Welcome to Wheels Off, a show about the messy reality of the creative life.

I'm Rhett Miller.

David Gedge, full disclosure, one of my absolute all-time heroes.

Front man of a band, The Wedding Present, also for a few years in there, the frontman

of Cinerama.

But the band Wedding Present and David Gedge's work over the years have meant the world to me.

You know, there was a time when he was probably my number one most listened to songwriter.

And I've never stopped listening to his stuff.

Never stopped loving his stuff.

I feel like it holds up.

There was like a really shining moment where he made Sea Monsters and Bazaaro with the

wedding present.

Those records are absolute masterpieces.

But everything he's ever been a part of is of a very high quality.

So imagine that when I have gotten to be friends with him

over the years, how exciting that is, a little bit nerve-wracking. And to be able to interview

him for wheels off is just an absolute honor and a pleasure. And he's great. I was pretty much not super nervous.

Maybe you'll hear a little bit of me trying to restrain my inner fanboy. But, you know,

he deserves it. He's great. And like, I did tell him after we ended the call that, you know, my little sister went to Leeds University because that's where the wedding prison had formed.

And if she hadn't gone there, I would never have followed her to London to visit and met the woman whom I wound up marrying.

And my kids wouldn't exist if it wasn't for David Gedge.

That might be overstatement, but, you know, that's how life works.

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