News

Frank Sidebottom

• 21st Jun 2010

Chris Sievey who's stage name was Frank Sidebottom; was diagnosed with cancer in May 2010. On Monday 21st June 2010, he died at Wythenshawe Hospital after collapsing at his home in Hale.

Frank Sidebottom was the stage name and persona of the late English comedian and musician Chris Sievey. The character was instantly recognisable by his spherical head (styled like an early Max Fleischer cartoon) – this was initially made from papier-mâché, but later rebuilt out of fibreglass.

Frank, usually dressed in a 1950s-style sharp suit, was portrayed as an aspiring pop star from the village of Timperley near Altrincham, Cheshire. His personality traits were optimism, enthusiasm and seemed to be unaware of his failures. Although seemingly middle-aged, he still lived at home with his mother, to whom he made frequent references. His mother was apparently unaware of her son's popularity. Frank sometimes had a sidekick in the form of “Little Frank”, a hand puppet who was otherwise a perfect copy of Frank.

Comedy character Mrs Merton started out as Frank's sidekick on his radio show “Radio Timperley”, and the similarity of the characters is evident, exuding a sense of great ambition which belies a domestic lifestyle in the north of England. Sidebottom's former “Oh Blimey Big Band” members include Mark Radcliffe and Jon Ronson, and his driver was Chris Evans.