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An interview with Big George!
The man behind the music

Big George with one of his many showbiz admirers!

An introduction

Big George, aka George Webley is best known for doing the music for a certain long running BBC TV series, but I get the feeling that he gets tired of constantly being introduced this way. The reason he’s interviewed here is because of his excellent version of Handbags and Gladrags that appears during the credits of the show. I think that’s enough from me, so here’s what you all came here for:

I’ve split this into the past and the future, because I don’t believe in the concept of the present.

Will we ever see a release of your full cover of the song?
Maybe? We did record a full version of the song, but only because it’s a classic and before doing the credits and stings it was a way of getting into the groove. But the brief was to do music for the start and end of a TV series, and so the chances of the full version being available to the masses is not really my decision.

How did Ricky end up seeing the light and choosing you as the man in charge of the music?
I got a call from the series producer Ash, who I had worked with a few times previously, most notably on Yes Sir I Can Boogie. He asked me along to one of those Soho meejah type editing facilities to meet Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Ricky is a Rod the Mod fan, and who can blame him (in my opinion he is the Sinatra of Rock). The song in question, Handbags and Gladrags composed by Mike D’Abo (the geezer who replaced Paul Jones in Manfred Mann and sang Ha Ha Said The Clown) was already a decision cast in stone. But Ricky wanted a version that retained that early 70’s melancholy feel but also held the vocal melody on piano for the opening credits. So we shook on it and off I went to sort it out!

How long did the recording session take? Was Gervais really picky about it?
It took me a day score it out, change the key (as I wanted to darken the mood a little) and book the players and studio. And another day to record and mix the opening titles, end credits and a longer version of the end credits for episode three of series one. The session started with us sobering up the singer, Fin (who is the drunkest man on the planet) and ended with us all watching rough cuts of episodes one, two and three which Ricky and Ash brought along. In fact it was a bit of a party. Then everyone left and I done the mix. The band was Ben Hallett on Drums, Del Bromham on Guitar, Whibble on Piano, Snake Davis on Soprano Sax. By the way, there were no synthesizers, samplers, click tracks and technological trickery at all. It was all recorded live.

As far as other music in the series goes, we really only have Brent and his guitar. Gervais was in a pop duo in the early eighties, but was he still able to pull it all off in 2001, or were you needed to help him out a bit?
Ricky needs no help from me when it comes to tragic 80’s synth-pop, or self indulgence singer songwriter scene scenarios.

What do you think of the Stereophonics cover of the song?
Too slow and too pussy. It’s flattering that they recorded a version of Mike D’Abo’s classic as featured on The Office. In return I am planning to record a thrash metal version of their toe tapper Have A Nice Day for them to include on their next CD.

Would you ever want to work with Ricky again?
In a flash. It is my opinion that The Office is on an equal par with Fawlty Towers as the best British sit-com ever. Ricky, Stephen and Ash have given the discerning viewing public a masterpiece and it is an honour to have been involved, and the money was handy too! Although plumbers earn more.

What things are you up to in the near future?
I dunno. Probably doing what I usually do, and that is sit by the phone and wait for it to ring. I am currently presenting a TV show on BBC1 east (7.30pm Monday before Eastenders which finishes in March 2003) and have a two book deal which is hovering over me like a hangman’s noose, the second book is The History Of Music From The Very Beginning To The Very End. As for the title of the first one ...? Also, after winning the Sony Radio Award for Music Broadcaster of the Year 2002 I have had a number of radio offers
(although none from XFM, but then they have some very cool DJ’s on the air there) but none that have rocked my boat. I’m sure something will turn up allowing me to continue to avoid getting a proper job.

Do you have any exclusive news of the next project you’re working on? (Well, it was when this interview took place!)
Well, I have just done some incidental music for a one off Channel 4 comedy called The Last Chancers, starring Adam Buxton (of Adam & Joe). It was directed by a certain Stephen Merchant (21st November 2002). I sing the tragic ballad and my son Twig does the guitar pyrotechnics. As for what David Brent is up to, I, like so many million others await with cringing anticipation.

Mr. Big George, thank you very much.

If you want to know more/employ/send money to Big George, then all the info is his on excellent site, at www.biggeorge.co.uk