Micko Westmoreland Talks The Mellotronics, Neil Innes And More

 Early on in the career of Micko Westmoreland, a journalist from The Independent described him as being “half stuck in a timewarp.”  And while that might be a slightly simplistic summary of someone who is ultimately a multi-facetted polymath, everything from an actor to musician, programmer and soundtrack creator, as soundbites go there are certainly worse places to start. Micko very graciously sat down with us to talk about The Mellotronics, Neil Innes and more:

When did you begin songwriting?

When I was 11. I wrote a song called ‘Footprints in the Sand’ which was actually ok, but then one called ‘Bird of Prey’, which was terrible, it’s still a lottery.

What is your earliest musical memory?

I used to place my ear on the sound box of a guitar, play a string and see how long I could hear it for. It proved to be inadvertent training for mixing in later life, We also used to pipe a guitar through an old reel to reel dansette, the sustain was off the charts. Hmmm.. wonder where that is now

The Spammed have gathered together for a Specialised Project in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. Where did the idea for The Spammed originate from?

It developed organically with an artist friend Harry Pye who had the contacts and had previously worked on projects with Horace (Panter) and Neil (Innes). He mentioned to me that he had Kevin Eldon’s e mail, I was like ‘Yeah! if we could get him in!’. Horace named the band I believe.

Who is in The Spammed and what do they play?

Present line up is Horace Panter bass (The Specials/Dirt Road Band), Kevin Eldon Vocals (Actor/Comedian), Terry Edwards Sax (PJ Harvey & lots more), Paul Cuddeford (Boomtown Rats/Holy Holy). Woody Woodmansey (Bowie/Spiders from Mars) who will be joining us live for our Neil Innes tribute show at the O2 as Rat (Scabies) is tied up with Damned commitments. I play guitar.

Where did your record the album and who produced it?

Our last recording was mixed by Adrian Sherwood, in days gone by we have had the good grace of Tony Visconti, Nick Lowe and Chris Kimsey (Rolling Stones). We do one release a year for a themed compilation album put together by specialized as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust. https://specializedproject.com/ 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Too many to mention. Gallons of red wine was often consumed way back when. One time we were out at Perry Vale studios, Forest Hill. Kevin & I were heading North, Neil & Rat were bound elsewhere, it was very funny watching them on the other side of the tracks, pissed as can be, like watching a cartoon. I thought if you stumbled into those two and you knew who they were, you’d be like ‘blimey’ the next day.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

Knowing that you played well and great feedback from the audience, the proof is always in the pudding, if people ‘dig it’ they’ll let you know.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

An EQ pedal and it was cheap as chips

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Leeds – Couple of E’s LSD

Some people will know you from your role as Jack Fairy in the show ‘Velvet Goldmine’. Could you tell us a bit about your character?

It’s funny with Woody coming on board at the O2 and previously working with Tony (Visconti) as glam rock seems to follow me like a shadow or a cape would be more apt. I got to play the patron saint of the movement in Todd Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine, how good is that! I’m very grateful to Todd for that break, as a non-actor it was an incredible role. My character was very nebulous, full of mystery and intrigue, bit of an enigma. As a result, I ended up with less egg on my face through out.

Another band that you are in is Micko & The Mellotronics. Who is in that band, what do they play and how did you meet?

The Mellotronics comprises Budge Magraw (bass) & Jan Noble (drums) both ex Cesarians. I play guitar, write the songs and sing. Paul Cuddeford (Boomtown Rats/Holy Holy) plays with us when he’s in town.

I stumbled into Budge on social media, Jan came through Budge. Paul saw us live and came to chat afterwards, mad thing is that it turns out we all have musical family tree connections.

Micko & The Mellotronics have recently released their new single ‘Holloway Road’. What was the story/inspiration behind the song?

I moved back to Holloway 5 years ago & got interested in two stories, that of Joe Meek (The English Phil Spector) & Ruth Ellis, (the last woman to be hanged in England in 1955), the latter will be the next single, due later in the year. With Joe I was really into his approach to sound production, he was way, way ahead of his time, went to incredible lengths to get precisely the sound he wanted. In the song I wasn’t interested in focusing on his life spinning out of control. I just thought that he was a complete auteur, a sonic revolutionary and for all the right reasons, that’s very, very rare.

How do you look after your voice?

I don’t smoke or drink anymore, try to eat well, drink lots of water & meditate, Rock ’n’ Roll!

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

My favourite author is Raymond Chandler but recently I’ve been reading the last of Richard Brautigan’s books. He wrote one called ‘Of WaterMelon sugar’, it’s a mighty strange read. It has these sequences set in these futuristic catacombs, you can hear the type of music already can’t you…!

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

 That’s private, almost too personal Ha! I couldn’t possibly. No, but seriously, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers is right up my straße plus anything by that electronic folk band Kraftwerk.

On Thursday 28th November 2024, you will be part of the line-up for ‘The Celebration of Neil Innes: How Sweet To Be An Idiot’ at Indigo at The O2 in London. How did the idea for the show come about and how are you feeling about it?

I met with Neil’s wife Yvonne and plans were discussed. Covid happened and like many things, it didn’t seem possible. I spoke with John Altman (Secret Policeman’s other ball), then it all went quiet. I then got a message through that it was happening this year & I was absolutely delighted. Neil was a wonderful inspiration and a great human being, he did some very important work, there’s a lot of love out there for him. It’s a real privilege to be asked to celebrate his life and work.

I would like to give you the opportunity to say any thoughts, stories or anything else you would like to say about your friendship/working with the late Neil Innes.

Neil came out with stuff that you’d spend a long time processing. I still think about things he said regularly even now. I was a relatively new father the last time that I saw him and without a shade of condescension, he gave me his take on parenthood. ‘You start to realise what we were put here for’, he said. ‘To make more of ourselves’, Neil was very down to earth and also to the point. I think the thing that he really got and which permeates his work, was a grasp of humanity. He could truly objectify, he wrote a book on economics but within that there was a deep understanding. To quote a line from a song on his last album ‘Nearly Really’ , ‘We are but flesh and blood after all’.

Neil was very much of this life, he expressed to me that he thought that once you’ve had your chips, you’ve had your chips. ‘Nevertheless’, to use a title from a another Innes song, he sent me a poem called ‘How long does a man live’ by Brian Patten when my father died, I read it at Dad’s funeral. In it the author expands on the notion of living on through the lives of others.

Neil lives on as a result our love and respect for him, I can’t wait to be a part of that celebration in November. So many amazing and talented people, lives crossed by his talents in those 75 years. From that I’m sure you’ll agree that he’s likely to be very much in the room.

Will the live show be recorded for a possible future CD/DVD release?

Information presently unknown

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

I think my stuff is mostly reflective. Perhaps making your art is all an act of therapy, it makes things known to you through its processes, all be it sometimes in an abstract way. It often doesn’t always translate into words, it’s more something you feel in your bones. I would say unfairness gets my goat however, the texture of sound and the meta nature of writing makes me very happy though.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024?

Currently in incubation, plans will hatch.

There is Bournemouth next month (27th) https://landlinerecords.com/news/ 

What makes Micko Westmoreland happy and what makes you unhappy?

If you’ d like a bit of my pub philosophy I’ve learnt that accepting your limitations and lowering your expectations paradoxically can bring about glowing results, funny that. What’s the old adage ‘after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water’. I’m still looking for that, where’s me torch.