The Man From Delmonte on returning after 35 years: “it felt right instantly”

After more than three decades away, The Man From Delmonte have returned to a very different musical landscape but with the same crooked charm that once set them apart. In Manchester between 1988 and 1991 they stood outside the prevailing scenes, writing sharp, melodic songs that didn’t belong to Madchester or any other convenient label. Their audiences adored them, the press were often less kind, and yet they quietly sold out halls and topped the indie charts with a set of pop songs that carried wit, tenderness and bite.

Now, frontman Mike West, bassist Sheila Seal, drummer Howard Goody and guitarist Martin Vincent are looking back and forward at once. With a new album Better Things, their first in 35 years, and a celebratory show at Manchester’s O2 Ritz, they are finding out what it means to be older, wiser, still together and still writing songs that stick. In this conversation with Jason Barnard, they reflect on the rediscovery of lost demos and the unexpected chain of events that brought them back.

What was it like stepping back into the rehearsal room together, did it feel instantly familiar or like meeting a new version of yourselves?

Mike: After the rust started to shake off in our first rehearsals, it all felt bizarrely familiar. The band dynamic was the same, all our behavioural quirks unchanged. After all these years, we were the same people, the same band. It all felt unexpectedly natural.

Howard: I have to admit to quite a bit of trepidation even fear when the idea of getting back together first surfaced, but remember it was just for one reunion gig so that seemed quite a nice thing to do. When it came to actually getting together it just felt right instantly, a cliche I know but it really didn’t feel like thirty odd years ago. I’m a bit awkward socially but it felt so natural and relaxed to be with these people and the same went for the playing we all just slotted back in, the songs were so familiar.

Martin: “After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same,” Paul Simon sang. On the other hand Heraclitus wrote “you can’t step into the same river twice.” It was new and the same! I still felt like me, and they all still seemed to be them, so all was good.

Sheila: I certainly was a bit nervous getting together again after 35 years but once we started playing it was like all that time just disappeared, and we were young again! It is an older, wiser version of the same band.

When you first formed in the late 80s you were described as sounding like nobody else. What do you think set you apart from the Manchester scene at the time?

Mike: We didn’t form with an idea of a style, a sound. We were just learning together how to play, how to make our little songs hold together and work in some way. We weren’t trying to emulate anything, we were just happy when it seemed like a song took flight, however wobbly! So it’s not surprising that The Man from Delmonte never fit easily into a particular scene. We were and are our own peculiar creature!

Martin: Well, we weren’t a group of lads who’d grown up in the same area and decided to start a band, and it felt like that was a predominant narrative, though obviously there were many exceptions. Apart from Howard (who’d played at free festivals in the 70s!) none of us had been in a band before. Mike’s songs were very particular, he always had a story to tell, and because he played an acoustic guitar the lazier commentators decided that must be a bit like folk music. We never got into a ‘baggy’ phase.

Howard: Back in the 80’s there were all sorts of bands everywhere, one of our first support gigs was with the Proclaimers and they certainly were different. We definitely didn’t fit into any sound or trend that developed in Manchester but that was down to Mike’s songwriting and our tendency to not go with the flow.

Sheila: I think we weren’t bothered about sounding like anybody else – we just did what we did and made the music we made. We came from different backgrounds to many of the other bands around at the time……art school, classical music……so we brought different influences. I always fancied myself as a Scottish Tina Weymouth and her bass lines were amongst the first I learnt. We weren’t your regular bunch of lads that get together in school to form a band……

The new single ‘Believe Me’ was pulled from old demos and live tapes, how did it feel rediscovering songs that might have been lost if not for fans holding onto them?

Mike: My old friend Catriona sent me an early demo I had made of ‘Believe Me.’ Catriona played this lovely saxophone part that inspired the horn parts that you hear on the single. I’m so grateful that she has kept all those old cassettes. I have nothing. No demos, singles, albums… nothing. Without friends and fans the music would be lost.

Shelia: I have to say a massive thank you to friends and fans that kept hold of old tapes and demos, and particularly to Danny Ibison, who has archived all the back catalogue. I hadn’t thought about a lot of these songs and it has been lovely (and incredibly useful) to hear them again! It’s clear from conversations after live shows that we were really important to quite a few people, which I certainly hadn’t realised at the time….we have a great loyal fan base!

Martin: It was very surprising to me. Over the past couple of decades it’s become normal that everything is documented. Finding recordings of so many gigs from 35 years ago and more was remarkable. It told us so much about what we had meant to people, that these had all been preserved and they were eager to share them. It also gave us a great reference for relearning all those songs!

Howard described recording the new album as anxiety free and natural, was that a surprise after so many years away or did you expect it would click so quickly?

Howard: Yes, we wanted the new album to be a true record of what we sound like now as a band. After playing the gigs this year I for one realised we are very different to the band in the 80’s. The songs might be the same but we’ve all been playing all sorts of musical styles over the years since the split and that experience has lead for me to find playing again to be so enjoyable, I’m having a great time.

Martin: It takes a lot to surprise me, I was just very impressed with the playing. Everyone was really good, and at first I was struggling to keep up. But I’d never had any doubts that if we came together and played it would be good.

Mike: I have been a full-time engineer and producer now for over 25 years, so I had a pretty clear idea of how I wanted the recording process to go. Most importantly I wanted us to be playing live together in the studio. I wanted everyone to feel relaxed and in control of their music. And I think that’s exactly how the process went, which is why it was so fun and I think successful.

Sheila: Back in the day I remember recording being very stressful – overnight sometimes, very bitty, never really feeling like it captured what we had live. Recording these new songs was totally different – Mike has his own studio so there was much less time pressure, and we recorded the band and lead vocals live, which gives a freshness and excitement in these new recordings.

The new record mixes songs from the past with brand new ones written only weeks before recording, how did you decide which tracks made sense together as a collection?

Mike: It was a very intuitive process choosing the songs for the album, which includes old and brand new material. I played each song then intuitively felt the song that should follow it, almost as if it was a story that was unfolding, a story I didn’t fully understand but a story no less. By the time I’d selected the songs I also knew the song order that the album should follow. I feel like it’s a very cohesive work, even though the songs span 40 years of writing!

Sheila: We rehearsed a lot of material, and played much of it live before deciding which songs to record. And then Mike wrote some brand new ones just before we got together, so we tried stuff and went with what worked best.

Martin: We’d played many of the old ones at our recent gigs, some of us had favourites that we thought should be included. There were new ones that felt right. There is a kind of narrative that goes through it. A list was drawn up and there was no dissent.

How important was it to you to make this new album feel honest and unadorned rather than layering it with heavy production?

Martin: It’s our debut studio album, this is exactly how a first album should sound!

Mike: We took the most direct route to realizing the songs. That gave them a raw, honest and energetic feel in the recording. I wrote a few horn parts for Roxy and she brought them to life. We added some of Sheila and Martin’s harmonies, a few touches of piano and an old hammond organ, Bob stopped by and played his trumpet and boom… it was a record. Why add more!

Sheila: Heavy production isn’t the sound that we have/want. The backing vocals, percussion and brass add plenty. For me, there’s no need for anything more.

What role did Iain Lee play in sparking this comeback and did you expect a casual conversation to lead to a full album and tour?

Sheila: Iain Lee contacted us all via Facebook and asked if we’d be interested in reforming – I think we all said, “well I would but I doubt the others will.” There we have it. Mike’s kids had quite a lot to do with it too, which is just lovely. Iain and I had a conversation about venues in Manchester, and I was keen to play The Band on the Wall, but not sure if we’d have enough people to fill this 500 capacity venue…..it sold out within the first 20 minutes! This reminded me of one of our early gigs at The Boardwalk in Manchester. I remember walking up with the band from my house in Castlefield, and thinking, why are there so many people round here – there must be something on, then realising they were all coming to see us. That was probably 1987/88. It’s extraordinary, and has been fabulous to perform again, and record and to have this second chance!

Mike: Iain Lee’s love, enthusiasm and tireless work made all this happen. It was something none of us expected. You could not find a better cheerleader! We are all so grateful to Iain.

Martin: Before that chance meeting some people had put in a lot of groundwork. Jason Brogan who set up a Facebook page years ago and kept the flame burning, Mike’s children who discovered their dad’s indie pop history and were determined to throw a spotlight on it. The stars were aligning. But then Iain’s energy and enthusiasm set up an unstoppable motion. He’s been in what we might call showbiz for many years, so he’s got a pretty good idea about how things work and he’s a powerhouse of industry. He’s totally in love with the Man From Delmonte, and we love him right back.

Howard: Without Iain’s involvement none of this would have happened, I wouldn’t be writing this and my boys wouldn’t have seen their Dad playing in a rock and roll band. There are others to thank as well, Jason Brogan for keeping the flame alive and Julian and Sadie for needling their Dad. In the old days we were pretty much on our but now we’ve got Iain looking after us and doing all the hard work. We just turn up and play all the organising and business end is down to Iain, and I have to mention Danny Ibison here as well for massive support. We’re lucky to have found a family surrounding us every body that works with us and of course the fans, it just wouldn’t happen without them.

With Inspiral Carpets and 808 State opening for you in your early years, how does it feel looking back on that period knowing the influence of the bands you shared stages with?

Martin: I love the new Charlatans single, ‘We Are Love’, and whenever I hear them I remember that Mark Collins once lent me his guitar when mine was being repaired. He was in great band called The Waltones at the time. There’s an instinctive response when you hear people you had some connection with in those formative times. We supported James on many occasions and I always pay attention to what they are up to. Manchester at the turn of the 80s/90s was an astonishing place to be. There’s a certain melancholy in knowing that we were not among those that rose to world renown, but we were there, and many lovely people valued us, and still do.

Mike: It was a very special time with so many great bands and I’m very happy that I got to be around at that time and play a small part in it all. I’ve now been a touring and recording musician for close to 40 years. It was those early years in Manchester that lit the fire in me. I owe the city and that scene so much.

Howard: There were so many bands around in the indie 80’s it was great to be around in such a vibrant times, some became very successful others not so, doesn’t matter really it was great to be there.

Sheila: It’s interesting to see, from now, which bands left a big legacy and which didn’t take off. Both the Inspirals and 808 State were great. There’s no knowing at the time where things are going to go and who’s going to have ‘success’.

If someone new to the band was to start with one song, which track would you point them towards?

Sheila: I have many favourite songs from the early days, and ‘Water in my Eyes’ would be up there together with the title track from the new album ‘Believe Me’, both for their great hooks and lyrics. Ear worms galore in every Delmonte song!

Mike: That’s a hard one…. Maybe ‘Will Nobody Save Louise’?

Howard: Anyone who hasn’t heard the band should start with ‘My Love is Like a Gift’ then ‘Like a Millionaire’ and then get into ‘Believe Me.’

Martin: I would point them to ‘Every Time’, on the new album and coming out as an exclusive 7” vinyl to be given away to those who come to our appearance at Fountain Records in Manchester on 15 November. It’s the newest song on the album, and if you’re starting with the band, start from now!

What are your emotions heading into the Manchester O2 Ritz show?

Howard: I’m so looking forward to the Ritz it’s going to be a great party we’ve got the wonderful Mudd Club for support again and if all those lovely fans turn up in their fab T shirts it’ll be a blast.

Martin: Hoping it’s gonna snow and Santa will bring me that bike I want.

Sheila: I’m excited about the Ritz show – it’s a great venue. We’ll be playing the new album plus lots of the old songs, and it’s Christmas and it has a sprung dance floor so I’m hoping for lots of bouncing and singing along.

Looking ahead beyond the Ritz show and Better Things, what do you see as the next chapter for The Man From Delmonte, and what would you like your audience to carry with them from this return?

Mike: I try not to look ahead too far. I do look forward to playing another show with my friends and to sharing this new album with people. Beyond that, It would be nice if we can continue performing and recording together because we still seem to have a quirky but special chemistry together. We’ll keep doing it as long as it’s fun for everyone, I think.

Howard: I don’t know what’s going to happen beyond the end of this year, I suppose a lot rests on how well the album is received. If it’s heard and people like it I guess that means we will keep playing more gigs.

Sheila: Next year we have a few gigs booked and who knows what might come of the single and album. We’ve all enjoyed playing together and it would be just great if we can do more.

Martin: Live in the moment. We are doing this now, completely unexpectedly, and we’re having a great time. There isn’t a plan, but we are here for the ride, and everyone is welcome on board.

Further information

themanfromdelmonte.com

The Man From Delmonte – Sunday 21 December 2025 – O2 Ritz, Manchester