1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,162 WWW.MY-SUBS.COM 1 00:00:10,770 --> 00:00:20,771 subtitles by rubinmusicbox ® 2 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:40,952 - Hello, everybody! 3 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,319 - Hello! 4 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,432 - You eilher loved him or you hated him. 5 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,230 - He's fantastic. He was such a fever pilch of excitemenl. 6 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,555 - There is a different way of looking al the world. 7 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,397 There's a different way of acting in this world. 8 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,436 - The only true performance is that which achieves madness 9 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,710 and there are moments where it achieves madness. 10 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:21,233 I Here comes Darth with no shoes on. J‘ 11 00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:26,155 I Here comes Darth with no shoes off. J‘ 12 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:31,310 I Oh. here comes Darth with no shoes on} 13 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,031 I Here comes Darth with no sh-sh-shoes on. J‘ 14 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,148 - ll's bizarre, the bizarre world of Frank Sideboltom. 15 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:41,992 - No one’s ever ever seen him with his head off. 16 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:43,155 That was the big thing. 17 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,915 - He existed to me and that was it. 18 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,433 ldidn't want to know that there was someone pulling strings or smoke and mirrors. 19 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:51,954 Don't burst the bubble. 20 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,273 - Frank was dead wary about having his picture taken 21 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:57,713 being transformed. 22 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,876 If the camera came out, he knew, he had a sixth sense. 23 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,995 Frank didn't wanna be exposed to being a normal human being. 24 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:09,634 Which he wasn't. 25 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:43,389 - Cheers! 26 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,355 J‘ There's a chair over there i 27 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,113 I That I usually share with you t 28 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,272 I Where are you? t 29 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,758 I And where did your Cello Man go? ) 30 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,678 J‘ Sad and upset a) 31 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,792 I‘ And his only regret is me a) 32 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,990 I'Cause where are me? J‘ 33 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,276 t And where did your Cello Man go? i 34 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,598 t Where are you? t 35 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,559 - I think he was very popular at school. 36 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,869 He was quite popular with the girls, I think, as a 10-year-old. 37 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:48,758 I don't think he had any problem with bullying 38 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,519 because what he would do, he'd befriend the bully. 39 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,551 You know, maybe make the bully laugh or something. 40 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,476 One lad who was a bit of a thug was his minder. 41 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,835 Christopher coped. academically 42 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,633 although one art teacher said. "He has talent 43 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,274 but his fantasy is not always a success." 44 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,114 I think he was very happy on his own as well 45 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,039 doing stuff, but then there had to be an audience at the end of it. 46 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,589 He wanted to entertain other people. 47 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,036 So he had the Subbuteo club. 48 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,113 - He used to have a Subbuteo League with the lads from school. 49 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,832 We'd go round each other's houses. 50 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,758 You'd play on the floor or on a table 51 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:32,274 but no. not at Chris's. 52 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,356 You'd have to buy tickets beforehand for the game. 53 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,636 So. a paddock where the lads would stand up. 54 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,353 You'd have a seating area at the other side where the posh people went. you know 55 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,874 with the hospitality-type stuff. 56 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,678 Erm, programmes. 57 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,436 You know, and that was at school. 58 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,756 So you imagine he was thinking all this stuff through his head at school. 59 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,355 His head must have been buzzing with ideas 60 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:53,549 and things he wanted to do. 61 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,953 - For a while, we kind of called ourselves the Space Brothers. 62 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,788 We were into space in, you know, a trippy kind of way. 63 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,509 I had some LSD on blotting paper 64 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:12,471 so it was easy to cut a section of the blotting paper off 65 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,158 so I could give him a small dose 66 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:18,478 'cause I didn't know what it was gonna do to me when lfirst took it 67 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,351 and I certainly didn't know what it would do to him 68 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,914 but of course, it blew his mind as well. 69 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,275 He just... never the same again. 70 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,630 Well, you're never the same again after you've experienced that. 71 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:33,989 t Long ago in Bubbleland surreal J‘ 72 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:40,840 J‘ Hard to imagine, so hard to feel i 73 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:47,191 J‘ So tough to picture in your mind J‘ 74 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,153 ) Stretch your brain and you may find) 75 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,950 )Gogglebubbleland) 76 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,356 )Gogglebubbleland) 77 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,115 - I'd be in bed, 11 o'clock, half 11 at night 78 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,469 the phone would ring, it'd be Chris. 79 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,954 "Oh, I've just got this new Beatles, this Beatles bootleg." 80 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,639 "It's fantastic, you've got to listen to it. You've got to listen to it." 81 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:31,716 And he'd start trying to play it to us down the phone 82 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,479 and you have to show a bit of enthusiasm, 'cause you're my mate 83 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,670 but not at half 11, 12 o'clock at night. 84 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,634 A folder of Beatles-related memorabilia, 85 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:42,797 "The Story of Lennon & McCartney," 86 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:44,990 "The World's Greatest Songwriters," 87 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,869 and then on the next page, there's a feature about some other artists 88 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:50,831 which has just been crossed out 89 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:52,991 so you don't have to waste time reading 90 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,072 through anything that's not about the Beatles. 91 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:57,758 No time for Stevie Wonder. 92 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,389 Even the advertisements have been crossed out. 93 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:04,792 There was an advert in the Daily Express 94 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,593 saying, "Beatles, looking for new talent." 95 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,719 I said to Chris, shall we just go to Apple and play our songs? 96 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,872 - When you first went down to London, was it, you went to Apple? 97 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,798 Er, yeah, my brother and |, Martin 98 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,308 we had two acoustic guitars, so we hitched down 99 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:25,037 we got there nine o'clock in the morning and we went in and sat down in reception 100 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,753 and said, "We're not going till you sign us up." 101 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,231 And... I mean, they tried to throw us out and everything 102 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:32,474 but we wouldn't budge. 103 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,034 In the end, a bloke came down and he had a listen to us 104 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:36,354 and he liked the stuff. 105 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,517 So they took us in a studio there a couple of days later 106 00:08:39,560 --> 00:08:41,790 and we did 11 tracks for them. 107 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,555 - Halfway through the evening, a guest arrived into the studio 108 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,352 and it was Ringo Starr, 109 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,110 and of course, Chris and l were completely blown away 110 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,835 especially when he spoke to us and he said, "Hello, boys." 111 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,076 That's all he said. 112 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,599 The advice from Apple was go home, get a band together 113 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,995 and gradually work our way up into show business. 114 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,750 ) But I know you won't let that happen to you. ) 115 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,598 - We had a band title of Hard Sharks 116 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,200 and we had a tryout with a couple of other guys 117 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,789 and we were called Big Cheese, and that was about it. 118 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,196 So we never got a recording contract 119 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:20,912 and we never got a band together. 120 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,878 We tried, but the inspiration faded 121 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,674 and Chris and I went our separate ways. 122 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,229 - So, my brother lost interest 123 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,669 and I thought, well, I'm determined to crack this business 124 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,234 'cause once I start something I've got to see it through. 125 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:38,674 ) Now that my life is over) 126 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:18,792 ) Now that my life is over) 127 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,913 ) And all my time's been spent) 128 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,993 - We're going to investigate the world of cassettes. 129 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,069 ) It's just another room by another place) 130 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:47,352 ) When suddenly the girl at the door wears the same face you wear) 131 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,035 ) But it's me that's faced with a double problem) 132 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:52,917 ) How can I decide?) 133 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:55,670 ) Wait. ) 134 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,314 - Don't forget, he would have been doing all these himself. 135 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:00,874 Doing the instruments, recording it, copying it to tape 136 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:05,710 doing the handwritten labels and stuff so it was limited sort of editions he'd do. 137 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,671 - I think they were not a limited edition 138 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:09,358 they were a limited addition. 139 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,870 So if he got an order for one, he'd do one. 140 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:14,238 - I spent about three, four years 141 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:18,353 just going around record companies and there was just no interest at all. 142 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:20,511 - Is it true that you've got a scrapbook 143 00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:21,754 crammed full of rejection slips? 144 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:25,793 - Yeah, well, we've published one, which was 104 rejection slips. 145 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,673 - Do you never get disheartened though when that's happening to you? 146 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,597 - No, it always spurs me on, you know 147 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:32,796 because I'm sure record companies haven't any idea 148 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:34,990 what they're doing at all and it's great. 149 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:36,912 - There's one from Factory Records, 150 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,270 which at the top of it says "temporary rejection slip." 151 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,358 "Dear Chris, your real rejection slip is in the post." 152 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:45,593 - Most record companies, the big ones, 153 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,596 they get so many tapes sent them 154 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,756 that they type up a standard letter 155 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,031 and what I did was I typed up my own rejection slip 156 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,112 and all they had to do was sign it and post it back to me 157 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,038 and that was what I got back from Magnet, just "nice try." 158 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,514 - When I met him, he came to work in the factory. 159 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:44,790 Just sitting there and this guy walks in, 160 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,274 you know, with bright red knee-high leather boots 161 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:52,155 and a green suede jacket and, like, eyeliner on, 162 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,072 and we went, "Oh, look at him!" 163 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,278 Nobody dressed like that. 164 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,910 Nobody dressed like that and he kept walking in a factory 165 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,037 to do a proper mundane factory job dressed like that. 166 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,876 | used to think, "God, is it Monday? I can't wait." 167 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,037 "I need to see this guy." He was such a mysterious person. 168 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,917 We went walking down the canal, just talking and chatting away 169 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,110 and just pushed me in the canal. 170 00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:19,516 Just completely out of the blue 171 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:21,832 for no reason whatsoever. 172 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,358 Next thing, I'm in the canal 173 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,630 and, like, he helped me get out and everything. 174 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:30,513 I went, "God, you absolute stupid idiot." 175 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:33,996 You know, I was covered in all... the canal's notjust water, 176 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,998 it's like gunge and all sorts, and mud and slime. 177 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,032 l was like, "My God, why did you do that?" 178 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:41,951 And he just went, "I dunno." 179 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,037 I think I tried to push him in, but I couldn't get him in 180 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,753 and then we just fell on the canal bank and ended up kissing. 181 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,199 And I didn't wanna kiss him, 182 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,231 because it wasn't that kind of relationship. 183 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:52,599 So I just went like that... 184 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,433 And he says, "You're a really rubbish kisser." 185 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,471 I said, "It's 'cause I'm trying not to kiss you." 186 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,317 "That's why I'm a rubbish kisser." 187 00:14:00,560 --> 00:14:03,120 And then I just realized there and then, 188 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:06,197 ljust thought, God, lam so in love with this person. 189 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:10,839 That was it, really. 190 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:13,716 ) In every way ) 191 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:18,274 ) Paula, my love ) 192 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,837 ) I couldn't last the day without you ) 193 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,998 - We'd only, like, known each other a few weeks 194 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,674 and he just says, "Should we go and get married on Monday?" 195 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:29,552 So lwent, "Yeah, OK, then." 196 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,752 We went to work as normal 197 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,918 and we'd booked in a wedding at the town hall 198 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:39,556 in Sale for lunch time on our lunch break, and nobody knew. 199 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:55,398 - This is Christopher Sievey, 200 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,157 just singing a few bits of tapes of mine 201 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,749 to register to prove that they are mine. 202 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,152 - We were really short on space living in my mum's spare bedroom, 203 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:26,317 and he always just adapted to wherever he was, 204 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,999 so we kind of pulled the wardrobe out a bit 205 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,076 and there was this space behind the wardrobe. 206 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,714 Like, put all his recording gear in there. 207 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,588 Me dad coming in and noticing all the plugs he had plugged in. 208 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,835 He'd just walk in, unplug the whole lot out. 209 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,950 "You're not using all my electricity." 210 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:13,155 - Kids, never be a pop-writing genius. 211 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,111 - The Freshies were never part of the in-crowd. 212 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,515 - It was like a night out with your mates for weeks and months on end. 213 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,709 - They all had a similar insanity. 214 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,510 That's why I thought they were gonna be successful. 215 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,473 - Tell you what we didn't take too seriously, rehearsing. 216 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:37,673 - Chris just had these classic songs as well, and I thought this guy should be massive. 217 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:38,675 This makes no sense. 218 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,996 Why is he playing the Gallery in Manchester to 100 people? 219 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:43,871 He should be, like, number one in the charts. 220 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:48,229 - You've just got to accept the fact that somebody who was being not recognized 221 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,312 and was still piling out these songs. 222 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,314 - If you don't like the songs of Chris Sievey 223 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:55,799 there's something wrong with you. 224 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,274 - They were just a pop band, they weren't The Clash. 225 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:01,229 They were The Freshies. 226 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:41,429 - Where does the name "The Freshies" come from? 227 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,268 - ltjust meant nothing but it sounded sort of bright and alert. 228 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:46,788 So it stuck. 229 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:51,192 - I think it was him rebelling against all the doomy overcoat brigade 230 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,754 you know, all into Joy Division 231 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,189 and everybody walking around like, "I'm so cool." 232 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:57,593 "I'm all in black." 233 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,315 And, you know, Freshies, totally opposite to all that. 234 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,871 It wasn't cool, nobody thought it was cool 235 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,434 and he did it anyway, and it was great. 236 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,280 - God, there's a lot of dust on this needle. 237 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,714 - You suddenly became aware that he was in absolute control of everything he did. 238 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,637 All the artwork is controlled by Chris, 239 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,636 all the recordings are controlled by Chris. 240 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:40,357 - Design a cover, get them printed up 241 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,238 stick all the labels on, and the covers together 242 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,916 you know, cart 'em around shops, send out copies to DJs 243 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,992 you know, the full works, from start to finish. 244 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,153 You know, there's more satisfaction from doing it that way. 245 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,316 - Well, I'll tell you, Michelangelo, 246 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:57,794 he used to go to the quarry and dig out his lumps of marble 247 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,308 and he used to wheelbarrow them back to base 248 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:02,237 because he didn't trust it to anybody else. 249 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,912 - Tell us some ofthe things that you have done to get the band known. 250 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,919 - Erm, well, basically I do daft things. 251 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:15,559 - Tell us about your escapades, 252 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:19,388 like the secret meeting while you were promoting Yellow Spot at Stiff Records? 253 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:20,990 - While we're in Stiff, 254 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,191 Chris stole some letter-headed paper. 255 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,033 - I then wrote to everyone in the record business 256 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,197 saying they were having a secret meeting and you've been invited. 257 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:34,672 A&R men, managers, record company executives 258 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,439 even Elton John we wrote to, you know. 259 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,233 We sent this letter saying, "There is a secret meeting 260 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,477 for a big signing and you'll have to know what to say." 261 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,750 So the second letter went out and it said 262 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:47,159 "What did you see?" 263 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,509 You have to say, "I see a yellow spot." 264 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:50,835 ) What do you see?) 265 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:51,949 ) I saw a yellow spot...) 266 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:55,078 - We'd, like, jam the phone line for three days. 267 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,072 It was driving them potty. 268 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:01,398 - And all these people turned up at Stiff saying, "I saw a yellow spot." 269 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:05,673 And me and Chris were across the road in the pub watching this. 270 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:07,592 There was people driving up in limousines 271 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,837 people getting out of cabs, people in really flashy clothes. 272 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,717 And the idea was I was going to turn up 273 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,594 with a video cassette and, like, play it to everybody in the business. 274 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:18,636 It turned out they didn't have a video machine 275 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,114 that lifted the one I'd brought anyway 276 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:23,634 so I just got ticked off and sent home. 277 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:26,950 - Look. 278 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:28,632 Look, we're all on the telly. 279 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:29,994 - Isn't it good? 280 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:32,519 - We're all on the telly. 281 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:34,310 Wave. 282 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:36,948 Wave, Stirling. 283 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,395 - Wave, wave, Asher. 284 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:45,511 I remember having a video when nobody else even knew what a video was. 285 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,118 We had no, like, things that everybody else had 286 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:50,798 but we had a video camera. 287 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,510 - Here we are, a quick look at Asher's bedroom 288 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,869 before we paint it and it becomes Mummy's bedroom. 289 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:00,876 Take that match out of your mouth. 290 00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:02,314 Wave to the camera. 291 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:05,429 Where's the Dalek? 292 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,153 Behind you, oh, there it is! 293 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,914 What else is in here? Shall we have a look what else there is? 294 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:14,831 - When we was young, he'd done a Yellow Submarine 295 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:16,711 Sergeant Pepper mural in my bedroom. 296 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,437 - He did that when Stirling, our first baby, was born 297 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,031 and it was for him, really, because it was Sergeant Pepper. 298 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,355 - Well, it's Yellow Submarine, it's child-friendly. 299 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:30,399 I don't think probably the full room was what she had as her intentions. 300 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:32,112 It wasn't really a nursery 301 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,596 but it looked great as a nursery and it was brilliant. 302 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,517 Aw, it was so good. 303 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,110 When Asher came along, they needed to go into the bigger bedroom 304 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:42,912 and we needed to go into the small room. 305 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,633 So, he needed to paint over it. 306 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,791 It must have broken his heart. 307 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:50,271 We should have just kept it like that. 308 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,199 Oh, you live and learn as you get older, you really do. 309 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:22,393 He was a great dad. 310 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,673 He was a really good dad before school. 311 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,518 Once the kids went to school and started learning other stuff 312 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,275 he said to me, "I've lost them now." 313 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:35,515 "Because they're not my kids anymore." 314 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:37,916 "They're learning stuffwith other people." 315 00:22:38,120 --> 00:22:42,318 He loved having them where they were doing everything that he liked doing. 316 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,358 If they didn't wanna go to bed, well, why are you putting them to bed? 317 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:46,913 They don't wanna go to bed. 318 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:48,279 Let them stay up. 319 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,351 - From growing up with it, you think it's normal, 320 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,391 and you go up to other people's houses 321 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,159 and the dads are coming home from work at half five, et cetera, 322 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,031 and that's when you sort of see, "0h, hold on.“ 323 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:58,513 "This is not how everybody else lives." 324 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,798 - Our house was very silly and daft all the time. 325 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:03,515 - Mama... 326 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:04,874 - Hey, she's talking, isn't she? 327 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:09,835 - Mama. 328 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:11,757 - His favorite meal was cheese on toast, 329 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:13,950 but not your usual cheese on toast. 330 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,470 He'd put it under the grill, and it wasn't ready until it was on fire, 331 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:18,748 actually on fire. 332 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:21,434 He'd wait until it was sort of aflame in the middle. 333 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,118 That was his favourite meal ever. 334 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,590 - Because we'd grown up with that, itjust felt normal to us, you know. 335 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:28,073 We didn't know it any other way 336 00:23:28,120 --> 00:23:30,315 and I don't think I would have wanted it any other way. 337 00:23:30,360 --> 00:23:32,999 It was great fun growing up, we had the time of our lives. 338 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:37,235 - He loved them kids and he took them everywhere. 339 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,436 We all went together everywhere as a family. 340 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:40,475 It was brilliant. 341 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,755 - So is it a case of making money 342 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,156 making music, having hit records, what's most important? 343 00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:06,477 - Erm, well, actually we want to get into video now. 344 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,273 We're starting making our own one-hour programmes 345 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:11,719 and they're rubbish at the moment. 346 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,718 But hopefully we'll learn how to make 'em over the years, you know. 347 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:16,950 - You reckon this is the thing ofthe future? 348 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,673 - Yeah, I mean, it's early days but it's gonna go video. 349 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,109 I think it's the same thing like 10 years ago 350 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,199 colour television was new, but everyone's got one now 351 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,277 and I think in 10 years time, everyone'll have a video. 352 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,675 - He personalized them, which was fantastic. 353 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:33,274 - Can you see Stephen sat there watching us? 354 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:34,395 - Yeah. - Can you? 355 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:35,270 - Yeah. 356 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,312 - So he's there in his front room, "Hello, Stephen Doyle." 357 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:43,195 - Ooh, hello, Stephen Doyle over there in Salford. 358 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,639 I hope this isn't scaring you too much, actually. 359 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,997 - He was industrious at promoting himself 360 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,550 to a very small number of people. 361 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:55,028 - Roll titles. 362 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:56,877 - It's not stopping. 363 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,394 - 0h, right, well, let's just... 364 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:00,833 - Don't roll titles! 365 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:01,710 - Freeze frame. 366 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:09,429 - Please just stop for a minute, will ya? 367 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:15,110 - Hiya. 368 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:16,190 - 0h, hiya. 369 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,910 It was quite exciting living with him. 370 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,315 You never knew what was gonna happen. 371 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:40,756 It was like being on a rollercoaster. 372 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,072 You know, one minute you're up there and the next minute you're down there. 373 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:45,314 You just never knew. 374 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,949 Just didn't pay any bills, didn't think he had to pay them. 375 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,072 One day, the kids invited some friends back from school 376 00:25:53,120 --> 00:25:56,476 and sat them all, like, in a circle round the telly 377 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,478 and put the cartoons on, they're all watching cartoons. 378 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:01,910 The bailiffs knocked on the door and walked in 379 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,077 took the telly, walked in, look the telly away 380 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:07,236 out of the living room and out 381 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,268 and the kids were just staring at the blank space where the telly was. 382 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:13,313 - Don't make me laugh. 383 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:17,071 - Chris came home, I said, "They've taken the telly." 384 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:19,554 He went, "Oh, well, doesn't matter, does it?" 385 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:21,113 "We don't need the telly, do we?" 386 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,079 "I'll get us another telly." 387 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:25,671 "I've got this deal on the way." 388 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:27,915 "I've got this, I'm going to invent that." 389 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,599 "I'm going to London. I'm talking to these people." 390 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,912 "We are going to be so rich, you won't know what's hit you." 391 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:40,471 - Thank you, Roy and the TSDs. 392 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:43,398 Now, if there was a prize for the craziest disc of the year 393 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,351 it would be sure to go to the next group. 394 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,789 They're called The Freshies, and the title of this song 395 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,275 I'll have to read it, "I'm In Love With The Girl 396 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,118 On A Certain Manchester Megastore Check-Out Desk." 397 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:54,999 Beats me! The Freshies. 398 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,997 - And then came Virgin Megastore, my first inkling 399 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,076 of how things can go wrong for Chris. 400 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,237 - That was, like, my first single with The Freshies. 401 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,635 He just said, "Come down to me flat," just got in the kitchen, 402 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:07,033 he says, "It goes like this." 403 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:11,791 ) In the biz, you get to meet all the top people) 404 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:17,030 ) Trouble is, they never seem to be the sort we pull..) 405 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,389 - This is the break through, this is the moment. 406 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:20,748 I! played itself. 407 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,717 All we had to do was literally turn up. 408 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:25,678 )'Cause I'm in love He's in love ) 409 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:30,077 ) With the girl on the Manchester Virgin Megastore check-out desk... ) 410 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:31,798 - Chris Sievey and The Freshies 411 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:34,229 with a monster record to be a super hit. 412 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,317 ) Manchester Virgin Megastore check-out desk ) 413 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,074 - The only thing that was right was the song. Everything else was wrong. 414 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,395 - Were they stopped from using the word "Virgin"? 415 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:50,349 - I wasn't allowed to play it anymore because the authority, bless 'em, 416 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:51,833 said that it mentioned a trade name 417 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:53,916 and it was giving an unjustified plug and all this business 418 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:58,078 so Chris went home again and he came up with an alternative title line. 419 00:27:58,120 --> 00:28:01,556 )‘Cause I'm in love with the girl) 420 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:04,194 ) On a certain Manchester Megastore check-out desk) 421 00:28:07,637 --> 00:28:07,680 jmszaEs‘Smisfivmmmsiwi-F; JFSK§E§‘?m52§tfiémz T” pig; 422 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:09,955 - All it meant was, like, rubbing off the vocal track 423 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,479 and just singing that again. 424 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:15,433 So we went back in there and accidentally rubbed off all the guitars. 425 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,199 So we more or less had to start again from scratch. 426 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:19,958 - Then you've got the Top of the Pops thing. 427 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,236 Getting on Top of the Pops at that time made or broke you. 428 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,551 - There was a call that the BBC technicians had gone on strike 429 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:29,953 so Top of the Pops was cancelled. 430 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,110 - So the next time that we was due to go on Top of the Pops 431 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,071 they says, "Yeah, but you've gone down now." 432 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:41,278 - It lost the momentum then. Fate conspired against them unfortunately. 433 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:44,357 - It's all a catalogue of disaster, really. Which is great! 434 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:46,234 - He pushed it and pushed it, 435 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,238 he did everything he could to get it in the charts. 436 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,597 - It just didn't happen, like it doesn't happen 437 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,200 for thousands of very talented people. 438 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,116 - He wrote one tremendous song 439 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,713 that in another parallel universe, could have been a Number One. 440 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:05,591 - What number did it get to? 54, was it? 441 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,437 - Something like that, yeah. - Is that all? 442 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:09,431 - Yeah. ) Megastore check-out desk... ) 443 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:10,959 - He didn't seem to care. 444 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,076 - Do you get very depressed about...? 445 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,270 Have you ever thought, right, I'm gonna pack it all up? 446 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:20,799 - No, it doesn't bother me anymore. 447 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:21,989 - He was never thwarted. 448 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:24,829 - Ooh! 449 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:27,070 Nearly! 450 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,316 - 27 consecutive flops. 451 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,313 - It's like pulling teeth. But all of them at one go. 452 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:41,118 - I think he was happy with the product he was bringing out 453 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:45,359 because it was him, anything else is not Chris. 454 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:50,760 - Always had the next idea in his head. 455 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,316 He did work really hard at trying to make things on his own. 456 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,514 - I also, like, have a solo career as well, 457 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:14,710 purely because the others have said, "Eh?" 458 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:16,792 You know, "We're not doing that." 459 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,953 ) Come clean what you know, everybody wanna go) 460 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:21,433 ) The Reds don't stand a bet ) 461 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:23,750 - So I've done quite a few projects which are... 462 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:27,516 you know, they're always absolutely, you know, failures 463 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:29,676 but they just satisfy, again, a need 464 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:31,597 to want to do something else, you know. 465 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:33,551 I think he was trying to be edgy. 466 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,272 He's a tryer though, isn't he? 467 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,234 - But then of course he moves on to new projects and things. 468 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,238 That's on the back burner, let's move forward and move on with other stuff. 469 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:49,672 - A song about seat-belts... 470 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:51,314 on planes. 471 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:56,238 - | just saw it in Sounds magazine and it says pop band "Freshies" split up. 472 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:02,233 - Only Chris would come back with The Freshies, only it wasn't. Only Chris! 473 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:06,029 ) Who said it couldn't be done? ) 474 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,235 ) We say it can and here's the fun...) 475 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,515 - Trying to be Dollar, do you remember Dollar? 476 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:13,669 -Tight Fit. 477 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:14,909 - A bit Abba-ish. 478 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:16,792 ) Fasten your seatbelts ) 479 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:17,710 )Ooh-ooh... ) 480 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:19,836 - I said, "It's just like a Eurovision song." 481 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:23,475 And he went, “That's it, I'm gonna enter the Eurovision song contest with it," 482 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:24,430 and he did, 483 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:25,799 and it didn't get through. 484 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,440 ) We're doing if, we're doing if, we're doing it) 485 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:29,515 ) We're doing it!) 486 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:34,518 - Well, I thought I'd done quite well 487 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,711 keeping up to date with these home computers and video games 488 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:40,228 that any three-year-old can master these days. 489 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:43,989 But there's a new development nowadays that really makes the mind boggle. 490 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:46,599 It looks like a normal record. 491 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:48,836 - He just went out into Altrincham one day 492 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,235 and he was supposed to be paying the telephone bill. 493 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,475 - Yeah, what happened was I went out to pay me phone bill 494 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,399 and I saw one of these in a shop window, and I came back with this instead 495 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:58,589 which didn't please my wife. 496 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,591 - "I'm gonna make a computer game." 497 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,632 I went, "You're gonna make a computer game, how are you gonna do that?" 498 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:07,236 - It gave me three months uninterrupted programming without the phone going. 499 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:09,555 - So they cut off your phone? - Yeah, they cut my phone off, 500 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,909 but it gave me three months to learn to use the thing. 501 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,992 - And indeed, the A-side is a very pleasant song 502 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:17,395 called Camouflage by Chris Sievey. 503 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:20,318 But play the B-side and it's a series of beeps and blips 504 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:21,588 that make no sense at all. 505 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:24,512 - Certainly not quite so smooth on the ears, Is it? 506 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,393 Now, Chris Sievey is the musician behind that racket, 507 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:29,550 Can you tell me what on Earth it is? 508 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:34,359 - Erm, right, well, as a single, the A-side is a conventional record 509 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:40,630 the B-side, though, contains three computer programmes for the 2X81 computer. 510 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:45,357 Now the idea is, you buy the record and you load the B-side 511 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:47,312 into your home computer. 512 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,274 It's just digital information which the computer recognizes. 513 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:53,914 Then what you do is you turn the record over 514 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:59,080 and play the A-side and you get a visual display with lyrics. 515 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,038 It's like a sort of cheap video. 516 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:08,799 - It was like the start of computer games on disc, on vinyl! 517 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,680 ) | find it hard picking up) 518 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,358 ) On the things you do ) 519 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:16,072 MUSIC PLAYS 520 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:18,917 ) It doesn't do it for me ) 521 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:20,757 ) But it's no difference to you ) 522 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:22,916 - I don't know how long it would have worked for 523 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:25,918 because, you know, it would have degraded pretty fast, I think 524 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,554 because it's not optical, it was a needle, you know. 525 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:33,917 - People can buy it purely as software or as music 526 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,349 but hopefully get involved with the two together. 527 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:38,670 ) What a world I'm up against ) 528 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:40,233 ) Can you feel that?) 529 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:42,396 - | just wonder whether it's worth all the trouble? 530 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:47,070 - Really, it's beyond me. If you're over 15, forget computers. 531 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:50,238 - I can understand now how my parents felt about 20 years ago. 532 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:52,589 Chris, thanks very much, and good luck to you, thank you. 533 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:56,514 - Sievey, Sievey, Sievey, Sievey! 534 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:02,229 )Oh, Frankie, Frankie, Frankie, Frankie, Frankie) 535 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:04,157 ) Frankie Sidebottom ) 536 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,634 ) Oh, Frankie, Frankie...) 537 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:09,553 - I can remember us going to a fancy-dress party 538 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,952 and he made me a huge pair of paper-mache boobs to wear 539 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:16,237 and he made a paper-mache head, and it was Frank. 540 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:18,789 He called it John Smith at the time. 541 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:20,274 The head was quite popular. 542 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,312 I don't think my boobs quite took off the same way, but... 543 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,356 Anyway, yeah. 544 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,198 And then he thought... I think he just came up with the idea. 545 00:34:28,240 --> 00:34:32,711 "I'm gonna do this," and he called it Frank Sidebottom, 546 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:35,552 - Hello? - Er... 547 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,479 Hello, er, could I speak to Chris Sievey, please? 548 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:40,396 - To who? 549 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:42,958 To who? - Chris Sievey. 550 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:44,911 Could I speak to him, please? - You are speaking to him. 551 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:46,439 - What? - You are speaking to him. 552 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:47,754 - What? Oh. 553 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:49,233 - This is. - Pardon? 554 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:51,316 - This is Chris Sievey! - Pardon? 555 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:52,429 - This is Chris Sievey! 556 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:55,836 - 0h, hello, Chris, er... 557 00:34:56,160 --> 00:35:00,517 l was wondering, er... if you're playing any gigs tonight 558 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:03,279 because I'll get me bass guitar 559 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:07,071 and I'll come along and have a jam if you want. 560 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:10,277 - I don't think Frank was an act of desperation. 561 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:13,278 I think Frank was a complete accident. 562 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:18,873 Frank was supposed to be a minor character as part ofThe Freshies' video output 563 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:22,629 and Frank was just a comedy element just to pull this whole thing together 564 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,113 to get a complete video. 565 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,197 He thought what The Freshies need is an obsessive fan. 566 00:35:27,240 --> 00:35:31,153 - ) I'm in love with the girl on the Manchester megastore ) 567 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,873 )Check-out desk in Manchester) 568 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:37,908 - We're playing at Fagins on 14th of May 569 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:42,238 which is Monday night, and there'll be some other local bands on as well 570 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:46,558 and also Frank, who is our number one fan 571 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:48,158 and has been following us around for years. 572 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,990 - Sunday night, that's where I'll be with The Freshies. 573 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:52,995 Here I come. 574 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:54,758 - Frank was obsessed with Chris 575 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:57,473 and suddenly appeared like some kind of weird stalker. 576 00:35:57,520 --> 00:35:59,511 - Well, here we are, just in time. 577 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:01,278 Sounds like support band's still on. 578 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:04,198 They sound rubbish, absolutely. 579 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:11,354 Oh, no! 0h, blimey, I've been missing them! 580 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:12,355 They're on already. 581 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:16,194 - It was around December 1962, Chris did Frank for the first time 582 00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:17,559 as his own support act. 583 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:21,553 - | only remember him being there, and people being shocked by this bloke 584 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,433 with a big paper-mache head, as l was. 585 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:29,671 - All those years writing songs and then he ends up being taken over by Frank. 586 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:33,274 - Eh, what? - Hello, Chrissy, I'm Frank. 587 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:34,992 - What do you mean, you're Frank, eh? 588 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:37,634 - Oh, who's rattled your cage then? 589 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:39,477 - Look, I'm getting sick of you, mate. 590 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:42,069 - That hurt! 591 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:44,680 Blimey, he's hit me. 592 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:49,552 - He just grew into a monster. 593 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:52,473 I think even Chris thought Frank wouldn't get that big 594 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:54,556 but he just took over everything. 595 00:36:55,240 --> 00:36:58,437 - You're such a trendsetter, Frank. Do you think the world is ready for you? 596 00:36:58,680 --> 00:36:59,556 - Erm... 597 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:01,758 Oh, blimey, I nearly fell off then. 598 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,709 - In his mind, Frank Sidebottom was a superstar, 599 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:08,115 and the sooner the world knew the better. 600 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:10,476 Starting offwith the people of Timperley. 601 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:13,916 - Forget Las Vegas, forget Paris, 602 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:15,592 New York and Milan. 603 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:17,952 We are in Timperley. 604 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:22,116 - I think it was the name, Timperley. 605 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,754 It gave this image of this nice, happy place 606 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:28,588 where some guy made music in his garden shed that went out to the world. 607 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:32,992 ) Oh, when you're feeling lowdown and there's nowhere to go) 608 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:36,397 ) Why not visit Timperley?) 609 00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:39,955 )'Cause when you get to Timperley ) 610 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:41,752 ) You'll start to feel fine ) 611 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:46,078 ) And then you'll want to be in Timperley all the time ) 612 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:51,228 - His age was always 35, so he was really a very overgrown child 613 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:53,430 still living at home with his mum. 614 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,355 - If he was in a big conurbation like Manchester, 615 00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,516 there are too many weirdos in Manchester. 616 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:00,949 Whereas in Timperley, there's only one Frank. 617 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,631 - A lot of people, they just saw someone 618 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:05,908 with a paper-mache head on, 619 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,110 and just thought, you know, leave him to it. 620 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:10,237 - Have you seen him walking about in Timperley? 621 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:11,872 - l have seen him, yeah. - Oh, have you? 622 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:13,148 - Yeah. - Oh, very good. 623 00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:17,670 You're making me go bright red now actually. 624 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:19,279 - Can I just try one of them? 625 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,117 - Is that alright? - No, no, no, no. 626 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:23,230 I think it was Salvador Dali who said that 627 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:28,274 to become universal you must first become ultra-local. 628 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:30,234 - Look at that thing! 629 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:32,509 Look at that thing! 630 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:35,192 Hey, look at them things! 631 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:37,956 Look at all them things there. 632 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:40,588 That's unbelievable, all that, isn't it? 633 00:38:41,240 --> 00:38:44,869 You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it all for yourself, would you? 634 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:47,076 - It's like having a peacock on your lawn. 635 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:49,788 You just chuck him some bird seed every now and again 636 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:51,788 and clean up the shit. 637 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:54,952 - That way is the Timperley Triangle 638 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:57,151 which I'll tell you about some other time 639 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:58,952 but it's a very dangerous place. 640 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:01,116 I've been in it once and I came out 641 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:02,309 and I had no trousers on. 642 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:04,351 - It was falling between somebody 643 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:06,994 who's intentionally doing things badly 644 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,634 and somebody who was actually doing things badly 645 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:11,359 'cause they'd lost it. 646 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:18,438 - The time is just right now for Frank 647 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:20,198 so I shall be conquering the world. 648 00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:22,231 But me mum says I'm not going on any world tour 649 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:23,633 till I've tidied me bedroom. 650 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:25,315 - Rather strange actually. 651 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:27,351 It does kind of remind me of a guy who was in love with a girl 652 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:30,233 who worked in the Virgin Megastore, but maybe I got it wrong. 653 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:31,594 - Little Frank! 654 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:33,193 Little Frank! - Shh! 655 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:34,833 Little Frank! - First of all... 656 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:36,279 - Little Frank! 657 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:40,074 - And then suddenly Frank has got a dummy, 658 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,676 Little Frank, and it's a stroke of genius. 659 00:39:44,240 --> 00:39:49,030 - It is of course, the one and the only Little Frank. 660 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:58,032 For those of you who've not seen him 661 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:04,713 Little Frank is me ventriloquist puppet, so watch my lips very carefully. 662 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:07,713 - The only ventriloquist act that I've ever come across 663 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:09,916 where neither ofthem's mouths moved. 664 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:12,595 - Hello, Little Frank, how are you? 665 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:15,759 Oh, I do his voice, don't I? 666 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:18,991 Hello, Little Frank, how are you? 667 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:20,639 - Oh, I'm very well, actually. 668 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,838 - A dummy venting another dummy, it's classic. 669 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,472 - Little Frank is a puppet, but is he sentient? 670 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:36,316 I don't know, but then Frank himself is almost a puppet. 671 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:47,115 - He would be talking to him, 672 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:49,276 and he would be making it difficult for Frank 673 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:51,710 and contradicting Frank, and being rude to Frank. 674 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:53,597 He's like an unruly child, 675 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:56,196 and yet Frank was controlling Little Frank. 676 00:40:56,240 --> 00:41:00,074 It was a ventriloquist dummy, but with seemingly its own existence 677 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:02,839 which logic should prevent from happening. 678 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:04,792 That was the beauty of Frank's world. 679 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:06,836 It was founded on illogicality. 680 00:41:08,040 --> 00:41:10,918 - I think there was some genuine jealousy 681 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:13,315 and resentment of Little Frank from Big Frank. 682 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:16,799 He hated almost upstaging himself. 683 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:19,117 We'd do shows and I'd go, "Have you got Little Frank?" 684 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:20,832 He'd go, Little Frank's not coming to this one. 685 00:41:25,160 --> 00:41:27,515 - He obviously used to be fairly strict with Little Frank. 686 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:29,079 - You're on a final warning. 687 00:41:29,120 --> 00:41:33,113 If you ruin anything I ever do again then I'm getting rid of you. 688 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:35,436 - Little Frank obviously played up to that. 689 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:37,433 Aw! 690 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:40,954 - Don't be swept along, he's only cardboard. 691 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:42,872 - It was one of his better gags, that one. 692 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:45,192 - What do you think of that, Little Frank? 693 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:46,998 - Oh, it's brilliant actually. 694 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:51,068 - Right, anyway, we want some tickets to go and see American football. 695 00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:52,519 So can we have them pronto? 696 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:03,591 - One of the first gigs I played was in Chorley. 697 00:42:04,120 --> 00:42:07,715 The audience went wild, banging on the dressing room door. 698 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:10,268 If you went in the toilet, they were hanging on the toilet door. 699 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:12,789 "Where's Frank, where's Frank, where's he gone?" 700 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,918 You know, it was total Frank-a-mania. 701 00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:19,676 Some of the gigs, people are shouting "fuck off" and all this 702 00:42:19,720 --> 00:42:22,632 you know, so it was dead varied, you know. 703 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:27,674 What Chris wanted to do was create something 704 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:31,396 that entertained people, and blow their minds, 705 00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:34,996 and it blew their minds, and it blew my mind as well 706 00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:36,835 and it still does. 707 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:39,357 If I think about it too hard. 708 00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:45,709 - So we started doing those gigs and travelling about, 709 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:49,196 and really it was just an excuse to get out the house, 710 00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:50,713 dress up, get pissed. 711 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:54,670 | just remember those days being just full of fun 712 00:42:54,720 --> 00:42:56,915 and laughter, because there was an endless supply 713 00:42:56,960 --> 00:42:59,349 of stupid, but quite clever ideas. 714 00:42:59,720 --> 00:43:03,872 - OK, a one, two, a one, two, three, four. 715 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:09,556 Oh, blimey, where's me band gone? 716 00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:14,233 - There's no kind of artistic merit, and you're not going to get any groupies 717 00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:17,357 so we had to choose people who didn't care about kudos. 718 00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:19,318 But that kind of underestimates me. 719 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:22,517 Playing in front of 300 people with Frank 720 00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:25,353 lfelt was like unimaginable kudos. 721 00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:33,599 - Some of those gigs, there was people fainting at the front ofthe crowd 722 00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:34,516 it was unbelievable. 723 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:37,996 Unless you were there at the time to see it, people being dragged off, good times. 724 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:46,595 - It felt like you were breaking the rules in some way. 725 00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:49,595 How could you get away with playing this, 726 00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:53,235 we won't call it shit, but this, like, badly-played, 727 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:57,193 barely-rehearsed, bad versions of other people's songs 728 00:43:57,320 --> 00:43:58,719 and people loving it. 729 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:13,717 ) Of the world.) 730 00:44:13,760 --> 00:44:15,159 - When you got in the van with Chris, 731 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:17,794 you were going to enter a slightly altered reality 732 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:20,195 and one time we'd been talking about what you could do in the van 733 00:44:20,240 --> 00:44:23,198 to while away the time, and he'd come up with this idea of, like 734 00:44:23,240 --> 00:44:24,673 well, you could have travel snooker 735 00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:26,677 and then they picked me up in the van. 736 00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:31,555 Chris had a half-size snooker table over the back of the seats in the minibus 737 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:33,591 and so you were playing snooker in the van. 738 00:44:33,760 --> 00:44:36,752 Which you can't do, because any time he puts the brake on 739 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,030 or changes... all the balls go all over the place. 740 00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:42,476 Apart from the fact you couldn't really play snooker, you couldn't sit down. 741 00:44:42,520 --> 00:44:44,431 But it was a joke, so it was worth doing. 742 00:44:54,160 --> 00:44:58,199 - Another really fantastic gig was at Wigan Bus Depot. 743 00:44:58,600 --> 00:45:01,114 It's only a tiny stage one foot offthe ground 744 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:03,549 but people were leaping off, stage diving. 745 00:45:03,680 --> 00:45:06,148 He was show-biz royalty that night. 746 00:45:21,280 --> 00:45:23,510 Has it kind of damaged you in any way? 747 00:45:23,600 --> 00:45:24,828 - Yes, yes, it has damaged me. 748 00:45:33,720 --> 00:45:36,951 - I don't think we'll ever experience that again, ever. 749 00:45:38,040 --> 00:45:39,553 - And on that sombre note... 750 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:41,437 )Oh...) 751 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:53,515 - Frank! 752 00:45:53,560 --> 00:45:54,470 Frank! 753 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:03,239 - No, shake it a bit! 754 00:46:05,240 --> 00:46:06,150 Shake it. 755 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:07,315 Come here, I'll do it. 756 00:46:11,560 --> 00:46:12,595 - We love you, Frank. 757 00:46:14,120 --> 00:46:15,678 - Shut the door, Tina. Is that it? 758 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:17,712 - Right, we're clear now, thank you. 759 00:46:18,360 --> 00:46:20,191 In the good old days of GPO 760 00:46:20,240 --> 00:46:25,155 | used to send out a thing called Com, which stood for communication. 761 00:46:25,440 --> 00:46:26,589 - They're actually works of art. 762 00:46:26,640 --> 00:46:30,679 So much attention to detail in there, and so much love and craft and effort. 763 00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:33,513 I suppose that was the great thing about the world of Frank. 764 00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:37,439 It was just a document of his world at that point, you know, what he'd been up to. 765 00:46:37,680 --> 00:46:39,989 Absolutely nonsense really, but they were great. 766 00:46:40,320 --> 00:46:41,673 You know, this was pre-lnternet. 767 00:46:41,720 --> 00:46:44,075 You had to write to people, and if you'd ordered some badges 768 00:46:44,120 --> 00:46:46,588 you'd end up getting a handwritten letter from him. 769 00:46:46,680 --> 00:46:50,195 ltjust meant so much that you got this handwritten note 770 00:46:50,240 --> 00:46:52,037 from him all in lower case. 771 00:46:52,080 --> 00:46:55,595 It was absolutely fantastic, that level of communication 772 00:46:55,640 --> 00:46:57,551 and attention that he put into it. 773 00:46:57,680 --> 00:46:59,591 - Oh, Little Frank had a girlfriend, didn't he? 774 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:01,269 That was marvellous. 775 00:47:02,040 --> 00:47:03,473 - It's Little Denise! 776 00:47:09,400 --> 00:47:11,311 Hello, Little Denise. 777 00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:13,109 How are you? 778 00:47:14,240 --> 00:47:16,435 - Her head went missing, nothing to do with me, 779 00:47:16,480 --> 00:47:20,996 and so he'd just bring the cardboard body out, but still do the voice, 780 00:47:21,120 --> 00:47:22,633 even though she never had her head. 781 00:47:36,520 --> 00:47:39,512 Oh, here she is, Little Denise. 782 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:51,274 Two puppets alone in Timperley, they were only cardboard 783 00:47:51,760 --> 00:47:55,992 but they were so much in love with each other. 784 00:47:56,560 --> 00:47:59,836 You can see it in their cardboard eyes. 785 00:48:01,840 --> 00:48:06,152 And they wait for a bus 'cause they are in love 786 00:48:06,680 --> 00:48:09,399 and the bus goes straight by, brilliant! 787 00:48:32,120 --> 00:48:33,553 - Wherever your head is, Little Denise 788 00:48:33,600 --> 00:48:34,919 I hope you get it back soon. 789 00:48:44,640 --> 00:48:47,313 ...with Little Frank and Little Denise with no head, 790 00:48:50,640 --> 00:48:51,993 - Hiya, good morning, welcome to the programme. 791 00:48:52,040 --> 00:48:54,270 I nearly missed the start of the show today 'cause my watch is actually wrong 792 00:48:54,320 --> 00:48:56,231 it still says 20 past nine. Welcome to the programme 793 00:48:56,280 --> 00:48:59,590 Christmas is nearly upon us and Christmas means... 794 00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:01,119 Well, for me it means chocolate money. 795 00:49:01,160 --> 00:49:03,628 - You know, he did sort of hit quite a high point where he was quite famous 796 00:49:03,680 --> 00:49:05,796 and he was on all the Saturday morning kids shows - 797 00:49:05,880 --> 00:49:07,950 it was good money for him and easy. 798 00:49:08,280 --> 00:49:12,432 - Now when | travel, I like to play Subbuteo. 799 00:49:12,920 --> 00:49:16,230 - I didn't realize when l was watching him on kids TV 800 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:18,590 that he was, like, a grown-up's entertainer. 801 00:49:19,200 --> 00:49:23,557 Performers you get on Saturday morning kids TV that were trying to be all wacky 802 00:49:23,600 --> 00:49:27,070 he just seemed like this sort of mental bloke. 803 00:49:27,400 --> 00:49:29,709 Right, this looks safe as houses, just... 804 00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:33,960 Eh, don't you think I look absolutely ace, eh? 805 00:49:34,120 --> 00:49:35,348 - What are you supposed to be? 806 00:49:36,080 --> 00:49:38,958 - A hot-air balloon of course. - Is that really a balloon? 807 00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:40,069 - Eh, don't pull that! 808 00:49:43,400 --> 00:49:45,118 Frank Sidebottom here actually, 809 00:49:45,160 --> 00:49:48,948 finding out who's got a crush on who, and who do they fancy? 810 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:50,513 Who do you fancy, Little Frank? 811 00:49:50,840 --> 00:49:52,432 - I like cheese on toast. 812 00:49:52,520 --> 00:49:54,954 - Stupid, you can't fancy cheese on toast. 813 00:49:55,040 --> 00:49:57,190 - He saw them sort of Saturday morning kids TVs 814 00:49:57,240 --> 00:50:00,630 as a sort of stepping stone to get a bit of recognition to go onto do something 815 00:50:00,680 --> 00:50:03,114 what he wanted to do, rather than just sort of being a guest 816 00:50:03,160 --> 00:50:04,434 on someone else's show. 817 00:50:04,640 --> 00:50:06,790 - Don't forget he was trying to get Frank launched 818 00:50:06,920 --> 00:50:10,230 and it was a great launching platform and everything, nationwide TV. 819 00:50:10,280 --> 00:50:13,033 So I think at the time it suited Chris. 820 00:50:13,280 --> 00:50:15,475 Well, it suited Frank and suited Chris. 821 00:50:15,640 --> 00:50:17,551 - Me dad was never one for rehearsing 822 00:50:17,640 --> 00:50:19,790 he just liked to do things on the spur of the moment. 823 00:50:19,840 --> 00:50:22,149 I think he would have rather if he could have just turned up 824 00:50:22,200 --> 00:50:25,875 and said, you know, you do your thing, but they sort of tried to script him a bit, 825 00:50:25,920 --> 00:50:28,912 which, when he's scripted, he's never the same 826 00:50:28,960 --> 00:50:31,235 so he couldn't express Frank as he wanted to. 827 00:50:31,360 --> 00:50:34,113 - What he intented to do, every time, was to come out and play 828 00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:37,158 and that scared the shit out of people, especially TV. 829 00:50:37,560 --> 00:50:40,757 - The soundman, he warned me, he says don't dip this in the wax like that 830 00:50:40,800 --> 00:50:42,438 you know, because that's... 831 00:50:42,520 --> 00:50:46,911 But what I have got is a brilliant, fantastic puppet 832 00:50:47,040 --> 00:50:49,474 I can dip in any old wax I like. 833 00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:52,556 Right? 834 00:50:53,360 --> 00:50:58,434 And by the magic of the cathode ray tube or something... 835 00:51:05,480 --> 00:51:07,357 And I'll burn the microphone if I want 836 00:51:07,680 --> 00:51:09,113 and I'll put my foot in there. 837 00:51:09,200 --> 00:51:13,352 - Everybody in TV wanted to draft him in and try and borrow from what he did. 838 00:51:14,320 --> 00:51:17,710 But the fact is he was a master of creating his own world. 839 00:51:17,880 --> 00:51:22,112 - I mean, we're doing this now from the dead center of Manchester 840 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:23,838 which is this spot. Well, we're not... 841 00:51:23,960 --> 00:51:26,076 I'll show you where the center is, right? 842 00:51:26,480 --> 00:51:28,675 The dead center is just here. 843 00:51:29,840 --> 00:51:31,751 Right, that's the dead center there. 844 00:51:32,040 --> 00:51:35,555 - He was his own being. He was his own comedy universe. 845 00:51:38,400 --> 00:51:40,470 - Hello, I've come to sell me mum's house. 846 00:51:40,520 --> 00:51:41,999 - You've come to the right place, sir. 847 00:51:42,080 --> 00:51:44,958 Last year, SWEAG sold over £80 million worth of property. 848 00:51:45,000 --> 00:51:46,877 - Crikey, all this from one office? 849 00:51:47,040 --> 00:51:50,237 - And 29 others in South and East Devon. - That's, er, 30. 850 00:51:50,280 --> 00:51:51,872 Do I pay for all of them? 851 00:51:51,920 --> 00:51:54,434 - No, for a sole agency rate, you'll be with us all. 852 00:51:54,520 --> 00:51:58,593 - If sir's mum wants another home, we have thousands to sell. 853 00:51:58,800 --> 00:52:00,279 - And we can arrange a mortgage. 854 00:52:00,560 --> 00:52:02,118 - That's fantastic! 855 00:52:02,160 --> 00:52:03,798 Blimey, who are you? 856 00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:07,552 - SWEAG, so good we're almost big-headed. 857 00:52:12,800 --> 00:52:14,358 - Did you know I did Wembley? 858 00:52:15,760 --> 00:52:18,513 Look at that, a red pass for Bros. 859 00:52:20,400 --> 00:52:22,277 - He had to announce Bros coming on 860 00:52:22,320 --> 00:52:23,799 and it didn't go down well. 861 00:52:23,920 --> 00:52:26,354 - I got booed by 55,000 people. 862 00:52:31,040 --> 00:52:32,632 Do you know what that feels like? 863 00:52:35,760 --> 00:52:37,591 I started off all right, you know. 864 00:52:37,960 --> 00:52:41,350 "Hands up if you like Matt", yeah, they all went. 865 00:52:42,280 --> 00:52:45,670 "Hands up if you like Luke," yeah, they all went. 866 00:52:46,760 --> 00:52:49,911 "Hands up if you like Bros," yeah, they all went. 867 00:52:50,760 --> 00:52:52,796 Hands up if you've got Betamax. 868 00:52:56,160 --> 00:52:58,594 Total silence in Wembley stadium. 869 00:53:00,360 --> 00:53:02,351 And then it raised its ugly head. 870 00:53:02,720 --> 00:53:06,315 "We want Bros, we want Bros..." 871 00:53:06,800 --> 00:53:08,597 and that was just Little Frank. 872 00:53:10,640 --> 00:53:13,154 - He didn't have a lot of fine moments, did he? 873 00:53:13,600 --> 00:53:16,910 - Frank is a star in his own comic in Oink? 874 00:53:16,960 --> 00:53:18,996 - Yes, that's right. - And that's been running for some time 875 00:53:19,040 --> 00:53:20,758 and made Frank very famous I think. 876 00:53:20,800 --> 00:53:22,313 - Oh, yes, it has, actually. 877 00:53:22,360 --> 00:53:25,397 - I seen his work as Frank, which I loved, 878 00:53:25,480 --> 00:53:28,278 and also I knew that the style of his work 879 00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:31,118 would fit perfectly into this going against conformity 880 00:53:31,160 --> 00:53:34,550 of traditional comics, because no other comic would have him but Oink. 881 00:53:34,600 --> 00:53:35,555 He was at home there. 882 00:53:36,160 --> 00:53:38,720 - Well, I remember he did a cover for the "Oink!" comic, 883 00:53:38,760 --> 00:53:42,309 Frank was running to school as a child, the background was a brick wall, 884 00:53:42,360 --> 00:53:45,352 and he'd spent more time dotting each individual brick 885 00:53:45,400 --> 00:53:49,154 and putting details into the brick that probably wouldn't have even been seen 886 00:53:49,200 --> 00:53:51,350 'cause of the banners for the logo for "Oink!" 887 00:53:51,720 --> 00:53:53,517 - He'd be late for deadlines. 888 00:53:53,560 --> 00:53:55,790 Four or five hours later, we look at our watches, 889 00:53:55,840 --> 00:53:58,115 and Chris would come in and say, "Hiya lads, here it is," 890 00:53:58,160 --> 00:53:59,309 and it'd be worth waiting for. 891 00:53:59,720 --> 00:54:02,678 - He'd be up all night doing a page of artwork. 892 00:54:02,760 --> 00:54:06,196 I said "Chris, we get 85 pound plus VAT, 893 00:54:06,280 --> 00:54:07,713 just knock something off." 894 00:54:07,800 --> 00:54:09,631 Money never entered into his head. 895 00:54:09,680 --> 00:54:11,272 Well, that's obvious from the work. 896 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:14,557 Clearly this was a man on a mission of rank insanity. 897 00:54:23,080 --> 00:54:25,230 - It was a really stupid thing to do, 898 00:54:25,280 --> 00:54:28,158 to put your home number out for everybody to ring it. 899 00:54:28,240 --> 00:54:29,832 It just completely took over. 900 00:54:30,200 --> 00:54:31,997 Couldn't use the phone anymore. 901 00:54:34,160 --> 00:54:38,073 ) I said Timperley 969-1909 ) 902 00:54:38,480 --> 00:54:41,233 - Now that used to be my phone number. 903 00:54:42,400 --> 00:54:45,358 And Little Frank did warn me, didn't you? 904 00:54:45,720 --> 00:54:47,551 - Oh, yes, I warned you. 905 00:54:48,600 --> 00:54:52,309 - He would pick up and he'd pick up as Chris and then go, 906 00:54:52,360 --> 00:54:54,396 he'd say, "I'll just go and get Frank." 907 00:54:54,440 --> 00:54:57,159 Obviously wander down the hall, come back, 908 00:54:57,200 --> 00:54:59,111 come back as Frank, which is fantastic. 909 00:54:59,280 --> 00:55:02,113 - He said, people are gonna ring you up. 910 00:55:04,360 --> 00:55:08,319 I said they... people haven't... they won't be bothered ringing! 911 00:55:08,640 --> 00:55:10,790 Our phone never stopped. 912 00:55:10,920 --> 00:55:14,151 - The phone would be constantly ringing in the background. 913 00:55:14,480 --> 00:55:16,596 Hundreds every day, all day long, 914 00:55:16,640 --> 00:55:18,312 and all through the night as well. 915 00:55:18,360 --> 00:55:20,920 In the end, we just didn't even answer the phone ever. 916 00:55:20,960 --> 00:55:23,030 We used to let the answering machine answer it. 917 00:55:23,080 --> 00:55:26,789 ) I said Timperley 969-1909 ) 918 00:55:28,080 --> 00:55:30,674 - Hello Frank, I think you're really fantastic. 919 00:55:30,720 --> 00:55:32,119 Marvellous. Bye. 920 00:55:35,080 --> 00:55:36,991 - What a load of rubbish. 921 00:55:40,200 --> 00:55:42,316 - No message, ljust liked your answering machine. 922 00:55:42,360 --> 00:55:43,190 Bye. 923 00:55:45,800 --> 00:55:48,678 - Hello, Frank, this is Caroline. 924 00:55:48,720 --> 00:55:52,269 Now, I've heard all about your papier-mache cock. 925 00:55:52,600 --> 00:55:55,512 I'd like to sample some of that cock. 926 00:55:55,800 --> 00:55:59,634 How about meeting me under the clock, cock? 927 00:55:59,680 --> 00:56:02,513 Bring your papier-mache cock along with you. 928 00:56:02,600 --> 00:56:05,034 Even better would be the real thing. 929 00:56:05,160 --> 00:56:07,196 Thanks, cock, bye. 930 00:56:08,240 --> 00:56:13,314 ) Oh, yes, but please don't phone me up) 931 00:56:14,160 --> 00:56:17,789 ) Because me mum goes absolutely bonkers) 932 00:56:17,920 --> 00:56:23,119 ) She goes up the wall and across the fantastic ceiling ) 933 00:56:23,640 --> 00:56:25,073 )Oh, yes) 934 00:56:25,160 --> 00:56:28,072 - Do you see yourself as the king of rock and roll? 935 00:56:28,120 --> 00:56:29,519 - King of football, as well. 936 00:56:30,120 --> 00:56:32,554 - Timperley Bigshorts FC. 937 00:56:32,920 --> 00:56:35,309 "In Bigshorts we trust," was their motto. 938 00:56:35,800 --> 00:56:38,598 This is the official club records, volume one. 939 00:56:40,040 --> 00:56:43,589 Here we have Frank Sidebottom, good and fantastic for the game, 940 00:56:43,800 --> 00:56:45,074 with Little Frank, 941 00:56:45,120 --> 00:56:46,553 who is bobbins for the game. 942 00:56:46,680 --> 00:56:48,910 - He says, "Oh, we're going to have big shorts." 943 00:56:48,960 --> 00:56:52,316 You can't wear big shorts, nobody wears big shorts. 944 00:56:52,560 --> 00:56:55,358 - So we had to go to a bespoke tailor 945 00:56:55,400 --> 00:56:58,915 and get 15 pairs of big shorts that went down to the knee. 946 00:56:59,080 --> 00:57:01,548 - The players turn up like, "I'm not wearing them." 947 00:57:01,600 --> 00:57:02,555 "It's ridiculous!" 948 00:57:02,600 --> 00:57:04,158 "Well, if you're not wearing them, you're not playing." 949 00:57:04,240 --> 00:57:07,277 - Division Three of the Manchester Publicity Sunday League, 950 00:57:07,320 --> 00:57:11,074 the chairman, boss and manager is Frank Sidebottom. 951 00:57:11,360 --> 00:57:15,638 The most important thing is who's got the halftime fireworks? 952 00:57:16,400 --> 00:57:18,709 - Nice photo of the Bigshorts there, 953 00:57:18,800 --> 00:57:20,233 the pre-war team. 954 00:57:21,720 --> 00:57:23,676 - He made a programme every week, 955 00:57:23,720 --> 00:57:25,756 team talk's in there, the manager's notes. 956 00:57:25,800 --> 00:57:28,473 It was a Sunday league team, but as far as he was concerned, 957 00:57:28,520 --> 00:57:30,670 they might as well have been in the Premier League. 958 00:57:30,720 --> 00:57:33,871 He wanted to make it as professionally amateur as he could do. 959 00:57:34,000 --> 00:57:35,638 - Right, listen, Steve, I know we're playing 960 00:57:35,680 --> 00:57:38,319 at the moment and I could be distracting you, 961 00:57:38,360 --> 00:57:40,271 but do you think we're confident of winning here? 962 00:57:40,320 --> 00:57:43,517 - Er, well, with five minutes to go, 6-3, I think we might... 963 00:57:43,560 --> 00:57:44,390 - Oh, look out! 964 00:57:44,440 --> 00:57:45,270 Here they come! 965 00:57:45,360 --> 00:57:47,351 - He played a few games with the head on, 966 00:57:47,400 --> 00:57:49,038 which didn't go down too well. 967 00:57:49,080 --> 00:57:51,799 - We were playing against the White Swan 968 00:57:51,840 --> 00:57:55,037 and suddenly one of our players comes off injured. 969 00:57:55,080 --> 00:57:58,436 They said, "Francis, you're gonna have to go on 970 00:57:58,480 --> 00:58:01,631 and do the last seven minutes," so I did do. 971 00:58:01,840 --> 00:58:04,513 - He probably couldn't even see that the ball was there. 972 00:58:04,560 --> 00:58:06,551 He just hung up front, goal hanger. 973 00:58:06,600 --> 00:58:08,192 If he saw a glimpse of the ball, 974 00:58:08,240 --> 00:58:09,593 just diving for it. 975 00:58:09,760 --> 00:58:12,320 And at one point, he nearly actually did score. 976 00:58:12,720 --> 00:58:15,393 - The attendance at this match was 28 people, 977 00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:16,998 two dogs, and one puppet. 978 00:58:17,960 --> 00:58:21,396 This book wasn't an official publication. 979 00:58:21,440 --> 00:58:25,399 It was never meant to be really seen by anybody. 980 00:58:25,440 --> 00:58:27,590 It was just his own personal record 981 00:58:28,480 --> 00:58:31,392 of the Bigshorts' success and failures. 982 00:58:31,520 --> 00:58:33,909 In fact, the more failures, probably the better. 983 00:58:33,960 --> 00:58:35,757 - He wasn't bothered if they didn't win the league. 984 00:58:35,800 --> 00:58:37,199 As long as everyone that was playing 985 00:58:37,240 --> 00:58:39,754 had a good time playing and enjoyed it, he was happy. 986 00:58:39,800 --> 00:58:41,438 I think he pretty much achieved that. 987 00:58:45,400 --> 00:58:49,439 - Around the border of a lot of the Frank artwork, 988 00:58:49,520 --> 00:58:52,398 there was a kind of triangular design 989 00:58:52,560 --> 00:58:56,792 which looked quite decorative and quite random. 990 00:58:56,880 --> 00:58:59,917 But he did mention to me that within these borders 991 00:59:00,200 --> 00:59:03,875 there was a code that was related in some way 992 00:59:03,920 --> 00:59:06,957 to the Enigma Code from the Second World War. 993 00:59:07,200 --> 00:59:09,998 - I remember he used to draw borders around things 994 00:59:10,080 --> 00:59:13,117 and have maybe little shapes around that he would say was a secret code, 995 00:59:13,160 --> 00:59:15,720 but I didn't know what the code was because it was secret. 996 00:59:15,800 --> 00:59:18,712 - Now he didn't tell me exactly what the result of the code is, 997 00:59:18,760 --> 00:59:19,988 but there is a code there. 998 00:59:20,200 --> 00:59:22,953 - And if you interfered with his codes, he then wouldn't be happy about it. 999 00:59:23,000 --> 00:59:25,070 It's like if someone used any of his artwork 1000 00:59:25,120 --> 00:59:27,714 to make a flyer for a gig, and they took some elements out, 1001 00:59:27,760 --> 00:59:30,797 he wouldn't be happy because then it would break this code or something. 1002 00:59:31,000 --> 00:59:33,912 - He always did codes, but I don't think that was a code. 1003 00:59:34,080 --> 00:59:36,196 He's just saying that to wind people up. 1004 00:59:36,240 --> 00:59:37,958 That was just a little pattern. 1005 00:59:38,040 --> 00:59:39,951 - He certainly would talk about this all the time, 1006 00:59:40,000 --> 00:59:41,228 and say it would all come out 1007 00:59:41,280 --> 00:59:44,556 and you'd be amazed when you find out and all this. 1008 00:59:44,840 --> 00:59:47,354 And l was flummoxed by what he was saying, 1009 00:59:47,400 --> 00:59:48,879 because he would never give anything away. 1010 00:59:48,920 --> 00:59:50,273 He would always let it happen. 1011 00:59:50,360 --> 00:59:55,434 - If you do want to spend three or four years working it all out, we all want to know. 1012 00:59:55,520 --> 00:59:58,796 Probably does say something like "The Beatles were the best band in the world" 1013 00:59:58,840 --> 01:00:01,400 or something like that. Some useless information. 1014 01:00:02,400 --> 01:00:04,914 - He took his creation very, very seriously. 1015 01:00:05,040 --> 01:00:06,632 You know, his various looks, 1016 01:00:06,680 --> 01:00:08,796 when Frank became kind of a rock star, 1017 01:00:08,840 --> 01:00:10,193 and the different heads. 1018 01:00:10,280 --> 01:00:13,590 The devil was in the detail and there was a serious amount of graft went into that. 1019 01:00:13,680 --> 01:00:16,638 However, obviously there are Frank fans out there, 1020 01:00:16,680 --> 01:00:18,989 and Chris said to me, "Have you seen this?" 1021 01:00:19,040 --> 01:00:21,235 I went, "What?“ He went, "Come and look at this." 1022 01:00:21,280 --> 01:00:26,752 And he got out a photo album with "not Franks" written on it. 1023 01:00:26,840 --> 01:00:28,956 He went, "Have a thumb through that." 1024 01:00:29,080 --> 01:00:31,071 Oh, my God, it was absolutely hysterical. 1025 01:00:31,720 --> 01:00:33,995 Just shocking, really, really poor. 1026 01:00:34,120 --> 01:00:36,554 I mean some were square, totally square, 1027 01:00:36,600 --> 01:00:38,591 just a cardboard box, you know what I mean? 1028 01:00:38,640 --> 01:00:41,518 It's all the people who turned up at gigs who've made their own. 1029 01:00:41,560 --> 01:00:44,154 I mean, there were a few that were, like, bang on, you know. 1030 01:00:44,240 --> 01:00:46,151 There were better Little Franks than Big Franks though. 1031 01:00:46,200 --> 01:00:47,792 I think he's easier to make. 1032 01:00:48,680 --> 01:00:51,069 It was just hysterical, and I remember his wife going, 1033 01:00:51,120 --> 01:00:52,553 "He's not got that out, has he?" 1034 01:00:52,600 --> 01:00:54,511 "He takes it very seriously, you know." 1035 01:00:54,600 --> 01:00:56,591 - We want Frank! 1036 01:00:56,680 --> 01:00:58,989 - By arrangement with Mike the Manager... 1037 01:00:59,040 --> 01:01:00,951 - We want Frank! 1038 01:01:02,280 --> 01:01:04,475 - And with the very kind permission 1039 01:01:04,520 --> 01:01:06,158 of Mrs Sidebottom... 1040 01:01:08,640 --> 01:01:12,633 - So me and my mates had no idea how many people would be in there. 1041 01:01:12,720 --> 01:01:14,392 Walk in this tent, you know, it's like, 1042 01:01:14,440 --> 01:01:19,639 Jesus Christ, there's 10,000 other people absolutely fanatical about Frank. 1043 01:01:21,800 --> 01:01:23,916 All you could hear was, "Come on, let us in," 1044 01:01:23,960 --> 01:01:26,155 we wanna get in, we wanna see Frank!" 1045 01:01:26,440 --> 01:01:30,592 People scaling this fence, security almost like, "Get back!" 1046 01:01:30,640 --> 01:01:32,756 You know, cattle prodding them back down, you know. 1047 01:01:33,000 --> 01:01:35,230 - We want Frank, we want Frank! 1048 01:01:35,280 --> 01:01:37,350 We want Frank, we want Frank! 1049 01:01:37,440 --> 01:01:39,078 - Hello, Reading! 1050 01:01:40,680 --> 01:01:41,669 Let's go. 1051 01:01:41,760 --> 01:01:46,390 ) Oh, guess who's been on Match Of The Day?) 1052 01:01:46,480 --> 01:01:50,519 ) You have, in your big shorts. ) 1053 01:01:50,640 --> 01:01:54,315 ) And guess who can play fantastic football? ) 1054 01:01:54,800 --> 01:01:58,679 ) You can, in your big shorts. ) 1055 01:01:58,760 --> 01:02:01,638 ) Yes, I've got some very big shorts. ) 1056 01:02:01,800 --> 01:02:03,199 Thank you very much, good night. 1057 01:02:10,840 --> 01:02:13,070 - When Frank released his double album, 1058 01:02:13,160 --> 01:02:15,799 the gatefold picture showed his bedroom. 1059 01:02:16,240 --> 01:02:19,073 There was no way he could have got to the bed, 1060 01:02:19,200 --> 01:02:21,156 so he must have hemmed himself in, 1061 01:02:21,200 --> 01:02:24,397 like the painter who paints himself into the corner. 1062 01:02:24,960 --> 01:02:29,112 And there he stayed, hemmed in to being Frank Sidebottom. 1063 01:02:30,200 --> 01:02:31,872 - Frank has now taken over. 1064 01:02:31,920 --> 01:02:33,558 And it's not a conscious thing. 1065 01:02:33,640 --> 01:02:36,518 He's gone into this great subconscious ramble, 1066 01:02:36,720 --> 01:02:39,871 ramble around our heads 'cause he's messing with our heads. 1067 01:02:40,760 --> 01:02:42,193 - It's the weirdest thing. 1068 01:02:42,280 --> 01:02:45,795 You couldn't talk to Frank and get Chris. 1069 01:02:49,640 --> 01:02:51,631 - I mean, I know there's an awful lot of debate 1070 01:02:51,680 --> 01:02:53,193 about that amongst people who knew him, 1071 01:02:53,240 --> 01:02:55,310 and some people say absolutely not, 1072 01:02:55,440 --> 01:02:57,556 Chris knew that Frank was just an act 1073 01:02:57,600 --> 01:02:59,352 and it was like nothing, and then other people say, no, 1074 01:02:59,400 --> 01:03:01,118 I think it's a lot more complicated than that. 1075 01:03:01,160 --> 01:03:03,390 I mean, I veer towards the latter, 1076 01:03:03,440 --> 01:03:05,317 I think there was something going on. 1077 01:03:05,960 --> 01:03:07,439 - It was always what Frank would do, 1078 01:03:07,480 --> 01:03:09,596 not, "I'm going to do this as Frank." 1079 01:03:09,640 --> 01:03:12,359 It was two separate personalities. 1080 01:03:12,440 --> 01:03:15,000 There was Chris Sievey and there was Frank Sidebottom. 1081 01:03:15,400 --> 01:03:18,790 - | feel he became more than an alter ego. 1082 01:03:19,080 --> 01:03:21,719 It was a schizophrenia almost that was involved. 1083 01:03:21,760 --> 01:03:23,637 He was someone else, you know. 1084 01:03:24,000 --> 01:03:25,911 - Frank was a real person, whether he was 1085 01:03:25,960 --> 01:03:28,520 in front of 500 people or whether he was in front of one. 1086 01:03:28,560 --> 01:03:33,793 You know, it wasn't Chris. It was very much a split personality. 1087 01:03:34,480 --> 01:03:36,516 - Where Chris ended and Frank began 1088 01:03:36,560 --> 01:03:39,120 was absolutely straightforward and easy. 1089 01:03:39,160 --> 01:03:40,388 He put the head on, he was Frank. 1090 01:03:41,520 --> 01:03:43,909 - I can't prove to this day 1091 01:03:43,960 --> 01:03:46,952 that Frank Sidebottom was Chris Sievey. 1092 01:03:47,760 --> 01:03:51,150 It could be a bullshit story that Chris Sievey's 1093 01:03:51,200 --> 01:03:54,749 put around that he was Frank Sidebottom, for all I know. 1094 01:04:48,720 --> 01:04:50,995 ) Drifting ) 1095 01:04:52,720 --> 01:04:54,711 ) Slowly ) 1096 01:04:56,640 --> 01:05:00,349 ) Moving with the tides ) 1097 01:05:04,680 --> 01:05:08,116 ) Separate the days ) 1098 01:05:10,320 --> 01:05:13,596 ) Thinking of not thinking) 1099 01:05:15,040 --> 01:05:20,319 ) Just flowing between the sheets) 1100 01:05:23,680 --> 01:05:26,911 ) Sheets become the clouds ) 1101 01:05:31,400 --> 01:05:35,234 ) And clouds just keep on drifting) 1102 01:05:36,920 --> 01:05:38,717 ) Slowly... ) 1103 01:05:39,520 --> 01:05:44,594 )lt's Frank's Fantastic Shed Show ) 1104 01:05:45,040 --> 01:05:48,589 ) You know it is, it really is. ) 1105 01:05:56,400 --> 01:05:59,073 - It was shot in big studios at Yorkshire TV. 1106 01:05:59,280 --> 01:06:01,271 It was like Emmerdale was half the building, 1107 01:06:01,320 --> 01:06:03,436 and Frank's Shed Show was the other half of the building. 1108 01:06:03,480 --> 01:06:05,596 It was a big set with a full audience in. 1109 01:06:07,480 --> 01:06:09,436 All of us thought, "Oh, yeah, we're on the telly." 1110 01:06:09,480 --> 01:06:11,038 You know, this is going to be it, 1111 01:06:11,080 --> 01:06:14,436 it was going to change all our lives, and Chris made you feel like that. 1112 01:06:14,720 --> 01:06:17,188 He had unlimited optimism really, 1113 01:06:17,280 --> 01:06:20,078 and confidence that it was all going to be great. 1114 01:06:20,480 --> 01:06:22,869 - I actually first met Paul McCartney 1115 01:06:22,920 --> 01:06:25,593 when me and John were looking through me mum's catalogue. 1116 01:06:25,640 --> 01:06:27,471 We saw him modeling some underwear. 1117 01:06:33,840 --> 01:06:36,593 - I think they really broke all the rules 1118 01:06:36,680 --> 01:06:39,148 to allow it because it was so insane. 1119 01:06:39,320 --> 01:06:42,995 - Come on, have a go, bobbing for Betamax. We've got some brilliant films here. 1120 01:06:43,040 --> 01:06:44,155 Let's get them in. 1121 01:06:44,200 --> 01:06:45,838 Right, come on, have a go, madam. 1122 01:06:45,880 --> 01:06:47,598 Get your face right in there, that's it. 1123 01:06:48,760 --> 01:06:50,193 - 0h, I'll tell you a great story about Autocue. 1124 01:06:50,240 --> 01:06:52,435 - Oh, yes, I like good stories about... 1125 01:06:55,160 --> 01:06:56,070 Yeah, go on. 1126 01:06:58,040 --> 01:06:59,075 - Frank! 1127 01:07:00,080 --> 01:07:02,036 - Tell us a good Autocue story, yeah. 1128 01:07:02,080 --> 01:07:04,674 I'll have two of what you're drinking. 1129 01:07:06,560 --> 01:07:08,471 - I just think that ruined him. 1130 01:07:08,840 --> 01:07:10,876 He was there, he had it all, 1131 01:07:11,000 --> 01:07:14,037 and... I don't know, 1132 01:07:14,080 --> 01:07:16,594 somebody like that with a compulsive nature, 1133 01:07:16,640 --> 01:07:17,993 with too much money. 1134 01:07:18,520 --> 01:07:19,953 He just went off the rails. 1135 01:07:25,600 --> 01:07:28,239 How did he ever get chance to mess around 1136 01:07:28,280 --> 01:07:30,111 and do all the things that people tell me now, 1137 01:07:30,160 --> 01:07:33,038 because we were so close, it's mad. 1138 01:07:34,680 --> 01:07:36,193 And I know that he loved me. 1139 01:07:36,760 --> 01:07:38,557 You know, there's no doubt about that, 1140 01:07:38,600 --> 01:07:41,990 but I think he also loved a lot of other women as well. 1141 01:07:42,360 --> 01:07:43,952 ) Drifting ) 1142 01:07:45,440 --> 01:07:46,634 ) slowly ) 1143 01:07:46,680 --> 01:07:47,954 It was a downward spiral. 1144 01:07:49,160 --> 01:07:50,354 And it's a shame. 1145 01:07:51,160 --> 01:07:55,312 - The gigs put food on Chris's table and paid his rent. 1146 01:07:55,440 --> 01:07:58,079 This is the idea... often Chris wouldn't pay his rent 1147 01:07:58,120 --> 01:08:01,908 'cause he forgot and couldn't be arsed, or would prefer to spend it on cocaine. 1148 01:08:02,800 --> 01:08:05,712 The man was a comedian, what do you expect? 1149 01:08:19,520 --> 01:08:23,229 - He could hold his drink. He could take an awful lot of abuse. 1150 01:08:23,400 --> 01:08:25,755 ) Keep on drifting) 1151 01:08:26,840 --> 01:08:29,912 - When you're all drinking, you can't tell who the real drinkers are, 1152 01:08:30,000 --> 01:08:31,991 and it's only as the rest of you slow down 1153 01:08:32,040 --> 01:08:34,076 then you meet people who are still going for it, 1154 01:08:34,120 --> 01:08:37,192 and you think, oh, this is something different isn't it? 1155 01:08:38,240 --> 01:08:41,471 - Being Frank, I don't know if he wanted that really. 1156 01:08:41,600 --> 01:08:44,194 I think that was just a bit of nonsense he did for a laugh 1157 01:08:44,360 --> 01:08:46,351 and it turned into something much bigger. 1158 01:08:46,720 --> 01:08:49,678 It was frustrating for him that he wasn't a pop star 1159 01:08:49,720 --> 01:08:52,439 and he ended up this guy with a cardboard box on his head. 1160 01:08:55,960 --> 01:08:58,269 - I did learn from him that he was depressed, 1161 01:08:58,320 --> 01:09:00,993 and he was annoyed that he had to do Frank Sidebottom, 1162 01:09:01,080 --> 01:09:04,038 and not what he really wanted to do, which was to become famous writing songs. 1163 01:09:05,520 --> 01:09:10,674 - You know, the Frank thing just really had taken over his life. 1164 01:09:11,360 --> 01:09:12,793 It was a fraction of his talent. 1165 01:09:13,160 --> 01:09:16,277 - Here you've got a mutually symbiotic relationship. 1166 01:09:16,440 --> 01:09:18,396 The dummy can't survive without you, 1167 01:09:18,480 --> 01:09:20,232 you can't survive without the dummy, 1168 01:09:20,520 --> 01:09:21,953 so you grow to hate it. 1169 01:09:23,320 --> 01:09:26,517 - He didn't drink when the older two were growing up. 1170 01:09:26,560 --> 01:09:28,676 It was just like when Harry came along. 1171 01:09:38,360 --> 01:09:40,112 Don't bite it! 1172 01:09:40,440 --> 01:09:43,193 I did realize that he was quite drunk quite a lot. 1173 01:09:43,240 --> 01:09:48,155 There was one time when l was about nine years old, 1174 01:09:48,400 --> 01:09:50,675 he's taken me into the town center, 1175 01:09:50,720 --> 01:09:53,598 he's been in the pub while I've gone round the shops or whatever. 1176 01:09:53,640 --> 01:09:57,553 I've gone back to meet him and he can't walk, and I've had to carry him back, 1177 01:09:57,640 --> 01:10:01,519 and he'd, like, fall over and get cuts on his face and stuff like that. 1178 01:10:02,040 --> 01:10:03,359 It never really bothered me, 1179 01:10:03,400 --> 01:10:06,676 but it was just quite hard trying to deal with 1180 01:10:06,720 --> 01:10:09,109 looking after your dad when he's leathered 1181 01:10:09,160 --> 01:10:11,230 when you're quite at a young age. 1182 01:10:11,880 --> 01:10:15,919 - He'd go missing for days on end and come back in a complete state, 1183 01:10:16,000 --> 01:10:18,389 and I didn't know where he was, what we was doing. 1184 01:10:18,440 --> 01:10:20,431 He'd turn up absolutely wrecked, you know. 1185 01:10:21,720 --> 01:10:23,631 We'd already been evicted from one house, 1186 01:10:23,680 --> 01:10:27,468 and then we were threatened with eviction with the next house we were in. 1187 01:10:27,520 --> 01:10:30,398 I thought, "That's it, I can't do it," 1188 01:10:30,600 --> 01:10:34,673 and | just took the kids and we went to live in a hostel. 1189 01:10:35,160 --> 01:10:39,915 - And in five, four, a one, two, three, four. 1190 01:10:47,440 --> 01:10:49,590 You tend to think, "Oh, I've got 50 quid, 1191 01:10:52,640 --> 01:10:54,870 and then forget that you're supposed to give half 1192 01:10:54,920 --> 01:10:56,399 of that 50 quid to the tax man. 1193 01:11:14,640 --> 01:11:15,959 - Take it away! 1194 01:11:16,200 --> 01:11:18,634 - And he was thousands and thousands in debt. 1195 01:11:18,720 --> 01:11:21,871 I said to him one day, "Is that a new credit card you've got?" 1196 01:11:21,920 --> 01:11:23,273 He said, "Oh yeah, yeah, yeah." 1197 01:11:23,320 --> 01:11:25,754 He always had every intention of paying everything off. 1198 01:11:25,840 --> 01:11:27,398 He never paid anything off. 1199 01:11:28,080 --> 01:11:32,039 - He was done for 30,000 pound back tax, so he had to go to court. 1200 01:11:32,200 --> 01:11:34,270 And he stood up in the dock and the judge said, 1201 01:11:34,320 --> 01:11:35,912 "This is a very serious matter. 1202 01:11:36,080 --> 01:11:38,071 Have you considered a payment plan?" 1203 01:11:38,320 --> 01:11:41,278 And Chris said, "Would a pound a week suffice, my lord?" 1204 01:11:41,480 --> 01:11:43,152 And the judge said, "No, it would not!" 1205 01:11:57,400 --> 01:12:01,188 - Frank, can I ask you, with your tax problems, 1206 01:12:01,240 --> 01:12:02,832 can't you afford an accountant? 1207 01:12:03,960 --> 01:12:05,109 - An accountant! 1208 01:12:05,400 --> 01:12:07,630 I've got enough problems with me puppet. 1209 01:12:08,720 --> 01:12:12,235 I can't even afford to keep him, never mind an accountant. 1210 01:12:12,640 --> 01:12:15,712 So if you're watching at home and you can't afford an accountant, 1211 01:12:16,200 --> 01:12:18,077 get a puppet. That's my advice. 1212 01:12:18,640 --> 01:12:21,791 - I think he'd gone bankrupt and he turned it into art. 1213 01:12:22,040 --> 01:12:24,395 - Let's get it filled in, what's me name? 1214 01:12:25,400 --> 01:12:26,355 - Frank. 1215 01:12:26,520 --> 01:12:27,396 - Yeah. 1216 01:12:28,520 --> 01:12:31,353 How do you spell Sidebottom or is it Sl-DAY-BOT-EM? 1217 01:12:31,640 --> 01:12:34,234 - It's the lifestyle, it's the art thing. You're in it or you're not. 1218 01:12:44,040 --> 01:12:45,792 - He used to write me letters saying how much 1219 01:12:45,840 --> 01:12:48,308 he missed us and everything, and he wanted to be back together, 1220 01:12:48,440 --> 01:12:51,238 and | always knew we would get back together. 1221 01:12:52,600 --> 01:12:55,398 I don't know, I think he seemed to sort himself out a bit 1222 01:12:55,440 --> 01:12:57,192 and he ended up coming back again, so. 1223 01:12:58,080 --> 01:12:59,559 - You know, he was an alcoholic, 1224 01:12:59,880 --> 01:13:02,997 and I did actually take him to the doctor's at one point 1225 01:13:03,120 --> 01:13:05,429 and sat in the doctor's with him. 1226 01:13:06,560 --> 01:13:08,790 When he admitted that he did need help, 1227 01:13:08,840 --> 01:13:11,070 you know, that was a big step forward for him. 1228 01:13:11,600 --> 01:13:13,477 - He did stop drinking for a while then 1229 01:13:13,520 --> 01:13:16,557 and then when he did go back, it was sort of in moderation. 1230 01:13:16,600 --> 01:13:19,797 But I think he did a lot of damage 1231 01:13:20,200 --> 01:13:23,715 to the family sort of without realizing it. 1232 01:13:24,560 --> 01:13:27,950 - He lost a lot of opportunities 'cause of his own way he was, 1233 01:13:28,240 --> 01:13:29,719 his artistic bent, I suppose. 1234 01:13:30,280 --> 01:13:31,554 He couldn't be controlled. 1235 01:13:37,040 --> 01:13:39,076 - I heard a rumor that he'd stopped performing. 1236 01:13:39,440 --> 01:13:41,351 - There were times when he stopped doing it 1237 01:13:41,400 --> 01:13:45,598 and where the whole thing just seemed to be lost really. 1238 01:13:46,200 --> 01:13:51,593 - This is Christopher's Job Seeker's Allowance book. 1239 01:13:52,080 --> 01:13:55,914 After years in show business, 1240 01:13:56,240 --> 01:13:58,674 he had to sign on the dole because he was broke, 1241 01:13:58,840 --> 01:14:01,400 and this is his back-to-work plan. 1242 01:14:01,560 --> 01:14:03,994 He was fed up with being self-employed 1243 01:14:04,040 --> 01:14:06,031 and I think he was just looking for something 1244 01:14:06,080 --> 01:14:08,150 where he didn't have all the responsibility. 1245 01:14:08,800 --> 01:14:10,995 - Like, I found him thatjob at HOT Animation. 1246 01:14:11,040 --> 01:14:12,917 I thought, "God, this is just what you need, 1247 01:14:12,960 --> 01:14:15,030 go and see these people, you're gonna love it." 1248 01:14:15,400 --> 01:14:17,675 - This letter arrived, this was a sort of CV 1249 01:14:17,760 --> 01:14:19,910 of all the writing credits that Chris Sievey had done. 1250 01:14:20,280 --> 01:14:22,396 Through most of our little sort of chatty interview 1251 01:14:22,440 --> 01:14:26,353 he spent his time looking to one side or the other, 1252 01:14:26,400 --> 01:14:27,958 didn't really look at me. 1253 01:14:28,120 --> 01:14:30,839 I said, "OK, well, would you like to have a look around the studio?" 1254 01:14:31,000 --> 01:14:32,228 He was just entranced, 1255 01:14:32,280 --> 01:14:34,475 and he just thought everything was fantastic in there. 1256 01:14:34,520 --> 01:14:36,954 "I must work here, I'm gonna work here." 1257 01:14:37,240 --> 01:14:40,550 I explained to him that we hadn't really got any jobs at the moment. 1258 01:14:40,760 --> 01:14:42,751 The next day, he just turned up. 1259 01:14:42,800 --> 01:14:44,631 He just kept turning up every day. 1260 01:14:45,240 --> 01:14:46,992 He was there from that day on, really. 1261 01:14:47,480 --> 01:14:50,756 Chris was actually really a very good craftsman as well. 1262 01:14:50,800 --> 01:14:52,950 So these things he had to make for Bob the Builder, 1263 01:14:53,000 --> 01:14:55,753 or some of the other programmes in different styles, 1264 01:14:55,800 --> 01:14:56,949 he could adapt to. 1265 01:14:57,000 --> 01:14:58,672 His craft work was beautiful. 1266 01:14:59,440 --> 01:15:01,556 Gradually came the day where I think 1267 01:15:01,600 --> 01:15:05,036 he had more ambitions than staying in the props workshop, 1268 01:15:05,080 --> 01:15:07,719 which he enjoyed, but he started to say to me, 1269 01:15:07,760 --> 01:15:09,591 "I've got all these other ideas." 1270 01:15:10,160 --> 01:15:12,799 I think he was engaging less in the company 1271 01:15:12,840 --> 01:15:14,353 and he decided to move on, 1272 01:15:15,040 --> 01:15:17,395 actually through mutual agreement. 1273 01:15:17,880 --> 01:15:22,510 - We still had our ups and downs with his drinking hinges and stuff, 1274 01:15:22,560 --> 01:15:25,996 but he was getting back on track, 1275 01:15:28,400 --> 01:15:29,469 and then, er... 1276 01:15:31,880 --> 01:15:36,237 he ended up leaving me after all that anyway, so. 1277 01:15:39,520 --> 01:15:42,239 | just thought it'd be better if he moved back into the house 1278 01:15:42,280 --> 01:15:44,350 'cause it was full of his stuff. 1279 01:15:44,400 --> 01:15:46,118 You know, the cellar was full of his stuff. 1280 01:15:46,160 --> 01:15:49,596 It was easier for me to just move out and start afresh. 1281 01:15:49,960 --> 01:15:53,077 So I just went to the town hall and got my own divorce. 1282 01:15:53,120 --> 01:15:56,829 I think it cost me 35 pounds, and it was the easiest thing. 1283 01:15:56,960 --> 01:15:59,633 I remember Chris calling round one day and he just said, 1284 01:15:59,680 --> 01:16:01,875 "I just got this letter, we're divorced." 1285 01:16:01,920 --> 01:16:04,673 "Do you wanna go out for a drink to celebrate?" 1286 01:16:05,000 --> 01:16:05,989 But we didn't. 1287 01:16:06,760 --> 01:16:07,909 Yeah, it was weird. 1288 01:16:08,360 --> 01:16:11,955 We just got divorced dead easily after all those years. 1289 01:16:12,360 --> 01:16:16,717 After, like, 26 years, itjust ended just like that. 1290 01:16:18,000 --> 01:16:20,673 - | used to drop my children off at school, 1291 01:16:20,720 --> 01:16:23,234 and we'd go pick him up and we'd drive to HOT, 1292 01:16:23,320 --> 01:16:24,594 and he wouldn't say a word. 1293 01:16:25,720 --> 01:16:26,948 Not one word was spoken. 1294 01:16:27,000 --> 01:16:28,115 He wouldn't speak to me. 1295 01:16:28,160 --> 01:16:29,991 You know, it took a while to get to know him. 1296 01:16:31,440 --> 01:16:33,829 ) Well there's a girl I know ) 1297 01:16:33,880 --> 01:16:36,269 ) And you've just got to go) 1298 01:16:37,520 --> 01:16:40,318 ) To see her degree show ) 1299 01:16:40,760 --> 01:16:43,228 ) 'Cause she's the only girl) 1300 01:16:43,680 --> 01:16:45,716 ) In all the world) 1301 01:16:47,120 --> 01:16:49,315 ) Who's art'll move ya) 1302 01:16:50,720 --> 01:16:52,153 He lived on his own. 1303 01:16:53,640 --> 01:16:58,919 We spent a lot of time together, but he wanted that space, 1304 01:16:59,040 --> 01:17:01,952 and he would have been impossible to live with. 1305 01:17:02,320 --> 01:17:06,108 I wouldn't have been able to handle it, I don't think. 1306 01:17:08,160 --> 01:17:11,516 He certainly had a deeper melancholic side to him. 1307 01:17:11,600 --> 01:17:13,158 I would say he was quite troubled. 1308 01:17:13,640 --> 01:17:15,949 The only thing was probably walking the dog. 1309 01:17:16,000 --> 01:17:18,594 You know, he loved his dog and he would take her out 1310 01:17:18,640 --> 01:17:20,517 and make sure that she was all right. 1311 01:17:21,760 --> 01:17:25,435 Frank was something that just wasn't part of his life at that point. 1312 01:17:25,920 --> 01:17:27,433 He talked about it occasionally, 1313 01:17:27,480 --> 01:17:30,517 but very, very like it was something that he'd done. 1314 01:17:31,200 --> 01:17:32,519 It was in the past. 1315 01:17:33,800 --> 01:17:37,873 I think he felt he hadn't been recognized as Chris 1316 01:17:37,960 --> 01:17:40,030 for what he was, and that bothered him. 1317 01:17:40,480 --> 01:17:43,836 He wanted to be recognized for everything else he'd done, 1318 01:17:43,880 --> 01:17:45,074 not just for Frank. 1319 01:17:46,520 --> 01:17:49,080 He would never say that he was an artist. 1320 01:17:49,120 --> 01:17:50,997 He didn't think he was an artist. 1321 01:17:51,120 --> 01:17:53,588 It was natural to him, he didn't have to try. 1322 01:17:53,640 --> 01:17:55,073 It's just what he was. 1323 01:17:55,360 --> 01:17:59,114 He would spend hours and hours and hours with no sleep, 1324 01:17:59,160 --> 01:18:01,879 no food, to get something how he wanted it to be. 1325 01:18:02,960 --> 01:18:05,679 Every day, another idea came in, if not more. 1326 01:18:06,200 --> 01:18:08,555 It didn't matter what format that came in, 1327 01:18:08,600 --> 01:18:10,989 if it was film-making, drawing, painting. 1328 01:18:11,680 --> 01:18:13,750 - One of the events that he liked to record 1329 01:18:13,800 --> 01:18:15,836 was the sunset in Timperley. 1330 01:18:18,200 --> 01:18:20,111 If there was a sunset, you'd probably see Chris 1331 01:18:20,160 --> 01:18:22,799 on the bridge, capturing it for posterity. 1332 01:18:23,840 --> 01:18:27,628 A little bit obsessive, but good thing to be obsessive about, sunsets. 1333 01:18:53,120 --> 01:18:55,509 - And now it's time for... 1334 01:19:01,280 --> 01:19:03,555 - He said, this time I want to control it, 1335 01:19:03,600 --> 01:19:05,989 and | only want to do it for so long. 1336 01:19:06,120 --> 01:19:09,874 - When Chris decided to resurrect Frank Sidebottom, 1337 01:19:09,920 --> 01:19:12,992 he had what he called his Five Year Plan. 1338 01:19:13,480 --> 01:19:17,268 The plan was to make Frank more famous than he'd ever been before, 1339 01:19:17,320 --> 01:19:19,880 and then at the zenith of the five years, 1340 01:19:19,920 --> 01:19:22,514 he'd publicly take off Frank's head 1341 01:19:22,560 --> 01:19:25,518 and announce, "It's me, Chris Sievey." 1342 01:19:25,600 --> 01:19:27,238 "It was me all the time." 1343 01:19:27,360 --> 01:19:30,750 Then finally freed of the shackles of being Frank, 1344 01:19:30,840 --> 01:19:33,308 he'd be able to create art or music 1345 01:19:33,400 --> 01:19:36,073 or whatever he wanted, as himself, once again. 1346 01:19:37,240 --> 01:19:38,309 - And I'm filming. 1347 01:19:46,600 --> 01:19:48,318 Hello, Frank Sidebottom here. 1348 01:19:54,840 --> 01:19:56,990 - There would have been at least a dozen kids parties, 1349 01:19:57,040 --> 01:19:58,268 what Frank would have done. 1350 01:19:59,160 --> 01:20:01,435 People used to ask, "Will he bring Little Frank?" 1351 01:20:01,480 --> 01:20:03,789 'Course he's going to come, you know, so. 1352 01:20:04,000 --> 01:20:05,877 - And if you start any nonsense, 1353 01:20:05,920 --> 01:20:07,876 and people start liking you at all, 1354 01:20:07,960 --> 01:20:09,757 then you're going straight back in your box. 1355 01:20:09,840 --> 01:20:11,159 Is that understood? 1356 01:20:12,480 --> 01:20:13,959 - Aw! 1357 01:20:15,520 --> 01:20:16,873 - He's only cardboard. 1358 01:20:19,640 --> 01:20:20,959 Thank you, thank you. 1359 01:20:21,760 --> 01:20:24,035 - What he said was, he opened the floodgates. 1360 01:20:24,080 --> 01:20:26,310 - Are you ready to raise the roof about this high? 1361 01:20:26,360 --> 01:20:28,271 You know the worldwide web? 1362 01:20:28,800 --> 01:20:30,711 Have you got the number? I need to phone 'em up. 1363 01:20:31,440 --> 01:20:35,911 - Norman's Piano Bar in Ambleside is probably best just forgotten. 1364 01:20:36,160 --> 01:20:38,071 There was only three of us there, so it's probably... 1365 01:20:38,120 --> 01:20:40,315 but saying that though, he did put the full show on 1366 01:20:40,400 --> 01:20:43,392 and he did do the full two hours to three people. 1367 01:20:45,920 --> 01:20:48,229 - His little animated series on the boat. 1368 01:20:48,280 --> 01:20:49,759 He didn't talk about doing it. 1369 01:20:49,800 --> 01:20:52,030 He didn't wait or go around pitching it. 1370 01:20:52,160 --> 01:20:53,639 He went home and he made it. 1371 01:20:53,760 --> 01:20:57,070 ) Oh, did you know that animation ) 1372 01:20:57,160 --> 01:20:59,390 )Is the very latest thing ) 1373 01:21:00,240 --> 01:21:03,118 ) So here is my interpretation ) 1374 01:21:03,200 --> 01:21:06,112 ) That's guaranteed to entertain and make your heart sing) 1375 01:21:06,160 --> 01:21:07,673 - This is me, fishing. 1376 01:21:09,160 --> 01:21:10,479 Oh, I like fishing. 1377 01:21:10,560 --> 01:21:12,437 - Couldn't we just film it like this? 1378 01:21:12,840 --> 01:21:14,478 - Frank's World, it's called. 1379 01:21:14,680 --> 01:21:18,036 And we're doing a deal at the moment to make another one. 1380 01:21:18,080 --> 01:21:20,435 When I say, we've done a deal, I've done it with meself. 1381 01:21:21,360 --> 01:21:24,511 And welcome to the Magical Timperley Tour, 1382 01:21:24,640 --> 01:21:28,918 a fantastic trip round my local town, which is dead good. 1383 01:21:29,240 --> 01:21:32,949 - What a brain child, what a barnstormer of an idea. 1384 01:21:33,360 --> 01:21:37,478 Small groups of people making a pilgrimage to Timperley 1385 01:21:37,520 --> 01:21:40,080 to be blessed by this monk-like figure. 1386 01:21:42,240 --> 01:21:44,310 - Keep your eyes on the road, madam. 1387 01:21:45,080 --> 01:21:48,595 As I said, there's a green grocers on the corner there, 1388 01:21:48,640 --> 01:21:49,755 but it's shut. 1389 01:21:52,360 --> 01:21:53,349 She doesn't know. 1390 01:21:57,800 --> 01:22:00,394 One post box is for left-handed people 1391 01:22:00,440 --> 01:22:02,829 and one is for right-handed people. 1392 01:22:13,400 --> 01:22:17,871 - Channel M was The Guardian Media Group's experiment into local television. 1393 01:22:18,160 --> 01:22:19,639 - And stand-by Frank. 1394 01:22:19,680 --> 01:22:20,556 - I'm ready. 1395 01:22:20,680 --> 01:22:24,195 ) Oh, it's my proper telly show) 1396 01:22:24,520 --> 01:22:27,557 - When he came back, he had his own show, and you go, this is fucking brilliant, 1397 01:22:27,600 --> 01:22:30,194 and it was only going out within Manchester cable TV. 1398 01:22:31,120 --> 01:22:32,599 - He was like, "I'll do it for free." 1399 01:22:32,640 --> 01:22:34,119 "I'll do it for nothing." 1400 01:22:34,120 --> 01:22:38,318 He just wanted complete creative control and somehow he managed to get that. 1401 01:22:38,400 --> 01:22:40,550 ) You know it is, it really is ) - Thank you. 1402 01:22:40,800 --> 01:22:43,030 Right, now you've got a new song out, haven't you? 1403 01:22:43,080 --> 01:22:44,911 - Yes, l have. - Did you write that? 1404 01:22:44,960 --> 01:22:46,029 - I did, yes. 1405 01:22:46,080 --> 01:22:47,752 - What colour pen did you use? 1406 01:22:47,800 --> 01:22:49,950 - I don't remember. 1407 01:22:50,040 --> 01:22:53,510 - The guests were purely a stooge for Frank to bounce off. 1408 01:22:53,640 --> 01:22:55,676 - David Soul was, I think, 1409 01:22:55,720 --> 01:22:58,632 very confused and wanting to leave. 1410 01:22:58,760 --> 01:23:02,196 - Do you have to sign loads of autographs? - No, only on, er, checks 1411 01:23:02,240 --> 01:23:03,753 and credit cards. - Oh, right. 1412 01:23:03,800 --> 01:23:05,631 Do you have to copy it off the label in your vest, 1413 01:23:05,680 --> 01:23:07,079 or do you know your name off by heart? 1414 01:23:07,120 --> 01:23:08,155 - I know it mostly by heart. 1415 01:23:08,240 --> 01:23:13,189 - If you created a list of the hundred most non-asked questions on a chat show, 1416 01:23:13,280 --> 01:23:14,679 Frank would have covered them. 1417 01:23:14,760 --> 01:23:16,512 - Have you ever been on an airplane? 1418 01:23:16,560 --> 01:23:18,391 - Once or twice. - What's that like? 1419 01:23:18,440 --> 01:23:19,509 Do you have to hold your nose 1420 01:23:19,560 --> 01:23:21,198 when you go up in the clouds? - These are really good questions. 1421 01:23:21,240 --> 01:23:22,912 You know, nobody's ever asked me questions like this before. 1422 01:23:22,960 --> 01:23:24,473 - That was good, wasn't it? 1423 01:23:25,360 --> 01:23:27,112 - Oh yes, very entertaining. 1424 01:23:27,160 --> 01:23:29,549 - Well, nice of you to say so, Little Frank. 1425 01:23:30,960 --> 01:23:33,474 - Flying over to America, doing one gig 1426 01:23:33,520 --> 01:23:34,748 and flying straight back. 1427 01:23:35,080 --> 01:23:36,274 Who would do that? 1428 01:23:36,800 --> 01:23:39,030 Oh, Frank called us up and-- 1429 01:23:39,080 --> 01:23:40,149 - Frank, not Chris. 1430 01:23:40,200 --> 01:23:42,077 - I'm coming to America. 1431 01:23:42,120 --> 01:23:45,510 ) Well I went over to the USA ) 1432 01:23:46,320 --> 01:23:47,514 ) To take New York) 1433 01:23:47,600 --> 01:23:49,158 )It only takes a day ) 1434 01:23:49,280 --> 01:23:53,671 ) I did a gig, I did a telly, I did a radio ) 1435 01:23:54,120 --> 01:23:57,237 ) And then I said I really have to go ) 1436 01:23:57,360 --> 01:24:00,511 - He lost his passport, and he said, oh we have to cancel. 1437 01:24:00,560 --> 01:24:02,630 I can't go home, I don't have my passport. 1438 01:24:02,720 --> 01:24:04,119 We will find it! 1439 01:24:04,160 --> 01:24:07,038 - Come back in like six months, I'll have a rest. 1440 01:24:07,120 --> 01:24:08,678 - We need a rest. - I'll get some sleep. 1441 01:24:08,720 --> 01:24:11,154 - I'll just go and conquer America 1442 01:24:11,200 --> 01:24:13,919 and come home for tea, you know, like you do. 1443 01:24:14,120 --> 01:24:16,395 - He had to get home to walk his dog. 1444 01:24:16,800 --> 01:24:18,836 - Right, we are pushed for time here, 1445 01:24:18,880 --> 01:24:21,952 so now I'd like to do all four sides 1446 01:24:22,000 --> 01:24:23,718 of The Beatles' White Album. 1447 01:24:25,840 --> 01:24:27,831 - There was one year, my dad asked me 1448 01:24:27,880 --> 01:24:29,359 what I wanted for Christmas. 1449 01:24:29,400 --> 01:24:32,278 So I just kept saying to him, 'All lwant for Christmas is you.’ 1450 01:24:32,440 --> 01:24:35,557 And he keep asking me, and l was like 'Dad, all I want is you.’ 1451 01:24:35,600 --> 01:24:36,953 'All I want for Christmas is you.’ 1452 01:24:37,320 --> 01:24:39,550 So anyway, I've gone round on Christmas day, 1453 01:24:39,640 --> 01:24:41,073 and I've gone into the living room, 1454 01:24:41,120 --> 01:24:46,114 and he's head to toe completely covered in wrapping paper, 1455 01:24:46,560 --> 01:24:49,996 and he's just stood there straight with a cig in his mouth. 1456 01:24:50,840 --> 01:24:53,559 Just smoking this cig, completely wrapped up. 1457 01:24:54,520 --> 01:24:57,159 It's the best Christmas present I've ever had. 1458 01:24:59,600 --> 01:25:02,068 - Hey, you used to be the drummer in The Smiths, right? 1459 01:25:02,120 --> 01:25:03,712 - Mmhmm. - Tell us about that. 1460 01:25:03,800 --> 01:25:04,994 - 0h, erm... 1461 01:25:05,280 --> 01:25:06,918 It was 1982, 1462 01:25:07,320 --> 01:25:11,108 and a mate of mine called Pete Hope that I used to live with, 1463 01:25:11,200 --> 01:25:13,031 he used to know Johnny Marr. 1464 01:25:13,080 --> 01:25:15,992 - I'm... I'm gonna have a shower. See you in the morning. 1465 01:25:29,400 --> 01:25:33,359 ) I said hey you, bank account manager) 1466 01:25:33,480 --> 01:25:35,357 ) please can I have a loan ) 1467 01:25:35,680 --> 01:25:39,116 ) I'm thinking of getting, one of your) 1468 01:25:40,360 --> 01:25:42,749 ) low rate endowment policies ) 1469 01:25:42,800 --> 01:25:44,950 )'cause when | get older) 1470 01:25:45,840 --> 01:25:50,356 )lwould like to know I'm secure in me old age ) 1471 01:25:50,480 --> 01:25:53,438 ) I said, hey, you bank manager) 1472 01:25:53,760 --> 01:25:55,716 ) please, can I have a word in your ear ) 1473 01:25:56,240 --> 01:26:01,360 )I am a street rapper who wants to be secure in old age) 1474 01:26:06,440 --> 01:26:08,795 - I invited Chris to do a solo exhibition 1475 01:26:08,880 --> 01:26:11,440 about Frank Sidebottom's world. 1476 01:26:11,960 --> 01:26:14,633 He wasn't precious about any of his work at all. 1477 01:26:14,680 --> 01:26:18,116 He would use masking tape, Sellotape, whatever was at hand, 1478 01:26:18,160 --> 01:26:19,832 and he would just shove stuff up. 1479 01:26:20,120 --> 01:26:23,271 He didn't really care about the mode of display or whatever. 1480 01:26:23,320 --> 01:26:25,231 If you had a six inch nail, he would have used that, 1481 01:26:25,280 --> 01:26:27,874 you know, straight through the middle of a beautiful drawing if it meant 1482 01:26:27,920 --> 01:26:29,194 he could get it up on the wall. 1483 01:26:30,280 --> 01:26:31,633 You know, if you really wanna do it, 1484 01:26:31,680 --> 01:26:33,591 you've got to do it 24/7, and he did. 1485 01:26:33,760 --> 01:26:39,118 In that sense, he's a tragic romantic 19th century artist in the Garret figure. 1486 01:26:39,160 --> 01:26:41,549 You know, he's Zola and Balzac. 1487 01:26:43,080 --> 01:26:45,036 We got into Artforum, one of the most 1488 01:26:45,080 --> 01:26:47,469 important international art magazines. 1489 01:26:47,680 --> 01:26:49,716 They'd asked lots of different critics 1490 01:26:49,760 --> 01:26:51,990 to name their top ten exhibitions. 1491 01:26:52,480 --> 01:26:54,948 In at number three was Frank Sidebottom, 1492 01:26:55,000 --> 01:26:56,194 "Chelsea Space is Ace." 1493 01:26:57,880 --> 01:27:00,997 One of the big questions is kind of who makes the work? 1494 01:27:01,080 --> 01:27:02,479 Was it Chris that made the work 1495 01:27:02,520 --> 01:27:04,272 or was it Frank that made the work? 1496 01:27:04,400 --> 01:27:06,231 It was impossible really to know where 1497 01:27:06,280 --> 01:27:08,510 the one thing began and the other thing ended. 1498 01:27:10,640 --> 01:27:12,119 - You shouldn't be filming this. 1499 01:27:14,120 --> 01:27:15,758 Cut. 1500 01:27:15,840 --> 01:27:17,398 Stop filming. 1501 01:27:18,160 --> 01:27:19,309 Here we go! 1502 01:27:19,680 --> 01:27:21,398 r - Ah ) 1503 01:27:21,480 --> 01:27:23,357 )- Ah ) 1504 01:27:23,440 --> 01:27:25,158 r - Ah ) 1505 01:27:25,240 --> 01:27:26,992 )- Ah) 1506 01:27:27,160 --> 01:27:28,070 r - Ah ) 1507 01:27:28,120 --> 01:27:29,075 )- Ah) 1508 01:27:29,160 --> 01:27:30,912 )- Ahhhh) )- Ahhhh ) 1509 01:27:31,040 --> 01:27:32,359 )- Ah) )- Ah) 1510 01:27:32,400 --> 01:27:33,469 )- Ah) )- Ah) 1511 01:27:33,520 --> 01:27:34,589 ) - Arghhhhhh ) 1512 01:27:34,640 --> 01:27:36,631 ) Arghhhhhhhhhhhh) 1513 01:27:41,040 --> 01:27:43,713 )Ah ah ah ahhhh) 1514 01:27:44,320 --> 01:27:46,072 ) Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) 1515 01:27:46,480 --> 01:27:47,708 ) Arghhhhhhhh) 1516 01:27:47,840 --> 01:27:50,638 )Ah, ah, ah, ahhhh) 1517 01:27:50,840 --> 01:27:52,831 ) Arghhhhhhhh) 1518 01:27:53,320 --> 01:27:54,594 ) Arghhhh ) 1519 01:27:54,720 --> 01:27:55,630 )Ah) 1520 01:27:55,680 --> 01:27:56,954 ) Arghhhhhhhh) 1521 01:27:57,000 --> 01:27:58,149 )Ahhhh ) 1522 01:27:58,280 --> 01:28:03,070 ) Arghhhhhhhh) 1523 01:28:03,120 --> 01:28:05,236 ) So shake it up baby) 1524 01:28:05,400 --> 01:28:07,231 ) - Shake it up baby) 1525 01:28:07,760 --> 01:28:10,274 - Thunderbird 2, understand your danger zone. 1526 01:28:10,720 --> 01:28:12,039 Let's get to work. 1527 01:28:12,960 --> 01:28:14,632 ETA five minutes. 1528 01:28:15,920 --> 01:28:17,239 FAB, Scott. 1529 01:28:26,480 --> 01:28:28,072 - My dad always told me he's gonna live 1530 01:28:28,120 --> 01:28:31,669 till he's 100, so it didn't really properly sink in. 1531 01:28:32,280 --> 01:28:33,952 So I was like, yeah, he's gonna be fine. 1532 01:28:34,200 --> 01:28:36,316 He always pulls it out of the bag. He's always okay. 1533 01:28:44,880 --> 01:28:46,518 - I went round to his house. 1534 01:28:46,560 --> 01:28:48,596 I could tell his mind was slightly somewhere else, 1535 01:28:48,640 --> 01:28:52,872 and we stood in front of a bookcase he had full of Beatles DVDs. 1536 01:28:53,000 --> 01:28:54,991 He just turned to the bookshelf and he said, 1537 01:28:55,360 --> 01:28:58,557 'l've watched all them now, I've watched all...' and he had! 1538 01:28:58,920 --> 01:29:00,069 He had hundreds. 1539 01:29:00,480 --> 01:29:05,315 He made a definite decision that he was gonna spend his time watching every bit 1540 01:29:05,360 --> 01:29:07,271 of Beatles material he had. 1541 01:29:07,960 --> 01:29:09,632 - One of the last times I saw him, 1542 01:29:09,680 --> 01:29:10,829 erm... 1543 01:29:11,800 --> 01:29:12,949 Oh, I have to stop a minute. 1544 01:29:13,000 --> 01:29:13,830 Shit. 1545 01:29:14,760 --> 01:29:16,193 It's hard work, that one. 1546 01:29:16,440 --> 01:29:17,270 Oop. 1547 01:29:17,320 --> 01:29:18,992 Right, yep, one ofthe last times I saw him, 1548 01:29:19,160 --> 01:29:20,070 erm... 1549 01:29:21,280 --> 01:29:23,157 I went round to his house in Hale 1550 01:29:23,400 --> 01:29:25,391 and, erm, ljust looked at him. 1551 01:29:25,440 --> 01:29:28,398 I said, Chris, you look absolutely awful. 1552 01:29:28,440 --> 01:29:30,476 In fact, I said, Chris, you look shit. 1553 01:29:31,400 --> 01:29:32,310 Erm... 1554 01:29:32,960 --> 01:29:34,598 And I know he'd been up all night. 1555 01:29:34,640 --> 01:29:36,949 He told me he'd been recording, doing stuff, 1556 01:29:37,000 --> 01:29:39,639 but he looked absolutely awful. 1557 01:29:39,680 --> 01:29:41,398 I said, look, I'm going, I'm not staying. 1558 01:29:41,440 --> 01:29:42,953 I don't want a cup of tea, I'm going. 1559 01:29:43,000 --> 01:29:44,592 Just get yourself to bed. 1560 01:29:44,680 --> 01:29:47,433 He says, no, I've got stuff to do. I said, but Chris you look dreadful. 1561 01:29:47,520 --> 01:29:48,669 And you know what? 1562 01:29:48,720 --> 01:29:50,836 Out of all those years I've known him, 1563 01:29:50,960 --> 01:29:54,111 it's the first time he actually hugged me. 1564 01:29:54,280 --> 01:29:55,156 r Oh ) 1565 01:30:22,080 --> 01:30:25,755 ) I hope I am dead soon) 1566 01:30:27,280 --> 01:30:30,636 ) 'specially where the wind blows ) 1567 01:30:33,000 --> 01:30:35,639 - The last time I saw Chris, he came off 1568 01:30:35,680 --> 01:30:39,195 to say goodbye to me, and there was an open-top skip 1569 01:30:39,240 --> 01:30:40,719 just up the street from his house. 1570 01:30:40,760 --> 01:30:42,557 So he went and had a look in it 1571 01:30:43,000 --> 01:30:47,471 and came walking back with two large pieces of brown cardboard. 1572 01:30:48,000 --> 01:30:50,116 Who knows what he was gonna do with them? 1573 01:30:50,320 --> 01:30:52,117 Probably make Little Frank bodies, 1574 01:30:52,160 --> 01:30:56,711 but they'd be nice and stiff and sharp, no folds in them, 1575 01:30:57,880 --> 01:31:01,031 - Well, that was absolutely fantastic. 1576 01:31:01,600 --> 01:31:03,556 Right, here's something dead funny, 1577 01:31:04,320 --> 01:31:07,915 me as me after chemotherapy. Have a look at that. 1578 01:31:09,880 --> 01:31:11,199 The show must go on, eh? 1579 01:31:11,560 --> 01:31:13,551 I'm just not a 100% at all. 1580 01:31:13,640 --> 01:31:15,596 Still, I don't suppose anybody noticed. 1581 01:31:16,400 --> 01:31:17,549 - Last gig, Salutation. 1582 01:31:18,720 --> 01:31:20,597 I noticed he had to keep pulling his shorts up. 1583 01:31:42,120 --> 01:31:44,429 )Oh) 1584 01:31:46,520 --> 01:31:48,829 )Oh) 1585 01:31:50,760 --> 01:31:52,637 )Oh) 1586 01:31:53,320 --> 01:31:56,790 )Ohohoh) 1587 01:31:57,160 --> 01:31:58,513 ) Don't ya know) 1588 01:31:59,200 --> 01:32:00,269 ) Love ) 1589 01:32:00,320 --> 01:32:04,757 ) love will tear us apart again) 1590 01:32:04,920 --> 01:32:05,796 Your turn! 1591 01:32:06,240 --> 01:32:08,276 ) - Love ) 1592 01:32:08,360 --> 01:32:12,638 ) Love will tear us apart again) 1593 01:32:12,720 --> 01:32:16,554 )- Oh, I'm alone in me room, oh yes) 1594 01:32:17,320 --> 01:32:20,153 ) And me mum, she does not know) 1595 01:32:20,320 --> 01:32:22,390 - He had the room upstairs, 1596 01:32:23,200 --> 01:32:25,316 the Presidential Suite as they called it, 1597 01:32:25,440 --> 01:32:26,873 which was like a bit of carpet, 1598 01:32:26,920 --> 01:32:28,876 and things running up and down the wall. 1599 01:32:29,400 --> 01:32:32,790 - He had this nice jacket on and like 20 tags 1600 01:32:32,840 --> 01:32:34,751 in that pocket and 20 fags in that pocket. 1601 01:32:34,840 --> 01:32:36,990 - And he'd go, do you want a cig, Rick? And then the next time 1602 01:32:37,040 --> 01:32:38,632 it'd be this one, like that, you know. 1603 01:32:39,120 --> 01:32:40,314 - It was just... 1604 01:32:42,400 --> 01:32:43,469 Oh, fuck. 1605 01:32:43,920 --> 01:32:44,955 - Your turn! 1606 01:32:45,360 --> 01:32:47,316 ) - Love ) 1607 01:32:47,400 --> 01:32:51,916 ) Love will tear us apart, again) 1608 01:32:52,080 --> 01:32:53,672 - It got to about three o'clock then. 1609 01:32:53,760 --> 01:32:55,273 l was working the next day, 1610 01:32:55,440 --> 01:32:57,590 then he just laid back down on the bed, 1611 01:32:57,640 --> 01:32:59,358 just fully clothed and went to sleep. 1612 01:32:59,560 --> 01:33:01,232 - And he just went like that. 1613 01:33:03,800 --> 01:33:05,119 See you, Chris. - Yeah. 1614 01:33:06,080 --> 01:33:06,990 - Thank you. 1615 01:33:15,720 --> 01:33:18,518 - Unfortunately, Chris was never able 1616 01:33:18,560 --> 01:33:20,835 to fulfill his 5 Year Plan. 1617 01:33:21,120 --> 01:33:22,997 The big reveal never happened, 1618 01:33:23,160 --> 01:33:25,435 and he left us all in the lurch, 1619 01:33:25,600 --> 01:33:28,637 not knowing what he would have achieved. 1620 01:33:31,000 --> 01:33:34,436 - When he died, there was obviously a funeral to pay for. 1621 01:33:34,880 --> 01:33:36,598 There wasn't any savings for a funeral. 1622 01:33:36,640 --> 01:33:37,959 There was nothing to pay for it. 1623 01:33:38,280 --> 01:33:40,748 - I heard it was like five grand. Like, if we raised five grand 1624 01:33:40,800 --> 01:33:42,552 he could be spared a pauper's funeral. 1625 01:33:42,640 --> 01:33:44,198 So I sent out that one tweet. 1626 01:33:44,520 --> 01:33:47,159 Within an hour, 500 pounds had come in. 1627 01:33:47,440 --> 01:33:50,398 By the end of the day, it was like 21,000 pounds. 1628 01:33:50,720 --> 01:33:52,358 We have enough money for them to like bury 1629 01:33:52,400 --> 01:33:55,631 and exhume and bury and exhume him like ten times. 1630 01:33:55,880 --> 01:33:57,996 - You know, so many people cared, and you know, 1631 01:33:58,040 --> 01:33:59,996 it wasn't any flash funeral that we had, 1632 01:34:00,040 --> 01:34:03,350 but we managed to have a nice send off, which, you know, I'm grateful for. 1633 01:34:04,680 --> 01:34:07,956 - He'd always tell me the stuff that he was doing that wasn't Frank. 1634 01:34:08,160 --> 01:34:09,434 Like, 'cause he was writing 1635 01:34:09,480 --> 01:34:12,233 a lot of music himself as Chris Sievey, 1636 01:34:12,680 --> 01:34:14,557 and he spent a lot of time doing that. 1637 01:34:15,320 --> 01:34:17,390 Like, he bought this 16 track. 1638 01:34:18,520 --> 01:34:20,397 There was just so much music on it 1639 01:34:20,440 --> 01:34:22,192 that no one's even heard of before, 1640 01:34:23,160 --> 01:34:25,594 and he's kind of singing from his heart again. 1641 01:34:30,320 --> 01:34:33,232 ) So where are you?) 1642 01:34:36,560 --> 01:34:39,597 ) Everything you do astounds me) 1643 01:34:40,920 --> 01:34:44,799 ) As I sit here with your artwork all around me) 1644 01:34:48,200 --> 01:34:50,555 ) So where are you?) 1645 01:34:54,080 --> 01:34:56,469 - I think Chris should be remembered for being 1646 01:34:56,560 --> 01:34:59,836 too wonderfully strange to ever make it in the mainstream. 1647 01:35:01,240 --> 01:35:05,153 - He was pushing some envelope, some mystery envelope, 1648 01:35:05,360 --> 01:35:08,079 and he made the public an accomplice. 1649 01:35:09,560 --> 01:35:11,790 - None of us want to stand on stage and be ridiculed, 1650 01:35:11,840 --> 01:35:13,717 but Chris taught us that it was only that moment 1651 01:35:13,760 --> 01:35:16,035 and that would pass and we'd be on to the next idea then. 1652 01:35:16,120 --> 01:35:20,591 Just because it might fail was not a reason not to try it. 1653 01:35:29,760 --> 01:35:33,389 - His legacy is, it is all right to go out 1654 01:35:33,440 --> 01:35:36,193 and be brilliant at what you do without worrying 1655 01:35:36,240 --> 01:35:37,559 about the check at the end of it. 1656 01:35:37,720 --> 01:35:41,918 Don't be looking at the fucking X-factor finishing line. 1657 01:35:42,240 --> 01:35:44,071 Just be good where you can be good 1658 01:35:44,160 --> 01:35:47,550 and where it goes from there, that'll take care of itself. 1659 01:35:50,120 --> 01:35:52,429 - It was just him doing his own thing. 1660 01:35:53,960 --> 01:35:56,599 I know how I'd remember him and you know, it's all in here. 1661 01:36:28,760 --> 01:36:30,512 ) Please look into my eyes) 1662 01:36:30,560 --> 01:36:32,471 ) I want it to be truthful, no messing) 1663 01:36:32,600 --> 01:36:33,999 ) Don't tell me any lies ) 1664 01:36:34,040 --> 01:36:35,871 ) I've a funny feeling that ) 1665 01:36:36,000 --> 01:36:37,831 ) Something's hanging there ) 1666 01:36:39,320 --> 01:36:41,311 ) And don't tell me othenwise ) 1667 01:36:41,400 --> 01:36:43,311 ) Or I'm hallucinating, I'm waiting) 1668 01:36:43,440 --> 01:36:44,668 ) And don't disguise the facts ) 1669 01:36:44,760 --> 01:36:46,557 ) I've a funny feeling that ) 1670 01:36:47,400 --> 01:36:48,276 ) I've seen it) 1671 01:36:49,800 --> 01:36:50,869 ) What did you see?) 1672 01:36:50,920 --> 01:36:52,353 ) I saw a yellow spot) 1673 01:36:52,480 --> 01:36:53,515 ) How could you tell?) 1674 01:36:53,560 --> 01:36:55,198 ) I heard from the first time) 1675 01:36:55,240 --> 01:36:56,355 ) A yellow spot) 1676 01:36:57,320 --> 01:36:58,799 ) Yeah, a yellow spot) 1677 01:37:15,960 --> 01:37:18,679 ) I've got a girl ) 1678 01:37:21,280 --> 01:37:23,840 ) So far away ) 1679 01:37:26,760 --> 01:37:30,275 )lwish I could be with her now) 1680 01:37:30,400 --> 01:37:32,197 ) And everyday ) 1681 01:37:35,360 --> 01:37:37,715 ) Maybe I'm dreaming ) 1682 01:37:41,800 --> 01:37:46,555 ) But dreams are often make believe) 1683 01:37:48,160 --> 01:37:50,720 ) | feel her love ) 1684 01:37:53,480 --> 01:37:55,755 ) Though we're apart) 1685 01:37:58,720 --> 01:38:03,111 ) She's sending messages of love to me ) 1686 01:38:03,160 --> 01:38:06,789 ) By radar shot direct into my heart) 1687 01:38:10,280 --> 01:38:12,475 ) Life with the Lyons ) 1688 01:38:16,560 --> 01:38:18,391 ) Your signal's weak) 1689 01:38:18,440 --> 01:38:21,159 ) But detection is strong ) 1690 01:38:26,120 --> 01:38:28,998 ) Darling I can't spend another day ) 1691 01:38:30,520 --> 01:38:32,238 )Without your love ) 1692 01:38:34,080 --> 01:38:37,311 ) So many things are standing in our way ) 1693 01:38:38,520 --> 01:38:40,033 ) To overcome ) 1694 01:38:58,800 --> 01:39:01,189 - There actually was a secret code 1695 01:39:01,280 --> 01:39:02,952 hidden in those triangular borders. 1696 01:39:03,400 --> 01:39:06,392 It was deciphered by a crack team of code breakers 1697 01:39:06,440 --> 01:39:11,389 and mathematicians from British intelligence agency GCHQ. 1698 01:39:12,280 --> 01:39:17,195 Just what sort of message did Chris deem worthy of such secrecy? 1699 01:39:36,360 --> 01:39:40,797 Now you can crack the rest using Chris's own code grid. 1700 01:39:42,280 --> 01:39:45,238 It was in the back of his address book the whole time. 1701 01:39:57,360 --> 01:39:58,793 - Right, that's definitely it, yeah. 1702 01:39:58,840 --> 01:40:00,796 The end, because it says "the end." 1703 01:40:01,160 --> 01:40:02,912 It's not even in focus, is it? 1704 01:40:03,600 --> 01:40:06,034 Oh no, that was out of focus anyway, wasn't it? 1705 01:40:06,400 --> 01:40:08,868 Right, you can switch it off now, 'cause we've finished. 1706 01:40:12,960 --> 01:40:14,279 - What's on after it? 1707 01:40:14,360 --> 01:40:16,430 - Oh no, yeah, there's some bits after it 1708 01:40:16,480 --> 01:40:17,435 I think as well. 1709 01:40:17,480 --> 01:40:18,469 Oh, leave it on. 1710 01:40:18,840 --> 01:40:20,831 Oh, let's try it dead fast speed. 1711 01:40:21,200 --> 01:40:22,189 Hold on. 1712 01:40:22,640 --> 01:40:24,119 Hey, there's dead fast speed. 1713 01:40:24,160 --> 01:40:25,388 Oh, there's nothing on it.