Kelly's Heroes

Kelly's Heroes with Tom Robinson

Craig Kelly

We chat about his iconic group Tom Robinson Band, their massive hits 2-4-6-8 Motorway, the protest song Glad to be Gay and why that tune helped the LGBT movement. He tells me how he got into being a successful broadcaster for the BBC, being influenced by John Peel who replied to his fan letters while working on the offshore radio pirate station Radio London and later defied a radio ban to play Tom's song Glad to be Gay on the airwaves. We also talk about his battle with depression and his 6 years spent at the Finchden Manor community in Kent from the age of 16 which saved his life. He also tells me how he got to sing his favourite song Rickety Tickety Tin at the Sidmouth Folk Festival, which we get the pleasure of hearing at the end of the show.