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I once met Pete Wylie, the man behind Wah ! HeatÌý, Wah, and other variations on the name. It was 1981, the year before ‘Story Of The Blues’ brought him into the Top Of The Pops studio and national consciousness. I was in a recording studio with my chums and I didn’t know who he was, Ìýjust that he was a great talker. And he had crutches. He knew our producer, Dave Balfe, as both were part of the great Liverpool Renaissance of 1979 – Dave was in The Teardrop Explodes, Pete was a member of the Crucial Three, the legendary (as in, never played a show, never made a record) band that included Ian McCulloch and Julian Cope. When he went out, Dave said – that was Pete Wylie. Presence of a true genius. (my words, not Dave’s)

I loved Story Of The Blues – a wonderful record in 1982. The unfortunate thing is that thirty years later it doesn’t sound as good. Which still surprises me. So, the earlier ‘Seven Minutes To Midnight’ instead.

And remember to sing along with the Pop GroupÌý - or whistle it if you don’t remember the words.Ìý

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Wire - Map Ref 41 Deg North 93 Deg West
Stomachmouths - Don’t Put Me Down
Wah Heat! - Seven Minutes To Midnight
Germs - Communist Eyes
Madness - Razor Blade Alley
Pop Group - We Are All Prostitutes
Young Marble Giants – NITA
Blondie - Bermuda Triangle Blues (Flight 45)
Jet Bronx & The Forbidden - Ain’t Doin Nothin
Cramps – Primitive
The Loft - On A Tuesday
Flamin’ Groovies – Reminiscing
Gun Club - Carry Home
Standells - Mr Nobody
Replacements - Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out

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