Whilst chatting to Pinko Fowler last year, he recommended I interview Terry Edwards. I’m very glad he did. Terry gained a degree in music from the University of East Anglia in 1982, where he was also in The Higsons, named after lead singer and eventual Fast Show comedian Charlie Higson, a band of which I harbour fond memories from Peel shows of the time - as it turns out so did Robin Hitchcock who wrote a song about the experience, featured in the show. Terry’s had his own bands, The Near Jazz Experience with Woody from Madness, and the underrated Gallon Drunk, as well as being an integral member in the bands of Jerry Dammers, PJ Harvey and Glen Matlock.
What I had not anticipated was the vast number of collaborations Terry has undertaken as a session musician. Who’s Terry appeared with, you ask. Here’s just a few. Madness, Tindersticks (with whom he’s intending to tour in 2022), Spiritualized, Siouxsie, The Creatures, Nick Cave, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Department S, Lydia Lunch, Faust, Tom Waits, The Blockheads, Hot Chip, Lydia Lunch and, indeed, the aforementioned Robin Hitchcock. More recently Terry’s performed with the David Bowie supergroup, Holy Holy with Tony Visconti, Woody Woodmansey and Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17.
Our chat showed Terry’s enthusiasm for music to be undimmed since his days scouring record stores and weighing up whether he could afford the extra 20p for a John Cale album. He’s a much sought-after multi-instrumentalist with hugely eclectic tastes, and while many of the groups here fit our pod vibe, there’s a couple of more off-centre choices as well, such as jazzman Earl Bostic and finally, after 97 episodes, an appearance for a member of The Beatles.
I think you’ll enjoy the show.
Tracklist:
Flamingo, Earl Bostic
Heartbreak hotel, John Cale
Voodoo child, The Near Jazz Experience
Conspiracy, The Higsons
Listening to The Higsons, Robyn Hitchcock
Give me love (give me peace on earth), George Harrison
I love rock and roll, Jesus And Mary Chain
Walking Spanish, Tom Waits
What I like most about you is your girlfriend, The Special AKA
Wild America, Iggy Pop