Real Talk: A Film About Sleaford Mods

Louis Pattison heads to The Chameleon Cafe Bar in Nottingham to meet Sleaford Mods' Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn
Interview: Louis Pattison
Camera & edit: James W Roberts

[@Ben_Mdws]

I am very pleased this band exist.

[@maunse4824]

Williamson's opinions on the British music scene are absolutely spot on in my opinion. It's such a relief to hear someone who knows what the f*** they're talking about. He's been around and done it. He'll get labelled as an arrogant opinionated piece of sh**, but he is just plain decent, I don't know him and haven't met him but I'll bet a pound to a penny that he hasn't got a vindictive bone in his body. I hope the success of Sleaford Mods leads to more people being themselves and not pandering to the business which is obviously run by awful people.

[@annieturner79]

Doll Museum I have met him. He is an absolute gentleman. Very articulate, intelligent & well spoken. Everything the twits in the "big" industry are afraid of.

[@markbikerdyke3819]

Doll Museum Anyone of a certain age in the UK, with a bit of grey matter still left, will agree with every word 100%.

[@leehugheshughes2254]

Annie Turner love the sleaford mods sooo unique breth of fresh air the music industry needed ... ✌⬆⬇🎧

[@finnstuart8385]

Maunse scax

[@vrsq0863]

one of the most important things to happen to music this century. excellent.

[@slowandcrystal]

Tis fantastic poetry...added to beats and beautiful great punky funky hip hop treats!

[@donegansarah]

They speak the truth. The furrowed brow and the gentle soul. What a perfect combination.

[@jamesbearn550]

Sleaford mods have been my favourite music artists for the last few years, they get better with each new album. I also like and used to listen to: the Kinks, the Beatles, Joy Division, the Prodigy, Massive Attack, Portishead, also other random songs like wuthering heights by Kate Bush and the Model by Kraftwerk. Now I mostly just look forward to new stuff from the Mods. 🧠👂

[@fabio5732]

I'm almost 65 and I like this band

[@markalan2752]

these guys are one of the few 'legit', no bullshit, real-deal bands out there these days

[@dan32113]

this aint Westlife, its real life! up the Mods. keeping it real. Respect

[@Analoguebubblebath89]

Solid blokes

[@drumstick74]

Much respect!

[@oolongoolong789]

Good luck to Sleaford Mods. They're doing stuff they really believe in.

[@craigwells1201]

Oolong Oolong Well that's questionable? As he makes clear in this interview, he wanted to write SONGS... presumable as opposed to the monotone tuneless rants that he's doing now.... BUT, finding that field of music too crowded (or requiring too much talent)... He struggled to find his feet or get his voice heard. Let it not be forgotten that he was in a BAND (in the traditional sense) with instruments, and actual SONGS! He now claims that this is boring, but I suspect that had he been accepted as having enough talent to sell records as a band, his opinion might be slightly different. I'd imagine there was a certain bitterness at not being good enough to have made it as a worthwhile skilled musician... But why worry or moan? He's found an audience willing to part with money for an act that is easy peasy in comparison to being an accomplished performer. Step one 1: Make a note of negative aspects of society... Ok, we can all do that.... Step 2: Write them down, structure, order or rhyme non compulsory.... Step 3: Pepper what you've written, with an over the top amount of expletives for shock value.... Step 4: Shout out the mess that you've written, in a tuneless monotone style.... On to a winner right? He has the easiest job in the world! He's selling you stuff you could do yourself by the age of 10! But realistically... He's a tortured artist because crave though he might, he doesn't have the capability to ever write a ''Hey Jude'' or ''Don't Look Back In Anger.''

[@WobblyEgg1972]

craig wells You really don't like Jason Williamson do you Craig - what's he done? Shagged your girlfriend?!! Seriously though, do you think all the people that are going mad for this band are mugs? Music taste is subjective but this band is one of the most original thing to come out in years IMO and lots of people obviously agree. Cracking beats, lyrics that make you think and laugh and the best live performance going. Go and see em, you might be surprised!

[@craigwells1201]

WobblyEgg1972 Erm, well the short answer to your question, is no! No I don't like them. But my personal tastes in music are no the main issue here. It's the hypocrisy of it all that I take objection too. As I stated, the subject musicians of his venomous outbursts, are just the people HE aspired to be, but couldn't! His opinions on music that is massively popular, are obviously WRONG as the artists he attacks are massively more popular then HE is. The whole ''angry working class guy,'' routine is an act, that unbelievably, people are buying into! He's far too pessimistically opinionated to let go of the fantasy that he's in some way, ''a voice for the voiceless.'' There's NOTHING original about the subject matters either... In that sense, they're probably the LEAST original band to come out in years... They're just strolling down that tried and tested, well trodden path, of raging against the ills of society, and the (fabricated) bleakness of his surroundings. Every two a penny Punk band hammered this approach to music almost 40 years ago!!! Its all been said already! Punk hammered it to death! BUT! All these points would be redeemable is they where happy go lucky, cheerful, smiling, pleasant people! Who'd care too much if it was obviously all just a staged act, that covers territory glaringly unoriginal? As long as they where having fun doing it, and being thankful for the money its bringing in? Smile, have a good time, enjoy earning money for basically nothing! But no! The bitterness, the cynicism, the sour grapes, the moaning... Why they so miserable?

[@Pigpoggot]

craig wells Show less

[@craigwells1201]

Pig Poggot What you on about Piggy? You wont win a debate with me about Sleaford Mods. But you wrote your comment at 2.24am... Leads me to believe you're one of these types who sits up alone on the internet all night.... So you've got a fair few hours until those lonely small hours of the morning... So have a think about it if you wanna try!

[@specials6]

awesome band xx

[@io5644]

brilliant

[@evygil]

40's this is the age when you actually have something to say

[@nudal9993]

Nope wrong I am 57 and did more siad more fought harder in my 20s. In 40s your turn into a !safe house mortgage clone!

[@samuraininjarockstar9355]

@@nudal9993not everyone does ….

[@luceatluxvestra1]

class.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Revolving on 9 @the Palais, NS daze.

[@MultiBthompson]

Raw talent

[@hawkmoon4459]

These guys are a proper do

[@therespectedlex9794]

Gotta marvel at this guy's memory oooeeee he has got one - I'd be surprised if he didn't get his GCSE's - sort of like - Jason Williamson, well done lad I can tell you revised, fancy a baccalaureate, or two now?

[@easytideband]

NEW FAVSS

[@johnquinn456]

New. Old school. You got it

[@hexonatapeloop]

Like John Cooper Clark, but more fun.

[@jondobs64]

+hexonatapeloop you obliviously, have never seen John Cooper Clarke (spelt with an e btw) and certainly not during the late 70s - the man was energy personified with grit and social realism that would make you shudder as well as being one of the funniest poets this country has produced. I like and admire what Sleaford Mods do but it is a bit one dimensional.

[@daniels.2720]

Good to see some of Mr. Cooper Clarkes spawn have lived...at least the Energy... 'n I mean that in a good way...

[@ChrisWilliams-hs3jm]

real.

[@Degenerative1]

Mark E Smith, au revoir. Hit Parade on Crass , is the closest to these guys and Andy T, this is powerfull stuff. Nice one lads!!

[@simiangimp2282]

I thought of Crass when I heard these guys for the first time. Kids don't get it. Wisdom and insight is required to understand where they are coming from. It speaks to people. Just like Nicky Minaj speaks to the spastics who are badmouthing it.

[@Degenerative1]

nice one. Simian Gimp we might be related.

[@therespectedlex9794]

What's with the anti-Semitism? You don't like Israel? Well they're the real bully boys in a world heavily outnumbering them, not least with your friends the muslims. You do know something about history don't you? We Europeans have mistreated the Jews for centuries - enough!

[@Degenerative1]

Anti zionist mate, Israel is very anti semitic. have you read up on stuff by Jews like Finkelstein? Did you check, 'crocodile tears norman finkelstein' Check that then come back to me. IDF are SS. Time for you to grow up a bit mate.

[@Degenerative1]

what the fuck are you trying to say , cut to the chase.

[@jayrapid7590]

I used 2 live in sleaford probs met these at sumpoint

[@anonanon7377]

"I do the music." I hear you, you do the tunes, and the singer does something indescribable. LOL But, you both do "the music" together.

[@fedayeentaqx9956]

That accent is so perfect to hammer home the vox inna way that can't be competed with. I'd like to know more about the trademark claim they payed for taking their make from another group tho, as a musician that cuod be a dealbreaker when it comes to actually supporting them buying tix and records, depending on the circumstances...

[@MrWitchtrials]

Steve Claridge.

[@eek412]

What is his hat mean, eek?

[@ShlomirBareket]

the opening bass of 'tweet,tweet,tweet' sounds like something Necro would have done but not as shit.

[@LucasSantos-js2ek]

Hahahha!

[@mike-Occslong]

U say u hate clichés yet Andrew is the only one not pretending to be a rock star just be ur self man

[@kevinuribe3332]

Heavily influenced by John Cooper Clark almost to the T.

[@karlkane9736]

Music Futurismo

[@isaross2710]

barmans hairdo

[@patatagiratoria]

hahahaha they have no eyebrows with this black&white camera

[@Pigpoggot]

A purely British take on music that the Mondays and the Streets last delivered...Better live than on record. Pull ya jeans up,,fuck off!

[@bb-of3qz]

Dudes just want to get on film. Ok good luck with everything else.

[@deephouse733]

Do you think working class people on council estates in London or the south east are listening to 2 geriatric chavs ‘who toilk loik diss” Sound like posh farmers

[@jonjanes2176]

Jason "Whatvever" yeah that kinda sums them up .... wordsmith ... not !!!!

[@arlaban22]

Like your an expert or something.....🤣🤣🤣