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? He loved the work but missed Frank and wanted to bring him back from retirement. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 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. His greatest creation, the mysterious Frank Sidebottom, became a star - a manic, insane, mercurial star who obscured his own creator. He was wondering if I'd write something about my time in the band to help him with the comeback. When they moved out, Paula says he became a hoarder, and Asherremembers that her dad would write notes to himself on the wall of the house: No normal personcould live like that., How does she think her father felt about Frank Sidebottom, who Chris kept as a very separate entity(if anyone addressed him as Chris when he was wearing Franks head, he wouldnt reply)? In his huge papier-mch mask, Chris Sievey was an unlikely star, enjoying cocaine and booze but without it, he ended up bitter and bankrupt. Mini Bio (1) Chris Sievey was born on August 25, 1955 in Ashton on Mersey, Greater Manchester, England. But it was at a fancy dress party the couple went to that the idea of Frank was born. Sievey himself grew up in Ashton-on-Mersey, five miles from Timperley. Chris Sievey, who has died at the age of 54, was the man behind comedy cult icon Frank Sidebottom. And stopped. Contents Chris Sievey More Red Indian Music Chris sievey camouflage sinclair zx81 pop video Early life and career [2], Sievey released two cassettes under his own name in 1975 and 1976 Girl in My Blue Jeans and All Sleeps Secrets.[8]. 9.[28]. "It's been so long. Camouflage first appeared on Sievey's 1982 'Denigration Now' VHS and cassette. Frank, usually dressed in a 1950s-style sharp suit, was portrayed as an aspiring pop star from the small village of Timperley, near Altrincham. His greatest creation, the mysterious Frank Sidebottom, became a star - a manic, insane . TheFreshies and the music was what he enjoyed doing most.. Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story is finally released in selected cinemas and as a digital download on 29 March, and audiences can see for themselves what's kept Sullivan so busy. . 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. 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. 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. Chris didnt care about money, she says. A skilful guitarist and a saxophone player turned up in the spare bedroom too. 100 0 _ a Chris Sievey c English musician and comedian (1955-2010) 100 1 _ a Sievey, Chris 100 1 _ a Sievey, Chris 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. I tried to make rules but hejust broke them. [24] During the band introductions at the end of the show, Ronson noted a negative reaction to his presence, but found that his microphone had been almost completely muted, leaving him completely unheard by the audience. [20], In 1987, Frank released his first album, a spoken word cassette called 'Fantastic Tales', released through his own 11:37 label. It is published by Picador as an ebook on 16 January. [39], Following Sievey's death in June 2010, a social networking campaign was launched to gain Frank his first UK hit. "I'm Mike Doherty. 73,[19] eventually being grandfathered into its spin off, 7T3. He'd already given us his approval on the film and I told him the latest news. It was not love at first sight. 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. Chris and the band, whilst disgruntled by the success of a character created for Frank now detached from Frank, did not resent it, with drummer Mike Doherty saying that while she had taken the characters name, she had crafted her own thing out of it.[21]. It was really hard to keep things together. Detailsatwww.beingfrank.film, The exhibition Bobbins: Frank Sidebottom & Chris Sievey, containing some of Chriss huge personalarchive, is at Manchester Central Library until the end of April, The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. [8] A string of singles and several cassettes were released between 1978 and 1983. She was best known for performing as the acerbic chat show host Mrs Merton, in various roles in The Fast Show, and as Denise in The Royle Family (1998-2012), a series which she co-wrote. [14] In order to promote the EP, he made an appearance on the TV programme 'TX'[15] the first of many appearances on the ITV network. [32] After the first two seasons, Sievey left the show. The private service was attended by more than 200 members of his family, friends and former colleagues. A MAN has been cleared of causing the death of Harrison Sievey, the son of Frank Sidebottom creator Chris Sievey. His second Zonophone EP, 'Oh Blimey, It's Christmas' charted slightly higher than the first, at number 87, before dropping off again. 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. 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) 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. In 2006, Sievey revived the character of Frank Sidebottom with the short lived television series, Frank Sidebottom's Proper Telly Show. He also appeared at "Late" at Tate Britain on 3 August 2007. I heard muffled voices. As the 1990s reached their midpoint, the Frank character began to make fewer public appearances before seemingly being retired. 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. 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. Original Title: Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story. the real frankie murdoch biography Frank sometimes had a sidekick in the form of "Little Frank", a hand puppet who was otherwise a perfect copy of Frank. [ 1] Thank you for standing in at such short notice. And Chris and Frank would send each other letters and drawings.. Sievey's earliest television appearance was on the children's television show TX, with an in-character interview as Frank Sidebottom, shortly after the release of his first Zonophone EP. Some thought he might be the alter ego of a celebrity, possibly Midge Ure, the lead singer of Ultravox, who was known to be a big Frank Sidebottom fan. Frank Sidebottom statue moves closer, Michael Fassbender and Domhnall Gleeson team up for music comedy Frank. We hear from older brother Martin; ex-wife Paula; children Stirling, Asher and Harry; and many more. Nigel Carr reviews the release for Louder Than War. Was he bitter? We soundchecked. In the van, Chris smiled wistfully. He had first spotted the future Royle Family star working in a bar. 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. They eventually convinced the engineers to let them record a session. My friend, the screenwriter Peter Straughan, asked me if I thought the story could be adapted into a film. Paula met Chris when they were both working in a factory. Afterwards he was signed to Marc Riley's In Tape label, on which he would release two albums and four EPs.[17]. Undeterred, he predated the DIY punk ethic by starting his own label, Razz, in 1974 and releasing singles and EPs with the Freshies from 1978 onwards. Sievey died of cancer in 2010, but for years it seemed he might do himself in. 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. So I clicked another link: Stars lead tributes as Frank Sidebottom comic dies at 54Chris Sievey, famous as his alter ego Frank Sidebottom, was found collapsed at his home in Hale early yesterday. This is an edited extract from Frank: The True Story that Inspired the Movie. By this point he had split from Paula and had moved in with girlfriend Michelle Pouncey, who he dated for six years. But the man underneath the hot, uncomfortable fibreglass head was Chris Sievey, a musician, artist and comedian from Manchester. [52][53] Sievey left a daughter, Asher, and two sons: Stirling and Harry (19922017). He used to tell me that it was just fans.. I scrutinised their faces. And if Chris was secretly more obsessive about Frank than he let on, how would he feel if the film reflected that? We scattered Chriss ashes on the beach at Portmeirion (where The Prisoner, his favourite TV show,wasfilmed), and it was so windy, they kept coming back and hitting us in the face. I didnt have any choice we were being threatened with eviction, andthe gas and electricity were about to be cut off. Frank had faded into obscurity in the late 1990s, rarely appearing either on TV or making live appearances, but, a one-off performance at Manchester's Club Indigo Vs Manic Street Mania in December 2005 seemed to be the catalyst for a comeback. Frank starred in his own exhibition of drawings, animation and cardboard at London's Chelsea Space Gallery next to Tate Britain between 4 July and 4 August 2007. . "Can you play C, F and G?" It got hold of him and it was quite bad. In 1989, Sievey re-arranged the Oh Blimey Band, introducing Richard Jones from the recently broken up local band the Desert Wolves on bass guitar, along with a new guitarist and saxophonist. Chris formed the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band in 1983. In 1977 Sievey formed the Freshies, with various other musicians involved including Martin Jackson, Billy Duffy and former Nosebleeds bassist Rick Sarko. At first the character was a mascot for The Freshies but, soon, he became more popular than the group. Home / Uncategorized / the real frankie murdoch biography. 96%. Chris Sievey. Manchester punk group The Freshies, 7th January 1979. [2] Among his bandmates were Martin Jackson, later of Magazine, and the future Cult guitarist Billy Duffy. Ten years later I was in the park with my son when the phone rang. Chris Sievey 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. 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. Fictionalising his years in Sidebottom's Oh Blimey Big Band for 2014's beguiling non-biopic Frank, Jon Ronson chose to make his hero an outsider musician in the vein of Daniel Johnson and the Shaggs.Those artists are, in many ways, more abrasive than Frank Sidebottom, whose chintzy Casio keyboard beats would never have passed muster on a Captain . 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. In February of 1982, Sievey abandoned the quartet lineup of the Freshies, and reformed it as a duo with Barbara O'Donovan. Recorded 1989 - 1991. 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. (1992), No 73 (1982) and TX (1985). ", "So," I said. Frank Sidebottom comic faces pauper's funeralThe comic genius behind Mancunian legend Frank Sidebottom is facing a pauper's funeral after dying virtually penniless. Chris returned to Manchester to a court summons. How are you?" It was very much like having a fourth child, and he wasprobably the naughtiest child out of all of them.. Frank was perhaps most popular in the North West of England, where his success was caught up in that of the Madchester scene, and for a time was a regular on regional ITV station Granada, even featuring as a reporter on its regional news programme, Granada Reports. The exhibition covered both Frank Sidebottom as well as Sievey's other creative endeavours. Ronson was social secretary at the Polytechnic of Central London and knew Mike Doherty as an agent. Chris Sievey Sievey as Frank Sidebottom at the Bull and Gate, Kentish Town, London, in December 2006 Pseudonym Frank Sidebottom Born Christopher Mark Sievey (1955-08-25)25 August 1955 Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale, Cheshire, England[1] Died 21 June 2010(2010-06-21)(aged 54) Wythenshawe, Manchester, England Medium Comedy Music Years active 1969-2010 The duo version of the Freshies released one single, "Fasten Your Seat Belts". Then he hung up. Why was he wearing the head when there was nobody there to see it except for his own band? Directed by Steve Sullivan. A week after I returned, I saw Frank Sidebottom's name trending on Twitter. 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. A biography of Chris Sievey was written by Manchester author Mick Middles,[64] and was published in November 2014.[65]. "I'm Richard," he said. Hundreds of online tributes have been paid to the 24-year-old musician.. Then I became aware of another figure kneeling in the shadows, his back to me. Richard was not the only proper musician Chris brought in. I never understood why Chris sometimes kept Frank's head on for hours, even when it was only us in the van. In 1983, with the band on hiatus, Sievey went solo. I walked up, passing the bathroom and glanced in. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud. [3][4], Sievey grew up in Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale, Cheshire (2.5 miles from Timperley). In 1982, he released the mini-album Denigration Now, his first work outside of the Freshies since 1976's All Sleeps Secrets. Chris Sievey had no assets and little money in the bank, his family have revealed.Manchester Evening News, 23 June 2010. I had similar concerns. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.David Levene. This album introduced the character Mrs Merton, portrayed by Caroline Aherne. As I walked in he started playing a tight soul-funk riff with seeming nonchalance, but I understood it to be an act of aggression. I think itwas easy for him to be behind the head, as it wasnt something that he really wanted to do. Performances were often varied from straightforward stand-up comedy and featured novelty components such as tombola, and crowd interaction. We were just friends. Chris Sievey was a musician from the north west, who was the frontman for a band called The . The papier-mch headed Frank hit the heights of fame during the 'Madchester' music period. TV Appearance, debut of Frank Sidebottom. Then Mike phoned and asked if I wanted to be in Frank's band full time. SYNOPSIS: The story of musician and entertainer. The re-recorded single was released in 1983 initially on Sievey's own Random Records label, before . It was consequently baffling for me to become aware of a growing sense of discontent in the van. inquired the A&R chief. [31] The popularity of these appearances lead to him getting his own show on the network, Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show, which lasted one season in 1992. The private service was attended by more than 200 members of his family, friends and former colleagues. During this time, Sievey began working on a solo album entitled Life in 74 Minutes, which he later abandoned. Chriss ex-wife Paula who he wooed by pushing into a canal said in Micks book: I was so naive because girls would often ring up and ask for him. 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. The first showing of each show was in black and white ("so you don't have to turn the colour down"), whilst subsequent repeats were shown in full colour. 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. In 2003, Chris began working on a new album, entitled Scilly Automatic. The place was packed. He began to turn. Frank's Oh Blimey Big Band, which included the DJ Mark Radcliffe, the journalist Jon Ronson and a then-unknown Chris Evans, toured the halls of Britain, playing ramshackle covers of Bohemian Rhapsody and the Benefit of Mr Kite, to an increasingly fervent fan base. 2018, Documentary/Music, 1h 40m. There would be partying while I sat outside on the sofa. I said. [49][50], Sievey was diagnosed with cancer in May 2010,[51] and died at Wythenshawe Hospital on 21 June 2010 at the age of 54 after collapsing at his home in Hale, Greater Manchester. 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