From Kitchencore and orchestral Punk to international guests, charity compilations and recording podcasts in the car, we continue to celebrate the wonderfully unpredictable world of DIY creativity
Well, hello again! It’s been a while since my last update, and quite frankly, I don’t know where the bloody time has gone? Between interviewing some incredible people, making music, going to gigs and juggling everyday life, things have been rather busy… Anyway, I digress… For anyone unfamiliar with Punk Rock Creatives, it’s my independently produced podcast, celebrating musicians, artists, writers and wonderfully unconventional people who make punk and alternative culture what it is.
What began in 2025 as a DIY project has grown into three seasons of conversations about music, creativity, politics, activism and the realities of doing things yourself (we have just dropped episode 49!!! There is still no fancy recording studio, enormous production team or bottomless budget. Just me, a microphone and a genuine curiosity about other creative people and how they build their ideas from just a spark. This season of Punk Rock Creatives Podcast ,I’ve now been reduced to recording episodes in my car. My eldest can no longer be bribed with LEGO, while my youngest unceremoniously evicted me from his bedroom during an interview with the incredibly patient and understanding Joe Bitter.
The glamorous life of an independent podcaster!
Season 3 has been an absolute joy to put together, with guests sharing their experiences, creative journeys, and occasionally their completely ridiculous stories.
Last Month on the Podcast…
Kitchencore, Second Chances and Gravy with Pete Bentham
What do DEVO, Wilko Johnson, school dinners and second chances have in common? Pete Bentham, of Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies, joined me to discuss his distinctive brand of Kitchencore, the band’s beginnings and the creative thinking behind their music. Despite being a fan, I managed to discover embarrassingly early in the conversation that the Dinner Ladies and the Dinnerettes are two different things. Every day’s a school day. Behind the humour is a remarkable story. Following a serious illness, Pete was given a second chance at life and decided to start his own band.
We explored his musical influences, his distinctive buttoned-up stage appearance and the more personal side of his songwriting, including ‘Shed‘, inspired by his dad and the importance of having somewhere to escape, think and find a little peace. We also discussed the band’s album ‘Art, Religion and Chocolate Biscuits‘, Rebellion Festival, AWOD, and our shared appreciation for Rebellion’s Literary Stage. Naturally, there were some pressing questions: If the Dinner Ladies actually ran a school kitchen, who would get the sack first? And, perhaps even more divisively, gravy or curry sauce?
Keep up to date and listen to Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies on Bandcamp HERE
Getting Older, Angrier and Louder with Julie’s Dead
Ageing gracefully? Not if Lianne Erskine, vocalist of Julie’s Dead, and I have anything to say about it! Having first discovered the band at a Dammit Records showcase, I was delighted to chat with Lianne about her journey from owning a music venue to fronting a punk band. We explored the expectations placed on older women, particularly the idea that reaching a certain age somehow means dressing differently, becoming quieter or disappearing into the background. Neither of us seems particularly interested in that arrangement.
We also discovered a shared appreciation for being permanently livid, whether about serious social injustices, or those tiny, seemingly insignificant things that inexplicably drive you up the wall. Lianne spoke highly about Dammit Records, its support for artists, and the importance of a label that values music rather than judging people by their age, gender or appearance. A conversation about creativity, community, finding your voice and refusing to become somebody else’s idea of who you should be. Perhaps being permanently livid isn’t such a bad thing after all?
Listen to Julie’s Dead and keep up to date on their Bandcamp page HERE
Orchestral Punk, Queer Icons and Mick Jagger with THWACK!
Things took another wonderfully theatrical turn when Chlo Spinks, from London-based orchestral punk band THWACK!, joined the podcast. We discussed queer icons, the band’s brilliantly bonkers ‘Margaret Thatcher Blood Snatcher‘, their EP ‘Buried But Blooming‘, recording experiences, and an exciting collaboration in development… There was also plenty of conversation about performing at Glastonbury and Rebellion, alongside London’s grassroots creative spaces, including The Cavendish Arms and The Bread & Roses.
But one of the subjects that particularly resonated was the sheer amount of work involved in being an independent musician today. Writing songs and performing are only part of it. There’s social media, artwork, promotion, videos, networking and the endless business of trying to get people to notice what you’re doing. As Chlo pointed out, Mick Jagger didn’t have to do all this! And, because apparently this is becoming a recurring theme, we also established which member of THWACK! would have the best chance of surviving a zombie apocalypse. Important investigative journalism, obviously.
Keep up to date with THWACK! and check out their music on Bandcamp HERE
Marie & the Meltdownz: Keeping It in the Family
For one episode, things got a little closer to home when I invited my own band, Marie & the Meltdownz, onto the podcast. We discussed touring ambitions, the places we’d love to play, and what life on the road together might actually look like. There were stories about fights at gigs, the strange things that happen when you put a room full of people together with loud music, and our enormous appreciation for good sound engineers.
Seriously, sound engineers deserve more recognition. They can make or break a performance, and the good ones are absolute heroes! Our conversation wandered through musical influences, including Thin Lizzy, Papa Roach, Amen and Madonna, as well as the strange contradiction of being shy but still choosing to get up on stage in front of people. And yes, we discussed who would survive a zombie apocalypse! Paul, who considers this one of the most important questions you can ask somebody, would undoubtedly approve.
Keep up-to–date and check out Marie & the Meltdownz’ music on Bandcamp HERE
From Authority Zero to Cero Viejo
One particularly memorable episode featured Bill Marcks and Jeremy Wood, founding members of Authority Zero, discussing their new band, Cero Viejo. Their friendship goes all the way back to high school in the 1990s, and we talked about their musical history, the inspiration behind their new project and the excitement of starting something different. We also explored the current political climate in America, the realities of self-funding a tour across the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, and whether Cero Viejo might eventually make it over to the UK.
The guys even treated listeners to a live acoustic performance, which was rather special. Somewhere along the way, the conversation also involved Dobby the House-Elf and the menopause… I promise it made sense at the time.
Keep up to date with the latest from Cero Viejo on their website HERE
Another Compilation, Another Chance to Make a Difference
Alongside the podcast, I’ve been working on the next Punk Rock Creatives charity compilation. Following our first release, in collaboration with Dammit Records, which supported Protected Paws Animal Rescue, we’re preparing another compilation, this time through FOAD, the label run by Peter Jones.
Proceeds will be split equally between two charities: Streets2Homes, supporting people experiencing homelessness, and Amos Trust, whose work includes supporting Palestinian communities. The submission deadline is 30th November 2026, and I’d love to hear from artists who want to contribute! Email: punkrockcreatives@gmail.com
There’s also an added opportunity for contributors who haven’t previously appeared on Punk Rock Creatives will have the chance to join me for a conversation on the podcast. It’s another way of bringing people together, discovering new music and using creativity to support causes that deserve attention.
Why Creative Voices Matter
One thing I’ve learned through making Punk Rock Creatives Podcast is that everybody has a story, and those stories don’t always fit neatly into a traditional music interview. Sometimes we discuss songwriting, gigs and recording techniques. Other times the conversation turns to mental health, discrimination, domestic abuse, politics or simply how difficult it can be to keep creating when life keeps getting in the way.
There have been moments that have made me laugh, and others that have been genuinely difficult to process. But that’s precisely why I keep doing it. Punk isn’t just about music. It’s about community, questioning things, challenging injustice and giving people the freedom to express themselves. It’s about recognising the people behind the scenes, the independent artists putting everything into their work and those who help keep grassroots culture alive.
I don’t believe you need expensive equipment, industry connections or somebody else’s permission to create something worthwhile. Which is fortunate, considering I’m currently recording interviews in a parked car… Sometimes, you just need to start, make the best of what you’ve got and see where it takes you.
What’s Next?
There are more interviews, more interesting people and undoubtedly more conversations that wander off in directions nobody anticipated! I’m continuing to develop Punk Rock Creatives, to explore opportunities for independent broadcasting, and bring more creative voices into the conversation.
To everybody who has listened, shared an episode, appeared as a guest or supported the project in some way, thank you. It genuinely means a lot. And if you’ve never listened before, come and join us. You might discover your next favourite band, learn something unexpected or find yourself laughing at something completely ridiculous!
That’s Punk Rock Creatives. Raw, real, independent and occasionally held together with the metaphorical equivalent of gaffer tape. Just how I like it.
Listen to Punk Rock Creatives:
For guest enquiries or to get involved: punkrockcreatives@gmail.com
Marie Repulsive
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Need more Punk In Your Life?
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There’s a lot to be said for not giving people exactly what they want. When this gig was first announced, a few eyebrows were raised
Live review: Twenty Flight Rockers at The 100 Club, London, 30/10/2026
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Lol Tolhurst plays intimate warm-up show bringing the songs of The Cure to Brighton’s seafront
Wednesday 28th October was Lol Tolhurst – a founding member of The Cure’s – warm-up show before the band’s sold-out performance at Whitby’s legendary Tomorrow’s
EP review: BLDSUGR! – ‘The Fields’
Released just in time for Halloween, ‘The Fields’ finds Birmingham trio BLDSUGR! doing their best to make October considerably less comfortable. The band call their
Transvision Vamp, London Shepherds Bush Empire, 22nd Oct 2026
Of all the reunions to have taken place of late, Transvision Vamp’s was surely among the most unexpected. It’s been a whopping 34 years since
Podcaster Marie hosts a regular Punk interview show: “I like chatting to people and listening to their creative journeys, and I like punk! It’s a huge part of who I am, and putting the two together, and talking to other creatives just seems to work.” She joined Lost Cherrees as vocalist in 2012, and after a break has recently stepped onto the stage as a solo performer. Marie is a Graphic Designer and a Special Educational Needs advocate.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
