Colin Richardson

Annie Othen's Show on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire - Monty Python interview

Oct 24, 2009
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Last Tuesday (20th October '09), after various e-mails and phone calls with Rosie King and Hannah Tobin, I went to BBC Radio Bristol studios to link in with Annie Othen's show for BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, talking about how, in January 1971, the first Monty Python Live stage-performance came to take place at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. The mid-morning programme also featured a phone interview with one of Trevor Teasdel's friends - David Partridge - who had been in the audience for one of the three performances.

My thanks to Rosie for all her help and for allowing me to post the audio of the interviews.

Here is the webpage http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2009/10/08/monty_python_feature.shtml

Monty Python - BBC Coventry

Annie Othen - BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire

And here is the broadcast from Annie Othen's show on BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire

'Annie Othen's Show on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire'.

Paul McCartney interview at Abbey Road 1980

Oct 11, 2009
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In May 1980, towards the end of my "journalist" days, I got an invite to the EMI press reception for Paul McCartney's

Now I see the 'point' of Paul McCartney!

solo album, "McCartney II", at Abbey Road studios. I was one of about 100 scribes from all parts of the globe and the set up was very efficient...15 or so oblong tables, each with 8 chairs and the plan was that Paul would move from table to table, spending exactly 20 minutes at each. I managed to get one of the end chairs, thus ensuring that I would be facing the star when he sat down...yes, I was that pushy! When our turn came, I opened the session with what I hoped was some humorous banter, thus getting Paul's attention for when the real questions started. It seems to have worked....hey, all's fair in love, war and journalism!

Well, take a listen...and please don't judge too harshly! I was just 'doing my job!'

The interview is now on a podcast on the We Heart Music Vox site here http://weheartmusic.vox.com/library/post/whm055-paul-mccartney-interview-by-colin-richards.html

Paul McCartney Interview at Abbey Rd May 1980

Monty Python's first ever 'Live' performance - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry - the story behind it!

Oct 10, 2009
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Lanchester Arts Festival programme - front page

1971 Lanchester Arts Festival Programme

'Live' Python found at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry!

By Colin Richardson

1971 Lanchester Arts Festival included many well-known artistes on the 10 day programme of events, including Elton John, Ralph McTell, Caravan, blues legend Big Boy Crudup, Leon Russell and Andre Previn (conducting the London Symphony Orchestra), but the high point of the student-run mixed media festival that year, was without doubt, the first 'Live on Stage' performance of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

How did a modest little Polytechnic in Coventry come to be favoured with such a prime coup? Here's how it happened.

I had been the Festival's booking consultant in 1970, working closely with Ted Little, the student organiser. We made

Lanch Poly - Now Coventry University

a good team, as he was always open to my ideas and suggestions, though quite firm of mind when it came to making final decisions as to which act was chosen. I guess he must have been pleased with my efforts, as he retained my services for the following year.

At some point during the planning of the 1971 programme, he asked if it would be possible to book one or two of the Monty Python team to perform a couple of sketches from the cult TV show, as they were immensley popular with the student fraternity. I was pretty doubtful, as none of them had ever made any live appearances as Python characters hitherto and I was fairly sure that they only produced their unique humour for the TV show. However, I said I would try and find out any of them might be interested in doing something. I had no idea who their agent was, but, as luck would have it, there fell into my lap a circuitous conduit to to one Python ear. It went like this: I had a little band going at the time...a quintet playing jazz and dance music around the club/college circuit and we had an American singer by the name of Jean Hart,

Monty-Python-Monty-Pythons-Fly-306805

who was the girlfriend (and later, wife) of the comedian Bill Oddie. Bill would occasionally 'sit in' with the band, singing a credible blues. He knew most, if not all, of the Python team, so I asked him (through Jean) if he knew how I could go about contacting their representative. To my astonishment, he offered to introduce me to Eric Idle (it's possible that he was sharing a flat with him at the time, though I'm not certain about that) and eventually I got the summons to attend his presence. Being a bit of a fan myself, it was with some trepidation, awe and downright nerves that I presented myself, but Eric very quickly put me at my ease with his relaxed and friendly attitude. He asked a few questions about what dates we had in mind, the Festival organisation, its history etc. I threw as many 'names' of artistes that had already been booked, or who had appeared in the previous 2 years and described how well run it was. I was expecting him to indicate who, if anyone, might be up for taking part, when he said something that had me almost fainting with inner excitement. It was along the lines of: "Well, your timing couldn't be more fortuitous (he might even have used the word 'serendipitous') as we've been discussing the possibility of doing something live on stage and, if we did, we it would definitely be away from London, in case it didn't work for us. Now, if you can find out whether the Belgrade Theatre is available for a 3 night run, that would certainly increase the odds of us agreeing to do it, as we have all worked there before and know that it would be ideal for us".

In something of a daze, I promised to get back to him a.s.a.p. and left to find a phone to call Ted Little and give him the astounding news. He didn't seem to take it in at first and kept asking which of the Pythons was I talking about. I said "All of them..the 'tout ensemble' the whole damn Circus!" After they brought him round, he checked the Belgrade's availablity and phoned me back to say that we could have 3 nights, bang in the middle of the Festival. I passed this on to Eric and, soon enough, the dates and the deal were agreed. For the life of me, I can't remember the details, except that the shows would start at 12 midnight and that the fee was extraordinarily reasonable. In a cloud of euphoria, I passed this incredible news to Ted. Tickets went on sale a few days later...and all three nights sold out in about 20 minutes!

Needless to say, every show was a fantastic success, as the student audience was a proven fan base which already knew most of the sketches, not that this in any way diminished their noisy enjoyment of them. I recall that,on the first night, the entire front row was wearing 'Gumby' style knotted handkerchiefs...to the astonishment of the first Pythons onstage.

An interesting coda to this story is that, a couple of weeks before the premiere, I received a phone call from the plummy-voiced P.A. of an illustrious music biz heavyweight (no names, no pack-drill!) who, after ascertaining that I was, indeed, the person responsible for this 'showbiz' coup, informed me that Mr. ******** would 'like a box, for the first night' ! After a deep breath and summoning my most innocent of tones, I asked: "What kind of box would he like? Orange do?". Well, that went down like the proverbial lead balloon. A few moments of silence, then: "You do realise that it's Mr ******** we're talking about?" To which I politely replied: "Even if it was the Queen Mother, I still couldn't get you a seat, let alone a box. It's completely sold out." A gasp of incredulity and frustration, followed by the crash of the phone going down at his end. I have to admit that I got a degree of quiet satisfaction from the exchange, which just added to my feeling of pride at being able to help facilitate the very first 'Live on Stage' appearance of Monty Python's Flying Circussss!

From an interview with Colin by Trev Teasdel for the Coventry music site - Hobo http://coventrymusichistory.vox.com/library/post/monnty-python-at-the-belgrade-theatre---bbc-coventry-report.html python blog edit

BBC Radio Coventry cover my Monty Python story.

Oct 10, 2009
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Monty Python - BBC Coventry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2009/10/08/monty_python_feature.shtml

Harry Nilsson - now there was a nice guy!

Aug 10, 2009
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Interviewing Nilsson in L.A. 1978

Harry was probably my most favourite interviewee. Initial contact was made through one of those 'friend of a friend' situations..I think the L.A. connection was Don Reo, the TV writer and producer, (M.A.S.H., Golden Girls etc), who was a friend of Harry's. Anyway, I called him and we set up a meet at the famous Ambassador Hotel, where I usually stayed on my visits to LA-LA Land. We met in the bar (where else!)...the one that featured in "The Graduate". I decided to wear my 'Whodunnit' T-shirt, as Harry had recorded a song called 'Who could'a done it?' and he picked up on it straight away, so it was a great 'ice-breaker'. Drinks were ordered, I switched on my tape recorder and just let it roll. The first thing he told me was that he had gotten laid on the roof of the hotel some years earlier! So, where do you go after that, I thought! Well, Harry didn't have a problem...we chatted for another hour and a half (one story he related lasted about 20 minutes!) just rapping about his career, life, marriage (to his English wife, who he met at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, in London) and so on. All the while, the drinks kept flowing, with me trying hard to appear I was matching him drink for drink (impossible, if I wanted the interview to be coherent!). It was just a great experience with a talented guy who was a natural born raconteur.
The sad thing is the the interview never did get published, partly because of its length, but also because the magazine's editor didn't think there was sufficient technical interest (instruments, recording, amps etc) for his readers. I wasn't too worried...for me it had been a 'blast'! A memory that I will long cherish.

Nilsson Cheque (click photo to see description)

Colin's photo gallery

Aug 10, 2009
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On tour with Ralph McTell in New Zealand, 1976. Also in photo - WEA's NZ

With Genesis and Lindisfarne at a Press Conference, Milan Airport 1973

Artist back-stage pass for the Charisma Festival in Rome, 1973

Colin with Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford 1978 LA

Interview with Mike Rutherford of Genesis. L.A. 1978

With Neil Ardley and the musicians that recorded "Kaleidoscope of Rainbows"

Melody Maker's Max Jones being interviewed on my radio show, c.1982 (Click for description)

Interview with Spencer Davis L.A. 1978 L.A. 1976.

Interview with Lalo Schifrin, L.A. 1978

A post about The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music.1970.Colosseum

Aug 1, 2009
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The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music.1970.Colosseum

http://www.ukrock...

A very short audience tape exists of one portion of this set. Short snippets of a super 8 film taken by Ross Mortimore show Colosseum's performance exist . They are now available as stills on the site .

Monty Python's First Ever Live Performance - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry - The Story behind it!

May 17, 2009
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Monty Python's First Ever Live Performance - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry - The Story behind it!

http://coventrymusichistory.vox.com/l...

Colin Richardson - the booking agent from Bron responsible for booking many of the acts for the Coventry Lanchester Arts Festival in the early 70's tells the story of how 'How a modest little Polytechnic in Coventry came to be favoured with such a prime coup as hosting the first ever live...

Colin Richardson - Interview with the Booking Agent for the Lanchester Arts Festival Part 1

May 17, 2009
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Colin Richardson - Interview with the Booking Agent for the Lanchester Arts Festival Part 1

http://coventrymusichistory.vox.com/l...

Colin Richardson's name appears on the programmes of the Coventry - Lanchester Poly Arts Festival brochures of 1970 - 71 as the London booking agent for Bron working closely with Ted Little, responsible for bringing bands like Colosseum, New jazz Orchestra, Jack Bruce, Monty Python's Flying Circus,...

Nice surprises....

Apr 24, 2009
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Being a volunteer worker for Amnesty in their Bristol bookshop occasionally brings a really satisfying experience...a few weeks back it was finding a copy of Queen's first album, signed by Freddy Mercury in a bunch of donated records. That fetched a nice juicy £160 for the cause. Not quite in the same league, but still exciting, was a copy of Stan Tracy's second album, "Little Klunk", not the very valuable one on the Vogue label, sadly (£180+/-) but still a very collectible record worth about £40...and in extremely nice condition, for a change. So often, my eyes light up when I spot something exciting like, say, an early Captain Beefheart album, only to find that it's been played to death or scratched, rendering it virtually worthless. Overall though...I always look forward to going in and seeing what has arrived in my absence....there's usually something interesting.