Where the streets smell of spunk

As Sylvie continues to battle the longest winter in living memory, up and down past Handcross laden with Martin Fish and the producer, we return once more to the band's adventures in the Fatherland. There's inevitably more fun with bodily fluids, as well as a stoned Fish Bros transformation into Nutella Kiss, with full-on jazz beards and marker-pen tattoos. What became of Captain Sensible's guitar at Berlin airport? Did Martin win a post-festival vodka-drinking competition with a Russian band? And what sort of song would The Fish Brothers write about the streets of Hamburg? All is revealed…

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Where the streets smell of spunk

Van Der Valk

It is not only Germany where The Fish Brothers have wreaked havoc. Here Martin Fish remembers what he can of expeditions into Holland and Belgium, his memory of events clouded by strange accents and large quantities of weed. As the band struggles to consume giant bags of grass, even Attila the Stockbroker falls under the influence when The Fish get totally smoked. A disappointing visit to the Manneken Pis in Brussels is vastly improved by a tour of the Stella factory, but the band get lost on their return to Holland. They are saved by the heroism of Van Der Valk, a passing local, who guides them through the “shitty ring” -- and so, in a Fish At The Wheel first, Martin performs a live tribute to the band’s Patron Saint of Clogland.

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Van Der Valk

Sensible's shoes

It's raining again as Mr. Fish drives back towards Warninglid and recalls the many fine individuals who have played bass for the Fish Brothers over the years. Beginning with the legendary bass player for The Damned, Captain Sensible, Martin moves on to how Les came to be known as Pubshitter, what put the wind up Ste's kilt, the future of Blonde Wanton and how Baby David was obliged to defend his honour from the advances of Tommy Twinkle. After a digression on the initiation ritual that all Fish Brothers bass players have had to endure, the podcast ends with Didacoi Downs, Martin's musical tribute to another long-serving bass Fish, Chuffa Charnsworth.

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Sensible's shoes

Vanarchy in the UK

In this episode, Martin talks about every band's essential mode of transport and occasional accommodation -- the van -- and pays tribute to The Duke, owner/driver of The Fishtank and later The Aquarium. The Fish Brothers' uncomfortable sleeping conditions while on tour with The Levellers lead to a bet, won under unfortunate circumstances. The Duke arranges for a large cannon to be discharged at The Brighton Centre and the fire alarm goes off in Brixton Academy. Martin loses his glasses in a van full of Stella and the podcast ends with the consequences of not paying attention at the petrol station.

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Vanarchy in the UK

Have you ever seen a pop star when he's naked?

In this, the very first episode of Fish At The Wheel, Martin Fish recalls how in the early days of his first band Salad From Atlantis, everyone took their clothes off and Dave ate rabbit shit for a bet. After a smelly story about a credit card, Martin moves on to the tale of what happened when the Fish Brothers were locked into a bar without toilets after a gig in Germany.

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Have you ever seen a pop star when he's naked?