyone, but I reasoned that if I cast my net wide enough, maybe I’d catch something. So I spent about an hour or so searching for relevant management companies and promoters and sent forth my interview requests.
From most of them I was met with silence, or polite reasons why the artists were too busy to interview. After a couple of days, however, I got my first reply. The guys from Right Said Fred would be in London later in the week and would I be free to meet up. You remember Right Said Fred – they were too sexy for their shirts back in 1991 and now they’re sexy again with the new Taylor Swift “interpolation” (Look What You Made Me Do). I nearly fell off my chair. Would I be free?? Of course I would!!! All other plans for that day now cancelled!
After regaining my composure, I emailed back that, yes, I would be free at that time and asked where I would meet them. High Road House in Chiswick, came the reply. Fantastic, I thought, that’s just a few hundred metres down the road from my hotel in Hammersmith.
Now the reality started to set in. It’s been years since I interviewed anyone famous (see My Weird Al Experience). I had the recording equipment, but now I had to furiously research the band. It was a bit like cramming for a very important exam the next day. You have to know the subject that you’re interviewing, and the Fairbrass brothers’ reputation preceded them. These guys are known for having forthright opinions and don’t tolerate fools (at least on Twitter!). They often engage people in political conversations on social media and I’ve seen them shoot people down in flames with a single tweet. I’m now thinking: I’d better impress these guys or I’m going to get roasted!
So I arrive at High Road House, and a slight panic starts to set in at the reality of meeting the band. I’m met by their very nice PR person, Claire, who walks me over to the table where Richard and Fred are having lunch. It’s a fancy place upstairs away from the public who are downstairs in the main brasserie. We shake hands, say hello and I settle down at the table and get my recording gear out – just an iPhone with an external microphone attached and an iPad with all my research notes and list of questions on it.
As I set up they conclude their robust political conversation and are distracted (and impressed) by my microphone. They ask me about the mike and I explain a bit about it and where I got it and how good it sounds. “Great”, I thought, I’m starting on a positive note.
I’d already sent them my list of questions so there would be no surprises. I explained that I’d record an introduction first and then start the questions, and then just go from there. I start with an impromptu question to help break the ice and get the rapport going: “so what’s the worst question you’ve ever been asked in an interview?”
““What are you too sexy for?” and “What are you deeply dippy about?”” Richard replies. “Are you too sexy for this interview?”, Fred adds. Sensing the good humour the guys have, I reply “Oh, I’d better delete those questions off my list then!”, pretending to remove questions that we all knew were never really there. The atmosphere is now set, we’re all in good spirits and the chat can begin. They are familiar with me and my show which is I was terribly thrilled about (but managed to stay very composed.
Originally meant to be a ten minute interview, we chatted for about 45 minutes. They talk a lot and digress constantly, but I get my list of questions ticked off. I’ve now got a lot of great material, but because we recorded in a restaurant it was going to be a challenge to edit, but that was my problem. They kindly record some program IDs for me, and we take some photos. Looking back, it was an almost surreal experience. It was almost like meeting for lunch with old friends I hadn’t seen for ages.
I thank them for their time, say my goodbyes and head back to my hotel. As I’m walking back I realise they weren’t scary at all and my initial apprehension was completely unnecessary. They were really inclusive and made me feel welcome and it was a genuine pleasure to meet them and spent that hour with them.
I’m glad I sent those emails out in the first place. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And this was a big gain.
You can listen to the broadcast interview here.
Trash Disco 
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