“They ask him casually: “You come from Leigh-On-Sea, do you ever get to Roots Hall?” – which to him means fuck all”
– Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools
So… what do we know about Leigh-on-Sea?
The A to Z of HMHB
The A to Z of HMHB
“They ask him casually: “You come from Leigh-On-Sea, do you ever get to Roots Hall?” – which to him means fuck all”
– Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools
So… what do we know about Leigh-on-Sea?
peter mcornithologist
Viv Stanshall lived here for several years,along with his enormous false ears.
22 September 2015
Jeff Dreadnought
Sheriff Fatman was the Master Butcher of Leigh-on-Sea, according to the Carter USM song. He somehow got on board a Starship Enterprise Allowance Scheme with a Prince of Wales Award for pushing valium and amphetamines. But I think we’ve already established that this had no bearing on the lyrics to Prag Vec at the Melkweg.
22 September 2015
THIS LEADEN PAUL
An earlier reference to the locale was made by Billy Bragg in his seminal reinterpretation of Route 66, A13 Trunk Road To The Sea.
22 September 2015
Huddersfield’s very own… Steve malkmus
Sorry for the pedantry, Jeff… But the “Master Butcher of Leigh-on-Sea” was the Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie according to the Carter track. Sheriff Fatman simply trumped said nazi in the pseudonym stakes.
4 October 2015
EXXO
Hmm, I always assumed that because Klaus was the Master Butcher of Lyon, it was the landlord who who was the Master Butcher of Leigh-on-. But my mind is open…
Open enough to wonder – is that a bench or a radiator in the photo?
And if Leigh-on-Sea starts at the sign, what town is that first house in?
And did Peggy Mount start off at the bottom of Peggy Lane and work her way up?
4 October 2015
EXXO
Yeah but no though, ‘cos Leigh-on-Sea is full of granny farms innit, so Fatman must be the Master Butcher in question.
4 October 2015
Dr Desperate
The house before the Leigh-on Sea sign is in NearLeigh-on-Sea.
5 October 2015
Huddersfield’s very own… Steve malkmus
One of the houses appears to be split by the boundary, a bit like Chester racecourse… Wonder if it affects their council tax?
I quote: “With more aliases than Klaus Barbie, the master Butcher of Leigh-on-Sea.” but the granny farming does support your theory. I guess it depends whether that line-break is a colon or a semi-colon- I’ve used a comma to keep it neutral. If anyone knows JimBob or Fruitbat, perhaps they could find out…?
6 October 2015
Jeff Dreadnought
I agree, HVOST, it is an ambiguous-sounding line. I’ve always thought that Master Butcher of Leigh-On-Sea was being cited in the song as one of Fatman’s many aliases. First, because as Exxo points out, it makes sense given his granny farming activities. And second because I can’t get my head around Klaus Barbie being Master Butcher of both Lyon and Leigh-On-Sea. As far as I know, Barbie never committed any wartime atrocities in or around the Thames Estuary.
Perhaps someone should set up a Carter USM lyrics project where we can debate this and other Carter USM lyrics. We could even have some kind of poll-based cup competition to decide on the best Carter USM song. If CtSO isn’t too busy, that is.
7 October 2015
Batley’s very own… Steve malkmus
Having read up on Herr Barbie, I’ll have to concede defeat: the Carter line is a play on Lyon. Also, I cited the wrong Cestrian sporting venue, it is of course the Deva Stadium that either straddles or falls entirely the wrong side of the border.
8 October 2015
Batley’s very own… Steve malkmus
NB: by “wrong” I really mean inappropriate for the settlement it purports to serve. I was apparently conceived in Cymru (that was an awkward conversation with my parents on Harlech beach!) so I’ll not be hating on the Welsh!
8 October 2015
Peter Mcornithologist
According to yet another pointless survey Leigh is the happiest town in this country .We Hartlepudlians enjoy a bit of moaning .so stick to the facts.
26 August 2016
Pirx the purist
Home town of Foreheads In A Fishtank, a fave of Peelie in the early 90s. Their “Happy Shopper” made the Festive 50 and they did at least two sessions for him.
24 February 2019
Simon harrison
Just for accuracy my dad Tony Harrison was the Master Butcher of Leigh on Sea. Trading from early 1970s to early 2010s on Broadway West. The shop is still there bearing his name.
11 April 2020