My Pop Life – Paul McCaffrey

Paul McCaffrey, 52, is an award-winning (Latitude New Act of the Year, London Paper New Act of the Year) stand-up comedian.

A star of BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, BBC3’s Impractical Jokers and Russell Howard’s Good News, he’s fronted various podcasts including the music series Britpopcast and What’s Upset You Now?, where he and fellow comedian Seann Walsh “let off steam and put the world to rights”.

What was the first band you were really into?

My first favourite band was Frankie Goes To Hollywood. I bought all of the singles from Welcome To The Pleasuredome, with the incredible artwork. Duran Duran too – they were my first forays into pop. Then I really liked The Wonder Stuff. They were the first band I ever saw on the Groovers On Maneuvers tour.

What are some of your favourite albums?

It’s hard, but possibly The Queen Is Dead, that’s a perfect album. I’ve probably listened to Screamadelica more than any other record, that’s a big album for me, in that it introduced me to Andrew Weatherall, who I’m completely obsessed with. There’s not much of his output that I don’t have – productions, remixes, his various different bands and stuff like that.

Are there any artists you’re completist about?

Andrew Weatherall is the one I’m most completist about. You kind of think he’s your secret, but when he died in 2020 I discovered there were a lot of other fans. If people are into him, they’re really into him. I wouldn’t even call it a cult following, it’s bigger than that.

Apart from Andrew Weatherall, is there any artist you know enough about to have as your specialist subject on Mastermind?

Probably Oasis or Primal Scream. I have a weird relationship with Oasis because it was so big to me at that time, but I don’t really listen to them that often now. It was kind of more about a place in time, really. I don’t even know how many times I saw them live, maybe 30 times…

Do you still listen to Primal Scream now?

I’ve listened to Screamadelica in the last week. That would be my favourite of their albums, followed by Vanishing Point and XTRMNTR, which they’re actually doing at the Roundhouse in December, so I’m going to that!

Have you ever met Bobby Gillespie or either of the Gallaghers?

I was in the Oasis video for Lyla, so I was at close quarters with Noel and Liam all day. I took my CD of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory, which they both signed. What I wish I’d done was nick Liam’s tambourine because I could have quite easily done that. He seemed really nice, actually. In the brief moment that I had with him, he seemed like a very warm person. I do wish I’d spoken to Weatherall. I had the opportunity to do that a few times. We do a lot of music festivals as comics, and there was one time he was stood next to me while we were waiting for our golf buggies to take us down to wherever and I just should have spoken to him! I don’t know what I would have said. I dunno, I’d almost have been embarrassed about how much I know about him – it would have felt weird.

What would you say was your favourite live experience?

I think the best thing I ever saw was Paul McCartney at Glastonbury, the first time he did it. It was unbelievable. He was still at the peak of his powers at that time. The one that really got me was Here Today [off 1982’s Tug Of War], the song he wrote about John Lennon. That was the best gig I’ve ever been to, I don’t think that’ll ever be beaten for me.

Have you ever met any of your other musical heroes?

I was a big fan of The Libertines and I was doing some gigs in Birmingham and they were doing three nights at the O2 Academy. John Hassell, their bassist, and Pete Doherty turned up at this gig of mine and it went well. The following morning I bumped into Pete and he was gushing about it and said, “Would you be up for doing a bit of our gig tonight?” They had spoken word and acoustics acts on so when I walked in, it was quite a gentle sort of thing. They told me there would be a break, and then I’d go on and do 10 minutes and then just bring them on.

By then, it had filled up a bit, and the atmosphere had changed – there were plastic pint glasses flying around and football chants. So I walk on, and a big cheer goes up, I think they just assume that someone is going to come on and go, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome The Libertines!” So I’m like, “The boys have asked me to come out and do 10 minutes of stand up.” Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever been booed at by 3,000 people before, but it sort of sharpens the senses! Then John came out and went, “Oh, he’s brilliant, show him a bit of respect!” and I’m like, “That’s not helping!” It looks like my mum’s come out and told everyone to stop picking on me. But I ended up becoming quite friendly with them. Very nice boys.

How good are you with contemporary pop? Do you keep up with stuff?

I have a passing interest, but I kind of feel like I’m pretty locked in now. Every so often something comes along, like Fat White Family, I really like them, and there’ll be the odd band, I don’t mind Fontaines DC.

How do you listen to music, on vinyl or through streaming?

I prefer vinyl. Properly listening to an album, I’m trying to go back to that rather than just jumping around like everyone does. I’d rather just stick an album on and listen to it the whole way through!

Paul McCaffrey is on tour with What A Time To Be Alive from February through to May 2026. Find out more here.

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