Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius Alan Hull Documentary.
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- Опубліковано 31 січ 2025
- Brit Award winner Sam Fender goes in search of a musical hero from another era - the late, great, Alan Hull of Lindisfarne. Sam is amazed how few people, outside of his native north east, know much about his hero’s work. He’s now on a mission to win back Hull’s place in music history.
In this film, he traces the career of the man whose words and music put Newcastle and supergroup Lindisfarne on the musical map in the 1970s. Alan continued to write classic songs until his early death in 1995. He spoke of love and life, championed the underdog and the misunderstood, and celebrated working-class people and his hometown - both of which he loved with a passion. Alan lived and wrote through turbulent times - writing eloquently about the troubles in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and the miners’ strike.
Sam digs out great archive interviews, performances and unseen footage, and meets friends, family and bandmates who knew Alan Hull best. Sam also hears from top stars like Sting, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Dave Stewart and Peter Gabriel. All were huge fans of songs such as Lady Eleanor, Fog on the Tyne, Winter Song, Clear White Light and Run For Home. But he also finds that Alan inspired an entire new generation of musicians like Kay Greyson: a young rapper from Tyneside. To his surprise, Sam discovers ‘Hully’ also took the lead role in an acclaimed BBC TV primetime drama. He reveals a complex man - a political animal, a drinker and an agitator, beset by his own insecurities but someone who could break hearts and inspire minds with his lyrics and melodies.
From the BBC website..........
A German here. Even I knew "Run for home" as a kid, and a few other songs. Lindisfarne was a well known band in Germany. I have no idea why someone who wrote so many beautiful songs is not much more popular.
Lady Eleanor is one of the best songs ever written. Thanks Alan. RIP
I agree, it's magical, but bloody difficult to sing.
Its very Fleetwood Mac and had Fleettwood Mac recorded it then it would be famous the world over which is what this documentary is all about I suppose
I’m from the Canadian prairies, Alan Hull and Lindisfarne were not a factor in our musical landscape to say the least. As a teenager, my friend’s brother gave me 2 albums, Fog on the Tyne and newly released Dingly Dell. The music wasn’t in his wheelhouse but he thought I might like it. At that time, I had no idea that Lindisfarne was a holy island monastery invaded by Vikings in 793. No idea that I had Georgie roots. My grandparents immigrated to Canada, shortly before my father was born. They had funny accents and weird ways to turn a phrase. Many years later, I discovered they were from north Tyneside. My friend’s brother, my father, and Alan Hull are long gone, but the songs remain with me. Thank you for the journey Lindisfarne
They have a music festival at Lindisfarne every year. It’s great! We played at it a few years ago and you could walk right out to the Holy Isle at the right tide!
Wow !! I just read your comment it just put a chill up and down my spine awesome I love music and I have always been aware of Lindsfarne but not Alan Hull, I am now, I'm irish and I've yet to meet a Geordie I didn't like thanks for the music ❤
I wonder what he would think of the present state of uk now. This government have brought us down to the state of poverty that Tyne side experienced then. I know I am a Goerdie, and I had to move away to find work!
Wonderful to hear that someone as far as Canada - loved our Geordie Hero - Alan Hull 🖤🤍
I am a Manc - lived on the South Coast too but by God Alan Hull - what a guy - symbolises NE music and culture
50 years ago I was 17
My friend just passed her driving test,borrowed her dad's car on a raw foggy December evening, drove us from Marske to Middlesbrough, passing ICI on the way , with its flares shining through the gloom!
Lindisfarne played town hall crypt and the audience raised the roof signing along .
The memory of everyone singing "when winter comes howling in " is giving me goosebumps. Thanks for the beautiful programme.
My friend and I both left the uk in our early 20s and live on different continents. But we stayed in touch and still feel the connection to north east . Cant wait to see what she thinks of this!
Haway somebody else comment, my wife was a school bus driver here in Ontario, Canada and she had all the bairns on her buses singing Fog on the Tyne, coz I'm a true blue Geordie.
Absolutely brilliant!
It's Howay
@@jazzflute2465 you say potato I say spud, so hadaway and lorn ya pronunciation, its ha-way not ho-way.
@jimfell7147 if you're a Mackem it's Haway.
I spent 3 months in Newcastle in dry dock with the navy,,, what a city what wonderful people and lindisfarne what a band,,, Rip alan 🙏
Such a huge loss to the music industry when he died, an amazing inspiration to music, I was lucky enough to see them perform and i happen to love the geordie accent
I love the Geordie accent too
@@barbarapalmer8224 my da was a Geordie died 1977❤️🖤🤍
Oh, you lucky thing ☺️.
Me too, love a Geordie accent-in fact I just LOVE any accent (minus a small few, but wouldn't dare say 🙄🤭).
I'm from Brasil, a very different music culture, but I love the songs and the voice of Alan Hull. He really left us too soon.
I was a very young boy , when I met Alan, his songs and joy touched me. I’m now 64 sad to think he left us too soon
im just sixty read your comment and say HI
I will never forget Alans support for the Miners Strike. He will always be a hero forever in my heart. I come from the Mining Community and i cant tell you enough what he meant to my family.
Rest in peace Alan, we're still listening❤❤❤
I first got into Lindisfarne's music in 1971, followed the band through the Lindisfarne 2 days to the reforming of the original line up and the Back and Forth album. I started traveling to tha Toon every Christmas and was lucky enough to see many years of concerts at the Newcastle City Hall. I built from scratch a full blown custom Harley Davidson and with the band's permission named it Lady Eleanor, through that I got to meet all of the band that became a lasting friendship. Alan was a great guy to know and a real character, I used to do custom shows with the bike and one year the club I was with put a band together, in which I was playing guitar, when I told Alan I was going to play in this band, with a rye grin Alan replied, yeah and I'm building a motorbike. For me the absolute highlight was one Newcastle Christmas concert I got to sing on stage with the band, Ray Jackson's line in Fog On The Tyne, was it a dream, no I have a photo taken of the event to prove it. As to me like so many people Alan's passing was a hammer blow, I feel greatly honoured to have known him and the rest of the band also.
Wonderful singer, songwriter and musician who was taken from the world way too soon
I did a record playing session in a pub in Barrhead Renfrewshire, i played Lady Eleanor that night and at the break a guy came up to me and said thank you for playing my song. I was mystified as i had not played requests, he said he was Alan Hull, i thought wow the man himself. He visited an auntie of his in Barrhead, i was thrilled.
Newcastle City Hall Genesis supporting Lindisfarne, I was there in the 5th row ……Missed the last bus and walked 15 of the 32 miles home.
I love Lindisfarne's music. Alan Hull was a tremendous songwriter and sadly under appreciated.
I once had a few pints with Alan and the boys in Workington they invited me over and made me welcome A lifelong Lindisfarne fan
Thanks for this documentary. I love Alan and his music. God anointed him to reach into people's hearts.
Thank the BBC who found the means of recording so much of Alan Hull's life and editing it so well.
A genius at work, nothing more and nothing less 😢..
I couldn't agree more. Well said!
He played at South Shields amphitheatre. Not that many people turned up. All his songs were fantastic, I can’t get my head round how he wasn’t more popular. Great hooks, great tunes, great lyrics.
A absolute brilliant documentary of Alan hull well done by Sam fender loved it brought tears from a proud north east lad proud of were I come from
I found it a delight too. It was very well done and made me a happy woman.
I loved this man. Such a poet
Without doubt a total genius, geordie or not pure class. should be mainstream and everyone should listen to his music.
Excellent. I remember seeing Lindisfarne several times when I was young. Terrific band and great songs.
I remember him doing a small gig in a small building, behind a pub in Parkstone, Dorset, back in 1983, it was a very intimate setting, only paid about £3.50 for a ticket, I feel very privilidged! Great tribute to a great songwriter!
A pure poet. I remember sitting across from him in a pub. No airs. Everyone knows the songs in Tyneside.
One of the best music documentry I saw. I suppose as a Newcastle native he was very much underated . This film certainly made me shed a tear to this pure artists life work and surrounding and sad fate. All his songs in the band and solos are very much worth listening to.
A lovely trip down Memory Lane with tears coming through occasionally. We were fortunate to have him and the wonderful legacy he and the rest of Lindisfarne have left for us all to enjoy. Howay the lads 😁🤩
One of my great regrets was not getting the chance to meet Alan, I had the pleasure to see Lindisfarne twice in Aberdeen the first time I heard the "Winter Song" an amazing tune that I performed a couple of times myself along with my tribute song to Lindisfarne "No moon over the river" just came across this Documentary a great tribute to Alan and the band
I loved Lindisfarne! Lady Eleanor. Still effects me everytime I here it.
One of the best British Folk Rock Bands, RIP Allan,,,
I was at the 1976 show it was incredible, and the atmosphere was beyond belief so pleased, I went that night great memory.
A legend who made you really watch and listen to the songs.R.I.P
"do you spare one thought for Jesus who had nothing but his thoughts.." .. he got me, Im all in. Having become a Newcastle supporter in 2010, I eventually discovered this man and the band Lindisfarne. That time my son and I discovered Fog on the Tyne is a life long moment we both will never forget. Wonderful life .. Im glad I know him...
Great documentary, Sam Fender now a mega star in his own right. I remember Alan Hull tirelessly performing for Miners Strike benefits in the great but doomed struggle of 1984-85, "Heroes" a song about the strikers and the strike still brings tears to my eyes looking back.. His wife and daughters tributes were a highlight of the documentary for me, what gentle beautiful women. God bless you Alan, you left a large and still thriving legacy for the region and beyond.
I was at one of Lindisfarne's Christmas concerts in 1976 at the City Hall. I was 16 and it was and remains one of the best nights of my concert going life. I am now 63 and have seen all of the big acts: Pink Floyd, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull to name a few.
I remember a hairdresser on stage cutting Simon Cowe's hair and I think then throwing the shorn locks into the crowd. Hot baked potato after the gig. Great memories. Thanks for posting.
I also went at around that time to one of those legendary Xmas concerts at the City Hall. Magic. Those concerts were just special times in Newcastle. Geordies were always so proud of Lindisfarne. For good reason too.
Could be the one we went to too! We were in our twenties so you can work out the rest. 🎶😹
Thank you for a wonderful tribute, so many wonderful songs. Sam Fender you did a great job along with those involved with the production. Alan may be gone , but never forgotten.
I never knew! I'm so thankful for this documentary--and for the new opportunity given me to know a great songwriter, a great human.
Great documentary on our local legend. Met some of the band a few times too... Great lads.
Just rewatched this. One of the best songwriters of all time! ❤
Thanks for putting this up on YT.
I wouldn't say I'm a super fan of Lindisfarne but enjoy listening to some of their better known songs [Run for Home, Lady Eleanor, Meet me on the Corner etc]. These songs are brilliant. Being a north easterner born in the 1970s, this band certainly has a resonance.
While the documentary was very interesting, I would say Lindisfarne was successful due to the sum of its parts. Some talented musicians all around.
One observation, for me personally, is that while the studio songs are excellent, Hull didn't come across as a particularly good live singer,
Lovely to see this again.Made with such passion by local people, and it shows
Creative brilliance of a man, authentic to his roots and honest to his friends and family. Wonderful documentary, thanks!
♥️🇬🇧😀 outstanding documentary. Thanks, lady Elanor always has and always will stand the hairs on the back of my neck up.
Absolutely beautiful documentary....and good to know that my long held belief that Alan was one of the greatest British songwriters is upheld by other great songwriters... and of course his legacy continues
Brilliant documentry about Alan Hull and Lindisfarne
Superb documentary. Derek Dick (Fish, formerly of Marillion), directed me to this. Cheers Fish.
Bravo Sam some day the world will know his genius till then they are missing out on Geordie genius, mind you are certainly doing your bit.
Run for home, is a brilliant song. Play it LOUD in a car, going home. Great lyrics and a killer tune.
Sam brllliant thank you goosebumps waching that geordies are the real people down to earth and honest and proud❤
Thanks for uploading this - could not see the original broadcast, which was UK only. Songs of my youth and my hometown..... priceless. A great tribute by Sam Fender and the remaining bandmates of a musical genius.
That lads’ enthusiasm for Alan’s’ work is wonderful. It’s great the guy & his band aren’t getting forgotten by the region for a start. Thanks for this 😁👍
First single I ever bought Lady Eleanor, seen them about 6 times and always enjoyed their music.
First album i bought ,fog on the tyne ,still my favourite
Loved his homeland, its people and the geordie ethos.
Amazing musician.. the music goes on forever
Lady Eleanor and Meet Me On The Corner are two all-time classics - thanks Alan Hull !
I’m not disagreeing but did you know that he only wrote the former?
I bought the first two Lindisfarne records in a little record shop in Soho in 72, saw them live together with Genesis in Dortmund January 73 shortly before they broke up the first time a few months later. In 2007 when I was 50 years old I found back to the music of Lindisfarne and noticed sadly that Alan died at the same age in 95. Now again 20 years later with always some of Alans and Rods songs in my repertoire, this brilliant music is remarkably the red thread of my live.
Lindisfarne had a special resonance for me as it coincided with me living in the NE at that time and developing an adolescent awareness of the arts. Alan Hulls songwriting is shaped by Tyneside and its places and people.
It is as geographically specific as the Smiths were to Manchester or The Beatles to Liverpool. It is a mystery as to why Alan Hull isn’t recognised as he should be. Perhaps he will be like Nick Drake and finally be acknowledged for his genius. There has never been a better time to hear the compassionate warmth of his songs.
Had the great pleasure to meet him in the Fforde Greene in Leeds after a solo gig in late 70's lock in after the gig a true gentleman.
Amazing sing and writer
That was superb , found it very emotional. Thank you
What a great version of Winter Song by Sam ... Alan is from my generation,,, I remember walking into a shop in Newcastle and the album Nicely out of tune was being played I asked who are they .. it must have been 1970 ...So I don't know much about Sam but that was fantastic Sam
outstanding film, loved it, grew up with all those songs
I'm a Yorkie and very proud like most northerner's and Allen summed us all up well. As sting put it he was out dylan.left us too soon but what a legacy ❤ thank you mr.hull and Lindisfarne for great music ❤
Well done Sam. Great to see that you yungins haven't forgotten the history of our great music.
Your ok by me mate!
Thank you🙏🙏🙏
Linfisfarne were great live, so pleased I got to see them.
Saw them about 8 times
Thanks for uploading this! Been wanting to see it since hearing of its release. He was such an amazing writer & with a voice that can give you chills. A rare gent.
Thanks a lot for this documentary! A singer 💗
This was a very enjoyable hour. Pity he went so soon
Lovely documentary , thank you ...
Great doco. Very moving. I was riveted from beginning to end. RIP Alan Hull. Paul in Oz
Great documentary. Thanks a lot.
Fantastic music documentary of a very, very talented musician, songwriter, and band.
Caught this documentary on catch up on sky last week. Such a brilliant watch!
what a great biography, thank - you ( the fender bloke , for making it relevant) 👏
Fabulous documentary 40min in I could hear Sam fenders work outstanding
What a wonderful programme.
I'm from London and Kent and I love the geordie accent, but i had almost forgotten about Lindisfarne untill I came across this video. Its brought back a lot of memories from my early 20s, Lady Eleanor, Fog on the Tyne, Meet me on the Corner, etc all great songs from, a great band.
I'll have to get my vinyl out now and re-live my lost youth. Thanks for the memories. 😢
Great documentary bonnie lad you have done a great job making folk interested in Alan Hull, me personally am going to investigate this amazing artist further. So cheers.
1985 lindisfarne played my university in birmingham, and i was a postpunker with a real soft spot for lindisfarne as i'm from the north east. punk was an important move forward but some important babies were thrown away with the bathwater and one of them was lindisfarne. anyway, they made us wait ages for an encore then when they came out again, alan hull said, 'sorry to make you all wait so long, there's only one sink back there and its really hot' instant puncturing of the long wait being some kind of pose idea, and everyone loved them and of course forgave how long we had to wait - they were a really important throwback to a 'lack of stardom' attitude not fashionable at the time but they were great and made a lot of friends that night.
What a fantastic doc! Watching Sam, towards end, watching that young guy singing his heart out... I had a year welling up too. Love it+but then Pipe Dreams is in my ...top 7 albums of EVER ☺️. RIP, lovely X.
I don't know why but there is something pleasing about Jimmy Nail being a fan for want of a better word.
It's the respect that I love about it.
Thanks for posting this.
63 now & followed Lindisfarne since me big Bruv Paul (Rip) got me into them! Met them in bar at Half Moon Putney after Toon beat Chelsea(Keegan scored i think)crackin night & all canny lads!! Howay The Lads!!😁👍🍺
So great to see this celebration of Alan Hull. I have no North East connection and always felt I was alone in recognising his genius. Despite (me) coming to playing and preforming through punk/new wave I loved his solo material more than Lindisfarne material (which I also liked but thought the solo stuff was more quirky with broader influences).
Had the pleasure and honour of seeing him solo at the Bitter End Club upstairs at the Broken Doll and then afterwards going on the lash with him for a few hours, great crack, I'll never forget it..
This is an excellent documentary - thank you. 🎉
Great piece of musical legacy 👌 👏🏽 touching 🖤🤍🖤🤍
Smashing documentary...long overdue...Thanks
Super documentary, great musician Alan Hull, and equally great songwriter. Always liked and played `Run for home´here in Germany.
The six bob tour was my first live gig in Sheffield City Hall, a life changing event
Went to see the lindisfarne story tonight at Newark would recommend it to anyone great night out
Saw Lindisfarne every time they came to Glasgow. Loved them. ❤
Like Roy Harper.. known but should be considered among the greats
great memorable voice !😊
The very first band I saw live and several times after. I had all of the Lindisfarne albums but I need to investigate his solo stuff. Love that so many big stars are such fans.
Thank you Bruce this really strikes a note in time and in my mind Alan Hull was truly a man of many words and is in my heart every day ty so very much , my mother was a Stanbridge and Lindisfarne was much loved bye my Mother Big Time as a fan RIP Alan Hull .