So who is Liam Trotsky? No, not Lev Davidovich Bronstein, the Ukraine born Russian revolutionary, political theorist and politician, we have our own Liam Trotsky located in Birkenhead. Liam has been heavily involved supporting the local music scene for a fair bit now. Over the years, Liam has played in several bands, helped to promote and put gigs on locally and the latest chapter in his life sees him now hosting a three hour punk/indie/alternative radio show every Friday night from 7pm to 10 pm. This show is obviously popular as he has now been doing it for about three years. Let's have a catch up with him and see who he is and what drives him.
DLW: Thanks Liam for taking the time out to speak to Last Stop. First question I suppose is, who is Liam Trotsky and what is he about?
LIAM: An ageing, working class first wave punk rocker, loony left wing winger, failed author/songwriter, musician/scriptwriter but still too stupid to give up. That's about all you're getting on the personal side.
DLW: You say failed musician, what bands have you been in over the years? I think one of your bands was Tin Soldiers. Am I correct or is my aging memory failing me again? Also, other than writing songs, what else have you written or currently writing?
LIAM: Yeah Tin Soldiers, Manic Depression/C.I.5. Da Kraze, The Rhythm Method, Hit Squad (cabaret duo, just a money maker), The Replicants, Dream Faction, in the process of starting another band and about 4/5 others whose names I can't remember. Still writing songs (last count,over 2,500) but not much else since all these lockdown measures started.
DLW: Well depending on how good your memory is, we were on the same billing many years ago at the Black Horse in Wallasey Village when I was in my 0898 days, any recollection?
LIAM: Yeah, that was a great night - 2 bands you and Hocky and another band I can't remember were brilliant, then we went on last. 3 numbers in and the P.A. blew up, end of gig.
DLW: That's right! I remember the PA blowing up. Hocky wasn't playing with 0898 as I'd taken over bass duties from him by then.
LIAM: He was definitely there but memory's fucked so maybe he didn't play.
DLW: Possibly, he may have been a punter unless Instant Agony played????
LIAM: Actually I think Instant Agony may have been the other band.
DLW: The joys of getting older and failing memories.
LIAM: I'd forget me balls if they weren't in a bag.
DLW: So going back to your youth, what prompted you to pick up the guitar and play in bands and what was the first band you were in?
LIAM: A guy round the corner worked in Rox Records and used to nick singles and sell them, then one day, early 77, I went there to buy an ELO. single for my bird and he showed me God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols and Peaches/Go Buddy Go by The Stranglers and I bought them 30p each. Went home, played them and decided I was gonna be in a band. We started a band a year later but none of us could really play and when the bass player got sent to Borstal, we packed in. First real band was The Roy Richardson Band 4 years later: I could now play a few chords. The bass player was the only one with any talent but the drummer went on to be the singer in De Zootman Band, who toured the UK's Uni's supporting some decent bands.
DLW: I love the story about nicking records. Sounds like most of us who couldn't play when we started our own bands. What would you say then was your most successful band?
LIAM: None and all. Never got what is normally accepted as 'success' but have loved every minute of every band I've ever been in (well almost). Greatest pleasure was being in Manic Depression, with Tim (Baron O'Beef), Ernie Smith and Zoff. Me and Ernie would just write songs together in minutes - I'd come up with a riff and he'd put lyrics to it. We had almost a full set in a fortnight (just 2 covers I think, Warhead, and a Buddy Holly song Heartbeat, punked up) and did our 1st gig. Ernie and me, after 35 years are back together in a band and when this lockdowns over, we're gonna hit the shit again.
DLW: Zoff! That name is a blast from the past, so I guess you'll remember old Birkenhead bands like MDM and Onslaught? I totally get writing songs in five minutes as I did that years ago in my first ever band. Have you been active all these years and yes, lockdown is a complete pain in the arse.
LIAM: Supported MDM a few times; Mandy's a good friend. She lived with Ernie in the early 80's and we all partied together. . . remember we commented on the banter page about Onslaught?
DLW: Yeah, I'll draw from that for Onslaught reference but do you remember ATA?
LIAM: Remember the name but nothing about them - don't think I ever saw them.
DLW: What your first ever gig you went to?
LIAM: First gig was Black Sabbath when I was 13, my older brother took me; first punk gig, The Saints.
DLW: I would imagine you've seen lots of bands and been to many gigs, what are your most memorable gigs and favourite bands to watch?
LIAM: Quite simply, my best gig ever was The Lurkers in '78.
DLW: Okay then, let's talk about radio.... When did you start the radio show?
LIAM: Only about three years ago, first show was 22nd August 2017.
DLW: What inspired you to get involved with local radio and was it something you always wanted to do?
LIAM: Yes, almost happened in '86 when MAR (Merseyland Alternative Radio) wanted to locate their station in my attic; they offered me cash but I said I wouldn't take anything, just a 2 hour slot a week but they said there was no room so I told them to go visit the Foreign Office. At the time I was doing a Monday night 'Alternative Disco' at a local pub. Had some good bands come and play including The Iconoclasts. After that, it took over 30 yrs and my sister, who was trained at 7 Waves/Wirral Radio FM, took over as station Manager at Vintage. I asked her if I could do a show, she showed me the ropes and 3 years later, I still haven't got the hang of it but hey ho, no one cares!
DLW: Personally I think it's great because it's not very often that you get to hear punk/alternative/indie music on the radio. Did you go into it alone, hosting your own show I mean. And how much preparation do you put into your shows?
LIAM: A lot more work since Martin (Ward) passed away. I have to choose around 45 tracks, with a mix to suit all the listeners, which I've grown to understand over the years. You wouldn't believe what a ball-ache it is going through dozens of albums a week just to pick a handful of songs. Everything has to be written out in order, making sure I haven't played something recently: quiz questions researched etc then after the show, it's all the stuff Martin did with the podcast, which can take anything from an hour, to a full day. . . . Thanks for that Dave, I do try hard to please everyone, and yes, I started it alone, and if you go back through the podcasts to the early days, you'll hear that, then Martin and Dave Jinx got involved for a while but the early days were a mix of punk and mostly new wave/indie and stuff I wouldn't dream of playing now, with the more discerning audience listening in.
DLW: I knew that you had help in the past, Martin was involved etc. Did Martin co-host the show with you? (Excuse my ignorance as I'm a relatively new listener). I can imagine it being a ball-ache keeping track on songs previously played.
LIAM: No but he did play live on air a few times. Dave Jinx helped by co-hosting for about a year, but he usually just read out the gig guide, something that's disappeared with him.
DLW: Mind you in this day and age there's no gigs, or very few happening. So with regards to your show, you've had guests on in the past, who was the most well known and who was your favourite guest to have on?
LIAM: WOW!! good question. The most well known and the craziest was Jimmy 'Summertime' Stevens, who, at 76, was still a fuckin’ maniac. No favourite guest but if you scroll down the O.L. Facebook page and click on the podcast collections (one was Martin's, the other mine) you'll hear some really interesting interviews with musicians, journo's etc. Probably Ian Prowse now I think about it (show #88 I think)
DLW: Excellent, I'll have a listen when I get a chance. With regards to the banter page, has that been from the onset? It must be a (pleasant) distraction at times because some of the comments are completely bonkers and insane but highly amusing.
LIAM: Yeah, from the beginning. Even though I knew nothin about radio, I wanted some feedback and I remember going into NBR (where the show went to for about a year) and the internet wasn't working so I walked out - I couldn't do a show now without the banter page. It started out very normal but the likes of Baron (Tim) and Franko etc started turning it into a lunatic asylum. I think it started one day when I first played the Pigeon Detectives and the page went crazy with mad pictures of pigeons - it still does sometimes when I play them that really cheers me up. Been trying to find someone to take over the show for over 12 months as I find it difficult due to health problems but no one wants to do it and it would have to be someone who could keep it as it is and have a good knowledge of all types of music . . I won't leave though and see the show disappear - it is a lifeline for a few people who tune in regularly and have messaged me over the years and it would be a shame and somehow, would seem like a link to Martin would disappear. He loved the show, and just two days before going into hospital for the final time, he messaged me to apologise for the podcast being late that's how dedicated he was.
DLW: I think the banter page is a great little "run along" as the show carries on, and agreed some of the comments have me in stitches. I didn't realise you have health issues (Hope all is okay?) I think during the lockdown and this pandemic, it's a pleasant distraction to tune in on a Friday night and have a bit of fun whilst listening to some good music. I think we as an audience need it presently. Some of your adoring listeners have posed a few questions, would you care to answer them?
LIAM: I hate those gobshites (insert several smiley faces here).
DLW: You love them really! So here goes.....
Charlie Davidson - Did you support The Vibrators?
Liam - Yes.
Kevin Downey - Are you a stone or a sponge?:
Liam - No comment.
Paul Brooks - How close did you get to Fay Fife?
Liam - I danced with her for about half an hour in Erics after the gig - the most crazy girl I'd ever met up to that point.
Paul Brooks - Is Liam Trotsky your real name?
Liam - I wish!
Keith Rutter - How long have you been sponsored by McVities?
Liam - No comment.
Chris O'Brien - What's under the hat?
Liam - A penis (so that lot think)
Baron O'Beef - Who won the FA Cup in 1923?
Liam - Moscow Dynamo . . there's a pic of Stalin scoring the winning goal. Best piece of propaganda the KGB ever did touching up that photo.
DLW: Plus your show is also a great advert and support for local bands, something I assume you're passionate about supporting? Since Martin's passing (RIP) have you struggled slightly with the technicalities?
LIAM: I was struggling with the podcast but luckily Martin went through it with me once, when he was going to Prague with Aileen and he got Franko to record it and send it to me. It's a lot of hard work and I never really appreciated how much he did until then. As for supporting local bands, it's been my passion since I did the Monday alternative nights, putting unknown (and sometimes talentless) bands on, as I was trying to get along in the music world too at that time, though I'd given up, until persuaded back into it in '89 - never really stopped since. The show is more like a community thing and I sometimes refer to the listeners as the O.L. community.
DLW: Like Martin (was) and a few others you're a stalwart in the local music scene. Am I right in assuming that you used to put gigs on locally and is it something you'd do again?
LIAM: I have helped to arrange gigs and will always help out in that respect but hate to be given credit for something that I love doing - it's the bands that should get the attention as those who arrange it are only doing it for their own selfish reasons i.e. getting to enjoy watching and listening to the joys of life. Everything we all do is for personal reasons like playing live for the buzz, or presenting a radio show as it gives you the privilege of being able to play stuff you like and hopefully persuade others to like it too - hope that all makes sense?
DLW: Of course it makes sense, personally I enjoy playing live with the band and I can't wait to get back to it. For any new listeners, what can they expect to hear by listening to your shows?
LIAM: I hope people tuning into the show get to hear something they haven't heard before and they really like; from the beginning, I based my presenting ideals on the John Peel model, as I can still remember hearing him play stuff that made my blood bump and I love the feeling when people post that they love a track I played, and ask for more info or stuff etc. That is the biggest buzz about doing the show I have to admit, and that's what I hope every new or regular listener experiences and they can be assured that is my aim.
DLW: One thing I've noticed that you have similar to the late, great John peel is that you don't over-talk on the song intro's and outro's. Boils my piss when DJ's do that! For fun - If you were interviewing Liam Trotsky, what question would you ask him?
LIAM: I would ask him why he doesn't play enough SLF or Manic Street Preachers and I would expect him to say, that would be selfish; I reckon that's what makes the show popular: it's not about what the presenter wants to hear but what he thinks the audience wants.
DLW: Okay buddy, final question. Where did you get the name Outta Limits from?
LIAM: No idea. I think it was when my sister was the manager at the time (she's co founder and manager at NBR now) and rang me for a name and that just popped up. Shame really as I've had lots of much better ideas but I reckon it would be wrong to change it now .The name's all over Facebook, it's been on numerous flyers at gigs and I even have a stamp that a one-time girlfriend got me with Outta Limits on it (actually it was her who changed outer to outta which I now prefer).
DLW: First time I heard about your show was about two years ago, Hocky told me to get in touch and send you a Sonic Rednecks CD but for some reason I never got round to it.
LIAM: Pity you didn't but send in any stuff, even defunct bands as I still play lots of long gone stuff that people still like to hear. Don't forget, a lot of thought and sweat goes into creating songs and it's a shame and a waste to just bury them in the past.
DLW: I could send you some Sonic Rednecks tracks, even some 0898 tracks.
LIAM: Yes please do, I have some 0898 stuff but e-mail me anything you like and I'll have a listen.
DLW: Cheers buddy and thanks for the interview, enjoyed it.
LIAM: Brilliant, cheers.
DLW: So there you have it. If you find yourself sitting on your arse on a Friday night, scratching your head and wondering what to do, I suggest you tune in to Liam's Outta Limits radio show and listen to an eclectic plethora of decent music! Links to his show are included below…..
Words: DLW, Images: Media
https://www.facebook.com/Outta-Limits-show-Vintage-Radio-108216947687632/
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