Episode 5 Out of the Blue

Welcome to Out Of The Blue. Wur we're live with Graham Little and

Joanne Salley. They wowed the crowd at Glastonbury, now they are here,

Rams Pocket Radio get the chance to do the same in their very own back

yard. He has raised a few eyebrows for

mixing religious imagery with Amy Winehouse and Paris Hilton, we have

a 60-minute masterpiece for us. We will tell you how you could own

a Sparky piece of Starkie later on. Rioting, bigotry, sectarian

division, and paramilitaries on steroids. He has laughed at the lot,

the funnyist man in Northern Ireland with ginger hair, it is

Jake O'Kane. A special thanks, it was supposed to be Larry Lamb, but

he as aund doctors orders not to fly, he hopes to join us soon. And

Jake has stepped in, and a great stand-up. You are on two with the

Teargas Tour, how difficult is it to get a laugh out of something

like The Troubles? It is the backdrop of the Trouble, growing up

in t it is just talking about how we lived and survived it. You are

attracting more than a local audience? The Internet has changed

everything. It came out on DVD, I got an e-mail from a student in

Brussels, some girl had clicked on Dara O'Brien, clicked on Colin

Murphy, and clicked on me, and she bought my DVD. You are going to be

a pin-up? Not with this head. power of the internet, we will chat

more to Jake later and find out what made him turn to comedy.

Jones told the public last week he will perform songs by the Clash for

the first time in more than 30 years. It is to raise money for the

Hillsborough Justice Campaign, to support families and victims of the

Hillsborough football disaster. The Clash were one of the few to

play in Belfast in the 170s, as Michael Bradley finds out t nearly

didn't happen. Before 1977 there was this...#

your hands on your hips. And a lot of this:

Then, this happened...# We're so pretty

# I'm so pretty The punk revolution had started.

Here in Northern Ireland, a very different form of rebellion was

happening. The 70s saw some of the worst

atrocities of the Troubles. On the 20tf October, 1977, these

two worlds collided. In 1977, I was 18 years old, our band, the

Undertones, were a punk band. We bought punk rock records, we read

about punk rock bands, The Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Dammed. We

never saw them live, bands like that, they didn't come here. Then

in October, 177, we heard the news, that the Clash were coming to

Belfast. Clash, Clash, Clash. # London's calling

# The far away town Part of the original punk rock wave,

the clash were the only -- Clash were the only band that mattered.

They came one a line that summed it up "no Elvis beet Beatles or

Rolling Stones in 177 ". The fact they were hoping in the Ulster Hall,

was massive news. But punk's rebellious image was to be the

big's downfall. On the day of the show, the Clash were having their

photos taken. Meanwhile, trouble was brewing down in Bedford Street.

As fans gathered outside the Ulster Hall, a few windows got broken.

With punk's reputation, the insurers felt the gig had to be

cancelled. I was here, October 1977, 5.30. We

were all sitting on the front steps waiting for the Clash to turn up.

We were the only punk band in Belfast at the time. We were

playing gigs in our own I can't remember, in east Belfast. All of a

sudden there were hundreds of other people we had never seen before.

People were talking about starting bands and fan zeens. People were

sitting in the middle of the road and blocking the traffic. They were

really annoyed the gig had been pulled, and nobody told anyone what

was happening. Once the police arrested people, everyone ran round

to the Europe pa Hotel, where the Clash were staying. It was a big

thing for the clash to come and play Belfast. At that time we

hadn't been getting a lot of bands. It wasn't like the 60s with we got

the Beatles and Stones, people weren't coming to Northern Ireland.

That was fantastic gig, for it to be cancelled and the kids po

geosing in the -- pogoing in the streets. But the story didn't end

there, two months later it was announced the Clash would return to

Belfast, this time playing in the Queen's Students Union. Five days

before Christmas, Belfast's young puanks, who had realised -- punks,

who had realised that they were not alone, converged on Queen's

Students' Union. I arrived down with my brothers, and other

associated outcast members, in a wee gang. We arrived in to a heavy

bouncer presence outside, where every single person in that queue

had to stand there and be striped of their studded armbands, neck

chain, toilet chains, safety pins. From the moment Joe Strumer punched

a Christmas balloon over his head, the crowd went wild. References to

Northern Ireland pep earth the set. People got on to the stage for the

last song, and then out to the police on the avenue. It was mind-

blowing. It is the first time you were meeting guys from the Shankill,

and the Falls, guys you didn't know were puanks in Belfast. As a band

we only played a couple of gigs, and then you realised, punks could

give you a chance to be a band. if the police thought the punks

were going to cause trouble, they were wrong. With their heads full

of it, their future was punk. I have to ask, have you been ever

tempted to wear the leather trou serbs the dog colour, the safety

pin? I was the sqareest man in Northern Ireland. Tweed and brogues,

punk was not for me! If you are so sqare, where did all the comedy

come, a lot of laughter in the house growing up, observing and

watching it? Just watching the lunacy around you. You didn't think

about doing it in those days, no Empire Laughs Back in those days.

You fell into it, it was good enough for Graham Norton, good

enough for you. You were a barman for a bit s that right? For most of

my career. It was very exotic, north Belfast bars are very exotic.

Were you entertaining all the customers there? No, actually. I

tried to get into the Empire Laughs Back, I couldn't get in, it was

packed as usual. Someone said if you do an open spot you will get in,

guaranteed, that is why I did it, to get in. Another comedy club

opened up after, that I started compereing there. You must have

made an impression, it was the following week, you did the open

spot and then Compering. It was Paddy, I chanced my arm, I did an

open spot, and he asked me if I had done compering before, and I said,

loads of it, chancing my arm, and lucky enough got the gig. Who was

inspiring you then, who were the comedy heros? Billy Connelly. But

there was local guys breaking through then, in the circuit in

London, Eoin O'Neil, and Kevin McElear, over doing the circuit in

London at the time. They were the guys you aimed for. You obviously

dealt with a few heckler, maybe in London, the comedy might not have

sparked their interest? The best hecklers in the world is here. You

don't get heckled in London, they all sit, terribly nice, very funny,

ginger chapy. In Belfast they will rip your throat out. What is the

worst you can tell us about at this time? The generic one in Belfast

and it means nothing, "you're ma", you get that from nowhere. Yes, I

met her, she was a lovely lady. moments of silence and they will

kill you. You are back with The Blame Game, another series, why do

people love it? It is local and talking about what is happening the

day before or that day, it is current, we try to keep it as

current as possible. The original team are back, so it is myself,

Colin Murphy, Neil and Tim. It is great fun. It certainly is great

money. There is the unmistakable sound of John Coltrane, time for

another self-curated exhibition of My Favourite Things. This week it

is the turn of one of our best loved actresss to pick the four

pieces of art that mean the most to her.

I'm looking at one of the most beautiful paintings in the world.

It is of a really, really beautiful place. We're talking about Straig

htkilly, in Caren Loch, by a very important painter, Sam McLarnon. He

has such knowledge of county Antrim and down the Antrim coast. Just

where there is a beautiful little sunspot on the painting is where my

husband and I had a caravan. It still means as much to me now as it

did then. I hope that you all get the same pleasure from this picture,

as I have done. A book, oh, it is a wonderful book

and a glorious story about a beautiful young girl, who falls in

love with a very handsome wonderful boy, and I'm speaking, of course,

of Lorna Doone, by RD Black mld more. I read this book whenever I

was -- RD Blackmore, I read this book when I was a child, I imagined

myself as Lorna, I was beautiful and all those sorts of things. Then

again, I read it later on whenever I got the real meaning. Another

very interesting thing, it is written through the eyes of the man,

and there aren't very many romantic stories written that way. They go

through so much, but what's the age-old story, love will overcome.

Oh! It's my favourite, oh, I absolutely love this. My life just

isn't complete without this. It's a wonderful place, and a wonderful

time, and everybody's so romantic. I'm watching Downton Abbey, created

by Julian Fellows. What a fabulous show. It really is, and it's based

in history, 1914-1918 war, where everything just changed and all

these people who were living this very luxurious life, it was very

much a two-tiered system, you were either upstairs or downstairs. I'm

so envious of Maggie Smith's performance. She's an amazing woman,

she can just give a look and you're away. But I love watching T it is

just he is -- it is such escape. Just escape into it all and enjoy.

Oh. This is my very, very favourite and personal piece of music. I just

love it, because it is My Bill is the title of the piece. My late

husband was called Bill, it obviously has very personal, just

feelings for me. It's from the show Show Boat. It takes place on a

river boat. Down the Mississippi, and it is just a lovely, very

cloufl show, lots of marvellous dancing -- colourful show,

marvellous dancing, it goes through every emotion, heart break, love. A

lovely escape. Thank you very much. This has been such a wonderful

experience of walking through my life. I have loved it.

Back in the studio, meanwhile, done national -- Domnall is still hard

at work on his masterpiece. Jake, if money was no object, what work

of art would you like on your wall? A wee Van Gogh, I would survive

with that, a guy called Marky Robinson, he lived and painted here

all his life. I imagined to save up and buy one of his, a lot cheaper

than a Van Gogh. Could you even buy one? Could you steal one, but I

know a guy who will get you one, a few quid. Is the Tear gas Tour,

autobiograical. The backdrop is growing up here, wee anecdotes and

stories weaved into it. I'm sure you played a variety of venues

throughout your career a small show or big show do you prefer? Big is

easier, more people may laugh! So the smaller show you have less

opportunity, you know, if they don't like it they don't like it.

There is so many venues now in the north, there is beautiful wee

theatre, the Courthouse in Antrim, small and intimate, perfect for

stand-up. Next March St pad trick's day, the Opera House, big, big,

venue. You have played all the big name clubs, do you find audiences

away from home difficult to play to? What surprised me, the heckling,

the first time I played London, I was shouting. They were all sort of

sitting three nice, and why is he shouting at us, I say Daphne, why

is he shouting. They are very respectful and they listen. You had

to tone it down, I remember Jackie Hamilton gave me the best piece of

advice I have ever had, when I was starting off, speak slower. Once

you get outside Northern Ireland, you realise we speak at a different

speed. You can see them looking at you, it is English, but I don't

understand what he's saying. Have you made anyone cry? No, I have

tried hard. It is badge of honour for you guys, any tips for

comedians watching? Get up there, give it a Government the Empire

Comedy Club has an open spot, that is why I came through. I have two

guys on my tour with me, kicking off their careers, Rory Ward and

Nicky Bartlett. Two cracking blokes, you have a whole new slot culling

through. That is what it should be. Don't -- lot coming through. That

is what it should be. Not too fast, but coming through!

We have always had a thing here about animals in these islands, for

generations they have turned up in our literature, from the Jungle

Book, the Fantastic Mr Fox, and the Lion, The Witch and the Ward Robe,

conceived down the road here by CS Lewis. Carrie Neely has found that

getting stuffed is hot stuff in the art world! It is an age since

taxidermy was all the raiblg. The Victorians loved it -- rage. The

Victorians loved it. What they thought as elegant and respectful,

they thought as nailed on vulgar. But fashions change, and the full

mounted is back in vogue. Celebrities like Courtney Love and

Kate Moss are new fans of this art. And artists are shamelessly

showcaseing road kill, taxidermy is back from the dead. Most of us will

admit to having a morbid fascination of observing something

that once had light. That is not enough to make, is it? David Irwin

thinks it is less about art form than life form. He has given

immortality to everything from stags to pheasants, crocodiles to

foxes. So, this all looks pretty morbid and gruesome, is it really

art? Yeah, absolutely. It would be more gruesome from an outsider's

point of view, but saying that, it is an art farm. Obviously you are

taking a dead bird or animal, and make it looks a it was when it was

alive. It is like sculpt theing. Once the -- sculpting. The animal

is stuffed and wired up to give it form. Get the wings into shape.

is coming to life now. It is something to be proud of when you

put something back the way it was when it was alive. This Lord of the

skies with cost �150 to be put back on a perch. It could set you back

�3,500 to stuff one of these "deer" friends. What about a two-foot

crocodile. One that died in a pet shop. I have never done one before,

I'm looking forward to see how it turns out.

European taxidermy goes back to the 1600s, two centuries later, our

greatest naturalist, Charles Darwin, was a fan of extending the shelf

life of his creatures. Now, modern day artist, such as Polly Morgan,

are breathing new life into this dead art form. Is using dead

animals really art? It depends what you do with your material. I think

that dead animals can be art just as much as a lump of play clai can

be art, once fashioned by the artist using it. People make the

mistake of thinking my work is morbid and I'm dwelling shrol

solely on death. My work is about triumph over death, and something

dies and something else is born. Your animals are normally road kill

or have been found dead. Is it true you have eaten some of your work?

tried some once, I tried a bit of fox once. How did the fox taste?

Kind of like a very greasey, chewy steak w a not particularly pleasant

aftertaste. Courtney skaf love and Kate Moss

love your work, why has it made the leap to cool? Before you used to

mimic the habitat, I put them in less conventional settings, to line

them with contemporary art. That awakens an interest in people that

wasn't there before. Polyraised more than a few eyebrows in

Northern Ireland, when she brought her tour of dead birds to the Boyd

Gallery in Londonderry. reaction was generally pretty good,

most people liked t not everyone did. Really? It does divide opinion.

People either love or hate taxi determiney, I think. If you mis--

Taxidermy, I think. If you missed the tour, take a look around the

4,000 plus specimens at the Ulster Museum. It's not really my cup of

tea, but from one artist to the next, Domnall Starkie has been

under pressure to create a work of art in just 60 minutes. What on

earth is this all about? Basically the painting is auld, I Would Have

Died If I didn't Get That Bag. It is play on the way people say ne

would die if they don't get this, and they don't understand how

flipant it is, it is about the consumer-driven society, and the

stark contrast, people with nothing. So the bag is the real key piece in

this? Why would a starving child have a designer bag or want one. It

is making fun of the obsession with designer goods or the top of the

range stuff. It means nothing, really. It is really great. You

were a graphic designer for ten years, I can see the influence why

your work, has that helped you? don't know if it has helped me. It

is kind of like, I think it is just naturally happened, that I would

paint in that way. I suppose it has affected the way I paint. It is

lending itself to clothes. What this old thing! Me and my partner

are starting up a business called Smart Swag, we paint on anything.

Literally anything that we can paint on, we do clothes and

repurpose furniture and turn it into pieces of art, one-offs that

people can wear. We will look out for those. All you have to do is

sign it. If you would like Domnall's work, all the work is

being auctioned off with the proceeds going to Children in Need.

Log on to the website. Go to the Northern Ireland section for more

information. From art to music now, performing

live for us tonight are Rams Pocket Radio, described recently on BBC 6

music no less as a positive threat to every other piano-based band

around. That is a big thing to live up. Peter McCauley is here to talk

to us. A great accolade, pressure now? It is great to hearing things

like, that but there is pressure. You can see why people are saying,

that you have had a brilliant time of late? Lots happening, touring

about, had a busy summer doing a few different festivals. We got to

play Glastonbury, and supported Snow Patrol. And he get drgd up on

stage on the EM As. They are trying to steal her, they are not getting

her. You are an architect, or you have studied architecture before

coming back to music. You went to Worthing, hardly the rock and roll

capital? I was trying to pursue the rock and roll dream before I went

to uni. We thought let's go to London? Brighton? Too expensive,

let's go to the place near Brighton that is cheaper. The name has

nothing to do with lisence Bonn, where does Rams Pocket Radio come

from? It is named after a designer called Dieter Rams, it was stuff in

the 50s, it was influential in stuff like the iPod and apple. I

aspire to make music that has the same longevity. We are back, 7.30

next Monday, with a story of the intense rivalry between two men

determined to leave their stamp forever on the Belfast skyline. And

Niamh Perry learns how choirs are changing their tune. And music from

The Wonder Villains. Now we have Rams Pocket Radio and Dogs Running

In Packs. # Let me tell you about this

# Two reasons to # Word could say

# Let me tell you about # Distance

# Why you gotta go # It's in your head

# That things are said # Burning so

# Now you were told # They got you with the backhand

# Know what you're thinking # Stab you in the back

# Got me in the back # Making tracks

# Feeling it a little # Like I'm in a vice

# Dogs run in packs # So tell me about your FA see,

# You need to change # Doesn't make it price

# If you try from the fact # You're stuck in that crowd

# I tell you now # Got you in the back

# Running with the pack # What your athinking

# Stab you in the back # Got you in the back