A History of The Good Old Days

(A Rock ’n’ Roll Story by Douglas & The World)

The Beginning

The Good Old Days (A Rock ’n’ Roll Story) began in June 2006, when Portsmouth musician Matthew Douglas Whittenham started writing songs and a companion novella from his flat on Tangier Road, opposite a St Joseph’s Church. His vision was to create a rock ’n’ roll concept album — a story told through both music and words. Just months earlier, Matt had formed the band Cool Banana with Trev, after meeting at the Alley Cats open mic night at The Tap in North End. United by a shared love of Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground, the pair began performing together — Trev on harmonica and mandolin, Matt on acoustic guitar and vocals. Soon after, Brandon joined on djembe and Jonathan on bass, forming the band’s consistent core. Other musicians, including Kris (didgeridoo), Matt C (second guitar), Nick (soprano sax), Phill (djembe), Kev (percussion), and Danx (second guitar), completed the evolving line-up.

The Junkyard Years

Cool Banana quickly became part of the Portsmouth live music scene, performing Lou Reed covers and Matt’s original songs from The Good Old Days. But the typical pub gig circuit soon lost its spark, and Matt began creating his own events — the now-legendary Junkyard Parties. The first Junkyard took place on 29th September 2006 at The Barn, combining live bands and DJs from folk, rock to trance and techno. The events became immersive art parties, inspired by The Good Old Days’ fictional “Pink Burger Bar,” with ultraviolet umbrellas and surreal props. Over time the umbrellas were printed on huge vinyl banners and eventually on huge projection screens. Following a weekend of shows and all-night partying, Cool Banana recorded a live version of The Good Old Days on 18th February 2007 at The Old Blacksmiths Studio, engineered by Neil Elliot. The recordings captured the raw energy and DIY spirit of the band, though Matt still felt the songs had more to evolve.

The Film

In 2008, Matt collaborated with Trev (from Cool Banana) and filmmaker/lecturer Neil Hunt to produce a short film based on the opening scene of The Good Old Days. Trev, who is also a graphic designer, created an animated sequence featuring umbrellas moving and spinning. The short film starred Matt, Trev, Nick, and Matt C from Cool Banana, along with performers from the Junkyard Parties, including Joe Black and members of the poi and fire-spinning group Hellfire and friends from the Junkyard Parties. Jon from Cool Banana put his carpentry skills to use and helped build some of the props. The film was nominated for a local award and premiered during a Junkyard Party at Café Havana, Southsea, on 3rd November 2007.

The Pause

As the events grew, so did Matt’s involvement in the local music community and rave scene. By late 2009, he had become landlord of The Milton Arms & The Barn, turning it into a thriving local music venue. However, running the pub left little time for creative work. Eventually, The Good Old Days was shelved, and Cool Banana played their final show at the venue’s closing party on 21st February 2015 as Matt choose to not renew the lease and wanted to end his time running the venue on a high.

A New Chapter in Music

After several quiet years, inspiration struck again in early 2020. Matt picked up a ukulele and began revisiting George Harrison’s songs, rediscovering his love for melody and songwriting. In 2023, he bought a Tascam 8-track portable studio, and by February 2024, a new ukulele — reigniting his creative fire. From March 2024, he began recording new demo versions of The Good Old Days, experimenting with different tones and textures. By June, he had added a Telecaster, Les Paul, and Vox AC30 to his setup, shaping the sound he had always imagined. That summer, Matt reconnected with the original Cool Banana members and played a low-key comeback gig at a Buddhist event which he organised called Gongyo-Jam on 1st July 2024. Around this time, he also began transforming The Good Old Days into a graphic novel, using illustration as a visual storytelling tool to accompany the music.

Recording the Album

In late 2024, Matt began preparing for full studio sessions at Casemates Recording Studios, located in the historic Hilsea Lines, Portsmouth. Recording officially began on 21st December 2024 with Sean (Head of Recording) – Drums, Jim (Head Audio Engineer) – Bass, keyboards, backing vocals, Trev (Cool Banana) – Harmonica, mandolin, 12-string guitar, Brandon (Cool Banana) – Djembe, Jonathan (Cool Banana) – Flute, Jade – Backing vocals on The Pink Burger Bar (Part 1), and Matt on Lead Vocals, Guitar & Ukulele. By February 2025, the recording was complete — a rich, expansive rock ’n’ roll concept album that fused storytelling, rhythm, and emotion. Jim handled mixing, while Sam from Mayfield Records mastered the final tracks. The first single, “The Pink Burger Bar (Part 1),” was released on 14th June 2025, followed by a run of singles throughout the summer. The full album, The Good Old Days (A Rock ’n’ Roll Story), was officially released on 5th November 2025.

Looking Ahead

Matt continues to work on the Good Old Days graphic novel, exploring its world visually while planning more releases — including new albums under the name of Douglas & The World and a live sessions record with Cool Banana. Set in a dystopian future, The Good Old Days is a coming-of-age rock opera about truth, rebellion, and personal freedom. It draws influence from Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground, Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd, The Who’s Tommy, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, and Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner — reimagined for a modern generation.