FEATURE:
First, Last, Everything
Spotlighting and Celebrating the Great Matt Everitt
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THIS is someone…
IN THIS PHOTO: Matt Everitt alongside The Cure’s Robert Smith
who has interviewed the three musicians I would most love to interview. Two of them, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, were of course part of The Beatles. For so many reasons – chief among them being my lifelong obsession with the band -, it would be fascinating to hear talk with them. Matt Everitt has interviewed them both more than once. Also, in 2016 – that horrible year where we lost several music icons –, he sat down with Kate Bush to chat about the live album for her 2014 residency, Before the Dawn. If that was the only three artists he had interviewed, then he would be the envy of most diehard music fans. As it is, they are the tip of a big iceberg of incredible artists. His The First Time with… series is one where he speaks with artists about their ‘firsts’. Whether that it is a gig or record or whatever. It is hugely illuminating and a great concept that goes beyond the standard music interview. I have written about him a few times. Everitt recently stood in for Tom Robinson on his BBC Radio 6 Music show. He is a natural presenter and someone I would love to see get more slots on the station. He has worked there for many years and presents the New Album Fix. Having previously presented the music news (and been part of Shaun Keaveny’s much-missed show) he contributes and chats about everything from the Glastonbury Festival to Oasis’ reunion and tour. Someone who was part of the Britpop scene himself – as drummer for Menswear and The Montrose Avenue -, he has this incredible perspective and passion. He also covers events such as the Mercury Prize and is a key component of BBC Radio 6 Music.
One of the main reasons I am celebrating him as his birthday is on 13th September. I would publish this then but, as that is the date Kate Bush’s The Dreaming turns forty-two, I may be busy focusing on that. He would understand! Instead, I will bring in a couple of interviews with him. Matt Everitt has appeared on several podcasts through the years. I really miss him on Chris Shaw’s I Am the EggPod. That Beatles podcast is hugely missed. It ended last year. He featured several times. His chemistry with Chris Shaw was amazing and a big reason to tune into his episodes! A The Beatles’ Rubber Soul is sixty later this year, it would be good for them to revisit that album – one that Everitt spoke about during his first appearance on the podcast. Alas, there are so many sides to his career. Highlights that you envy! Chatting with two Beatles. Kate Bush. Brian Wilson. A galaxy of inspiring artists have all faced his questions. Everitt has written books. Including The World's Greatest Music Festival Challenge: A Rockin' Seek and Find (2018) and The First Time: Stories & Songs from Music Icons (2018), I do wonder if he has another planned. Even though there have been over two-thousands books about The Beatles written, there are fresh perspectives to mine. His station colleague Stuart Maconie recently published his Beatles book that looked at associates and people in The Beatles’ lives that made a difference and were part of their history. What about a book about Ringo Starr and his drumming? I do hope that he does write another book. Though he might be booked solid for a while. As he turns fifty-three very soon, this is also a thank you to him. I have met him a few times before – including the second live show and final episode of I Am the EggPod at Opera Holland Park last summer – and he is always so encouraging and supportive. Encouraging me to do a Kate Bush podcast. As I live in a noisy flat and I would prefer to record out of a studio, I will do that as soon as I can get money together. Maybe try and sneak into a BBC studio in New Broadcasting House one day!
I want to bring in a couple of interviews with Matt Everitt before I wrap things up. I am starting out with the first of two from Headliner. This is from 2022. Talking ahead of BBC Radio 6 Music’s yearly T-Shirt Day, there were some important questions raised and answered. In terms of sporting these T-shirts can raise awareness for various acts. Also, how vital merchandise is at a time when artists struggle to make money from albums and streaming services:
“As well as being a celebration of band t-shirts, the importance of t-shirts and merch has become so vital, particularly for up and coming or independent artists. What difference can they make to such artists?
An album is unlikely to make you a lot of money these days, unless you’re a mega artist, so one way of making money is through touring, and a part of that is selling swag, as they call it in the industry. That money could be the thing that enables you to make another album, or it could be the difference between being able to stay in a B&B on tour or sleeping in a van. It’s really, really vital, and it’s a way for fans to support their favourite artists. And artists put a lot of love and time into creating the designs for those t-shirts. It’s similar to artists and their relationship with artwork and album covers. It’s making a statement.
Can days like T-Shirt Day highlight the importance of supporting artists, particularly to those who have only grown up with streaming?
Yes, absolutely. And it can help introduce people to artists as well. Some people make a big thing about, let’s say, people wearing Ramones t-shirts who have never listened to The Ramones. I don’t mind that. I think it’s fine. I love the fact that there is a potency in those logos and designs, and if five in every 100 of those people who buy the t-shirts do then go and listen to the music, that’s great.
And for those who do buy a t-shirt of a band or artist they love, it can also be about much more than the design. It says something about them. It represents something about that person, and that carries meaning. It’s like carrying a friend around. People don’t do that with politicians [laughs]. It’s very rare you see someone wearing a t-shirt with a politician’s face on it saying, I’m with this person and I share their beliefs [laughs]. But if you’re wearing a PJ Harvey or a Pixies t-shirt, that’s saying something. It’s a sign of confidence in that artist’s integrity.
Do you have any favourites in your wardrobe?
I always wear the same one on T-Shirt day because it used to be called ‘wear your old band t-shirts day’, and my old band was Menswear, so I would wear it every year – the same joke every year [laughs]. I have a Dolly Parton one that I bought at a Dolly Parton gig in Nashville, I love that one. I have a Power, Corruption and LiesNew Order t-shirt, which doesn’t have the name of the band anywhere, which is great - if you know, you know, and if you don’t, it still looks great. I’m sure I have loads more as well. I also had a bunch of Nirvana t-shirts from Nirvana gigs, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails… and I don’t know where any of them are. They’ll be worth an effing fortune!”.
I am going to come to an interview from earlier in the year. Ahead of the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival in Greater Manchester. In another chat with Headliner, we learn more about Matt Everitt’s feelings towards BBC Radio 6 Music. This is a station he has been with almost two decades now. I know that he will be with them for many more years to come:
“After a few years enjoying success with bands Menswear and The Montrose, broadcasting veteran Matt Everitt found his true calling in radio on XFM and then his long-term home of BBC 6 Music. He chats to Headliner about the upcoming 6 Music Festival 2025 and its phenomenal lineup and his show The First Time, which has seen him interview Noel Gallagher, Yoko Ono, David Gilmour, and more.
Everitt can be found in Manchester, at the Victoria Warehouse for the 2025 edition of the 6 Music Festival, where he will be joined by BRIT Award and Mercury Prize-winning jazz act Ezra Collective, rising indie stars Fat Dog, acclaimed writer and musician Kae Tempest, English Teacher (who scooped last year’s Mercury Prize for their debut album), unlikely chart-toppers and Glaswegian noise-act Mogwai, and more.
The Festival had moved around a fair amount in its earlier years but is once again returning to the city of Manchester. Seemingly finding a home in the city, it prompted the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to say last year that “We are delighted to welcome the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival to Manchester. There is a rich musical heritage in Greater Manchester and a real pride in the independent music scene, and as BBC Radio 6 Music has always supported new and alternative artists, it’s a perfect fit for the festival to have its permanent home in the city for the years to come.”
Did your experiences in Menswear and The Montrose as a drummer help you when interviewing musicians — having experiential knowledge of touring, the financial side of being a musician, and all the rest of it?
Or the lack of a financial side of it! I think that definitely there's empathy, but there's an understanding of how it works when you've done it. There is a knowledge and understanding of some of the nuts and bolts of it. I don't often get intimidated when a I interview well known or famous musicians; because, no matter how famous you are or how big the stadium you're playing these days is, at some point, you were probably sat in the back of a rubbish van, living on terrible service station pasties, and playing to no one. And I don't care if you're Muse or David Bowie or Florence Welch, it doesn't matter. You probably did that, which means there's a certain down-to-earthness. Even the most egomaniacal musicians, you've probably all done that bit. It's a great leveller.
All bands have probably slogged it out and played to two people and a dog in Carlisle and made a loss. So I understand what that's like. I think it kind of takes the edge off the hero worship for me. And just sort of understanding the difficulties that there are in being a musician. And the joys as well.
In 2007, you found your spiritual home of BBC 6 Music, where you’ve presented the music news, and your show, The First Time With… with some huge guests. But to start with a philosophical question, as 6 Music means so much to so many people, could you talk us through your connection to the station and what it means to you?
I remember when the station was first getting started, and it was where I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to be at 6. I was thinking, ‘Listen to what they're doing. Listen to how diverse this is. Listen to how connected they are to all different kinds of music, and genuinely care. I was overjoyed when I got the job. And I love the familial nature of it. It does feel like there's a shared ethos, even if the music taste is varied. I think it's enormously important. I think, as a platform for breaking new artists, it's still vital. Radio is still really, really important. It can make a difference. Going back to when I interview people, older musicians all talk about the first time they heard their track on the radio.
And it's still like that even for new artists, even when there are thousands of platforms, countless different ways of communicating to people and communicating to your audience. Hearing it on the radio, and especially, hearing it on 6 Music means something. I believe it’s the biggest digital station in the UK. Every single one of those people who listens cares about music and will tell you they’ve discovered so much music by listening to the station.
How are you feeling about the 6 Music Festival 2025, and what will you be up to over the weekend?
I'll be doing what I normally would, just interviewing people and reporting from backstage and front of house. I’m trying to communicate what's going on in the audience to the listeners. You don’t want people to listen to it and it to come across as ‘Hey, we're at a great thing, and you're not, isn't this great for us?’ Whereas with Glastonbury and the 6 Music Festival, it's like, the BBC gets to go really deep and play whole sets, and then get them up on BBC Sounds. You can hear them again. It's not just a blink and you’ll miss it clip. And then we get that access where we can really take you backstage, we can talk to those artists.
6 Music isn't just like, ‘Hey, artist, when did you get your name from, what's the new album about?’ We've got a chance to dig deep in those interviews and really find out more about the motivations behind the artists and why they do what they do and how they do what they do. And I think with everyone playing, Ezra Collective, Fat Dog, Mogwai, English Teacher, and Kae Tempest, there is an existing relationship with 6 Music. I think one of the reasons they do the festival is because it’s not just a trusted place, but a place where their music will get heard and get heard properly”.
I will end it here. I wanted to spend some time shining a light on the brilliance of Matt Everitt. You can follow him here. Someone who has been hugely helpful and supportive to me and so many other people, he can be heard on BBC Radio 6 Music. As I say, I hope that he gets opportunities to present on the station and there are other opportunities. It leaves me to wish Matt Everitt a very happy birthday…
FOR 13th September.