Cattales

June 2020: Matthew Ferraro’s written, arranged and produced original music for Academy Award winning films like The Insider and The Incredibles, as well as Emmy Winning TV shows such as Futurama, Dune, and Olive the Other Reindeer.   If that wasn’t enough, he also includes video games Spiderman and X-Men, BBC Radio 4 productions and hundreds of commercials amongst his portfolio, and he’s even produced a score for prayers by Pope John Paul II.   The California Arts Council deemed Matthew Ferraro’s work to be “orchestral journalism” which seems very fitting given that he has just released his debut single created especially for a new short documentary film simply called Falling. #MatthewFerraro #PopJohnPaulII #Spiderman #X-Men #TheIncredibles #Falling

June 2020: When Suzi Quatro burst onto the music scene in 1973 there were almost no women in rock and certainly none who played bass, sang lead vocals and completely rocked. A trailblazer, she re-wrote the rule book for women in rock & roll and went on to sell more than 50 million records.   Fast forward to 2020 and Suzi has added other strings to her bow – she’s an author, actress, radio-presenter and a poet and now, ‘Suzi Q’, a documentary of her life has been released with the promise of a film on the way. Amongst other things, we chat about Suzi Q. Due to my confusion over conflicting information online, staggered release dates for international markets and DVD launches, we didn’t get off to the best start but got there in the end.  #SuziQuatro #Rock #Interview #SuziQ #documentary  Photo Credit: Anita Corbin, First Women

June 2020: With a career spanning over 40 years, Saxon have established themselves among Europe's greatest metal acts. Touring regularly, the band have sold more than 13 million albums worldwide counting eight UK Top 40 albums and numerous singles amongst them and have savoured success in Europe, Japan, and the United States.   Now, I chat with lead singer Biff Byford about his outlook on life after a heart by-pass operation, the launch of his debut solo album The School of Hard Knocks, writing new Saxon material, and using the internet during lock-down for virtual concerts. #BiffByford #Saxon #Metal #Rock #SchoollofHardKnocks 

June 2020: Little did drummer John Coghlan know when that he joined Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster in the newly-formed band The Spectres back in 1962 his life was on a course for rock stardom.   The addition of Rick Parfitt, a change of name and touring strategy later, chart-topping success beckoned for Status Quo which became one of the most successful rock bands of all time.    With over 60 UK chart hits, twenty-two reaching the Top 10, they appeared on Top Of The Pops more than any other band. Opening Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in 1985 and achieving a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, Status Quo have written their place in music history.   #JohnCoghlan #StatusQuo #JohnCoghlansQuo #rock #covid19

June 2020: In this show I’m joined by Sepp Osley, frontman and co-founder of progressive rock band Blurred Vision the week in which their second album Redemption is due to be launched.   We chat about how the world has changed very little since Sepp and his family fled war-torn Iran in the 1980s, how the band came to prominence through adapting Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall into a protest song, and why John Lennon and Bob Dylan have been such an influence on their music. #sepposley #blurredvision #covid19 #johnlennon #georgefloyd #rock

June 2020: Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Martin Simpson is hailed as the hardest working man in folk music and, after years of relentless touring, has welcomed a little breathing space imposed by recent events.   Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s finest guitarists, Martin is a true virtuoso, and has produced an impressive catalogue of solo albums as well as being in demand for collaboration as far reaching as Hollywood.    After over 40 years he is still producing music of astonishing power and passion, has been honoured with multiple Folk Awards, and has a fascination for bugs, butterflies and moths.   #MartinSimpson #Folk #Music #Covid19

May 2020: Peggy Seeger is totally unique. A singer of traditional Anglo-American songs, she has carved a special niche for herself on both sides of the Atlantic and is considered to be one of the most influential folk singers of all time.   Classically trained, Peggy plays no less than six musical instruments, has recorded 23 solo albums, contributed to more than a hundred others and her partner, the late Ewan MacColl, wrote First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in her honour.   A well-known activist she uses music to broadcast her messages on nuclear, ecological and feminist issues and now, at almost 85, she continues to perform and still has something new to say. #PeggySeeger #Folk #activist #EwanMacColl #Covid19

May 2020: This tale is about a true rock original. He’s a vocalist, bassist, a songwriter and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.    No other rock musician has carved such a distinctive style and contributed to the sound of progressive and hard rock. From his first band Trapeze in the late 60s through Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, to Black Country Communion, he’s the ‘voice of rock’, believes that ‘love is the answer and music is the healer’ and now he’s the latest member of super group The Dead Daisies. #GlennHughes #DeepPurple #BlackSabbath #BlackCountryCommunion #VoiceofRock #TheDeadDaisies 

May 2020: My guest today really needs no introduction.   She’s appeared in the 1978 film Jubilee, and Quadrophenia the following year. Her early hit singles included It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free, and by 1982 she had made two platinum-selling albums. And, after more than 40 years in the music business, she is as creatively hungry as she was in her teens.   She is a singer, an actress, a writer, a punk, rebel, and an icon...but most importantly, she’s an independent, strong woman who doesn’t take any prisoners.   #Toyah #ToyahWillcox #ItsAMystery #IWannaBeFree #Sensational #Humans #Quadrophenia #Jubilee #Music #Interview #Singer #Actress #Punk #Pop #RobertFripp 

May 2020: With over 100 million albums, four Grammies, three Brits, an Ivor Novello Award and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John Illsley has done it all.  Playing a pivotal role in the success of Dire Straits, John has been credited with the creation of the band’s original sound and is the only member, other than Mark Knopfler, to make it all the way from the first album in 1977 to the final concert in 1992. With the band a little more than a memory, John has released numerous solo albums, has a tour where he reveals all about his time in Dire Straits, and spends his relaxation time producing excellent pieces of art.  #JohnIllsley #DireStraits #Covid19 #interview  Image (c) Judy Totton

Once the biggest selling girl groups in the world, the Nolan Sisters performed in stadiums internationally, were the opening act for Frank Sinatra, sold over 30 million records and even won the Japanese equivalent of a Grammy.  It wasn’t all a bed of roses, though, as Anne, the eldest of the siblings, reveals. Suddenly unable to secure any bookings, success came to a stop with jolt and 9-5 working came calling.  But Anne Nolan is a survivor. She’s battled cancer, a marriage break-up, sexual abuse, and being shunned by her sisters who went on tour without her, yet she remains defiantly upbeat. #AnneNolan #NolanSisters #TheNolans #Covid19 #Pop #music

May 2020: This tale is about one of the best rock-blues guitarist of his generation. It starts with a boyhood dream and ends with him playing alongside some of the rock greats of the last 40 years.   Co-founder of Whitesnake, he counts many of the band’s hits amongst his song-writing repertoire and co-wrote one of the most successful rock ballads of all time; the multi-million chart-topper Here I Go Again.   With an amazing solo career, collaborations with the cream of the industry and a successful autobiography he has been described as a ‘musical treasure’ and a ‘legend’.  #BernieMarsden #Whitesnake #UFO #RobertPlant #JonLord #GaryMoore #RingoStarr #CozyPowell #RoryGallagher #JackBruce #JoeBonamassa #IanPaice #LittleRichard #Covid19

May 2020: In this edition, I call stateside to catch up with the fabulous, one and only, Chesney Hawkes.   Chesney shot to fame when he won the lead role in the film Buddy's Song, alongside Roger Daltrey, but it was when he found himself to be one of the first teenagers in pop history to bag the Number One spot with a debut release, that he made international stardom.    "The One And Only" stayed at the top for five weeks, going on to become one of the undisputed global anthems of its time as it crashed Top 10s world-wide, including the notoriously difficult markets of Japan and America.   You can’t take that away from him, but there’s certainly a whole lot more to Chesney than one song. He has maintained a successful career in the entertainment industry that now spans nearly 30 years, writing music for TV and film, appearing in theatre and, of course, releasing his own music. #ChesneyHawkes #OneAndOnly #Music #Theatre #Star #covid-19 Photo (c) Kate Carpenter www.katecarpenter.com

He’s the self-confessed Ronnie Corbett of the bass-playing world and, with a career in the music industry spanning almost 40 years, Grammy-winning Guy Pratt has a few stories to tell!   The chosen bassist for many of the world's elite musicians, he’s played on countless hit records with Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bryan Ferry, Robert Palmer, Iggy Pop and Elton John, to name a few.   His latest project is being cast as a member of a super group with Pink Floyd's drummer Nick Mason and the band Saucerful of Secrets but there’s even more to Guy than that including acting, writing and even stand-up comedy. #guypratt #pinkfloyd #madonna #michaeljackson #davidbowie #iggypop #bryanferry #robertpalmer #eltonjohn #icehouse #newyorkdolls #nickmason #saucerfulofsecrets #jimmysomerville #jimmynail #bass #covid-19 

April 2020: We’re rockin’ the Covid-19 lockdown with a fresh series of interview and where better to start than with the mighty Motörhead.   Following the end of the band in 2015, guitarist Phil Campbell didn’t have to look far when assembling a new band of brothers to perform with. After 30 years making mayhem with Lemmy Kilminster and Mikkey Dee, he enlisted his very own offspring to form Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons. An album, award nominations, and a solo album later, Phil isn’t ready to give up his guitar just yet…even if the world is in the grips of a pandemic.   #covid-19 #PhilCampbell #Motorhead #TheBastardSons #Rock #Music

November 2018: Self-taught guitarist Jamie Moses has gone from playing US Air Force bases at the tender age of 13 to stadiums with Queen and Paul Rodgers, not to mention Bob Geldof, The Pretenders, Chaka Khan and even Tom Jones in between.    And the telephone hasn’t stopped ringing. Now playing with Paul Young and Los Pacaminos, The SAS Band and the Word Famous Red Sox, the accomplished musician rarely has time for any relaxation but when he does he likes nothing more than a night in with his family.    #JamieMoses #PaulYoung #LosPacaminos #TheSASBand #WorldFamousRedSox #ChakaKhan #TomJones #AmyWinehouse #BobGeldof #Pretenders

October 2018: South Londoner Ben was busking at Waterloo underground when Joan Armatrading happened to pass by. Immediately impressed, she invited him to join her on tour, supporting her at major venues across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the UK and Ireland. Hailed as a latter day Bob Dylan, Ben has two albums and two EPs on his own label under his belt and is releasing a great new single, Midnight Blue, under the Nub Music label. #BobDylan #JoanArmatrading #BenHolland #folk #interview

October 2018: With classic songs like A Night To Remember, I Can Make You Feel Good, and There It Is, 80s soul band Shalamar sold over 25 million records worldwide and collected no less than 100 gold, silver, and platinum awards. As well as thrilling audiences with a dynamic blend of funky feel good music, band member Jeffrey Daniel was regarded as a fashion icon and trendsetter, bringing street dance to the UK, and teaching Michael Jackson how to moonwalk! #Shalamar #JeffreyDaniel #MichaelJackson #PaulMcCartney #80s #BodyPopping #Moonwalk #Backslide #Dance #Royal #StarlightExpress #interview

September 2018: Pearl Handled Revolver have the blues or rather psychedelic, heavy rock, blues. And after four EPs, three studio albums, and their celebrated live album ‘Bootlegʼ, the band is celebrating ten years of performing. I spent an enjoyable evening in the recording studio with them when keyboard player Simon Rinaldo, percussionist Chris Thatcher, and vocalist Lee Vernon were laying down some of their latest album and, boy, does it sound good. #PearlHandledRevolver #SimonRinaldo #ChrisThatcher #LeeVernon #AndyParis #blues #rock #music #interview

September 2018: True punks don’t age gracefully and Nigel Bennett, former Members member and current guitarist for the Vibrators, couldn’t care less. I first met Nigel when he was performing at a charity gig in North Norfolk and we chatted about everything from his naughty school days to snake skin boots. Now he’s lifting the lid on the reality of the music business with a new solo album “Another Bump in the Road” which chronicles the euphoria and exhaustion that comes with the occasionally glamorous job. #NigelBennett #TheMembers #TheVibrators #JulianLennon #SexPistols #IronMaiden #TomRobinson #Punk #interview