MALCOLM HARDEE

1950-2005

A legend in the comedy business and founder, owner and compare of ‘Up The Creek’ in Greenwich for many years, I knew Malcolm on and off for about Ten years. There are many people who knew him better but there are some who ‘were great pals with Malcolm’ but didn’t really know him at all.
 Malcolm was a very heavy drinker, smoker and gambler, had been in and out of jail for years and was half deaf, half blind and a bit of a cheeky bastard so inspiring profound and intellectual conversation was not going to be at a premium but he was good company and a good laugh and I couldn’t think of anyone who had a more rock and roll life and death than Malcolm. He was never very famous himself but ironically is the most famous person amongst all the famous people I’ve ever known of, if you know what I mean. You only had to have seen all the famous faces at his funeral to be knocked out at how much affection and esteem the comedy glitterati held for him. If you buy his book ’I Stole Freddy Mercury’s Birthday Cake’ (I don’t know who published it but I’m sure you’ll find it in most good bookshops) you’ll read about all the legendary moments and I’m sure there were more that didn’t make it to the final draught, you also will get a feel for the man himself but do have a look at the website and read about all the moments sent in from individual comics about his ambling, shambling, live for the moment lifestyle that he participated in every day without exception. Read it, print it and shove it in front of the face of some arsehole who’s always saying “I weally don’t give a farking shit me, I live on the edge man and hang the farkin consequences”.

DRINKER, SMOKER, HALF BLIND,HALF DEAF

I once spent a night in Birmingham drinking with Malcolm, Matt Welcome (comedian), Gary Wilmot (song and dance man and all round cunt), Rolf Harris (he went home early) and Bob Carolgees (ask your Dad). We actually had to be invited to the party by Bob Carolgees (how naff is that!). Nothing amazing happened really but I bet nobody has ever went out drinking with that particular combination of personage and if anyone knows Malcolm then that sums up the bizarreness and the ‘lightning strikes three times’ erratic ness of his existence. There are so many little stories I could tell you but I don’t think they’ll do themselves any justice (mainly because I’m no journalist and my storytelling in print is shit), anyway you’d better read his book, it’s a lot more fun.

Have a look at all aspects of Malcolm’s great life on www.malcolmhardee.co.uk