Don't Make Us Pray For Rain

Cricket World Cup 2007 anthem written with John Ryan

More Steve Gribbin videos

From 1984 to 1993, Steve Gribbin was half of the political musical comedy duo Skint Video, alongside Brian Mulligan. They appeared on TV shows including Saturday Live and Cabaret At Jongleurs and The Mary Whitehouse Experience on radio.

Since then, the 5ft 4in Scouse exile, lapsed Catholic, socialist, Liverpool FC fan has become a solo stalwart of the comedy circuit, and is a permanent member of The Cutting Edge topical show at the London Comedy Store.

He has also performed two full-length one-man shows at the Edinburgh Festival, Natural Born Kidder in 1995 and I'm Turning Into My Dad! in 1999.

Steve Gribbin: Laugh At First Sight
Live Review

There are riots on the streets, the phone-hacking scandal taints the media, police and politicians, and cuts are beginning to bite as the Western world remains in financial meltdown. Yet, with a few notable exceptions, comics are largely ignoring it all, preferring to talk about themselves.

More than 40 shows in, and Steve Gribbin made the first reference to Hackgate. Admittedly, not in forensic depth – he set himself up for a few-bars burst of a song, that’s all – but enough to highlight how inward-looking the rest of stand-up is at the moment.

Gribbin, of course, is from a different generation. He performed his first gig on May 26, 1982, at the Woolwich Tramshed, so he tells us – a time when we were at war in the Falklands, and politics was de rigueur for any comedian worth their salt.

This is supposed to be a show about Gribbin’s decades-long love affair with politics, music and comedy – the latter being sparked by seeing fellow Liverpudlian Alexei Sayle at the Edinburgh Playhouse. In truth, it’s just a few tunes strung together with perfunctory banter and the odd anecdote in between. And although he will do the occasional burst of invective – such as his hatred of the royal family – it’s generally topical material of a milder sort.

Gribbin is one of those musical comics who largely changes the words to hit songs; though thankfully he knows to go in and out as quickly as possible; one quick blast rather than three verses and their choruses.

He’s also been going long enough to have ready-made lines on most subjects; his Fukushima gag was surely a recycled Chernobyl one, and the line about the West having sold weapons to Libya, a relic from the first Gulf War. Some of these are predictable, though he tells them in a jaunty manner, but occasionally one hits the spot: the line about the slogans US troops scrawl on their missiles, especially, was a doozy.

But for all the tangential nods to politics, the best moment was a song about Dr Who sung in the style of Morrissey; although this genre-swapping style is already pretty much sewn up between Bill Bailey and Frisky and Mannish.

Much as he’s anti-capitalist, a few more topical comedians might force Gribbin to up his game; but in an under-served market, his old-school contrariness stands out. His decent material is delivered efficiently, even if it’s without the streak of genuine rebelliousness that might bring it alive.

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Fantastic!

Libby Gardener, October 2011

It's October, time to leave the World Cup material behind. It's also 2010, time to leave the 1970s style act behind.As for using the "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah" song as a basis for parody - I think you can see where this is going...

Paul Roff, October 2010

One of the best on the circuit

marg, July 2010

Top bloke with a top act. I must have seen Skint Video 20 times over the course of 1985. Steve still has what it takes.

Riera, March 2010

God. Awful. I was almost in actual physical pain watching his mercifully short set. Barely a titter from the audience. Like an embarassing dad who insists on telling people jokes and convinced he's hilarious.

Nic, February 2010

Weakest act I have ever seen, avoid!

Seneca Oluchi, March 2009

We saw Steve in Halifax, he was on fire (not literally) Held the audiences attention for well over the scheduled time. The gags, mimes, puns and songs were kept the room entertained. Let me tell you that is no easy task in West Yorkshire - we demand high standards and value for money. Steve undoubdtedly produced the goods. Even to the extent that I bought his CD.

Jason Bell, December 2006

Saw him as part of the Cutting Edge team at the Comedy Store last night. Clearly the weak link by a long shot. Had to resort to swearing profusely and getting angry. Occasionally funny with his songs, but when told to tell jokes on the current affairs topic 'obesity' all he could come up with was "I'm only this fat because everytime I shag your mum she gives me a pie". Absolutely awful.

David Stubbings, September 2006

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