Retrosonic Podcast with Leigh Heggarty on Wingmen (feat. members of The Stranglers, The Damned, Supergrass, Ruts DC & Johnny Moped )

Steve from Retro Man Blog chats to Ruts DC guitarist Leigh Heggarty on the phenomenal reaction to the recent Wingmen tour and critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. Wingmen is the superb new collaboration featuring Leigh on guitar, Baz Warne from The Stranglers on lead vocals and guitar, Paul Gray from The Damned on Bass, Marty Love from Johnny Moped on drums and Rob Coombes on keyboards and Leigh explains how this lockdown project took off and exceeded all expectations. Leigh also updates us on the latest Ruts DC news including upcoming tour dates and the forthcoming album "ElectrAcoustic Vol. 2". This episode includes a pick of tracks from the Wingmen album and most recent Ruts DC releases. It's also soundtracked by The Dolphin pub's jukebox, sorry about that! You can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Amazon music or direct from our SoundCloud site below. 

Retrosonic Podcast · Leigh Heggarty on Wingmen and Ruts DC

You can check out the recent feature on the Wingmen's album and London show at the Islington Academy here, which includes reviews, photos and videos. 

Wingmen - Photo by Retro Man Blog

Useful links (click on the highlighted link below for further info)

Wingmen (official Facebook page)

Wingnuts (Facebook Fan's group)

Leigh on Guitar (Leigh Heggarty official Facebook page)

Leigh's Mad World of Guitars (Leigh Heggarty's official Blog)

Ruts DC

The Stranglers

The Damned

Johnny Moped

Supergrass

Cadiz Records

Wingmen - Photo by Retro Man Blog

Retrosonic Podcast had a valid PRS Licence. Podcover photos - Top Left: Terry Heggarty / Bottom Right: Retro Man Blog. With thanks to Leigh Heggarty. Don't forget that our "Lockdown Lowdown" episode with Leigh is still available to listen/download/stream, in which Leigh tells us about his most memorable musical encounters and experiences and includes a pick of his favourite songs and influences including tracks from The Beatles, T-Rex, The Stranglers, Rory Gallagher, Dr. Feelgood, The Flamin' Groovies and more.

Retrosonic Podcast · Lockdown Lowdown Episode 2: Leigh Heggarty of Ruts DC

Billy Childish & CTMF with Johnny Moped - Exclusive Photos by Paul Slattery from Damaged Goods 30th Anniversary Gig

Billy Childish & CTMF at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

I thought my Retro Man Blog colleague, Rock photographer Paul Slattery had first started taking pictures of Billy Childish when he was in The Milkshakes back in the early 80's, so did he...! But it took an email from Billy to set the record straight as unknown to Paul at the time, he had actually captured Billy at a historic gig totally by coincidence some years before. I found out more when we both met up with Billy down in the Medway a few years ago for our Retrosonic Podcast special. I started off the interview by asking Paul: "You've photographed Billy on and off for how many years?" Paul replied, "30 years" but Billy interrupted "Oh, don't forget it's actually 37 years". Then Paul explained further, "I've just given him some pictures that I took of the Sex Pistols playing at Brunel University in 1977 which Billy saw on the NME web-site and he said, 'that's me in the front row shouting at Johnny Rotten, have you got any more of those pictures?' So I looked through my negatives and sure enough, I had four shots with Billy in". Indeed, you can clearly see a young Billy Childish down there at the front clutching a monitor as Johnny leans over the audience with Sid looking on. It's a great moment captured for posterity and I can see why Billy was keen to get some copies. Paul has photographed Billy occasionally since The Milkshakes days right up to the cover photo on CTMF's recent single "A Glimpse of Another Time" and he was down the front at the show on September 6th to celebrate Damaged Goods Records 30th anniversary at Koko (or the Music Machine, as it might be better known) with special guests, Johnny Moped.

Billy Childish & CTMF at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Nurse Julie, Billy Childish & CTMF at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Billy Childish & CTMF at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Wolf Howard, Billy Childish & CTMF at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Billy Childish & CTMF at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Billy Childish & CTMF at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Johnny Moped at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Johnny Moped at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Johnny Moped at Koko - Photo Copyright Paul Slattery

Damaged Goods Records continue to celebrate their 30th anniversary with a special 7" Singles Club and more gigs in December at The Lexington including Graham Day & The Gaolers, Holly Golightly, Cyanide Pills and Johnny Moped. For more information, check out the label's web-site here. Don't forget our two-part Retrosonic Podcast special with Damaged Goods boss Ian where he tells us the history of the label and plays a selection of his releases from throughout the years. Then we have our Billy Childish special where Paul and I travelled down to the Medway to chat to Billy about his career and his favourite records which you can listen to or download directly from our Soundcloud site below or subscribe for free at iTunes:

Thanks to Paul Slattery. All photos copyright Paul Slattery 2018.

Johnny Moped, Ye Nuns & The Fire Dept. Cancer Research Fundraiser at The Shacklewell Arms Dec. 05th + Swell Maps/TV Personalities/Ruts DC DJ sets.

 

Idle Fret Records have assembled a top line-up for the cancer research and support fundraiser on December 05th at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston. It features early Punk legends Johnny Moped, the all-female Monks tribute band Ye Nuns (featuring members of Curve, Mambo Taxi, Thee Headcoatees, Gay Dad, The A-Lines, Echobelly, The Phantom Pregnancies & The Priscillas) and The Fire Dept. who Billy Childish declared were the best British group of the 1990’s. There will also be DJ sets by Jowe Head from Swell Maps/Television Personalities and Leigh Heggarty from Ruts DC.

Tickets are just £8.00 in advance or £11.00 on the door, and all proceeds from the show will be donated to Cancer Research UK, Pancreatic Cancer UK and Macmillan.

Retro Man Blog readers can get a FREE download featuring Ye Nuns and The Fire Dept. via the following link: https://idlefret.bandcamp.com/album/idle-fret-free-download-december-2014

For more information on running times and to keep a check on any further announcements please visit the Event link at: https://www.facebook.com/events/731375506951730