BF interview on Sounds of the Seventies in the next hour (4-5pm).
It'll be available live on BBC Sounds and to stream after too.

Ahhh, having referred to an 'interview with BF' a number of times, as the broadcast approaches it's now "an archive interview". Well, still welcome I guess.

Sadly all interviews on Sounds of the Seventies are now by necessity "from the archives" as presenter Johnnie Walker is terminally ill and housebound, but still continuing to record his shows. Very sad as I've listened to him since he was on Radio 1 in the mid 70s, when he famously resigned in protest at having to keep playing the Bay City Rollers and went to work as a DJ in the States for some years.

Back on topic it's always good to hear Bryan here talking about the early years and of travelling down to London to see Otis Redding and Booker T & the MGs.

That's sad news, True2Life. I'm not a regular listener - more of a casual listen whilst in the car etc; but his health did cross my mind when he read a message from a listener wishing him well for the months ahead.

When JW announced his cancer diagnosis in 2003 and took time off from Radio 2, it was very apparent how beloved he was amongst listeners and his Radio 2 colleagues, so it was truly heartwarming when he returned to the airwaves. Through my more sporadic encounters with the programme of late, I've unfailingly felt really rather happy that this stalwart of British broadcasting was still with us, testament to his earlier treatment. So it's incredibly sad to learn not only of his new illness, but the terminal prognosis.

Moments like this increasingly make me turn to a certain BF song and a particular lyric:

'No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time'

PS also back on topic, yes it was good to hear BF. No revelations but an enjoyable revisiting of this 2012 interview. And with three tracks played in full, some decent exposure for the Roxy/BF 'brand'.

Hipsters,

UK Richard shivered Windswep’s timbers. For a minute W2 thought our hero had broken cover until he saw the notation ‘From the archives’ !

Yes, JW’s predicament resonates and UK Richard’s recourse to BF’s lyrics is so apt.

W2 often finds amusement, comfort and solace in this way and the yellow bible is much thumbed. His work stands up without the music as pure poetry.

As W2 writes this, he is full of tristesse. He is slowly coming to the conclusion that we may never fandango again. Although this is difficult to accept one has to be realistic and as our hero races towards being 79 years young, it is only right and proper that we wish him much peace, love and happiness.


Bien sur, si s’avere faux, Windswept a hate d’enfiler as cravate noire tricotee et de s’adventurer quatrieme a in moment remarque.


Salutations a tous,

W2