Interview with David Gedge on 40 Years of The Wedding Present

1985. Leeds. What began as a DIY indie band formed out of the ashes of The Lost Pandas has grown into one of the UK’s most enduring cult acts. Now, The Wedding Present, led by the ever-restless David Gedge, are celebrating their 40th anniversary with a wide-ranging UK and Ireland tour this autumn.

With a back catalogue spanning hundreds of songs, 18 Top 40 singles, and a reputation for fierce independence, The Wedding Present have forged a singular path. From their debut single “Go Out and Get ‘Em, Boy!” to their genre-hopping experiments, the band has remained true to a core ethos: do it your own way, or not at all.

Ahead of their milestone tour — which also teases the launch of a Wedding Present musical — Matt Jacobson caught up with David Gedge to talk about songwriting, the evolution of recording, the impact of streaming, and what it feels like to still walk on stage after four decades of music that never compromised.

Thanks so much for your time, David. Let’s start with the writing process. Are you someone who writes constantly, or do you sit down and focus at specific times?

I’m always thinking about it, really. I’ll hear something, see something, maybe overhear a conversation — and suddenly I’m making notes. These days it’s usually on my phone, but I used to carry notebooks everywhere. Especially with lyrics, I just collect little ideas as I go. Even today, we were driving down from Newcastle to Manchester and I was in the car with the guitarist bouncing around ideas for new stuff. Later on, when we set aside time to write, I’ll pull those out and see what sticks.

Over the past four decades, how has your approach to recording changed — creatively or technically?

Creatively, the basics are the same. A guitarist or I will come up with an idea, and we build it into a song. But the technical side? That’s changed massively. The rise of digital recording means we can all do so much from home now — which is great, but also means a lot of studios are struggling. And people buy fewer physical records. But I’ve always embraced new technology. It’s amazing what you can do with a laptop and a decent mic now. Stuff we used to need a whole studio for is now at your fingertips — and it’s not even that expensive anymore.

Is there a particular album or recording session that stands out as especially formative or experimental?

I don’t think there’s just one and that’s kind of deliberate. I’ve always tried not to make the same album twice. With every lineup change comes new influences, and I welcome that. Sometimes we’ve made records that sound very different from what came before, and not all fans liked it but it’s more artistically satisfying. I’d rather take risks and keep evolving than coast on the same sound over and over. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t — but it’s never boring.

The Wedding Present have long had a reputation for “stubbornly refusing to play the record industry’s game.” What does that mean in 2025 versus 1985?

I think it’s always been about doing things our way often not the “sensible” way. Whether that’s the labels we signed to, the way we promoted records, or even refusing to move to London when everyone said we should. I think we’re a bit like The Fall or New Order in that sense — operating outside of the mainstream. It might not be the easiest route, but it’s the most honest one for us.

How has the shift from physical formats to streaming affected how you think about albums and releasing music?

I don’t really think about formats much. We’ve always been a live band at heart, and I write songs to be played. Streaming, vinyl, CDs that stuff’s secondary. Even in the studio, we often try to capture that live energy. I do love making records, don’t get me wrong, but the format it ends up on doesn’t change how I approach the music.

I once asked Pete Doherty what it felt like stepping on stage and he said “it’s like walking the plank.” Do you still get that kind of thrill from live shows?

(Laughs) Yeah, absolutely. We’ve had so many memorable moments from playing John Peel’s birthday to singing a song in French on stage. I just love performing. It’s never felt scary to me. Some people say fear is part of the thrill, but I’ve never seen it that way. I know it sounds a bit pretentious, but I feel like this is what I was always meant to do. Even now, the fact that people still pay money to come see us play? I’m just grateful. It’s still a buzz.

Forty years is a massive milestone. How does it feel personally and professionally? And how on earth do you pick a setlist from four decades of material?

[laughs] The first thing it makes you feel is old! I used to think 40 years was Status Quo territory and now here we are. It’s shocking, honestly. The setlist has been a bit of a challenge, yeah — we’ve got over 300 songs. But I wanted the tour to reflect all the different eras and styles we’ve explored. Some of the obvious ones will be there, sure, but we’re also digging deep and including stuff that hasn’t been played in years. There might be a few surprises along the way.

What’s it like to play in Liverpool?

It’s vibrant and so much like other brilliant cities like Glasgow. It’s a buzz. There’s so much history there, you really feel it when you’re playing. It’s always a great crowd, and it’s one of those places that’s got that proper musical energy.

And finally, two Wedding Present devotees, Pete and Ant, would like to know: If you were to record a Beatles song, which one would it be?

Well, there are so many, I really couldn’t choose just one to be honest !. We did cover “Getting Better” for the NME once — but, of course, we made it very much our own: raw, fast… very Wedding Present. But what a band the Beatles were. So disciplined in the studio. Absolute masters.

Thank you, Dave and best wishes for the tour.

David: Thanks, Matt!

Few bands have remained as consistent in their inconsistency as The Wedding Present. For four decades, David Gedge has steered the band with creative curiosity and anti-industry defiance that still resonates today. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering them, this 40th anniversary tour is more than a nostalgic look back — it’s a celebration of evolution, endurance, and the unfiltered heart of indie rock.

Interview by Matt Jacobson
Music Editor, Explore Liverpool