Will Sergeant (Echo And The Bunnymen) : The John Robb interview

[@bleeknoir]

Guitar hero, legend, and absolute gentleman. Loved this. A really charming interview. I’m so glad to see Will “out there” more. Oh, and after 20 odd Bunnymen shows, I can confirm, that Gregorian chant intro still makes the hairs on my neck stand on end. It works.

[@Fazzat333]

That chant is the shit ! II’ve never witnessed a band coming back on stage when the house lights come on after the encore - not once but twice they did this at Barrowlands during the last tour before the split in 87/88...What a night.👍

[@MrDLOC11]

Will is simply one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His signature sound is dark, distinct & beautiful.

[@tonydeltablues]

Stumbled across this while isolating as I have a procedure to remove a small basal cell carcinoma cancer from my nose! Absolutely loved it! John: you did a great job of answering the right questions and you were respectful but probed and asked for more when necessary. Will: I grew up in Garston (under the bridge) in the late seventies/early eighties and The Bunnymen made an impact on me. The older boys mentioned the band in 1981 as we were in an empty house larking about at the weekend - remember: Liverpool in the early eighties was quite bleak; we often just went into empty terrace houses and pissed about. It was one Saturday that those older boys what knew about bands raved about The Bunnymen. I was 9. The Toxteth riots were all over the news. I made catapults out of the metal from the discarded bed frame in the empty house. Vivid memories. I love that Will Sergeant is a very grounded fella. I respect that so much. x Tony

[@Anglovox]

Hope you're putting the "Big C" in the rear-view! Top of the health to ya', sir! Godspeed.

[@tiltilton]

Lovely interview. Will’s obviously a class bloke.

[@thomascroft5076]

A great interview, which brought back lots of memories - one of which being of two chumps from The Undertones, as guests on Radio 1's Round Table new releases review show (when the 'Rescue' single came out), saying of Echo & The Bunnymen: 'This band sound like any of the bands you can hear playing in pubs up and down the country, any night of the week.' Idiocy personified! Will Sergeant is an amazing guitar player - his textured and atmospheric blues & rock cliché free contributions, always bringing incredible depth and detail to the Bunnymen's music. His artwork is pretty top-notch too. Although not mentioned here, I'm pretty sure the band drew a lot of their early musical inspiration from Television's 'Marquee Moon' album. The interview also prompted many memories of the Liverpool music scene in the mid to late 1970s (which, before the explosion of local talent ca. 1978, seemed to comprise solely of Deaf School, Nutz, and Body!). I also remember going along to the Revolution Club on Mathew Street (the female staff kitted out like Che Guevara; the band on the night being Nick Lowe's Rockpile), and then the next time I visited, the place had somehow transformed itself into Eric's. It should be mentioned, that although its reputation was primarily based on being the premier Liverpool hangout for seeing punk/post-punk bands, it actually featured an amazing and eclectic range of music - one of the best gigs I recall, being the time its tiny stage hosted the legendary Stanley Clarke Band. Echo & The Bunnymen's run of albums - from 'Crocodiles' to 'Echo & The Bunnymen' - was just fantastic, and pretty near unsurpassed ('Reverberation' being a bit of an oddity), but they were never really the same after Pete De Freitas' tragic death. It's strange how the loss of a single band member can often change the entire sound, or outlook, of a band - but in his case it most certainly did.

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

Been listening to Echo a lot lately and this interview has been a pleasure. Great memories of a great time and Sergeant and Robb had a real good chat with this.

[@nota8386]

This was brilliant...often my favourite part of musician autobiographies is their memories of 70s and 80s Britain...loved Peter Hooks, Morrissey, Bez, Bernard Sumners books for the stories of working class life.This book seems right up my street.Cheers Will and John!

[@ghostdriver7558]

Great interview and what a great bloke, always admired Wills guitar work, and the book sounds like a hoot, have to give it a go.

[@paulmclaughlin350]

Great interview & loved the Bunnyman book by Will. Was lucky enough to spend my student years in Liverpool in the early/mid 80s. Halcyon days

[@pamelad2403]

The Bunnymen are one of my all time favorites, and Will's atmospheric guitar playing was obviously a huge part of their inimitable sound. I first saw them 1984 Boston and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. And I have seen ALOT of concerts. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like it to be honest. EVERY single person in the audience knew and sang every single one of their lyrics. I will have to check out Will's book!

[@anabellelei8540]

November can't get here soon enough, can't wait to read it. I do feel sorry for kids now. That new album smell, feel. Bowie albums were friends. Shows were experiences. Thanks for this!

[@beherenow2409]

Great interview, love the Bunnymen and Will comes across a really sound fella

[@rach623]

It’s a very interesting point that he raises about the time and effort that’s invested into making instruments sound close to perfect only for this generation etcetera to be playing it via crappy phone speakers- David Byrne made the same point when he was talking about his daughter showing him music via a similar medium. It is a bit mad when you think about it.

[@Lanarkish]

This is great. Hearing Will talking so honestly & without any sales pitch (though I have to buy the book!) while the esteemed Mr Robb gently (and so inobtrusively) guides this lengthy interview across such a range of experience. The 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's, 10's and now the 20's... much like Mac & Mr Cope's voices...I have been hearing Will's odd guitar lines across those 6 decades. The decades have been the better for it. Mr Robb - thank you for doing this interview in this way, I think everyone who sits down with a pot of coffee and an hour and forty minutes will feel the better for it. Cheers man!

[@ustheserfs]

john robb is a man who knows. probably the only person who could've pulled off such a meaningful interview with a major 80s musical figure.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Will Sergeant a very influential guitar player

[@royferguson3909]

never heard of him it is me having a joke

[@stevobranno6311]

Banger of an interview..great channel John! Legend x

[@GriefTourist]

Will is great can't wait to meet him in Manchester later this month

[@DavidLee-wj9sp]

I recently discovered and have become hypnotized by the fantastic lead at the end of new direction

[@GuidedByNoises-d4t]

Brilliant interview, good people give good interviews , I met Will once in Liverpool outside O2 academy about 19 years ago before a Bunnymen gig, really nice guy , he's an ordinary human being. He treats people with so much respect. I'm Brazilian music fan, I met bunch of famous people people including Lloyd Cole , the band members of Prefab Sprout but once you meet Will Sergeant you never forget.

[@JOHNROBBofficial]

@LobstairView agreed! He’s a really warm soul. One day I will get to Brazil!

[@jguitar23]

Love hearing Will storify!!

[@JillGill-ej8bk]

I still get butterflies and I’m 63!

[@patmcdonagh8939]

Time flew by too quickly in that brilliant interview - big thanks Will Sergeant & John Robb, really looking forward to revisiting the Bunneymen, a band I thought with a beautiful sound & melodies to throw away - & a name check for one of the greatest live recordings ever made - ‘What Goes On’ on Live ‘69 by the Velvets, pure audio magic..

[@pauljacobson2207]

I want to look at Will's record collection! Cheers Will from Washington DC, fan for 40 years.....met you on your tour bus in 1984; have to add that the live version of What goes on by the Velvets is one of my all time fav songs (for decades!!); now I know the connection.

[@StratsRUs]

What Goes On is superb.

[@lordlockdown64]

Great interview, nice one Will & John

[@STEVEFINNERTY]

This is a great interview, nice one !.

[@dixgun]

So entertaining, informative and relaxing to listen to. Funny stuff as well.

[@jamesjackson-df1hi]

WILL USED TO SEE A GIRL WHO LIVED AT THE TOP OF OUR ROAD IN KIRKBY, LIVERPOOL. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AS A BUNNYMEN FAN WHO USED TO FREQUENT THE BUNNYMENS FLAT IN SEFTON PARK BUMPING INTO HIM BUYING ICE CREAM OFF AN ICE CREAM VAN AT THE TOP OF MY STREET. VERY SURREAL. HI ROBBO, ANOTHER GREAT IN DEPTH INTERVIEW. THANKS.

[@Johnconno]

'Flat'? That's a detached mansion.

[@markmcdonough3561]

Love this interview two top blokes who love their music and so knowledgeable.....

[@billyb6043]

Great interview. If you listen to any influential musician, the one thing they all have in common is ecclectic taste. 'Heaven up here' was the soundtrack to my formative years as a youth. I knew every note, every pause...dark, brooding and strangely unique, epecially the guitar hooks and sound. In later life I worked in a rehearsal studios in Manchester, and made flight cases as a side line. One of the guys there (Pat) was a guitar tech for the Bunnymen and brought in Will's Vox Teardrop for a 'shampoo' and a case alteration...hope you don't mind Will, but I couldn't let it go without playing a few riffs from Killing moon :)

[@josephinecronin1195]

Was hoping you were going to interview him!

[@larryquokka]

have ordered this book

[@lorainefox5926]

I grew up in MELLING so wills book brought back great memories. Loved echo and the bunny men. Grate interview

[@cookiedisco]

really lovely stuff from both sides. Will is a hero

[@JOHNROBBofficial]

He’s great - a proper story teller and really dry and funny and it paints a very accurate picture of that time!

[@cookiedisco]

@@JOHNROBBofficial He sure is & while it's great for us to find out more about him, it's great for him to get his time in some sort of limelight & feel the love which he genuinely enjoys and appreciates. Really liked your style as well and moved the whole thing along wonderfully.

[@julianbrowne7026]

@@cookiedisco I agree wholeheartedly Will is so unique, and only those who really listen closely know he has the key to the inner sanctum.

[@marcusbell5383]

What a legend and the book is superb

[@nodarkthings]

I'll be buying this book. Read Wayne Hussey's book which covers this scene and also of course Julian Cope's Head-On/Repossessed which was amazingly brilliant. I'd love to see you chat with Copey, actually"

[@tolhumexy6706]

Cope's book is the funniest rock book ever. Would also recommend Marc Almond's biography as well.

[@Johnconno]

Julian hasn't been able to speak coherently since 1990.

[@nodarkthings]

@@Johnconno He came here to Hull to give a talk in a local bar in 2015. He spoke for about an hour and a half about all sorts and really blew everyone away!

[@Johnconno]

@@nodarkthings Hull... Eh?

[@chitlun]

@@Johnconno Clearly Julian’s brilliant and eloquently written books and talks on the subject of ancient sites in UK and Europe have eluded you.

[@garethdraper1133]

Ace interview 👌

[@joannecritchley7141]

Love Will and love John Robb, so this is perfection! I live not far from Will, I often see him out and about but I'm too scared to say hi 😂

[@gazriley624]

Will i read your book i'd just like to point out Liverpool is not a small city

[@xwsftassell]

Oh that reminds me. I hitched up to Eric's once to go to a party. Liverpool had that huge Army and Navy place at the time which was the size of a major department store. They had masses of amazing gear in there. Yeah, could buy parachutes and all sorts. I bought of convict boots that had arrows all over them and red steel toecaps.

[@llengsuch3426]

Great interview! And an impressive gourd!

[@markkennedy4936]

I never knew ricky tomlinson was in the bunnymen...great interview..

[@ThaRealChuckD]

I read it. It was great. I always wondered what that drum was on Rose Royce's "Love don't live hear anymore". I remember I was in 5th grade when that song came out. 😏

[@fredjames1328]

At around 30 minutes when talking about section 25 the other band referred to might be ‘In the nursery’ Great interview by the way !

[@davidhope2506]

when he started talkin about the shirts and ties i laughed so much i nearly choked on me revels!!! he's a funny man will. the bunnymen were great obviously.

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

Looking forward to reading his autobiography.

[@boogiewoogie9770]

Always amazed in the 80s whenever I met a footie casuals from Liverpool and all they listened to was Genesis and Pink Floyd etc. No towny chart guff for those boys.

[@garyrigby21]

Melling & Ormskirk are more or less suburbs of Liverpool these days

[@souzajosias1121]

Will, please!! The book is traducion in Brazil? Back to the Bunnymen, Les pattison!!

[@razormansaysuk934]

Agree with matt Hopper - the 'Drulian' of Cope would be scintillating!

[@royferguson3909]

will is so honest, I ( for one ) applaud his retric. bbhe is a BUNNYMEN....personified thank fuck for spell - check p.s. the BUNNYMEN changed my life....forever. and I am so grateful.... to this very day .

[@paulmartin3682]

Fab interview. Sacrilege to throw a Zappa album at anyone though. Deffo buying the book.

[@tiannaumann]

I wish I could interview Will Sergeant to heap praise on the criminally underrated 'Reverberation' with Noel Burke, it easily could have been a start to a new group akin to Spiritualized born from Spacemen 3. (The non-album singles were clearly a 2nd album that could have been)

[@chitlun]

Great interview John. You mentioned the Futurama gigs, maybe get an interview with John Keenan, I’m sure he’d have a tale or two from back in the day… New sub here for thee, cheers.

[@richardclegg5853]

Why are so many of the lead guitarists so cool, well adjusted and the lead singers such arrogant douches? Doesn't really matter I guess, at the end of the day, made some of the greatest music of my generation... the last 30 seconds of The Cutter still gives me chills 40(ish) years later...

[@Ale-nj3gr]

Watching from SP Brazil.

[@powrxplor69]

I think the group Will's thinking about at around the 29:00 minute mark could be 23 skidoo? Also, love that the dude conducting the interview looks like he's filming it from his shed lol

[@manoutoftime9057]

The dude is founding member of the Membranes.

[@powrxplor69]

@@manoutoftime9057 that's cool, I'm only vaguely familiar with the name, fairly certain I haven't heard of their tracks..original 70s UK punk right

[@julianbrowne7026]

Will I think you were remembering The Monochrome Set when talking Section 25.

[@chrisburke318]

Is that a coincidental connection to Will behind Mr. Robb's head I note? An edition of Cope's "Modern Antiquarian".

[@beandipcartography]

Good eye !

[@joemartines3545]

Did he have the guitar with the pictures of Oswald, Manson, etc.?

[@williamr3840]

21:21 That happens on the white album. :0)

[@stevenball8444]

Picked up his book in FOYLES and had a gander.....Very interesting bloke.

[@STEVEFINNERTY]

top interview/chat

[@earinsound]

28:54 he's talking about 23 Skidoo maybe?

[@mjcoombe]

That's what I thought!

[@fredjames1328]

Possibly ‘in the nursery’

[@Blonde_Somnambulist]

Stranglers and the Bunnies , the sounds of my youth .......and now old age 😆

[@johnmorgan5495]

Will is developing into Ricky Tomlinson, which is not a criticism .

[@Johnconno]

Everyone born or has lived here for a long time eventually turns into Mr Tomlinson. Some are in their early '20s and all I can think is Tomlinson, Tomlinson, Tomlinson...

[@royferguson3909]

First class comment, I did not want to express this. Top comment

[@gazriley624]

Charity shops are rubbish now except for in Australia the op shops over there are great

[@lennon1482]

he call melling a town? it's a few closes were the kirby heads live when they make a few quid if you know what I mean

[@xwsftassell]

Wow. Didn't know that about Casdon Soccer.

[@TheMusicalElitist]

Reading the book now and it’s funny and truthful

[@deletebilderberg]

Sneaked me into soundcheck when they supported NO over here in ‘87. I was always a bigger NO fan than Echo but the scousers were on better form that evening in Santa Barbara!

[@travisr.9789]

i saw that same tour in Denver, Red Rocks....and Echo was great.

[@John_F898]

I saw Echo in Santa Barbara that year, but remember NO. I believe echo headlined the show I saw. Don’t even remember an opening band.

[@terrypmusic]

01:21 Very good..

[@PeppyOoze]

Julian Cope listened to the Velvet Underground 3 months before Ian McCulloch did.

[@royferguson3909]

wow, you so hip, twisting my ....bollox .

[@jasonwilson665]

How good was that?. The best one yet

[@fluxfotos22]

We used to make smoke bomb's in the 70's from chemicals like salt peter and sulphur. Then set them of in red telephone booth's.Setting bangers of in people's letter boxes was also a popular pass time.

[@stuartcarswell2815]

Stockholm monsters was it?

[@chrisburke318]

Actually, even though Tull formed in Blackpool, their original bass player - Glenn Cornick - came from Barrow.

[@PALACEKAV]

Aah, the Bert Weedon guitar book....

[@royferguson3909]

back of the net

[@kkeegan32]

I'm from Los Angeles and l remember l was about 10 and the kids were all cutting tin can lids into Kung Fu throwing stars 😅⭐️

[@ElectricLabel]

I actually had to interrupt listening to Will to go and listen to Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon because it IS a fucking masterpiece, as Will so rightly points out.

[@gazfunk]

The guys in the socks. I think he might be talking about 23 Skidoo.

[@suescott2348]

I think it's Dance Chapter ... from Leeds

[@gazfunk]

@@suescott2348 Could be. I thought it might be 23 Skidoo because they had two Asian brothers in the band. I’m not sure of their heritage. They also Played with the Bunnymen back in the day.. The name is also easy to to confuse with Section 25 lol

[@suescott2348]

@@gazfunk In retrospect, I think you are right. I was thinking of Cyrus Brutton but socks and sandals were maybe not DC style!

[@TheRaptorXX]

John, some Monkey Boots acually HAD Monkey written in the grips on the sole... ;-)

[@Blonde_Somnambulist]

True 👍

[@josephinecronin1195]

Excellent Blackpool chat hidden in this too.

[@JOHNROBBofficial]

I always have to get Blackpool in there somehow!

[@josephinecronin1195]

@@JOHNROBBofficial got some excellent gear in Blackpool charity shops in the early 80s . There was also what would now be called a “vintage” store called The Way We Were near the ABC cinema.

[@urrrccckostan]

23 Skidoo

[@thehowlingterror]

👍

[@jamesjackson-df1hi]

GREAT STORIES FROM WILL, MUST'VE BEEN A SCOUSE THING EH.

[@williamr3840]

Will, get some hairspray! :0)

[@garyrigby21]

i love the Bunnymen and Will is a legend but it makes me cringe a bit when he says early doors ha ha

[@StratsRUs]

Will didn't say ' Cultural' once.

[@owensmith4303]

echo came to ocean city maryland

[@zetetick395]

He looks a bit Ricky Tomlinson here

[@owensmith4303]

cant understand acent too thick

[@urrrccckostan]

Try turning in the closed captioning, it’s fairly accurate

[@christophercurtis2893]

Everyone wrote a book during lockdown. Not fair on the struggling writers who have been trying to get published/noticed and at it for years.

[@earinsound]

if they failed to get published for years before lockdown how's that Will Sergeant's fault? LOL

[@tintomara6209]

Yeah it's not fair that the guy has fans who want to read his story is it?

[@joannecritchley7141]

Oh come on! He has a story that everyone wants to read. Why's that a problem?

[@StratsRUs]

Will just wrote a book for fans of his music, , at the very least, anyway.I only met him the once and he was great.Go hassle Moz

[@christophercurtis2893]

@@StratsRUs Who is hassling? Many musicians wrote books during lockdown. It's the same as writers from the 80s making music and getting deals. Not fair on aspiring musicians. Don't take it personally, you're not getting anything out of this.

[@Johnconno]

Liverpool's let itself go.

[@joeydowney2865]

what?

[@garyrigby21]

it's improved itself to be honest

[@Johnconno]

Lovely man, different to the usual twats. 🧠🏌️