(Believe it or not!) I quite often get asked that question-usually by people shaking their head in disbelief. As a songwriter, that's an interesting question. The soon-to-be-re-launched Black Parrot Seaside Web Site will list an astonishing back catalogue of our own original songs. A few, like "Ordinary" " Sleep Town" and " Vacuum Cleaner" were co-written with other band members. My own output I guess reflects a journey through Rock and into acoustic/folk/blues.
We have performed songs of protest, angry songs, parody, and quite a few that are downright silly. I've written a few serious ones, like "Brutus" and "Lovely Lady" which I'm actually rather proud of, but after the six piece electric band fell apart, they kind of got lost.
So-in no particular order, a brief list of writers and performers who have influenced me as a writer and performer. I wouldn't pretend to be original or unique-a lot of my stuff is derivative-but hopefully it's not too plagiaristic. And that's quite enough long words for an early morning post. Except to add that my first (of several) Uni dissertations was 12,000 words about teaching poetry through popular song lyrics. Fashionable now-but raised a lot of academic eyebrows when I delivered it. Never got it back, either!
The Goons. Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine and Spike Milligan in particular. We did "The Ying Tong Song" at Warwick Folk Club last year.
Kenneth Horne and his magnificent radio series Round The Horne. Still makes me laugh.
George Formby I love the innuendo and clever rhymes of his songs. I loved his films as a kid,too.
Bob Newhart painted early and surreal radio pictures for me.
Charlie Drake Hugely underestimated. We still cover "Naughty," and have played it at Warwick, The Tump and Bedworth Folk Clubs within living memory.
Spike Jones. No, not that one. The Band leader. "Cocktails For Two" is my favourite reworking by Spike's band.
Monty Python Obviously! So clever. The Lumberjack Song. And the Cheese Shop Sketch. for me. "Well I'm sorry...but I'm going to have to shoot you."
Bonzo Dog Band Never saw them live, but once caught Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band, which was an offshoot. No-one could deliver lines like dear, mad Vivian Stanshall. So many great Bonzo's songs, but amongst my favourites are "My Pink Half of The Drainpipe" "Jollity Farm" and "Mr. Slater's Parrot." Neil Innes was (and still is) a great, whimsical lyricist.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band With their theatrics,their make-up and Alex's faintly sinister deadpan delivery, they had a huge influence on me as a singer and a writer. Favourites: " Next" and "Faith Healer." Alex's live version of the cover of "Framed " where he invites the audience to boo his band, is a remarkable exercise in audience manipulation.
Roy Harper I felt that Roy often saw things the way I did. I adore every track on his Ghenghis Smith Album-but "Circle" is just epic. Literally.
Jethro Tull Yes they could be a bit up their own at times, but you won't find nicer composite material than "Going Up The 'Pool," " Nursie," "Life's a Long Song," and "Wonderin' Again." Or cleverer social comment than "Aqualung"
The Edgar Broughton Band Warwickshire lads, just like us! I just had so much respect for this crew. Saw them several times live. The first time was as Mothers in Brum-a key Rock venue. They were mesmeric. When Eric slung his guitar behind his back and strode across the table tops inviting people to sing along with "Out Demons Out!"-you did so. Regardless of one's opinion of whatever song they were performing. I was massively impressed by the imagery and narrative of "The Dawn Crept Away" and the dark humour of "Psychopath." Clever, clever lyricists "Aphrodite in your see through nightie, I see through you." Still gigging, I understand
Incredible String Band A Marmite band.I just dug them. I loved their instrumentation, their quirky vocals and their superb lyrics. Personal favourites: "Witches Hat" and " A very cellular song."The Doors Morrison, the ultimate performer-when not high or lying down on stage. A useful poet, too, whom I quoted frequently in that dissertation! "People are strange",crooned Jim, eerily. How right he was. Still is. I visited his graveside in Pere Lachaise a few years ago. I confess-I was moved.
The New Modern Idiot Grunt Band Coventry lads Roddie Felton and Rob Armstrong. (Look what eclectic company you keep,chaps!) I was still at school when I first saw them. Genius! We've been honoured to share a stage with them many times since. "It's Number One in Iran and Iran and Iran."
Heavy Metal Kidz. Only saw them once, but wrote "Small maladjusted and Mean" afterwards. Liked their stage presence.
Punk Us being signed to a punk label was strange. I disliked much of Punk, but I really liked X Ray Spex and (guilty pleasure!) Sham 69.
Cosmotheka We were privileged to play a couple of times on the same bill as Al and Dave Sealey. Excellent vocals and great comedy timing accompanied their wonderfully evocative re-workings of original music hall songs. "The Odeon" is our homage to their style.
John Cooper Clarke. "Twat!" Just says it all for me. Brilliant wordplay and a waspish, tortured delivery. The perfect love song. "You've got a split personality. I hate both of those."
I love a good protest song, and I hope that "Salt of The Earth" and " The Gravy Train" reflect that genre. I like a lot of the work by Dylan, Donovan ("Universal Soldier"),Dick Gaughan, Joan Baez and Billy Bragg. That's who I listen to when I'm really angry about something.
Honourable mentions too for Blossom Toes,Tomorrow, The Artwoods, Caravan, and The Kinks. All of whom inspired me to write and perform.
