Tom Lehrer remembered: an interview with Chris Connelly and Tim Whelan

Tom Lehrer, the great satirical singer, died in July 2025, prompting many eulogies and memories from writers. Chris Connelly and Tim Whelan are celebrating his work with Jude Montague and members of the Albion Skiffle Company on Thursday 6 November. Jude Montague talks to both about Tom Lehrer’s toe-tapping and witty songwriting.

How did you come to know the work of Tom Lehrer?

Chris Connelly: I think I first got to hear (of) Tom at Essex University in the early 80s. It was a time preoccupied by Reagan, Thatcher and Cruise missiles, and I probably heard We Will All Go Together When We Go in one of the Towers on campus, and dug deeper and found out more in those painfully slow internet days when searched out material still came from inter library loans or in the post.

Tim Whelan, aka BloodTub Chairman: I was a spotty teenage herbert who at one point had a girlfriend who was into early Eno, Nico and Tom Lehrer. Obviously outside my league but it was a good musical education.

What is it you like about Tom Lehrer?

Chris Connelly: I like the man talk singing at a piano schtick and the witty wordplay. And Tom was definitely a leftfield step-up on Richard Stilgoe on Nationwide.

Tim Whelan aka BloodTub Chairman: That he genuinely didn’t care. He had a massive musical and lyrical talent which he used when he could be bothered, got out of the game when he had nothing more to say and eventually gave up the rights to all income from his music. His songs weren’t just empty irony, they reflected what he was.

Blood Tub Orchestra

A favourite song and why?

Chris Connelly: It is hard to come up with a favourite but Vatican Rap always makes me smile, mainly ‘cos it’s so resolutely unlikely as a toon and because I really like the line ” drink the line and chew the wafer”.

Tim Whelan, aka BloodTub Chairman: I shall go for I Hold Your Hand in Mine because, whatever age, race or creed you are, whatever generation and epoch you live in, it’s equally repulsive.

Tim Whelan performing at the Pig as Bloodtub Chairman – photo by Haymanot Tesfa

Bios

Chris Connelly: I got trained as a sociologist at Essex Uni in the mid 80s and have been hanging out in cafes watching the world go by ever since. By usually saying yes to offers to help out with things, I’ve managed to do some interesting paid jobs along the way.

Tim Whelan, aka BloodTub Chairman: I was in various independent bands in the 80s, Furniture, Missing Presumed Dead and the Transmitters. I was a founder member of Transglobal Underground in the 90s and have continued working with them since, as well as being a producer and DJ. I wasted my ill-gotten gains researching songs of the Music Hall which I have performed with the group The Blood Tub Orchestra as well as in solo and cabaret performances.

TOM LEHRER & BLOODTUB CHAIRMAN
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6
7.30pm Free – donations encouraged
The Crown House, 57 Marina, St Leonards-on-Sea

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