» Ralph Brown Interview – The Boat That Rocked
Ralph Brown talks to Rachel Pegg about The Boat That Rocked and life as a pirate music man
There’s a huge buzz around this film, do you think this will become one of those seminal British movies?
Yes I do, because it will be the first draft of history for anyone who wants to talk about pirate radio in the UK. In future years people are going to say, what about pirate radio stations? The Boat That Rocked will be the first thing that they relate to. I think it was a brilliant idea and, in that sense, it’s cornered that market. Also, it’s also a very simple film about the joy of music, and it’s a feelgood moment. We could all do with one of those, I think.
Did you ever listen to these radio stations as a child?
Yeah, we had Caroline on and Radio London. I remember both those stations being played in my house. My mum was a big pop fan and you couldn’t get pop on the BBC in those days. Pirate radio stations were the only place you could get it, up until 1967 when Radio 1 started.
““He’s based very firmly on John Peel, who did a show called The Perfume Garden”
Did they shape your love of music?
Very much, and doing this part was like reconnecting with my past again. I can definitely remember listening to The Kinks and The Beach Boys and The Beatles on pirate radio, and making a film about the people who were doing that and the disc jockeys, I feel very lucky.
What’s your character like?
He’s called Bob Silver, he has a show called the Dawn Treader. He’s on at 3 o’clock in the morning till six, late night or early morning depending which way you look at it, and he played some of the more far-out music from that period, like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Love, Donovan. He is bit more of a hippy, or probably a beatnik descended into a hippy. He’s really into the music, really into the vinyl, not really into hanging out with the rest of the guys that much. Would never, ever talk over a record, and would quite often be found reading poems out or bits of Winnie the Pooh instead of playing a record, and as such he’s based very firmly on John Peel, who did a show called The Perfume Garden on Radio London, which was a pirate radio ship back in 1966.
Did taking that role come with an extra responsibility?
Indeed. He is an institution and he’s got a lot of fans and a lot of respect. I never met him but I used to listen to him all my life.
What can people expect from the film?
It’s an ensemble piece, there isn’t one particular lead character. I think Richard likes that feeling you get from films like MASH or Nashville. He’s a big fan of Robert Altman and those films that have an atmosphere and a texture to them; you’re not actually following one person’s story. There is a story that you follow, and that’s the young lad who’s onboard, Tom Sturridge, but it’s interspersed with all these other happenings that are going on.
Will this open doors for you?
I would have thought so – it’s a big project and I’ve got a good part, on the surface doing what I’ve done before: playing a slightly groovy, rock ‘n’ roll bloke, but the substance of what I’m doing is not really what I’ve been allowed to do before, which is an emotional story and quite a vulnerable, sweet character. It’s not a great time for the film industry at the moment – it’s not a great time for the whole economy – but these things don’t last forever and sooner or later somebody will pick up the phone and say. ‘Ralph, come and do something over here’. All the big directors are going to be on the phone to me over the next few weeks and I’ll ask them to form an orderly queue. The best script wins.
The Boat That Rocked is out Wednesday 1 April. Ralph’s band The Brighton Beach Boys will play Pet Sounds vs Sgt Pepper with the Psychedelic Orchestra at St George‘s Church, Kemp Town on 22 and 23 May as part of Brighton Festival Fringe. Visit brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk.
Win cinema tickets to a film of your choice at the Odeon Brighton
For a chance to win this week’s tickets, answer this question: Where was The Boat That Rocked anchored? a) The English Channel. b) The North Sea. c) The Irish Sea.
Email your answer to competitions@thelatest.co.uk with ‘The Boat that Rocked’ in the subject box, or write to us at the address on page three. Closing date for entries is Monday 13 April.
The winner will get a pair of tickets to see a film of their choice. Proof of age may be required.
