Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy popped into our studio to discuss his love of The Beatles, working in Abbey Road, and to reflect on a career that includes 13 solo albums, 2 Duckworth Lewis Method collaborations, the soundtrack to Wonka, and many film and TV Themes including Father Ted and the IT Crowd.

Mark Hooper was on summer holidays, so friend of the podcast, Richard Merrett, joins Des Burkinshaw for the chat.

The new album is really excellent, and we wouldn't just say that, so do go check it out. We both agree The Man Who Turned into a Chair is one of Neil's strongest songs full stop. And be honest - you're going to listen to Mar-a-Lago by the Sea as soon as it comes out, right?

The album - Rainy Sunday Afternoon - is out on September 19th but you can hear Achilles, The Last Time I Saw the Old Man and Invisible Thread right now on all streaming platforms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We always ask this question: can you imagine your life without the Beatles?

Today's guest definitely can't.

Jacob Jeffries is a member of Vulfpeck, Jack Stratton's collaborator in Vulfmon, and is about to release a solo album in September, made at Theo Katzman's cabin studio.

As co-writer and performer on many of the above projects, he's right at the heart of one of the most powerful musical networks of the century so far. And it's fair to say, he's also a bit of a Beatles' fan.

Des Burkinshaw and Mark Hooper discuss all these projects, as well as musical theatre and inter-generational influence with Jacob.

We'd like nothing more than to have included a few snippets of music in the programme to illustrate everything, but then we'd have gotten copyright strikes etc, a good example of how the record companies, publishers and even platforms, are ruining the experience for fans. Instead, tediously, when you have finished listening to this fascinating interview, come back here and explore this fantastic world of music through these links.

Don't forget to visit our website, withoutthebeatles.com for all the usual stuff. The audio version of this goes out on all the usual networks.

Here's our favourite collaboration between Jack Stratton and Jacob.

https://youtu.be/Akaa9xHaw7E?si=iUqj7f6NwsNI4BDd

Here's Jacob with Vulfpeck singing his song, Big Dipper.

https://youtu.be/QEah75Oyv8c?si=gtIvsvQwrOd5E-55

You'll love this. Red Cardinal from Jacob's new album, You Got The Right Idea.

https://youtu.be/q-j1DMrPRUU?si=k2gQDtOiek2iSw0T

Here's Jacob, Jack Stratton and Harrison Whitford, channelling their inner Beatles and Byrds.

https://youtu.be/1aQpedzFOHA?si=1FRVRfdQ-chf9Rov

Mark mentions Jacob's cover of I am the Walrus.

https://youtu.be/7xGKx09S524?si=VQpOj_95LQtwczRb

Both Des and Mark discovered this whole world during Covid watching the Vulfpeck Live at Madison Square Gardens footage. Neither of us knew who Vulfpeck were, but both of us watched the whole thing anyway. It's that entertaining.

https://youtu.be/rv4wf7bzfFE?si=zpw4VE-NBcbWtUy1

Jacob's album isn't out until September, but here's another track from it, Steady. Nick Nagurka Holden's mic choices paying off here. So warm.

https://youtu.be/SP3_qq2sP9Y?si=RMhEeFeI4PutrIKh

We have pushed you down the rabbit hole. Now off you go to Wonderland.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Warren wrote and sang The Korgis' classic, Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime. As a member of Stackridge, he not only was the first act on at the first ever Glastonbury, but Stackridge were produced by George Martin, engineered by Geoff Emerick. He's famous for his song, There's Something About the Beatles, but in this episode Mark Hooper and Des Burkinshaw discuss the equally big impact of Brian Wilson who died on June 11, aged 82. Des and Mark both met Brian and they share some of their stories too.

Check out Season 1 of the podcast which features interviews with Steve Van Zandt, Jona Lewie, Lol Creme, Terry Gilliam, Lemmy and Mary Quant,

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can fit all the truly classic Christmas songs onto a double album. Jona Lewie's Stop the Cavalry is absolutely one of them.

Mark Hooper and Des Burkinshaw turned up at Jona's studio, demanding tea, to discuss its 44-year success, his career on Stiff Records, and to wonder - just what is the best Christmas record?

A video version of this episode will be available to Patreon subscribers.

Season 2 of the Without the Beatles podcast kicks off in January. Guests this season include Nancy Sinatra, Sir Michael Palin, and Al Jardine of The Beach Boys.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A further 45 mins of Steve's interview is available to Patreon subscribers only. This entire episode is also available on video to subscribers.

But even without that extra material, this is an in-depth discussion about what made The Beatles so unique, how they influenced other musicians, and just what Steve owes to them personally. Also features an interview with Summer Litchfield, daughter of One Hand Clapping director, David Litchfield.

This is the final interview episode of 2024 but there will be a Christmas Day special featuring Stop the Cavalry's Jona Lewel. We'll be back in the New Year with Season 2, featuring Sir Michael Palin, Sir David Attenborough, Nancy Sinatra and a few new interviews being recorded over the next few weeks.

Check out video excerpts of this episode on our YouTube channel @withoutthebeatles and follow us on social media.

Have a great Christmas break and see you soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most important fashion designer of the 60s? Of the 20th century? There's no doubt Mary Quant remains an icon. She invented the miniskirt and created a whole new world of fashion for the emancipated women of the 60s. She was also a friend and confidante of The Beatles. They impacted on each other. Mary died in 2023 but in one of her last interviews, she talked about the sociological impacts she and the Beatles had on us and each other.

A video version of this episode is available to Patreon subscribers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lol Creme has done it all. A founding member of 10cc, a member of Hotlegs, one half of Godley & Creme, the experimental duo who made hit records and directed some of the most iconic videos of the 80s for The Police and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. But they also made videos for Ringo, George and Paul.

Lol talks about the impact the Beatles had on him and society in this hilarious account of his life in music.

Also featured, is David Bedford, one of the most respected Beatles chroniclers - whose life was turned around when his doctor prescribed the Beatles as a way of distracting himself from the pain of his fibromyalgia. Eight books and several films later...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Terry Gilliam - Monty Python member and one of the most creative film directors of all time, recalls his lifelong love of the Beatles, how they influenced him as a young American after the Ed Sullivan Show, but also how he came to work with George Harrison.

It was Terry's film, The Time Bandits, which was the first bespoke commission for Handmade Films, one of the UK's most successful film companies, set up by George following the success of Python's Life of Brian.

Des Burkinshaw and Mark Hooper also discuss the mark Terry Gilliam has made in popular culture, while Mark meets Annie Shepperd OBE, who discovered a lust for life through the 60s scoial revolution - and The Beatles.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.