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. His book captures perfectly that "rarest of journeys" when an onlooker got to see the man born Chris Sievey turn into Frank. Frank's character was of a child in a northern town remaining assiduously immature in the face of adulthood. Not merely a change in attitude or outlook but a journey from one person to the other. [56], Sievey's funeral was held on 2 July 2010 at Altrincham Crematorium. In 1977 Sievey formed the Freshies, with various other musicians involved including Martin Jackson, Billy Duffy and former Nosebleeds bassist Rick Sarko. The Freshies produced the first multimedia single by including The Biz, a Sinclair ZX Spectrum game written by Sievey, on the vinyl version of one of their releases in June 1983. Chris had always said we could do what we wanted with the story. [42] Reg is one of the few examples of Chris playing a character on television not related to Frank Sidebottom. Chris's house was in a normal, nice, modern cul-de-sac. 9: A Tribute to The Beatles in Aid of Cambodia", "What's up doc? Middles likens Chris to transgender people, trapped in the wrong body. He was a paean to ordinariness. Staring back at me from the sink was Frank's head. [26][27] He later recorded "Flying" for another Beatles tribute album, Revolution No. Chris and Paula married at a registry office during their lunch hour and went back to workafterwards. "I don't know," he said, looking pleased. 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. Chris told me to book us the biggest tour we'd ever undertaken. [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. But someone Chris could not truly divorce himself from was Frank. 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. Paula remembers him playing the London comedy circuit and moving in the samecircles as Jack Dee, Frank Skinner, Jo Brand and Steve Coogan. Paula revealed: He made me a pair of papier-mch boobs and head for a party. We walked across Kentish Town Road so Chris could buy some cigarettes. In the van I'd listen to Chris's stories, trying to understand him. At this Frank raised his hands to his head and began to prise it off, turning slightly away, like he was shyly undressing. 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]. Chris Sievey, who has died at the age of 54, was the man behind comedy cult icon Frank Sidebottom. 5 out of 5 stars (151) 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. I walked up, passing the bathroom and glanced in. Frank, usually dressed in a 1950s-style sharp suit, was portrayed as an aspiring pop star from the small village of Timperley, near Altrincham. It is directed by Steve Sullivan, and was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign. 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! 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. 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. 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. He brought him back in 2006 on Manchester regional TV station Channel M. However the onset of cancer just before Christmas 2009 ripped apart what had been a warmly received comeback. Although supposedly 35 years old (the age always attributed to Frank irrespective of the passage of time), he still lived at home with his mother, to whom he made frequent references. [8] In 1981, Sievey played on "Some Boys" by Going Red?, the band formed by former Jilted John star Graham Fellows. She somehow got her own TV show, The Mrs Merton Show. (1992), No 73 (1982) and TX (1985). I asked. Caroline Mary Aherne [1] (24 December 1963 - 2 July 2016) was an English actress, comedian and writer. He added that his name was Mike, and Frank Sidebottom's real name was Chris. "Chris wants to have a rehearsal," Mike told me one day. 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. 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. We hired a people-carrier instead of a Transit van and set off to our first venue. If you rang and Frank answered you would have to ask him to go and get Chris. georgetown child psychiatry; the sardine can morro bay. However, the TV was repossessed, and the family ended up cooking burgers over aBunsen burner after the electricity was turned off when the bill wasnt paid. Sometimes the show also included lectures. [45] The show only went on for one season. He is known for What's Up Doc? "It's been so long. What did that involve? His popularity peaked in the early 1990s, with the TV series Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show and guest slots on the children's Saturday morning ITV show No 73. On the Led Zeppelin bootleg "Bonzo's Last Stand", the back of the album has text which states, "Produced by Frank Sidebottom." Among his bandmates were Martin Jackson, later of Magazine, and the future Cult guitarist Billy Duffy. Polyethylene Film / PE Sheet [3][4], Sievey grew up in Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale, Cheshire (2.5 miles from Timperley). On the show, as well playing Frank, Sievey would also portray Mr. Fantastico, removed after the first season, and Life with the Amoebas. And, just six months later, Chris was dead. 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. 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. Harrison Sievey's loved ones now say they will try and 'piece their lives. [36], Frank performed at Bloom Festival in 2007 and Kendal Calling in 2008. It featured Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley who later became Radio 1 DJs Mark and Lard and Jon Ronson, now a successful writer and filmmaker. He just started doing loads of drugs, cocaine, drink. [2], Sievey released two cassettes under his own name in 1975 and 1976 Girl in My Blue Jeans and All Sleeps Secrets.[8]. [38] His last personal appearance was at the Salutation pub, Higher Chatham Street, Manchester on 11 June 2010 when he launched his World Cup single, "Three Shirts on the Line". Singer Chris Sievey went on to a career in comedy as Frank Sidebottom. [citation needed], Frank's last professional appearance was at the Pyramid Arts Centre, Warrington on 4 June 2010. Ashers youngest son Freddie is eight, and he pops in and out of his grandmas living room as we alltalk. [52][53] Sievey left a daughter, Asher, and two sons: Stirling and Harry (19922017). . Do you have any pamphlets?" He was really proud of all the rejection letters he had from all the record companies hed sent his demo to.. 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. As I prepare to go to it, I remember something Chris once said to me. In accordance with Chris Sievey's own wishes before his untimely death, we pledge to preserve his legacy by producing high-quality, authentic 'official' merchandise that is made with love, integrity and attention to detail. But as a talented artist, he got work on kids programme Bob The Builder at the start of the millennium. Afterwards he migrated to What's Up Doc?,[30] where Sievey would not only portray Sidebottom, but also create the recurring segment Life with the Amoebas. Billy recently recalled: What I remember about Chris was he was a really fun guy. After retiring the character of Frank Sidebottom, Sievey became prop designer and set dresser on the fourth season of stop-motion animated series, Bob the Builder. 9.[28]. He stands off to the side and at the bottom of the back cover photo. Sievey's funeral was held on 2 July 2010 at Altrincham Crematorium. Original Title: Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story. The papier-mch headed Frank hit the heights of fame during the 'Madchester' music period. When he'd remove the peg after a long stint I'd see him wince in pain. A man was standing there, maroon shirt tucked smartly into neat black jeans. As the title suggests, Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story is no straightforward bio-doc. What if we fictionalised the whole thing? Certainly his wife and children weren't as important. Things became so bad that Paula took their three kids to live in a hostel following their eviction for not paying the rent. Chris Sievey English musician and comedian (1955-2010) . I didnt think in a million years that he was up to anything. 100 0 _ a Chris Sievey c English musician and comedian (1955-2010) 100 1 _ a Sievey, Chris 100 1 _ a Sievey, Chris Creator of Frank Sidebottom. 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. Former girlfriend Michelle, 56, told The Sun: I think he would just laugh about him being more famous now. His greatest creation, the mysterious Frank Sidebottom, became a star - a manic, insane, mercurial star who obscured his own creator. Directed by Steve Sullivan. You just need wife who doesnt mind cleaning jobs she adds with a big laugh. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Kate Shaw, and Chris Hayes attend the 2014 Women's Media Awards at Capitale on October 29, 2014 in New York City. He wasnt the kind of man whocould do a proper nine-to-five job. During this time, Sievey began working on a solo album entitled Life in 74 Minutes, which he later abandoned. In 2014, a feature-length documentary about the life and art of Chris Sievey, entitled Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story[11] was announced and was released in March 2019. He received an overall score of 22 points from judges James Nesbitt and Glenda Gilson, putting him in first place for all the series' acts so far. Two huge eyes were staring at me, painted onto a great, imposing fake head, lips slightly parted as if mildly surprised. His wife and children try to join him, but are separated, and the children grow up amid suffering and oppression.David Levene. Then I became aware of another figure kneeling in the shadows, his back to me. 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