A fortnight on from unveiling the first episode of ’60 Minutes or less’, the new podcast from Birthday Cake For Breakfast (with our first guest, Joe Casey of Protomartyr), we’re pleased as punch to present our second guest: Paul Hanley, drummer extraordinaire and in recent years, the author of a number of award winning books.
Alongside brother Steve, Paul was the other famous Hanley that appeared in legendary northern outfit The Fall, one of the many drummers in the lineup over the years. His shift behind the kit took place during the fruitful early 80s, one half of the band’s classic two-drummer lineup, with appearances on such highly regarded records as ‘Hex Enduction Hour’ and ‘Grotesque (After the Gramme)’. More recently, Hanley has taken to the drums again as part of HOUSE Of ALL, a supergroup of ex-Fall members, featuring Si Wolstencroft, Pete Greenway, Martin Bramah and (of course), brother Steve.
Outside of drumming, Hanley has written a number of brilliant books – ‘Leave The Capital: A History of Manchester Music in 13 Recordings’ and ‘Have A Bleedin Guess: The Story of Hex Enduction Hour’. In April 2024, Route Publishing are set to release a new collection from Paul – ‘Sixteen Again: How Pete Shelley & Buzzcocks Changed Manchester Music (and me).’ It’s a book that looks to explore the appeal of Buzzcocks and the influence of Pete Shelley on Manchester music and beyond.
On a frosty morning in early December 2023, I visited Paul at home in Timperley to talk about the Buzzcocks and much more, starting – as all conversations should – on Timperley’s most famous son, Frank Sidebottom.
A handy Spotify player is embedded below, but you can find further ways to listen here.
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