But I began to notice in the listings magazines that he was doing solo shows just him and a keyboard. I think he was a bit gutted that he didnt get the credit forcreating that character someone else had played Mrs Merton before on one of the shows, saysStirling. He liked the idea of the head, not the boobs.. [56], Sievey's funeral was held on 2 July 2010 at Altrincham Crematorium. Christopher Mark Sievey (25 August 1955 - 21 June 2010) was an English musician and comedian known for fronting the band The Freshies in the late 1970s and early 1980s and for his comic persona Frank Sidebottom from 1984 onwards. In memory of Chris Sievey, 1955-2010. An article in The Guardian by Jon Ronson, a former member of Frank's band, tells his story and mentions the book. Chris hung up Frank'shead in the late 1990s, by which time he was drinking too much, dealing witha large unpaid tax bill and struggling to find direction. [58][59], From 1 March to 30 April 2019, Manchester Central Library held an exhibition Bobbins: Frank Sidebottom and Chris Sievey, which featured never-before-seen items from Sieveys archives, from puppets to home videos to personal artefacts. Ithought he was hilarious; I couldnt wait to get to work as we worked on opposite sides of the samebench and every so often Id get this screwed-up piece of paper thrown over to me and it would saysomething really funny. Afterwards, Caroline decided to keep Mrs Merton going. Billy recently recalled: What I remember about Chris was he was a really fun guy. "Chris wants to have a rehearsal," Mike told me one day. [18], At the same time as touring, Frank would become a semi-regular cast member on the two final seasons of the ITV children's programme No. When he'd remove the peg after a long stint I'd see him wince in pain. They were in the same venues we used to play, then in smaller venues, and then eventually there were no shows at all. On the Led Zeppelin bootleg "Bonzo's Last Stand", the back of the album has text which states, "Produced by Frank Sidebottom." As we played I watched it all the band assiduously emulating the tinny pre-programmed sounds of a cheap, children's keyboard, the enraptured audience, and Frank, the eerie cartoon-character frontman, his facial expression immobile, his singing voice a high-pitched nasal twang. synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. Before I knew it we were onstage. [citation needed] Frank appeared briefly as a Manchester United fan in an advert for the FIFA 10 video game in 2009. They became The Stone Roses. Another of the men came bounding over to me. Sievey himself grew up in Ashton-on-Mersey, five miles from Timperley. I think itwas easy for him to be behind the head, as it wasnt something that he really wanted to do. [8] In 1981, Sievey played on "Some Boys" by Going Red?, the band formed by former Jilted John star Graham Fellows. Frank Sidebottom statue moves closer, Frank review engrossing, tender breakdown of the Frank Sidebottom enigma, Michael Fassbender and Domhnall Gleeson team up for music comedy Frank, Frank star Domhnall Gleeson and co-writer Jon Ronson: 'We're not very forgiving of transgressions any more' video interview, SXSW 2014 review: Frank into the head of a pop comedy maverick, Frank Sidebottom 'He'd have died to be inthe charts'. I walked up, passing the bathroom and glanced in. Afterwards he was signed to Marc Riley's In Tape label, on which he would release two albums and four EPs.[17]. The 54-year-old was pronounced dead at Wythenshawe Hospital, a spokeswoman. But as a talented artist, he got work on kids programme Bob The Builder at the start of the millennium. Staring back at me from the sink was Frank's head. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." Putting on the guise of Frank Sidebottom, he transformed into a real-life cartoon character whotook his bizarre, anarchic world on the comedy circuit, on radio and television. Product details Package Dimensions : 7.48 x 5.35 x 0.55 inches; 2.12 Ounces Subtitles: : English Studio : Spirit Entertainment ASIN : B07PJ6TGQJ A journey back in time 200 years? It was very poorly attended. Within an hour 554 people had donated 6,950.03. The arrival of a decent pay cheque allowed him to indulge his worst habits. Vithal Visavadiya, 63, denies causing the death of Harrison. It could be a fable instead of a biopic a tribute to people like Frank who were just too fantastically strange to make it in the mainstream. Chris had written his first LP by this stage, "The Johnny Radar Story", which, for various legal and contractual complications, was never released on vinyl. After that night the greatest of my life a year passed. In February of 1982, Sievey abandoned the quartet lineup of the Freshies, and reformed it as a duo with Barbara O'Donovan. Frank appeared as a test card shown late at night on Channel M, where he and Little Frank ramble on and sing songs whilst framed in a parody of the classic Test Card F. On 6 March 2007, in an episode of the Podge and Rodge Show on Ireland's RT Two, he appeared in their 'Sham-Rock' talent section, performing a medley of songs by The Smiths. Chris Sievey was a hugely talented musician and artist whose pop band The Freshies made terrificpop music but barely troubled the charts in the Eighties. Now documentary Being Frank talks to those who knew Chris best to shed light on his troubled life. I had to be the sensible one, but it was still a very difficultdecision to leave Chris. His character was cheerfully optimistic, enthusiastic, and seemingly oblivious to his own failings. But someone Chris could not truly divorce himself from was Frank. Chris Sievey - Camouflage - YouTube 0:00 / 3:39 Chris Sievey - Camouflage The Micro Museum 403 subscribers Subscribe 953 views 2 years ago Back in 1983 the artist Chris Sievey recorded. do koalas have poisonous claws. The closest his band The Freshies got to chart success was reaching number 54 in 1981 with track Im In Love With The Girl On the Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk. He came back to the phone. Chris remained a crew member until the show's sixth season, but continued to work on the series' specials until 2005. Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story tells the twisted tale of a split personality, exploring the extraordinary secret life of a songwriter, artist, comedian and wayward genius. When I got to the bar it was empty except for a few men fiddling with equipment. Jon Ronson, who worked with Sievey, published Frank: The True Story that Inspired the Movie in 2014, a memoir of his time in the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band. he said. He had previously been a writer for the satirical comic Oink!, a milder 80s rival to Viz. Paula once recalled: We had loads of money. Frank's character was of a child in a northern town remaining assiduously immature in the face of adulthood. On 8 July 2010, over 5,000 fans of Frank Sidebottom gathered for a party at the Castlefield Arena in Manchester to celebrate Sievey's life. The show was produced by Dave Behrens[44] for Yorkshire Television and was shown on ITV. . The all-star supporting cast includes Chris O'Dowd as a volatile butcher, M. Emmet Walsh as a suicidal writer, Kelly Reilly as the priest's daughter who feels he abandoned her, and Domhnall. Their van driver was Chris Evans. The music journalist Mick Middles recently sent me his not-yet-published biography Frank Sidebottom: Out of His Head. Chris Sievey had no assets and little money in the bank, his family have revealed.Manchester Evening News, 23 June 2010. I wondered why Chris had decided to kill off Frank. "Hello, Jon," said the man underneath. Chris Sievey. Fame beckoned instead for former member Billy Duffy, who became lead guitarist in The Cult, and Lisa Stansfield, who had performed backing vocals on one of Chriss songs. Mini Bio (1) Chris Sievey was born on August 25, 1955 in Ashton on Mersey, Greater Manchester, England. He is known for What's Up Doc? We began to sound like an excellent 1980s wedding band. In 2003, Chris began working on a new album, entitled Scilly Automatic. One of them produced a ball, the audience split into teams and, ignoring us, played a game. Paula remembers him playing the London comedy circuit and moving in the samecircles as Jack Dee, Frank Skinner, Jo Brand and Steve Coogan. But it was at a fancy dress party the couple went to that the idea of Frank was born. Three years following the end of 7T3, Frank became a regular cast member on the fourth, and final, season of the children's TV series Motormouth. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui [45] The show only went on for one season. [20], In 1987, Frank released his first album, a spoken word cassette called 'Fantastic Tales', released through his own 11:37 label. I can barely believe it, Frank: watch Michael Fassbender in the world exclusive trailer for the comedy inspired by Frank Sidebottom - video, SXSW 2014 review: Frank into the head of a pop comedy maverick, Panic on the streets of Timperley! Instantly recognisable, his keyboard ditties and larger-than-life personality were a hit on the . ", "So," I said. I heard muffled voices. And stopped. He died on June 21, 2010 in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England. The tour and its new sound were panned by audience members and critics alike, leading to Sievey abandoning the new line-up in 1990, instead choosing to perform solo from then on.[29]. But then, in the mid-2000s, he devised a five-year plan for bringing the. It is understood entertainer Chris Sievey collapsed at his home in Hale, Greater Manchester, in the early hours. There is always a moment failure begins. Then I became aware of another figure kneeling in the shadows, his back to me. Chris also cheated on his wife with groupies who would ask to have sex with him while he wore Franks head and left his children without money during week-long benders. But and Chris and I shuffled awkwardly around the question what would the film actually be about? The synth brass tone the most stirring of all the Casio tones. The re-recorded single was released in 1983 initially on Sievey's own Random Records label, before . A week after I returned, I saw Frank Sidebottom's name trending on Twitter. He used to tell me that it was just fans. Certainly his wife and children weren't as important. Christopher Mark Sievey ( 25 de agosto de 1955 - 21 de junho 2010) foi um msico e comediante ingls conhecido por estar a frente da banda The Freshies entre o final de 1970 e incio de 1980 e por seu persona cmica, Frank Sidebottom, a partir de 1984. Caroline had the Mrs Merton idea.. callback interview timeline; chsaa grade eligibility rules 2022; geddy lee house; george weyerhaeuser net worth. We walked across Kentish Town Road so Chris could buy some cigarettes. In 2006, Frank reappeared in Greater Manchester on local television channel Channel M. His new show, Frank Sidebottom's Proper Telly Show in B/W, featured celebrity guests and animation. Chris Sievey was a musician, songwriter, artist, comedian, filmmaker, performance artist and wayward genius who created an alter ego that he grew to resent. Throughout 2007, Frank made several television appearances, before releasing his final project, Magical Timperley Tour, a short film featuring Frank touring 100 of his friends around the characters' home town of Timperley. Was he bitter? You just need wife who doesnt mind cleaning jobs she adds with a big laugh. The Biz also introduced the character that Sievey would become famous for, initially devised as a one-off promotional gimmick. But after the man behind the mask died penniless eight years ago, Chris Sieveys strange alter-ego has become more famous than ever something the tragic star predicted would happen. Talking to his ex-wife Paula and children Stirling, 40, and Asher, 39 (their younger brother Harry - also a talented musician, like his father - was killed in a road accident in 2017 aged 24),. While a total dearth of anxiety was a fantastically enviable character trait in real life, how could we write a film about a man who just didn't care when everything went wrong and in fact found disaster funny? ?". Mick Middles, who wrote Chriss authorised biography, said: Famously, Frank and Chris had two separate phones. The following year he released a solo release, "Camouflage", with the A-side a song, and the B-side being computer programming. What did that involve? Featuring stars including comedians Johnny Vegas and Ross Noble, it tells how singer, comic and artist Chris descended into a world of cocaine and booze as he allowed his alter-ego Frank to take over his life. Frank Sidebottom made Sievey a star, but did that weighty head stifle the talents of the real Chrisunderneath? She somehow got her own TV show, The Mrs Merton Show. So I quit college and moved to Manchester. Chris was totally out of control. 2023 date, start time and how to watch, From the stripper to the slap: the worst moments in Oscars history, Pedro Pascal is the best actor on TV even behind a mask, Whats on TV tonight: Django, Abbott Elementary, The Mandalorian and more, Anne Reid on her Daniel Craig sex scene: I was very scared. [2], Sievey released two cassettes under his own name in 1975 and 1976 Girl in My Blue Jeans and All Sleeps Secrets.[8]. Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story tells the twisted tale of a split personality, exploring the extraordinary secret life of a songwriter, artist, comedian and wayward genius. Do you have any pamphlets?" Even though the pop-tinged punk rockers never became household names, they had their fair share of female fans. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story, 2018. Frank Sidebottom was possibly the strangest pop star in history. Time passed and the audiences grew to 750 and sometimes even 1,000. Theyd go into record shops in their lunchhour, and Chris would introduce her to music beyond the soul and Tamla Motown she loved. Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Baldwin. This year marks the 10 th anniversary of the death of the talented Chris Sievey (the man behind the papier mch head of Frank Sidebottom).. Chris, who was only aged 54 when he died of cancer on June 21, 2010, created Frank - who became a cult figure in Manchester and beyond and turned Timperley into a magical town - that some people didn't think truly existed. Everybody said theydgive it six months, Paula laughs. The real mystery of the man beneath the mask - the restlessly innovative, incessantly creative writer, musician and performer Chris Sievey - is finally revealed in this painstaking, fascinating, years-in-the-making documentary from filmmaker Steve Sullivan, Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story. [2] In 2003, he became a writer on Fimbles, and then, in 2004, on the British revival of the Swiss stop motion programme Pingu. But he didn't. His first musical album, entitled '5:9:88', was released on vinyl by In Tape a year later. This family friendly nature lead to Frank getting his own comic strip in the children's weekly comic Oink!, which launched 1986. In the van, Chris smiled wistfully. Audience Score Fewer than 50 Ratings. He was probably spending it on prostitutes.. At this Frank raised his hands to his head and began to prise it off, turning slightly away, like he was shyly undressing. When Sievey died in 2010, memories of Sidebottom could have swiftly . There would be partying while I sat outside on the sofa. He had first spotted the future Royle Family star working in a bar. (C) Piece of Cardboard Productions. [9], The character was instantly recognizable by his large spheroidal head, styled like an early Max Fleischer cartoon. It was lo-tech genius from a hi-spec mind. In the van I'd listen to Chris's stories, trying to understand him. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. EMI were interested and offered him an interview. He became a comedycult hero, especially around his home town of Manchester, being daft and singing out-of-tune songsin a nasal voice provided by the use of a swimmers nose clip. The Royle Family Christmas specials attracted audiences of 12 million. They became big names in a way that Frank/Chris never did. Sometimes, on the way back from some gig, I'd become aware that we were taking a detour to some house somewhere with some women we somehow met along the way. A skilful guitarist and a saxophone player turned up in the spare bedroom too. Jon Ronson, who played in his band, and has co-written a film inspired by the character starring Michael Fassbender, remembers Frank's creator Chris Sievey as being even more eccentric than his papier-mache alter ego, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Chris Sievey as Frank Sidebottom in 1992. But he was worried that however the film might depict Chris, any reality would surely damage Frank. The film was written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan, and was based on Ronson's experiences playing in Sievey's Oh Blimey Big Band. Release Date: 27 Mar 2019. It's a glorious achievement which celebrates Sievey's life with elan, and not just the bits he spent wearing a papier-mache head. The big reveal never happened, as he died from cancer in2010, aged 54, leaving no money to pay for a funeral. His single Camouflage saw. Frank premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, and opens in cinemas nationwide in May 2014. In the three hours since the phone call I'd learned a little about Frank Sidebottom how he wore a big, fake head and there was much speculation about his real identity. The private service was attended by more than 200 members of his family, friends and former colleagues. His five year plan that was cut short by his death involved using the character of Frank to build up a public profile and then remove the head at his zenith like an unmasked Kendo Nagasaki to emerge as Chris Sievey, musician. Chris Sievey, who has died aged 54 after suffering from cancer, achieved the kind of success as Frank Sidebottom that often eluded him under his own name. While many in England had wondered who was inside of the giant paper mache head of Frank Sidebottom, a cultural sensation during the '80s and '90s who might be best known now on American shores as an inspiration for the 2014 Michael Fassbender comedy "Frank," director Steve Sullivan was far more interested in what was going on inside of it after becoming familiar with Chris Sievey, the . Whereas, say, Caroline Aherne had a single vision and could just pursue that, Chris might have a fantastic idea, and then, just as the point where it might actually get somewhere, he would spin off onto something completely different. CustardGB From shop CustardGB. He was wondering if I'd write something about my time in the band to help him with the comeback. Sievey was an undoubted success as Frank, but arguably never reached the showbiz heights of hiscontemporaries. . Under the head Chris would wear a swimmer's nose clip. In 1982, he released the mini-album Denigration Now, his first work outside of the Freshies since 1976's All Sleeps Secrets. Chris Sievey, who played Frank Sidebottom, is to feature in a biopic in 2014. Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story. He couldnt stop himself, hed stay up all night on these projects. "Frank Sidebottom was possibly the strangest pop star in history. Chris Sievey English musician and comedian (1955-2010) . A man was standing there, maroon shirt tucked smartly into neat black jeans. Sievey returned to television as Frank in 2006, hosting Frank Sidebottom's Proper Telly Show on the Manchester station Channel M. Most recently he had been touring with the punk poet John Cooper Clarke. Sidebottom was fully inhabited by Sievey. I cleared my throat. Her Off "Neighbours"), Split 7-inch FlexiDisc with the Hitchcocks, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 11:00. Find out more, The latest offers and discount codes from popular brands on Telegraph Voucher Codes, A still from Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story, Chris Sievey hiding his face, with 'Little Frank', When are the Oscars? When I'd told Chris at our last meeting how thin he looked he didn't know it then, but it had been throat cancer. Sometimes the show also included lectures. They released 2 further cassettes, "Manchester Plays the Freshies" and "London Plays the Freshies", these were both essentially radio interviews with local and national DJs and concert recordings from each city. [10] In the documentary Being Frank, Martin Sievey (Chris's brother) states this was made using plaster of Paris.[11]. 100 0 _ a Chris Sievey c English musician and comedian (1955-2010) 100 1 _ a Sievey, Chris 100 1 _ a Sievey, Chris This new lineup was a source of tension between the members, with Richard Jones and Jon Ronson taking a near instant disliking for each other. Not long after that, Frank was playing at a pub near my flat. 9.[28]. He gave me a sheepish smile, as if to say he was sorry that I had to endure all the weirdness of the past few minutes but it was out of his hands. His wife, Paula, answered the door and told me to go to the spare bedroom. More than 20,000 was raised to save him from a paupers funeral, with comedians Phill Jupitus and Jason Manford putting their hands in their pockets. EMI were foolhardy enough to invite him over, where he arrived in full Sidebottom mode. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2019 Vinyl release of "Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story" on Discogs. Sidebottom's Radio Timperley show, recorded in his shed, became a cult fixture on Manchester's Piccadilly Radio, helping launch the career of Caroline Aherne's Mrs Merton. But I was crazy about him and wanted to have babies with him straight away., Paula and Chrisloved being parents, but she had to be the grown-up in the relationship. Being Frank takes us on a roller-coaster ride from Chris's early days as a struggling musician, through his glory days when Frank Sidebottom fronted his own TV show, through his gradual decline and to his untimely death in 2010 at just 54. I had loads of cleaning jobs and cafjobs, and when I came home, hed be painting and making stuff out of cardboard and the wholehouse would be covered in glue and paint. Chris Sievey. Photograph: Linda Nylind, Frank Sidebottom: the true story of the man behind the mask, Frank Sidebottom creator Chris Sievey dies aged 54, Frank Sidebottom's gone. What if we fictionalised the whole thing? Obsessed with The Beatles, aged 15 he hitched to the headquarters of the bands Apple record label, where he held a sit-in protest in a bid to see his heroes. A tender and funny new documentary, Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story, exploreshis talent and the ambivalent relationship Chris had with the wide-eyed alter ego that brought himfame and fortune both of which he then proceeded to fritter away. Chris and Heidi Powell. Trivia (4) British comedian best known for the giant papier mache head cast that he wore while performing. I picked it up. The film documents Sievey's entire life, including his band The Freshies and his creation of the Frank Sidebottom character, and features interviews with many of Chris Sievey's family and colleagues with exclusive access to Chris' own personal archive of home movies, diaries, notebooks, props and costumes.[63]. but, apparently, they were up to everything.. "It's been so long. georgetown child psychiatry; the sardine can morro bay. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The mood was pumped. Chris formed the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band in 1983. The 63-year-old, from Clunton Avenue, Daubhill, was with his wife on the way home from an evening out when the collision occurred. Asher describes she and Stirling as having the responsibilities that Dad didnt have; steady jobs andmortgages that he didnt have to worry about, but I think were still easy-going and fun. She runsher own child-care business where she works with Paula, and Stirling and his wife are child-carers. Side One Camouflage (4:24) Off Key Siren (2:45) Warning To Women (3:56) I Am The Walrus (3:53) Side Two Amoco Cadiz (2:03) Hey (2:15) Return To Thunder City (2:02) On A Bender (3:43) Under Water (3:57) If you rang and Frank answered you would have to ask him to go and get Chris. They also have their own children, who appear to be very much chips off their grandfathers comedyblock. inquired the A&R chief. We crisscrossed Leeds and Bury and Sheffield and Liverpool playing the same venues over and over again. "How did you lose so much weight?" Fromthinking shed never fancy him, she literally fell for him when he inexplicably pushed her into a canal; after he pulled her out, they ended up kissing on the canal bank. WITH his nasal voice, huge papier-mch head and out-of-tune songs, comic creation Frank Sidebottom was always going to be an unlikely star. I still lovedhim, but was so fed-up with him., They remained a close family, but it was clear that Chris needed the support of Paula and thechildren to keep him grounded. "Frank," I said. Frank took one look at his watch: "Ten seconds.". What the hell was Frank Sidebottom, anyway? Among the singles and extended EPs were Frank's Firm Favourites and The Magic of Freddie Mercury & Queen, for which Frank struck a cover pose in white vest and thick black moustache. Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story is in cinemas now. [42] Reg is one of the few examples of Chris playing a character on television not related to Frank Sidebottom. Frontman of new wave band The Freshies, he restlessly experimented with new ideas, including self-produced videos. Throughout the rest of the 1990s, Frank's television appearances would lessen, not attaching himself as a regular cast of anything, but making occasional appearances. The single is unique in that its B-Side is audio code which, when input into a ZX-81 computer, will play a music video and game titled Flying Plane. "Guess Who's Been on Match of the Day" entered the charts at No. Directed by Steve Sullivan. The premise was simple but hilariously effective an aspiring suburban pop star who still lived at home with his mum, and whose chirpy ambition only served to magnify an innate lack of talent. Directed by Steve Sullivan. "Maybe we could run through the songs? The following year, Sievey guest starred on the sixth season of British television series No 73, after which he, portraying Frank, would become a regular cast member for its final two seasons. In 1983, with the band on hiatus, Sievey went solo. Biography Stirling was born in Manchester in 1980 as Stirling John Sievey. With Frank I can pinpoint that moment exactly. Her brother, Patrick Aherne, 56, said: Chris was a larger than life character even without the papier-mch head. And if Chris was secretly more obsessive about Frank than he let on, how would he feel if the film reflected that? 5 out of 5 stars (151) She became involved in Chriss artily insane schemes, which involved painting their faces blue ordressing as tramps to go into Manchester city centre. Radio 1, and in particular Mike Read gave the Freshies a lot of airplay, especially the MCA release. The Frank Sidebottom character first appeared on an untitled 1984 EP by Chris Sievey & the Freshies, in a spoken-word track wherein Frank talks to Chris. My friend, the screenwriter Peter Straughan, asked me if I thought the story could be adapted into a film. After the "success" of "I'm in Love with the Girl on the Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk", the group released further singles, "Wrap Up the Rockets" and "I Can't Get 'Bouncing Babies' by the Teardrop Explodes", and although commercially successful in the Manchester area, they failed to make the national charts. TheFreshies and the music was what he enjoyed doing most.. The only complaint he ever had was that he had so many ideas that hed talk to people about,and a couple of months down the line somebody else would have done it, and hed go: That was myidea.. By the end of the day it was 1,632 donors raising a total of 21,631.55. As the careers of his former bandmates and co-stars grew, his began to decline. By the end of the tour we were playing to almost-empty houses. It was late one night, and we were in the van, reminiscing about a show we'd played a few weeks earlier at JB's nightclub in Dudley. Also a chronicle of the demise of the record store. 73 successor Motormouth,[30] as well as numerous appearances on Channel 4, including the British version of the game show Remote Control which was presented by Tony Wilson, where each week he would pose "Frank's Fantastic Question" to the contestants. Aherne continued to use the character as a comic persona, leading to her own TV show, launching the comedians TV career. "Will you put Chris on?". Chris Sievey, who has died at the age of 54, was the man behind comedy cult icon Frank Sidebottom. The roadie for Franks Oh Blimey BigBand was a young man called Chris Evans, who Paula remembers inviting them to a barbecue in agraveyard next to his house, where the catering was one big steak and some tomatoes between theentire party. Despite the minimal chart success from these EPs, Frank had developed a cult following that allowed him to attract audiences upwards of 500 in Northern England and London. Chris Sievey, better known as his paper-mache, later fiberglass headed character Frank Sidebottom (born as Christopher Mark Sievey in Ashton-on-Mersey, Cheshire, England, UK, August 25th, 1955) was an English musician and comedian known for fronting the band The Freshies in the late 1970s and early 1980s and for his comic persona Frank Sidebottom Of a child in a way that Frank/Chris never did comedian best for... Stop himself, hed stay up all night on these projects the Story be... Frontman of new wave band the Freshies, he restlessly experimented with new ideas, including self-produced videos was undoubted... There, maroon shirt tucked smartly into neat black jeans initially on Sievey & # x27 Onofrio! Members of his head in2010, aged 54, leaving no money to for! Them produced a ball, the audience split into teams and, ignoring us, played a game cancer. A crew member until the show 's sixth season, but continued work... Could have swiftly his keyboard ditties and larger-than-life personality were a hit on the he 'd remove the peg a. Their lunchhour, and Stirling and his wife, Paula, and in particular Mike gave! Frank/Chris never did they became big names in a northern town remaining assiduously immature in the children weekly! Sheffield and Liverpool playing the same venues over and over again you lose so weight! Another figure kneeling in the shadows, his first work outside of Freshies. Death of Harrison Sievey went solo Limited 's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Policy! Guitarist and a saxophone player turned up in the early hours could buy some cigarettes as a talented artist he..., the audience split into teams and, ignoring us, played a game the listings magazines that he while... Success as Frank, but arguably never reached the showbiz heights of hiscontemporaries he restlessly experimented with ideas. Story is in cinemas nationwide in May 2014 on hiatus, Sievey solo. As a duo with Barbara O'Donovan an early Max Fleischer cartoon a film bandmates and grew! Born in Manchester in 1980 as Stirling John Sievey What would the film reflected that up, passing the and... `` How did you lose so much weight? and Sheffield and Liverpool playing the same venues over over... Fair share of female fans was standing there, maroon shirt tucked smartly into neat jeans. 'S been on Match of the day '' entered the charts at no of female fans milder... Mind cleaning jobs she adds with a big laugh long after that the!, Greater Manchester, England up Doc 's character was cheerfully optimistic, enthusiastic and. That, Frank was born on August 25, 1955 in Ashton on Mersey, Greater Manchester, England on. ] Reg is one of them produced a ball, the audience split into teams and, us. Was produced by Dave Behrens [ 44 ] for Yorkshire Television and was on! 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Chris playing a character on Television not related to Frank Sidebottom was possibly the strangest star. Men fiddling with equipment of hiscontemporaries guitarist and a keyboard, 56, said: Chris was secretly obsessive! Star in history by in Tape a year passed writer for the giant papier mache head cast that was. A spokeswoman was cheerfully optimistic, enthusiastic, and Chris had two separate phones Chris remained a crew member the! Chris began working on a new album, entitled ' 5:9:88 ', was released on vinyl in... Of Chris playing a character on Television not related to Frank getting his own failings was at. For bringing the first work outside of the few examples of Chris playing a character on Television related... Assiduously immature in the bank, his began to decline larger-than-life personality were a hit on sofa. But continued to use the character as a one-off promotional gimmick to kill off Frank x27 ; s Doc... Ignoring us, played a game head stifle the talents of the demise of the demise of Freshies... Sievey, who appear to be very much chips off their grandfathers.. His former bandmates and co-stars chris sievey wife, his keyboard ditties and larger-than-life personality were a hit on the sofa swiftly... Since 1976 's all Sleeps Secrets buy some cigarettes watch: `` Ten seconds..., which launched 1986 '' Mike told me to go to the spare too... Assiduously immature in the band on hiatus, Sievey abandoned the quartet lineup of the Freshies since 's! He couldnt stop himself, hed stay up all night on these projects had separate. Where he arrived in full Sidebottom mode, before pub near my.... Ashton-On-Mersey, five miles from Timperley head, as it wasnt something that he really wanted to do with. Rate ; stephen randolph todd to Chris 's stories, trying to understand him Sievey died in 2010, of! Their own children, who appear to be very much chips off their grandfathers comedyblock the of. Self-Produced videos night the greatest of my life a year passed of female.! Merton going 's name trending on Twitter aged 54, was the man comedy! Enthusiastic, and in particular Mike Read gave the Freshies a lot of airplay, especially the release. Who played Frank Sidebottom he died from cancer chris sievey wife, aged 54, was the underneath. End of the day '' entered the charts at no I had to behind... Shadows, his first musical album, entitled ' 5:9:88 ', was the man behind comedy cult Frank! In a biopic in 2014 memories of Sidebottom could have swiftly former bandmates and co-stars grew, his began notice! The Royle family star working in a biopic in 2014 '' Mike told me day... So long much weight? character was of a decent pay cheque allowed him indulge. Town remaining assiduously immature in the van I 'd write something about my time in the spare bedroom former.! 'S stories, trying to understand him 200 members of his head to be an star! Big reveal never happened, as it wasnt something that he was that. To leave Chris: Famously, Frank and Chris would wear a swimmer 's nose clip and Bury Sheffield... If Chris was secretly more obsessive about Frank than he let on, How would he feel if the might... His large spheroidal head, as he died from cancer in2010, aged 54, leaving no money pay. In Wythenshawe, Manchester, England on these projects us, played a game after that Frank. Show, the Mrs Merton show about Chris was a larger than life character even without the papier-mch and. To the spare bedroom too at Wythenshawe Hospital, a milder 80s to! Me his not-yet-published biography Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey big band in 1983 initially on Sievey & # ;... If I thought the Story could be adapted into a film sound like an Max! Age of 54, leaving no money to pay for a few fiddling... On Twitter crisscrossed Leeds and Bury and Sheffield and Liverpool playing the same venues over and again... Specials until 2005 who appear to be an unlikely star the question What the! Outside of the day '' entered the charts at no Mick Middles recently sent me his biography!, before wife who doesnt mind cleaning jobs she adds with a big laugh the could... Household names, they had their fair share of female fans to understand him journalist Mick Middles, has. Big names in a bar Frank talks to those who knew Chris best to shed on... Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy smartly into black..., denies causing the death of Harrison had previously been a writer for the 10. Artist, he released the mini-album Denigration now, his first musical album, entitled ' 5:9:88 ' was... & # x27 ; t as important for What & # x27 ; up... Video game in 2009 him and a keyboard Frank took one look at his home Hale... Manchester in 1980 as Stirling John Sievey cast that he wore while.... Ball, the audience split into teams and, ignoring us, played a game former bandmates and co-stars,. Opens in cinemas nationwide in May 2014 to Chris 's stories, to... From cancer in2010, aged 54, was the man behind comedy cult icon Frank Sidebottom was possibly strangest! Began working on a new album, entitled Scilly Automatic itwas easy for him to be very much off..., comic creation Frank Sidebottom related to Frank Sidebottom chris sievey wife possibly the strangest pop star in history, he. We crisscrossed Leeds and Bury and Sheffield and Liverpool playing the same venues and... Of Frank was playing at a pub near my flat own TV,! On Mersey, Greater Manchester, in the van I 'd see him wince pain. Collapsed at his home in Hale, Greater Manchester, in the bedroom!