THE SOUND
OF MUSIC...
AN INTERVIEW WITH GERRY MARSDEN
BY DIANE TREMARCO
This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing
Gerry Marsden in lockdown. You will also find
local artists listed (in no particular order) with
one of their releases and a link to that release.
It may be the only one, but more likely that you
will find their other offerings on the same link.
Please find the time to not only listen, but to
buy a copy if you can. Musicians are mostly
self-employed and will be hit hard by the lock-
down, this is one way we can help them to
survive.
BOBBY WEST
You’ll Never Walk Alone is a song synonymous
with the people of Liverpool since Gerry and
the Pacemakers took it to number one in 1963.
Originally, a song from the musical Carousel,
You’ll Never Walk Alone has been covered by
many great singers such as Elvis Presley, Frank
Sinatra and Pink Floyd to name but a few. It
has been adopted as Liverpool FC’s anthem
and used as a fundraiser for Grenfell Towers by
Marcus Mumford.
Now it has been released, not for money, not for a
charity but with the sole intent of uniting people
during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Gerry Marsden introduced the video created by
Planet Broken Blueprint, on 24th April 2020 just
before this publication went to print. As a long-
time fan, I was delighted to interview Gerry and
ask him about how he is coping with lockdown.
People all over the world are struggling with
lockdown, how has it been for you?
Pauline and the family are keeping well, thank
you. It is tough, very tough keeping your distance
from the people you love.
Have you read any particular books or watched
anything specific on TV?
I love reading. I am actually reading a fantastic
book called the History of Great Britain. It is
incredible what you discover once you start! I
love the old stuff on TV especially Dad’s Army.
It is incredible that it still makes me laugh today.
The old ones are the best!
A native of North Liverpool, Bobby grew
up in the notorious district of Walton.
Famed for very little other than its crime
and poverty, Bobby's youth could have
been an uneasy one had it not been for the
early discovery of his artistic talent.
In his adolescence, Bobby West, split his
time between honing his musical ability and
the boxing club. He was a promising fighter
rising through the ranks but for Bobby the
pull of music and art was too strong. By the
age of 21 he formed his band Broken Men
and success came quickly, touring England,
Russia and Europe in support of Echo and
the Bunnymen.
Mr West now embarks on his first solo
project. Spending the past 8 months
experimenting in the studio, Bobby has
meticulously pieced together tracks to paint
an authentic depiction of his world. A dark
gritty world which he ruthlessly laments.
Yet like a man in the gutter reaching for
the stars, Bobby gilds the edges of his world
52 wirrallife.com
Does music still play a big part of your everyday
life in retirement?
No, I don’t really listen to music anymore. If
you’re not involved, you get out of the habit. If I
ever do, it would be Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino
and Ray Charles, I am an old rock and roller at
heart.
Lots of people have discovered or rediscovered
their creativity for art or cookery during
lockdown. Has this been the case for you?
My hands are too dry with washing them every
five minutes! No, seriously, Pauline my wife is
a great cook and will often ask me to peel the
potatoes. Of course, they are always too thick!
to create something beautiful. His lens is tinted
with a sun-drenched glow at stark contrast to his
surroundings. A sweet juxtaposition that echoes
in his music. Bobby sings of terrible things in
beautiful melody's, like a council estate Sinatra his
golden voice self-deprecates in alluring harmony.
With a collection of crooked ballads over which
Bobby howls his gritty lullabies, he invites the
I don’t cook at all; reading is my thing.
How have you kept in touch with family?
It is really tough. I am on the phone to my family
all day every day and we Facetime. It is great to
be able to see them, even if it's on video. I have
two daughters, a grandson, Tom, in Liverpool
studying Mechanical Engineering and a new
grandchild on the way. It is so, so hard at the
moment isn’t it? I can’t wait to give them all a
great big hug.
Where will be the first place you visit when we
are finally given the all clear?
The first thing I want to do is hug my new
grandchild! I can’t wait! Then I think we will go
to the villa in Spain. I miss the sunshine and it's a
great place for the family to be together.
Is there a personal message you would like to
extend to the NHS and key workers?
Words could never explain how much I feel for
them. All the wonderful work they do, their
devotion… I admire them so much. They are
fantastic.
It was great to speak with Gerry. He has remained
very down to earth despite his fame. He is a family
man through and through, a fact reinforced by
his 55 years of marriage to Pauline.
These are bizarre times. Our lives were normal
one day only to wake the following day to become
the starring role in a sci-fi feature film!
It is a time to unite and what better way to do
that than with music? We are all in this together
whether we like it or not. We have to continue to
support our family, friends and neighbours. Look
out for people who are struggling and help them
wherever possible. Or simply point them in the
direction of help if you cannot do it yourself.
Community spirit had left us of late and now
we have the chance to come together again. To
understand what and who is really important. To
take stock of the world around us, of the damage
we are doing to our planet and put it right.
Can this all happen with a song? Well, it is a great
way to start. Remember, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
listener to peer in. At a glance, West's world is one
of beauty, shimmering string sections and resonant
pianos putting you in mind of the chanson style
of Jacques Brel. But in Lynchian fashion, Bobby
strips away the veneer to reveal twisted tales of
spent love, bad romances and the grim realities of
modern culture. There is a rare, lived in truth all
too apparent in Bobby's nouveau croon.