The CAT Club (Classic Album Thursdays)

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record . . . DAVID BOWIE – BLACK STAR with special guest PAUL MORLEY The visionary and haunting Blackstar was released in January 2016 on Bowie’s birthday and just two days before his untimely death. Writer, broadcaster and cultural critic Paul Morley has written about music, art & entertainment since the 1970s. A founding member of the electronic collective Art Of Noise, he is the author of the bestselling biography The Age Of Bowie. His other books include biographies of Grace Jones, Dylan, Joy Division and Tony Wilson. He was an artistic advisor for The David Bowie Is exhibition at the V&A. His latest book is the acclaimed Far Above The World – The Time And Space Of David Bowie. In the interviewer’s chair was AMANDA COOK. This event took place on 29 January 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents An Audience with Jethro Tull guitarist MARTIN BARRE – A Life In Music His iconic riff in Jethro Tull’s 'Aqualung' is widely recognised as one of the best in rock history and was also voted as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time by Guitar Player magazine readers. From 1968 to 2014, his guitar work defined much of the band's sound, contributing to their success and enduring popularity. Martin played on all of Jethro Tull's studio albums. Beyond his time with Jethro Tull, Martin Barre has pursued a successful solo career, releasing albums that showcase his versatility across rock, blues, and acoustic music genres. Martin Barre's contributions to music have been recognised with numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1989. His innovative guitar playing has inspired countless musicians across various genres, cementing his influence in the music industry. He talked and entertained a sold-out audience about his extraordinary life and of his new book, 'A Trick of Memory: The Autobiography of Jethro Tull's Guitarist.’ Jason Barnard in the interviewer’s chair had to be on top form to keep the great man on track, which he did admirably. This event took place on 11 December 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club in association with Strangebrew podcasts presents An Audience with MARK WEBBER Mark Webber first discovered Pulp as a teenage fan in 1985. He soon began helping with stage sets and light shows, later becoming the band’s tour manager and fan club organiser. In 1995, he officially joined the group as guitarist during the creation of 'Different Class.' Mark joined us to share his extraordinary journey from devoted fan to band member. In a fascinating interview he also talked about his acclaimed visual history, 'I’m With Pulp, Are You?' He also offered fresh insights into Pulp’s celebrated 2023 return, including the award-winning and acclaimed album, 'More.' In the interviewer’s chair was JASON BARNARD from The Strange Brew Podcasts.. This event took place on 23 October 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents RINGO STARR – An Appreciation with special guest and Ringo Starr biographer TOM DOYLE Ringo Starr’s story is the ride of a lifetime, from his brushes with death as a child brought up in poverty, through to dizzying heights of fame and success with the most famous band in the world. He then had to cope with life outside of it all, including a film career, children’s TV narrator, furniture designer and marriage to a Bond girl, before eventually finding peace and sobriety as one of the elder statesmen of rock. Tom Doyle is the critically acclaimed author of numerous music books, including Running Up That Hill, the award winning 2022 study of Kate Bush. He is also a musician and songwriter and has written for Smash Hits, Q and Mojo. His new book is called Ringo – A Fab Life. Former Fall drummer and Ringo Starr Fan, PAUL HANLEY was in the interviewer’s chair. This event took place on 27th November 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record . . . BE-BOP DELUXE – SUNBURST FINISH with special guest JOHN LECKIE Sunburst Finish, from 1976, is often described as the finest hour for both Be-Bop Deluxe & Bill Nelson. Before making his debut as a producer on this classic album, John Leckie worked as a tape operator and engineer with such artists as George Harrison, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney & Wings, Mott The Hoople, Soft Machine, John Lennon, Derek & The Dominos, Steve Harley and Kevin Ayers. His role as a producer has seen John working alongside The Fall, Simple Minds, Stone Roses, XTC, Radiohead, Magazine, The Verve, Suede, Los Lobos, The Levellers, Human League, The La’s, Andy White, The Coral, Muse Cowboy Junkies, Roy Harper, Dr John, Robyn Hitchcock, New Order and many, many others. It’s an engaging and fascinating gathering with the true story being revealed what really happened in 1975 during the recording of Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here,’ concerning a certain former member of the band. In the interviewer’s chair was JASON BARNARD from The Strange Brew Podcasts.. This event took place on 25th September 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record . . . THE KINKS ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY with special guest CHRIS WADE Many regard 'The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society' as Ray Davies’ magnum opus. We were delighted to welcome Chris Wade along to explore the ins & outs of that 1968 album and the work of one of the greatest bands of all time. Chris is a prolific writer, musician, filmmaker and artist. He is also known for his renowned music project Dodson & Fogg. He has written music books about Bob Dylan, Madonna, Zappa, Lady Gaga, Hawkwind, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Donovan, The Beatles, Neil Young, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Lou Reed, Captain Beefheart, The Velvet Underground, The Stranglers & Lindisfarne amongst many others. His critically acclaimed book, 'The Kinks Are The Village Green' was published in 2017. Chris has also had works of fiction and poetry published and he’s also written about/or worked with James Woods, Dennis Hopper, Donald Sutherland, Oliver Stone, Jeff Bridges, Stacy Keach, Catherine Deneuve, Sharon Stone, Roger McGough, Ian Anderson, Paul Auster, Michael Palin, Nigel Planer, Toyah, Scarlet Rivera, Celia Humphris and Henry Jaglom. In the interviewer’s chair was JASON BARNARD from The Strange Brew Podcasts.. This event took place on 17th July 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents An Audience with PAUL JONES Nine top 10 singles (including two number ones) as a member of one of the iconic bands of the sixties and also as a solo singer and so much more . . . Paul Jones was the original frontman of Manfred Mann from 1962 to 1966 and co-wrote the signature tune for Ready, Steady, Go! Paul, who is also one of the great harmonica players, was at the forefront of the sixties pop revolution, with million-selling and number one records alongside the likes of The Kinks, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and The Animals. After leaving Manfred Mann, Paul scored solo hits and embarked on a successful acting career. He formed the highly regarded Blues Band in 1979 and toured and recorded with them for over forty years. Paul presented The Blues Show on BBC Radio 2 from 1986 to 2018. With the Manfreds, he still is touring alongside various members of Manfred Mann. In the interviewer’s chair was JASON BARNARD from The Strange Brew Podcasts.. This event took place on 19th June, 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album: THE WEDDING PRESENT – GEORGE BEST with special guest DAVID GEDGE We were absolutely delighted to welcome Wedding Present songwriter and singer, David Gedge to talk about one of the great debut albums, 'George Best.' “George Best triumphantly confirms that unique standing, being both a surprise and a thing of beauty” (NME 1987). “The boy Gedge has written some of the best love songs of the rock ‘n’ roll era. You may dispute this, but I’m right and you’re wrong!” – John Peel In the interviewer’s chair was AMANDA COOK. “I had a really enjoyable time at the CAT Club. Everyone was very friendly and the event was meticulously planned. The amount of research and preparation that had been put into my appearance by Amanda, Rev and the CAT Club team was staggering!” David Gedge. This event took place on 26th June in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album: MAGAZINE – REAL LIFE with special guest HELEN CHASE Magazine’s strength lay in their ability to marry together punk roots, a vision of the future and a keen literary mind. This can be a fine line to walk without falling off to one side or the other, but Magazine walked it superbly with ‘Real Life.’ Helen Chase’s revised and updated edition of ‘Magazine: The Biography' tells the story of the iconic band formed by Howard Devoto after he left Buzzcocks. It’s a riveting insight into a greatly respected and hugely influential band whose music remains fresh and relevant today. In the interviewer’s chair was JASON BARNARD. This event took place on 29th May in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

A CAT Club presentation AN AUDIENCE WITH JOHN ALTMAN John Altman has four Lifetime Achievement Awards and four Grammy Participation Certificates. He has composed music for over fifty movies – winning, and being nominated for BAFTAS, Golden Globes, Golden Reels and Emmy Awards long the way for Titanic, Monty Python’s Life Of Brian, Goldeneye, Hear My Song, Sheltering Sky, Léon: The Professional, RKO281, The Roman Spring Of Mrs. Stone, Little Voice and No Time To Die. A gifted arranger, John has worked on 19 platinum albums, including George Michael's 1989 album Faith, which won several Grammys (he was also nominated for The Rutles film, All You Need Is Cash). Some of the artists he has written for include Simple Minds, Barry White, Tina Turner, Björk, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Pretenders, Rod Stewart and Michael Jackson. As an in-demand woodwind player, he has played with artists as diverse as Prince, Nick Drake, Muddy Waters, Peter Green, Kevin Ayers, Amy Winehouse (whom he mentored) and he was also musical director for Hot Chocolate and Van Morrison. As a jazz musician and band leader John has played with Chet Baker, Slim Gaillard, Quincy Jones, Bud Freeman, Les McCann and many others. A renowned raconteur, Altman’s acclaimed autobiography, Hidden Man was published in 2022 by Equinox. This terrific CAT Club gathering saw JASON BARNARD in the interviewer’s chair doing a splendid job opposite the truly wonderful JOHN ALTMAN. Please note: John was also our guest for George Michael’s Faith album. Podcast also available and well worth a listen! Happy Trails This event took place on 24th April 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.

OH MERCY – BOB DYLAN with special guest Michael Gray In 1989 Bob Dylan appeared to be a busted flush, the God bothering had faded and the glory decades were long gone but with Daniel Lanois at the helm ‘Oh Mercy’ smashed any preconceptions of creative malaise and delivered his most vital work for years. For many ‘Oh Mercy' was a gateway drug to both Dylan and the genre of Americana. It is a genuine classic album that stands up to repeated listens.” (Rolling Stone). MICHAEL GRAY was the man who in 1972 wrote the first critical study of Bob Dylan’s work – the first to take him seriously as an artist and to discuss his work alongside that of the literary majors – all this more than 40 years before Dylan received the Nobel Prize for Literature. Michael has remained at the forefront of Dylan Studies and his books are widely used in colleges and libraries on both sides of the Atlantic. We were delighted to welcome the author of ‘Song & Dance Man,’ ‘The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia’ and ‘Outtakes On Bob Dylan’ for what proved to be a memorable evening – Dr. Michael Gray. This event took place on 26th September 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album: COMBAT ROCK – THE CLASH Released in 1982, ‘Combat Rock’ covers old ground with almost gleeful energy, stakes out new territory with confidence, and delivers more than enough timeless classics to make it stand proudly next to any of their earlier work. With special guest CHRIS SALEWICZ The author of Redemption Song: 'The Definitive Biography Of Joe Strummer,' Chris Salewicz was an intimate friend with Joe Strummer for over 25 years. An NME golden era veteran, he has written seventeen books, including acclaimed biographies of Paul McCartney, Bob Marley and Jimmy Page. The first group that Chris saw was the Beatles. CHRIS MADDEN was in the interviewer’s chair. This event took place on 16th January 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album: THE CURE – THE HEAD ON THE DOOR with special guest DAVID M ALLEN Released in 1985, 'The Head On The Door' was The Cure’s first real international success. At the helm during the recording of this terrific classic album was producer David M Allen. David is also an engineer and mixer. He has worked with The Sisters Of Mercy, The Chameleons, Depeche Mode, The Mission, The Associates, The Human League, Wire, Clan Of Xymox, Gianna Nannini, Shelleyan Orphan, Neneh Cherry, The Psychedelic Furs, Richard Strange and The Damned. AMANDA COOK was in the interviewer’s chair opposite the delightful David M Allen and a splendid time was had by all. This event took place on 27th March 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album: GRACE JONES – SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM with special guest BRUCE WOOLLEY Bruce Woolley co-wrote all the songs on Grace Jones’ classic album from 1985, 'Slave To The Rhythm' and he plays guitar, bass and keyboards on the album, as well as singing background vocals. His band, Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club, recorded 'Video Killed The Radio Star' first, a song Woolley co-wrote with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. Woolley’s songs have been recorded by Cher, Erasure, Tori Amos, John Farnham, Donna Summer, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Dusty Springfield. He is also the co-founder of The Radio Science Orchestra that composes for major films, television and radio. Bruce Woolley has worked with Brian Eno, Sly & Robbie, Nile Rodgers, Thomas Dolby and many others. With JASON BARNARD was in the interviewer’s chair opposite the delightful Mr Bruce Woolley and a splendid time was had by all. This event took place on 27th February 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album: LIVE AT THE WITCH TRIALS – THE FALL with special guests MARK HOYLE & PAUL HANLEY An incendiary debut album, Live At The Witch Trials introduces The Fall as 'northern white crap that talks back'. And so it was for the next four decades: abrasive, non-conformist, literate, witty, rhythmic. It was a sound and attitude obsessed over by two teenage Mancunians, Paul Hanley and Mark Hoyle. Mark took great inspiration from the album when fronting his own band, Dub Sex, and Paul would later join The Fall himself on drums. Both will talk about the music scene in Manchester around the time, and the impact this record and The Fall had on it. This event took place on 30th January 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.

A CAT Club presentation in association with Strange Brew podcasts: AN AUDIENCE WITH KEN SCOTT “The venue, the team and the audience were all wonderful and made my presentation at the CAT Club totally enjoyable. Thank you everyone!” Ken Scott. Here’s a lovely write up from our good friend Elliot Smaje (he of Wall of Sound Records fame) about the final CAT Club gathering of 2024. Following on from the great Phill Brown just a few weeks prior to this event we saw another producer/engineer – the legend that is KEN SCOTT on the CAT Club stage in The Robin Hood's Pigeon Loft in Pontefract before another sold out audience . . . "Tonight's CAT Club ends a magnificent year of events with yet another triumph. Entertaining and engaging from start to finish, Ken Scott, along with the insightful interviewing skills of Jason Barnard presented us with 13 tracks that served as an overview of his extensive career in the world of music. Whilst looking at the list, one might conclude that it's a case of being in the right place at the right time, but it is clear from Ken's modest recount of his history that he has achieved what he has firstly by knowledge and also by passion. Maybe he was fortuitous to have found an industry that was still in it's infancy in discovering new sounds and techniques and technology and was still very open to being a place where the enthusiast was welcome to come in and have space to prove themselves, but he still had to prove his merit in being able to do that. The fact that he was in the mix on Beatles recordings very quickly and progressed up the ranks of responsibilities is a testimony to that ability. And as he also said, there's a percentage of being able to get on with people in there too and it was abundantly clear that Ken charmed the room within minutes with his insider stories of the making of these great records. Also of note is the diversity along the length of his career, starting at EMI Abbey Road and working with the likes of The Beatles and then to Trident Studios and collaborations with Bowie and Lou Reed. Then on to the likes of Elton John and Supertramp before exploring the world of jazz fusion and latterly Americana. But ultimately Ken was a great listen and I sure that we could have happily heard hours more of the same because ultimately as fans, hearing about things first hand is always that nth degree better. Thanks to Jason Barnard for great interviewing, Rev Reynolds for keeping us all in order, Drey for sound and making the ladies luurve, Lee and Stacey for hosting, Amanda Cooke for new found raffle technique and Liz Wheeldon for being book mistress for the night. The CAT Club has been like Crufts this year. It's attracted the best, the cream ( and the sons of!) the best of breed, the pedigree and the pedigree have loved being here. The CAT Club has become pedigree chums. Here's to 2025." Elliot Smaje. Very special thanks to JASON BARNARD of Strange Brew podcasts for his stint in the interviewer's chair and for all the time and effort he put into this one. This event took place on 12th December 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.

The CAT Club, in association with Strange Brew podcasts, presents a classic vinyl album:: OGDENS’ NUT GONE FLAKE – THE SMALL FACES There was no shortage of outstanding psychedelic albums in the late 1960s, but the Small Faces classic Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, proved to be one of the greatest. With special guest PHILL BROWN A sixteen year old called Phill Brown was the tape operator on Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake. Not only did he talk to a captivated CAT Club audience about that album but he regaled us with many a fine tale from his career as an engineer and producer. Working with the Stones, Hendrix, Bob Marley, Nilsson, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Talk Talk and many, many others, including fellow legendary producer, Glyn Johns (and not working with Morrissey and the Smiths) had our jaws dropping and smiles on our faces. Only the proverbial tip of the iceberg was covered which is a good reason to have Phill Brown back at The CAT Club sometime in the future. Meanwhile, we recommend Phill’s fine memoir ‘Are We Still Rolling? Studios, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll – One Man's Journey Recording Classic Albums.’ JASON BARNARD of Strange Brew podcasts was in the interviewer’s chair. This event took place on 28th November 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.

AN AUDIENCE WITH IAN RANKIN A Life in Music . . The superb Inspector Rebus novels are littered with musical references throughout, so we were delighted when legendary award winning author, Sir Ian Rankin agreed to come along to talk about his own life with our favourite art form. Originally, Ian’s friend (and also a best selling Scottish author), John Niven was to be the interviewer, but an important business trip to New Orleans came along and alternative arrangements had to be made. The CAT Club’s very own AMANDA COOK stepped into the breach and made us all so proud of her. After a brief chat about Ian’s latest blockbuster release, ‘Midnight and Blue,’ the musical tastes of John Rebus did indeed feature in a fascinating evening with a true giant of the wonderful world of literature. Ian took us on a personal journey through his life explaining how music played such an important role along the way. As well as being a great novelist, Ian is also a great raconteur with a terrific sense of humour and he captivated the sold audience for over two memorable hours. Special thanks to Amanda Cook for a terrific stint in the interviewer's chair. This event took place on 21st November 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN with special guest ARTHUR BROWN. The eponymous ‘The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown,’ which included the smash hit single ‘Fire,’ was released in 1968. With Vincent Crane on keyboards, Drachen Theaker on drums and Nick Greenwood (billed as Sean Nicholas) on bass guitar, and with Brown’s extraordinary vocals, it was perhaps an album that could never be repeated and it remains an exhilarating slice of psychedelia at its prime and extremity. Arthur Brown is a seminal figure in the realm of psychedelic rock. Emerging in the late 1960s, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown melded surreal stage antics with pioneering sounds, cementing their place in rock history. Brown's captivating persona, marked by his operatic voice and wild, face-painted performances (including wearing a flaming helmet during the rendering of 'Fire') became a hallmark of their shows, influencing future generations of theatrical rock artists. Their music remains a symbol of the experimental and boundary-pushing spirit of the psychedelic era, continuing to inspire with their enduring legacy and ongoing musical contributions. Arthur Brown’s influence on shock, progressive rock and on electronic and heavy metal music also cannot be underestimated. It was a fascinating interview with a fascinating man that included one of Arthur’s famous helmets being set alight on the CAT Club stage during the video screening of the legendary 1968 Top of the Pops performance of ‘Fire!’ The gathering culminated with a stunning live performance with Arthur singing ‘I Put A Spell On You’ along to the original backing track ripped from the featured album. JASON BARNARD did an admirable job in the interviewer’s chair it must be said. This event took place on 24th October 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

NEBRASKA – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN A CAT Club presentation in association with the E Street and Strange Brew Podcasts. Recorded on four-track cassette in his New Jersey bedroom, 'Nebraska' has proved one of Springsteen’s most enduring works. A raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching not for salvation through music, but simply a reason to believe. JASON BARNARD & JEFF MATTHEWS headed up our panel. Jason’s Strange Brew Music podcasts are in the top 1.5% in the world. Jeff is the host of the acclaimed E Street Cafe podcasts and veteran of around one hundred Springsteen live shows over 43 years. It was a fascinating event with a special live performance of the title track by Liverpool legend and one of the finest singer/songwriters on the current music scene, Robert Vincent. This event took place on 12th September 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.