40 - The Smiths, The Stone Roses & Freak Party with Funky Si (Manchester)

This week we are joined by ex The Fall drummer Simon Wolstencroft AKA Funky Si - after meeting Ian Brown & John Squire at Altrincham Grammar School he & John follow The Clash around the UK travelling to gigs as far away as Bristol & London. In addition to a huge interest in The Sex Pistols & The Clash, other bands they follows as teens included The Slits, The Ramones, Siouxsie & The Banshees & the 2 Tone movement.

Simon, Ian Brown & John Squire along with Pete Garner & Andy Couzens they form punk band The Patrol while attending South Trafford College.

In 1980 Simon meets Johnny Marr & along with fellow future Smiths member Andy Rourke they become Freak Party - the band ultimately fizzle out as they are unable to find a suitable singer. It is during this time Johnny Marr comes up with the name Funky Si.

A couple of months later Simon is contacted by Johnny Marr & asked to join his new band The Smiths - ultimately Simon decides against it as he doesn't like Morrissey. Although he did play on their first ever recording in Ancoats.

Simon later works with Ian Brown again during his post-Stone Roses solo career - co-writing Golden Gaze on Ian's second solo album Golden Greats, appearing on Top Of The Pops & playing a final gig at Alexandra Palace.

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Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

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