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Oh! Brother

Paul and Steve Hanley

Tales from one of Britain's most influential post-punk bands, The Fall. From the rhythm section that brought you Hex Enduction Hour, brothers Paul and Steve Hanley provide insight and anecdotes from their time in the band, along with interviews with other members, people involved with the band and fans from the world of music and beyond.

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24 episodes
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Avg 55 min
English

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Friday · 48 min
SIMON ARMITAGE - Reddish Light Arches
Recorded live at Futures and Pasts, this special episode of Oh! Brother sees Paul and Steve joined on stage by the Poet Laureate himself, Simon Armitage. Simon looks back on discovering The Fall as a teenager, his early gigs, and what it is about Mark E. Smith's lyrics that has captivated so many writers. There's talk of poetry, songwriting and life as Poet Laureate, a few brief encounters with Mark, and a moving poem written after his death. Thanks again to Simon and everyone involved with Futures and Pasts, hope you enjoy!
September 11 · 39 min
BARRY SUTTON - Beatnik Hurricane
This week Paul and Steve welcome Liverpool musician Barry Sutton, former Fall roadie and founder of Beatnik Hurricane. Barry recalls hearing Slates at 15, abandoning prog on the spot and beginning his long association with The Fall. He also covers the drum stands he may or may not have set up, his expulsion from school and his family's habit of setting off fire alarms. Paul and Steve also ask him about Beatnik Hurricane's film Sketches of Skem. Hope you enjoy!
August 28 · 1 hr 10 min
BADLY DRAWN BOY - Something To Talk About
This week on Oh! Brother, we were thrilled to welcome Manchester music legend and Mercury Prize-winner Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Gough) to the show. Damon talks us through his early days as a tape-op at Square One Studios in Bury, his years at print works and music college, and how hearing Springsteen and The Stranglers sparked his obsession with sound. We also hear the full story of how Mark E. Smith mistook him for a taxi driver outside Night and Day — complete with false teeth and a Pet Sounds cassette — leading to their collaboration on "Calendar", plus Damon reflects on life after quitting the booze, his friendship with Mark over the years, and the John Spencer Blues Explosion gig that changed everything. Hope you enjoy!
August 14 · 45 min
BC CAMPLIGHT - A Sober Conversation
This week on Oh! Brother, we welcome BC Camplight — aka Brian Christinzio. Brian discusses discovering the piano as a child, beginning his career in Philadelphia and finding a new home in Manchester. He also recalls his unusual introduction to The Fall, reflects on his approach to recording and production, and prepares to reinterpret songs covered by the band for Futures and Pasts. Hope you enjoy!
August 3 · 50 min
KATE THEMEN - Kicking Against Tradition
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to welcome drummer and academic Kate Themen to the show. Kate talks us through being recruited by Julia Nagle to play three shows with The Fall in April 1998, rehearsing the material at short notice, and joining Mark E. Smith and Julia on stage at Dingwalls and Reading — where the unpredictable performances included a brief appearance from dancer Michael Clark and objects being thrown from the audience. We also hear about Kate’s band Polythene, her later musical projects, and her memories of appearing as an extra alongside Karen Leatham in the independent film Glow Boys. Plus, Kate discusses her academic work on women’s football, the continuing struggle for equality within the game, football clubs’ responsibilities to their communities, and her hopes of returning to drumming after recovering from injury.
July 20 · 51 min
ROB BARBATO - Mondays In Spaceland
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to welcome Rob Barbato to the show. Rob talks us through joining The Fall at short notice in 2006, learning the set on the fly, touring America, recording with Mark E. Smith in Los Angeles, and coming to Manchester for The Fall’s 30th-anniversary show at New Century Hall in 2006. We also chat about the creative freedom and unpredictability of working with Mark, the appeal of songs such as “Blindness” and “Reformation”, and Rob’s later career as a producer, session musician and composer for film, television and advertising. Plus, Rob discusses his work with Squeaky Clean, his forthcoming recording project with Vivian Girls, the importance of preserving human imperfections in an increasingly digital music world, and the friendships he made through The Fall.
July 6 · 52 min
ERWIN BLOM - Noisy Buggers
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to welcome Erwin Blom to the show. Erwin takes us back to the late-70s Dutch punk scene and the formation of Eton Crop, talks about touring Holland and England, recording five Peel Sessions, and supporting The Fall — including memories of Amsterdam’s Paradiso, freezing nights in the van, and seeing Mark E. Smith halt The Fall mid-set. We also chat about post-punk DIY culture, touring behind the Iron Curtain in Poland and Hungary, Erwin’s later work in journalism and digital media, and his enthusiasm for AI as a new do-it-yourself tool. Plus, there’s talk of Pip Blom, the realities of life in today’s music industry, and why making music still means making friends for life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 19 · 1 hr 33 min
STEVE DIGGLE - Alive Tonight
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to welcome Steve Diggle for a live episode covering his early life, the formation of Buzzcocks, and the first rush of punk in Manchester. We look back on 60s music, dead-end jobs, the Lesser Free Trade Hall, Spiral Scratch, Howard Devoto’s exit, and writing songs with Pete Shelley. Later on, audience questions bring in Manchester venues, B-sides, fashion, schooldays, fellow travellers from the class of 1976, and Buzzcocks’ place in the city’s wider story. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 5 · 59 min
TOMMY CROOKS - When You're Out Of Rocks, Give Them Real Soap
This week, Tommy Crooks joins us to talk art school, painting, Provence, East Lothian, and the chance meeting with Mark E. Smith on Leith Walk that led, somehow, to The Fall. Along the way, we get into first hearing “Totally Wired”, Craig Scanlon’s exit, Lucy Rimmer’s letter, Brix’s last gig in Motherwell, rehearsals in Levenshulme, Jilly’s, Cardiff with Super Furry Animals, recording Levitate, the Irish dates, the US tour, and the final meltdown at Brownies. Tommy also talks about what came after: floor sanding, renovating old houses, and building a soap business. Hope you enjoy! We're thrilled to have Tommy exhibiting and attending "The Fall: Futures and Pasts" this weekend, hope to see you there! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 22 · 48 min
JON SPENCER - Get Up & Do It
Joining us this week, the inimitable Jon Spencer. Jon talks us through Pussy Galore, Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash, working with Steve Albini, US punk networks, record shops, and his current band. We also get onto The Fall, Jon supporting them on the 1993 US tour, infamous gigs in Philadelphia, Reading and Connecticut, Brix, Mark E. Smith, Elena, bass amps, rockabilly, the Brix-era records, and imitating Steve’s bass sound. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 8 · 49 min
PAUL RESEARCH - Your Attention Please
This week on Oh! Brother, we’re joined by Paul Research of Scars. Paul talks Edinburgh punk, Fast Product, Horrorshow, touring with The Human League, and the making of Author! Author! There’s Fall chat too: Live at the Witch Trials, meeting Mark E. Smith and Kay Carroll, Martin Bramah’s guitar, and Marc Riley’s long-standing support for Scars. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 24 · 50 min
BRIAN TURNER - The Villagers Dance Round
This week on Oh! Brother, Paul and Steve are joined by Brian Turner. Brian talks about discovering The Fall in small-town Pennsylvania, catching the band live in the US, and how that fascination grew into radio specials, archive digging and sleeve-note work. There’s also chat about WFMU, East Village Radio, Yoko Ono, Eleni Poulou, Marc Riley, and the strange world of Fall live recordings and reissues. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 10 · 52 min
MICK MIDDLES - And They Will Ask Me
Joining us this week on Oh! Brother, Manc music scribe Mick Middles. We dig into the DIY fanzine boom—spilling ink on buses, dodging bricks from Teds at the Electric Circus, writing for Sounds. Also: touring NY with New Order, plus writing books on Frank Sidebottom and Les Dawson, as well as writing with Mark, of course. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 27 · 1 hr 4 min
LIVE - Prestwich Arts Festival
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to present a live episode with Simon Wolstencroft, with Craig Scanlon joining later on, for a spirited look back at The Fall in 1994. Simon and the Hanleys revisit Middle Class Revolt, Peel sessions, a US tour, shifting line-ups, Brix’ return, Julia Nagle’s arrival, and the usual road-bound chaos. Later, Craig joins the conversation for audience questions, memories, credits, grievances, and a few welcome detours along the way. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 13 · 48 min
DAVID GEDGE - Orange Slices and That Fall LP
This week on Oh! Brother, we’re joined by David Gedge. David talks about growing up in Manchester, forming The Wedding Present in Leeds, John Peel’s early support, the band’s rise through the indie scene, the famous run of monthly singles, and working with Steve Albini. There’s plenty of Fall chat too, including first hearing Live at the Witch Trials, seeing the band in 1979, meeting Mark E. Smith, and why Hex Enduction Hour is forever linked in his mind with orange slices. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 27 · 52 min
SPIDER STACY - A Man You Don't Meet Everyday
This week on Oh! Brother, we were chuffed to have the one and only Spider Stacy on the pod. Spider takes us right back to the pre‑Pogues days (the New Bastards, Millwall Chainsaws, Burton Street squats), the Ramones at the Roundhouse encounter with Shane, and how those first “Irish rebel songs” gigs snowballed from Cabaret Futura to suddenly packed rooms. We also get into The Nips, Elvis Costello taking them out on the road, studio realities on Rum Sodomy & the Lash (whistle overdubs and all), and his first proper brush with The Fall via Peel and Industrial Estate. Plus: Ronnie Drew and the Dubliners, the Jack’s Heroes chaos, and what it’s been like keeping the songs alive with the post‑Shane live shows. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 13 · 1 hr 8 min
ADAM BUXTON - Dr Buckles' Letter
This week on Oh! Brother, we're delighted to welcome comedian and podcaster Adam Buxton. Adam discusses discovering The Fall as a student in the early 1990s, his memorable encounter with Mark E. Smith for television, and his reflections on that experience years later. We also chat about his career in radio, his long-running podcast, and his recent conversation with David Byrne. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 30 · 56 min
NICHOLAS BLINCOE - All Hail the New Puritan
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to welcome author, screenwriter and critic Nicholas Blincoe to the show. Nicholas talks us through discovering The Fall via Dragnet as a teenager in Rochdale, his early days in post-punk bands, and how a Factory Records hip-hop project with Greg Keeffe from Big Flame briefly put him on the other side of the microphone. We also chat about his novels shaped by Manchester's music and queer scenes, his years living between London and Palestine, co-founding the New Puritans literary movement, and his new book Oliver Twist and Me — which uncovers his family's surprising connection to Dickens. Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 16 · 41 min
ADRIAN SHERWOOD - Two Semitones and a Raver
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to welcome producer and On‑U Sound founder Adrian Sherwood to the show. Adrian talks us through first meeting Mark E. Smith in Rough Trade, working with The Fall on Slates and later Extricate, and the studio tricks (and “anti‑production” ethos) that shaped those records. We also chat Prince Far I, John Peel, Tackhead and Lee “Scratch” Perry and hear about his recent move from behind the desk to performing live. Hope you enjoy! Follow us below: • Twitter: https://x.com/OhBrotherShow • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohbrothershow/ • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ohbrotherpodcast7394 • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ohbrothershow.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2025 · 55 min
DOMINIC BRUNT - Hard Life In Country
This week on Oh! Brother, we were delighted to welcome actor, director and horror fan Dominic Brunt to the show. Best known as Paddy from Emmerdale, Dominic talks us through discovering The Fall via Mr Pharmacist, seeing them dozens of times over the years, and narrowly missing out on a couple of infamous gigs. We also chat welding and drama school, life on a long‑running soap, making low‑budget horror and zombie films, Romanian bear rescues and accidentally saving a lion. Hope you enjoy! Follow us below: • Twitter: https://x.com/OhBrotherShow • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohbrothershow/ • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ohbrotherpodcast7394 • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ohbrothershow.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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