Having risen up through the alternative comedy ranks as Porky The Poet, Phill worked extensively with Billy Bragg in the heyday of the late eighties' Red Wedge movement, and even directed videos for Bragg and Kirsty MacColl.

As fans of Never Mind The Buzzcocks will know, Phill has a deep and abiding love for music whilst still acknowledging its excesses and occasional absurdities. His love of classic ska and bluebeat, as well as great rhythm and blues was apparent to anyone who tuned in to his GLR shows.

His respect and admiration for the likes of Madness and Ian Dury turned into fully-fledged collaborations, with Phill touring with The Nutty Boys, and also performing Reasons To Be Cheerful with The Blockheads to a packed sell-out crowd at London's Brixton Academy in 2000.


First record you ever bought?
The Streak by Ray Stevens.

First gig?
Blondie - Parallel Lines tour, September 1978.

Best Gig?
Unfair question. Here's five belters: The Specials (The Rainbow, May 1980), Ian Dury & The Blockheads (Ilford Island, Dec 1999), Pete Yorn (Water Rats, Jan 2002), The Clash (The Lyceum, 1980) and Holly Cole (Jazz Café, 1999).

A record that reminds you of school or college discos?
Bus Stop by the Fatback Band.

A song you wish you'd written?
Panic by The Smiths.

Soundtrack when you met your soul-mate?
Billy Bragg: Life's A Riot With Spy Vs Spy.

Soundtrack for a long car journey?
Bill Hicks CDs.

CD you'd rescue if your house was on fire?
If you have time to rescue CDs, you have time to buy a smoke alarm. Life's too short to rescue 'stuff'.