James Mullord - Babyshambles Manager/High Society Records (Interview 2023)

James is on the podcast as we look back at his route into becoming Babyshambles manager, his relationship with Pete Doherty, how he went up against the likes of Rough Trade and what brought it all to a head in 2005.
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22 Grand Pod is now on Patreon: / 22grandpod
Off the back of the main pod, we are now creating Patreon only bonus content. For £3 a month you will get:
The 00's Deep Dive: Taking a look back at the likes of the Stalking Pete Doherty documentary and going through them in painful detail. As well as going through NME Awards from back in the day and discussing what happened.
My Favourite 00's Album: Inviting patrons and other guests to come on the podcast to talk about their favourite bands, albums or moments from back in the day.
Legend or Landfill: We go through NME's top 10 albums of each year and see if we think they are indeed Legendary or for the Landfill.
Fans Stories: Talking to people about their memories and opinions on all things 00's.
Unsigned Stories: Chatting with bands that didn't quite 'make it' in terms of signing that elusive record deal.
Patrons will also get early access to any main pod episodes
Also check the KZbin channel for extended video versions of the interviews and much more: bit.ly/3Ts7Wu1

[@indiesleaze]

Fantastic interview and very honest stuff from James...those early Babyshambles tours were magic as a fan.

[@PaulRoundhill]

Yes its a great interview, I think that Gemma's dad's studio was the Strong Room on Curtain Road unless I'm mistaken.

[@PaulRoundhill]

@@JimmyJazz217 who is dining out on them? certainly not me. Are you relevant? My favourite video is Kolly Kibber that I think was 8 years ago. I despise trolls who don't have the guts to use their real names.

[@N.F.F.C]

This was great - should do a part 2 at some point, maybe after he's read the books he mentions. He seemed to have more stories as well, pleased he's clean and well

[@samuelhumphrey5908]

"i will surround myself with people who cant be trusted, therefore i cant be hurt" Thats really f*cking deep bro! Feel you.

[@stooooogs8763]

Great interview, James reminds me of a mixture of joe strummer and Max Fosh

[@NEONMOTORFAIRY]

Perfect

[@SparkFilmsTV]

One of the most interesting and entertaining interviews l have heard. Peace and Respect.

[@speakeasy_radio]

I hope James comes back at some point. That was really enjoyable.

[@PaulRoundhill]

Looking great James, looking really great. Fantastic interview. Apologies to 22 Grand Pod for fact-bombing the comments.

[@N.F.F.C]

It'a all interesting to read!

[@paulleadbeater6206]

I love this, brings back memories of the time. Hopefully babyshambles can do something next year after libs album 🤔😂

[@DavidNash-dt9kf]

And thankyou for the insights on the pod

[@claramills104]

Ha! I was in the back of that taxi leaving Trafalgar Square with you and Peter! It was so surreal.

[@n0z1e]

Enjoyed this... Thanks again for these casts...

[@PaulRoundhill]

Peter was frightened of supporting Oasis - he shouldn't have been because Babyshambles would have blown them away. He avoided supporting Oasis at Milton Keynes also.

[@stooooogs8763]

Paul! Can we have a interview ?

[@PaulRoundhill]

yes for sure - I'm not in great shape at the moment, when I'm a bit stronger, Peter's manager offered help however. I'm still waiting@@stooooogs8763

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

Musically he had nothing to be frightened about, but noel and Liam Gallagher are not into musicians who use other hard drugs , light and dark?. Although they blasted their way through shit loads of coke in the 90s 😂 and they've really got off their tits on methamphetamine in the USA tour.

[@Carson-pv4hr]

No they have a child with the same woman Lisa so there kids are brother's Liam isn't as intelligent as Peter and would cause drama. He can't get on with his own brother.. so what chance did Pete have

[@golfbucket]

You are a bum who run a crack house, your not rock and roll just a groupie. So glad Pete has made it through the other side and detached from that awful scene you endorsed

[@mrSam3ooo]

Always wondered about that mysterious cool hippy looking guy hanging around Pete and the band acting as a manager

[@rwbb5757]

Amazed that nobody has got all of these people’s footage together to make a film about BS and the madness of that era

[@deanmignonelli2199]

The Manchester gig with dot Alison sheepskin tearaway is beautiful x❤✌️🎸

[@HamptonFarly]

Thats the best one so far 👍👍

[@PaulRoundhill]

I arranged Up the Shambles film which was released as a D.V.D. it was filmed as an 8 camera edit by David Kaye and his brother at the Manchester Ritzy - another project that I didn't receive payment for.

[@willtoon88cat]

I’m looking forward to this one. Canna wait to get out of work to listen to it

[@PaulRoundhill]

are you frae Scotland by any chance?

[@willtoon88cat]

@@PaulRoundhillYesh Scotland

[@willtoon88cat]

@@PaulRoundhillwhy do you ask?

[@diridley7110]

Gemma Clarke (former 'Shambles drummer)'s studio at Old Street is Rooz Studios. A band I was in a few years ago was rehearsing there and we heard a Babyshambles song being played, so we peeped in through the window of the door to the studio to see who it was, and Gemma was there, playing it with a bass player. She explained that some of their band hadn't turned up, so the two of them were just jamming some 'Shambles songs, and I went and got my print out of Valerie (that we'd been practising) and she kindly signed it.

[@22grandpod]

Ace, what babyshambles songs were they playing?

[@diridley7110]

@@22grandpod Well we just heard the one and stopped our journey down the corridor for a fag break to check it out - sadly though I can't remember which one it was.

[@Carson-pv4hr]

Remember gemma right at the start was a small hall in greenock she was there pat was there .. they didn't have an album nothing but downloaded Babyshambles song called Babyshambles.. then wee followed them .. our bible wee used to joke was Babyshambles live in Manchester with dot Allison and all the original members.. pat Walden on guitar ❤ wow so underrated

[@PaulRoundhill]

Great man - great times

[@stooooogs8763]

I always message before i watch it to help the algorithm or whatever its called … now i have listened to the whole thing very interesting, james absolute chap! As always great work 22 two grand pod

[@PaulRoundhill]

Thank you James, we now know why Peter threw me under the bus in his book and suggested that I was involved with the Kate Moss sting. Unfortunately Peter. included many nuanced lies about me. Bless you Pete.

[@Thomas-px2lh]

WITM8

[@damotheman4196]

He implied that alright that he thought at one stage it might've been you but later on corrected himself and he reckoned it was a couple of the young somali "runners" that did it.. You say at the start "you know why.." why do you think he did it? I dont really think you were "under the bus..." at all Paul, but you would know better (it being your life n all! 😂) hope you're still keeping the home fires burning

[@patwalden78]

James looking good man 🎉

[@freechordsthetruthmarceden8277]

Yeah, i enjoyed this J - especially the Pete as Crowley quote! 🤓 Petey's the real chuffin'deal, and that's as rare as ya like...25 years in this business, I consider him my friend, and yes, he IS straight...now...Marc E Margate x

[@deanmignonelli2199]

James is a good guy … be good to see you again my friend. Many good nights

[@PaulRoundhill]

the Shambles tour was "Stone Me What a life" in 2004

[@libertard6101]

Love Mullard admitting Pete could knock out a banger anytime if he wanted .. I agreee, Love flags, Salome, hired gun , etc . Pete’s in great place to write new music!!! I attribute to Katia and not living London !! Anywho , great interview…. Love you show 🤙🏽

[@claramills104]

❤❤😊

[@sebbarker9848]

Great interview! Anyone know where you can find James's sculpture / art?

[@PaulRoundhill]

Being blamed as drug dealer was an obvious risk for me and 22 Grand Pod (along with a lot of people) seem to have bought into that myth however it was a risk that I knowingly embraced and I'm grateful to James for pushing back and to Peter for assigning me rights to "the Saga" on the second Libertines album which derives from a letter I wrote him warning him about self-delusion through taking drugs.

[@DavidNash-dt9kf]

Thats right bout the oasis thing.. i saw babyshambles a few times . And in sheffield 1 time and pete played oasis songs at the end of the concert and dedicated it to oasis

[@moonmoon221]

With the selling of the footage to the tabloids - who is James hinting at it was in this interview?

[@freechordsthetruthmarceden8277]

Puta Madres played Fuck Forever on tour, place went mad everytime. Especially when we played Swindon. Stone cold Bs classic...

[@waynesilverman3048]

He's right about rough trade they was tight ,I remember having to buy the album a 2nd time just to buy a DVD that came with it (busking for beer )ect as I didn't have the internet then ,don't forget the libertines singles instead of putting 4 track s 3 b sides on 1 single CD like oasis did u had to buy 2 versions of the same single just to get different b side s as they had 3 tracks on 1 CD

[@PaulRoundhill]

Operation Weeting was the Met phone hacking operation. When Greg Thomas was going to Peter's in Wiltshire for a private concert I needed to make a phone call - and saw a car parked opposite the house hidden down a farm track, so I asked an occupant if I could use his phone ...now this is weird, one of the guys opened the car boot which was full of basic generic mobile phones and they gave me one. Presumably it was on the Trinity group's network - I used the phone to contact Greg and Cynthia then later gave its to Clara M. While in Wayland prison Peter was awarded compensation for being hacked and he gave me the operation Weeting documentation from the police which I have somewhere along with a transcript of his immigration interview before being turned away by U.S.A. immigration..

[@Carson-pv4hr]

If you were born in the 80s .. Babyshambles to cribs totally different kinds of bands .. but i no there was people that thought he was a god our genius.. our generation's charismatic guy that could write songs with lyrics that was our lifes . Wee all felt like rebels when the libertines were still a thing .. i remember endeding up i a packed hall Babyshambles. Girl gemma on drums pat and drew no album.. but downloaded songs i met pete couldn't believe how tall he was im 6ft1 he was good bit taller than me .. but spoke so polite then he got dragged away once a crowd spotted him started getting mobbed.. but wee were all fucked up at that time .. 🫣 excesse was the key to wisdom.. thinking i looked like a good-looking guy pulling posh women.. to then in a homeless unit scoring with prostitutes they always could get drugs . Going on crazy benders. I remember going out with this girl she was very attractive her last bf played for a premier league football team.. i thought i was pete she was kate moss . Remember getting away with saying i was smoking hash oil off foil ., ,😢 but it was dark stuff but pete Doherty was our fucked up bob Dylan or jim morrison

[@waynesilverman3048]

I couldnt belive how tall he was when he came to the front row (a gig in Shrewsbury shambles ) haven't met him but I've met Carl outside hmv in leeds d pretty t,and I asked for him to sign my phone he was much smaller and skinny then thought ,I think Pete is 6 ,3

[@-fells-]

We'll have to find out what that romantic unfinished song is!

[@waynesilverman3048]

"I did so much for that boy " on Doherty after that punch up they had ,as Pete thought he was the 'grass' on Kate moss scandal- filming her doin coke ,but it was in the star .....Who knows ,they blocked him out of Albion vid his face

[@speakeasy_radio]

❤

[@PaulRoundhill]

Ronnie Flynn died ... R.I.P.

[@RC_991]

I'd love to hear that Nellee Hooper version, he's not really suited to that style of music and got the job because Kate Moss was his ex.

[@NEONMOTORFAIRY]

Fuck Forever is a classic

[@bklmsoul]

Ronnie Joice? 1:10:50

[@PaulRoundhill]

nope. the other Ronnie - I don't know what happened to Ronnie's footage. It was probably the best, most comprehensive, footage from the time.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

Has anyone seen the channel 4 documentary about Marc blanco? Its sad and if he was pushed then who ever did it has to live the guilt that they killed a young man for nothing at all. Just because someone is a bit drunk and maybe nausin you out, doesn't mean you can kill someone. Personally from what ive seen its highly unlikely that peter pushed him, but why would Johnny headlock confess to the murder then retract his statement 🤔 i feel sorry for Marc's family. Why are channel four using Peter's name hevhas been interviewed twice by the met police, there were a lot of people at the party?

[@stephenworsleymusica]

according to naomi stirk, who was in the flat, there were 6 people. If the reverse projection thing is correct in the documentary, then Blanco was dropped over. The fact Johnny headlock confessed to this but was allowed to walk free the same day, just because he changed his mind, is objectively weird. There wasn't really any attempt in this documentary to put forward headlock as a prime suspect - again peculiar. The theory Blanco jumped by himself gets ruled out by a guy called John Kennedy, not possible according to him because Blanco falls like a dead weight. He "may" have been unconcious according to Kennedy , this forensics guy. You would think - with him falling like a dead weight - that this type of falling could easily have been caused by him being extremely drunk - more than the "few drinks" which naomi stirk reckons he'd had. However, with the science of this reverse projecting ("if the measurements are correct then Blanco was murdered"), there was no need whatsover for this documentary to get into toxicology stuff, which it didn't do. You would expect, off the back of this documentary, the odd rearrest or further questioning - yes feel sorry for his mum too.

[@feloniousmonk321]

This question should ideally be addressed to poster PaulRoundhill here, (who has commented multiple times) as it was his flat that the incident happened in. That's the one who was said to be a police informer, and who apparently chucked down a couple of tissues, but allegedly couldn't be bothered to come down and help a dying man in the street.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

@davieworsley yeah the fact that headlock confessed to killing Marc is highly suspicious, just because you've taken a load of coke doesn't mean you'll confess to a crime you didn't commit. I've done loads of coke over my younger years and days on end, yeah your head gets messy but you don't walk into a police station and say you killed someone. Police stations are the last place you want to be coked out your mind lol. He's full of shite.

[@theessay2530]

The guy who’s flat it happened at is in the comment section 🤯