20 Facts About Frank Sidebottom

Sievey, under the guise of Frank Sidebottom, made regular appearances on North West television throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, even becoming a reporter for Granada Reports.

Frank Sidebottom, usually dressed in a 1950s-style sharp suit, was portrayed as an aspiring pop star from the small village of Timperley, near Altrincham.

Frank Sidebottom's character was cheerfully optimistic, enthusiastic, and seemingly oblivious to his own failings.

Frank Sidebottom's mother was apparently unaware of her son's popularity.

Frank Sidebottom's backing band, dubbed 'The Oh Blimey Band' consisted of Mike Doherty on drums, Rick Sarko on guitar, Patrick Gallagher on bass, and later, Jon Ronson on keyboards.

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Frank Sidebottom was perhaps most popular in the North West of England, where his success was caught up in that of the Madchester scene, and for a time was a regular on regional ITV station Granada, even featuring as a reporter on its regional news programme, Granada Reports.

Along his frequent television appearances, the Frank Sidebottom character made appearances on radio, on stations such as Manchester's Piccadilly Radio and on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 5, alongside Mark and Lard.

Frank Sidebottom later recorded "Flying" for another Beatles tribute album, Revolution No 9.

The popularity of these appearances lead to him getting his own show on the network, Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show, which lasted one season in 1992.

Frank Sidebottom had faded into obscurity in the late 1990s, rarely appearing either on TV or making live appearances, but, a one-off performance at Manchester's Club Indigo Vs Manic Street Mania in December 2005 seemed to be the catalyst for a comeback.

Frank Sidebottom made five appearances on Iain Lee's programme on London's LBC as well as on numerous community radio stations such as Forever Manchester.

Frank Sidebottom received an overall score of 22 points from judges James Nesbitt and Glenda Gilson, putting him in first place for all the series' acts so far.

Frank Sidebottom starred in his own exhibition of drawings, animation and cardboard at London's Chelsea Space Gallery next to Tate Britain between 4 July and 4 August 2007.

Frank Sidebottom appeared in the Series 3 Christmas special of BBC Scotland's VideoGaiden, performing "Christmas is Really Fantastic", and later appeared on the Series 3 Awards show, and the final web-exclusive episode .

Frank Sidebottom appeared briefly as a Manchester United fan in an advert for the FIFA 10 video game in 2009.

Frank Sidebottom performed at Bloom Festival in 2007 and Kendal Calling in 2008.

Sievey's earliest television appearance was on the children's television show TX with an in character interview as Frank Sidebottom, shortly following the release of his first Zonophone EP.

The following year, Sievey guest starred on the sixth season of British Television series No 73, after which he, portraying Frank Sidebottom, would become a regular cast member for its final two seasons.

Three years following the end of 7T3, Frank Sidebottom became a regular cast member on the fourth, and final, season of the children's TV series Motormouth.

Frank Sidebottom stands off to the side and at the bottom of the back cover photo.