Craig Charles: A Man of Many Talents

Photo: Craig Charles

What hasn't Craig Charles done? Not content with performance poetry, stand-up comedy, Red Dwarf, Robot Wars, Takeshi's Castle, and Coronation Street, he's now become revered as a DJ, both on radio and on the festival and club circuit.

His 6Music show, The Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show, has been going since 2002, and ever since he has been more and more in demand as a live DJ, playing at the likes of Glastonbury and Bestival, and this weekend he will perform at two sold out shows in Preston and Leicester.

He is also about to release the CCF&SC Volume 3 CD, which is where we start what was to become a very entertaining conversation. His enthusiasm for everything he's done, after all these years, is quite something…

So much to talk about, but tell us about the compilation first up…

Volume 3 man… I'm chuffed! Volume 2 did so well… it was number one in the Juno download charts and it was number eight in the overall Amazon download charts, so it did really well.

When we started this 13 years ago on 6Music, they thought we were doing this niche show that was going to be for the die hards… we've grown that show so much… it's now got the biggest audience share on the network. You know, we're up against X-Factor, Strictly Come Wanking...

Hahahahaa...

And you know, to pull in figures like that, it's been truly amazing. And the gigs as well, they sell out everywhere. The age range of the audiences… so many young people as well. Because of people like Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy, and Mark Ronson, soul is no longer a history lesson.

Quite a lot of the music I put on these compilations is by people who are recording now, touring now. It's immediate; not just retrospective.

Yeah, you played Duffy 'Begging You For Mercy' at Glastonbury… that was joyous!

That was a cover version; but it's a wicked cover version! (hear below)

It was just after you got on the mic when they told you you were going to play an extra hour… proper pandemonium!

Do you know what? That was me - I screwed up! Looked at the clock, thought I'd done four hours but actually I'd only done three. I built the audience up to a proper crescendo, and then I just had to do it again!

But it worked; people just thought they were having a bonus. And it was so packed that because a few people left when they thought it was the end, a bit of a new crowd could come and see the last hour.

Despite what you said about the immediacy of some of the music, do you still never the less see yourself as a bit of an educator; that the music you play contains key reference points to a lot of current genres of music, like house for example?

Yes, absolutely. I'm starting from what I would call the golden era of black music, and then it's kind of like the European and worldwide response to that music. A lot of the bands I play have been completely influenced by the likes of James Brown, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin etc.

And do you also feel some responsibility for showing people artists that were perhaps under-rated, that got lost back in the day but were actually amazing?

Completely, especially the northern soul scene. You fly some of these northern soul artists to England, and they're absolutely stunned. America's moved on and they've turned their back on that kind of music… no radio stations play it or anything.

Then they'll come over to England and play an all nighter or a festival, and they'll have an audience singing along, and it freaks them out. It's lovely to see them get that kinda love, and you see this the most with northern soul because they were never the hits in the first place; it wasn't quite motown or poppy enough…

There was that obscure collector's element to it…

Yep, exactly. And you know, people sometimes frown at CDs these days, but they're absolutely vital. It's almost impossible to get some of this stuff on vinyl any more… just because you can't get it on vinyl, does it mean that you're not allowed to hear it? A lot of stuff I play hasn't even been committed to vinyl, like the remixes and stuff.

So basically, people need your Volume 3 CD in their life because they're going to hear stuff that they couldn't hear anywhere else?

Yes. A lot of the stuff they would have missed. People lead busy lives. My job on the radio show is to try and stay ahead of the game, so a lot of the music I put out on the CDs is stuff that they wouldn't have had the chance to hear, so that's why I think it's vital.

All music is new music if you haven't already heard it, know what I mean? The philosophy behind doing these compilations is for people to hear music they may not have had a chance to hear.

So what was the song where you thought 'yes! get in!' when the licensing permission came through? The one you were so desperate to get the world to hear…

So many of them! Ummmm. That Extra Curricular 'Robbin Hood' track… I just love that track and it's been going down so well in my live shows, and when they came back and said 'yes, of course you can' I was so happy (hear below).

Julia Ashby plays guitar on that one, and almost no one will really know about her, but she sang a song on the Lack Of Afro album, which is absolutely brilliant by the way… bit of a proud Dad because my son sings five songs on the album.

Anyway, I was a bit worried that because it's so recent that they might want to milk the record as much as they can themselves before it appears on compilations, but they were well up for it. Plus, I've got my son singing on a Lack Of Afro song on the album, so a bit of nepotism there, but trust me, if it wasn't good enough it wouldn't be on. Everything's a banger on there as far as I'm concerned.

On this CD we're basically trying to recreate my sets from the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Clubs across the country… across the world in fact… Australia, Ibiza, Croatia, Corfu etc… and we're just trying to create the vibe and the atmosphere so people can put it on and picture being there.

It's absolute carnage - carnival kinda atmosphere. Having spent the last fifteen years watching house and techno DJs, as good as it is, it's just so bloody earnest sometimes… do you sometimes watch other DJs and go 'come on, smile for God's sake!'

Yeah! You wonder whether they're enjoying themselves. Half the time it's all on a fucking computer anyway. I hate all that. Maybe it's because I've got an acting background, but I just want to really perform the songs, rather than just sitting there looking at a computer and putting a bit of flange or echo on every so often.

It's kind of gone down in the annuls of the festival scene, especially Kendal Calling - that must be your home from home?

That last Kendal we did, and we flew in by helicopter… oh man. We made this little film called 'From The Cobbles To Kendal Calling' about it actually, but yeah, we flew in and played to thousands of people in that tent, and we just tore the place apart.

(Craig's mobile rings)

Could you just give me one second?…

Who's that? Ah, David! Just give me a few minutes, I'm in an interview… yeah all right, see you then…

That was David Gest on the other line!

Hahahahahahahahaaa! That's absolutely tremendous!

How fucking crazy is that?

Ah, the circles you're in aye?

Believe it or not, he's a big soul promoter, David Gest. He brings a lot of the old American acts over, and he's bringing over Billy Paul and I'm trying to get an interview with him.

Really interesting story, Billy Paul. After 'Me And Mrs Jones' he was set to be a global superstar, but then his record company made him put out, as the next single, 'Am I Black Enough For You?' which was an absolutely stonking track, however it made him look like a black panther kind of radical and completely scuppered what should have been a massive career.

That'll be good. So back to where we were with the DJing, are there DJs who you've gone out and watched down the years who have influenced your current style?

I wouldn't really say anyone's influenced my current style - there's no one I really see that is anything like it - but there's DJs that I've always loved, but they've always been underground, like Snow Boy, Eddie Piller... Gilles Peterson's a really cool DJ as well.

The phrase 'awooga' certainly wouldn't be sampled in anyone else's sets other than yours. Settle this one: is it a Red Dwarf phrase or is it a John Fashanu phrase? Who is the originator?

It was Red Dwarf! John Fashanu used it but stole it for Gladiators, and then there was a big spat in the papers between me and him about it. Originally it was said by Holly in Red Dwarf, trying to simulate a claxon, during an emergency where the ship's computer went down, and I thought it was really funny so I started using it… all a bit silly really.

So have you ever bumped into John Fashanu and collared him about it in person?

I have! And he apologised, and I told him to stop using it, and then he just carried on!

Are you aware that the phrase is also used in these fictitious online Kriss Akabussi sex stories?

What?!? Oh my God. He's supposed to be a big christian 'n all! I'll check them out - that sounds ridiculous.

So are there any plans for more Red Dwarfs?

Well we did Red Dwarf X a couple of years ago and that did really well, so yes, there are plans, but it's all about time management really and whether Coronation Street will let me go for a certain amount of time. Next year, hopefully.

An amazing journey...

I was 23 when I started Red Dwarf (watch some of the highlights below). Who'd have thought 28 years later that I'd still be talking about it.

Is it true that you only got the script for it because you were consulted about whether it was racist?

Yeah! The producer Paul Jackson got me to look at the part of The Cat and asked me if it was racist. I said 'no, it's hilarious, and by the way, can I have the part for Lister', and he said 'fuck off!' but I said 'at least give me a read', and the rest is history really.

How on earth did it all come to this?!? There seems to have been no plan, but your career just cracks on.

Yeah, no plan whatsoever. I don't even know where I'm going half the time. I'll get in the car with my driver and often say 'where are am I going this weekend?'

Well as it happens, you're in Preston - that's all rather convenient… we'll be there in force!

Oh yeah, 53 Degrees in Preston; that's a good gig that man. Everyone's crammed in and it's really hot and sweaty but I love it like that.

Nice one, see you there, we'll let you get back to David Gest!

Hahahaha, oh God, yeah. We're not best mates or anything, but I've heard about who he's bringing over so might as well get them in and talk about their careers eh?

We'd like to wager that those careers wouldn't be as interesting as his - top man. If you're lucky enough to have a ticket then we'll see you at 53 Degrees this weekend, but if not, you can buy tickets for his performance at Motion in Bristol here (or follow the link below).

Interview: Mike Boorman (follow him on twitter here)

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