What are you currently up to (studio/live/etc)?
We are concentrating on the live stuff at the moment,
as we are touring later this year, so choosing material
from the albums and working it into a dynamic show is
top of the list. It’s still early days for this
line up but the band is sounding really good after just
two shows and it’s only going to get better, tighter
and more FUN!! I have worked with Del on and off in
various bands since the late 70’s so we know each
other quite well!
I met Karl and Dean about 4 years ago, Dean and I have
done a fair few gigs with a band from Buckingham called
Big Stone. Dean and Karl both seem to have a perfect
understanding of what Stray is about and bring just
the right blend of power and sensitivity to the wide
range of material that Del and the band have written
right back to the late 60’s.
We all first got together for the Greg Ridley Memorial
show in London last November. We had so much fun Del
decided he wanted us to play Stray songs and here we
are.
Please give us a brief
history of your career and the style of music you play.
My first gig was playing drums with some mates from
school but it wasn’t long before I moved to bass.
I guess I’ve always like the buzz of being in the
‘engine room’, helping to drive it along but
paradoxically I also enjoy the freedom of guitar playing
so I have done a fair bit of that as well. As
for my style of music, I like so many different styles
from Rock, Funk, Jazz, Blues, you name it! Basically
if it’s good I can dig it.
Who was/is/are
the biggest influences on your career?
There have been so many! Right now my faves include;
Tool, Opeth, Soilwork, Michael Hedges, Jeff Buckley,
Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan, Hed pe, Terry Reid, Glenn
Hughes, Stu Hamm, King’s X, Sevendust, Nine Inch
Nails, Skindred, Black Label Society, Paul Gilbert (and
always) Free, Steely Dan, Zappa and the inspirational
Jaco Pastorius |
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What has been
the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career to date?
Well I’ve had such a fantastic time playing music I can’t
really consider any of it a lowpoint. The peaks for me would
have to include playing guitar with the amazing Ric Parnell
in Stars and recording with Gail Anne Dorsey. I think this
line up of Stray is going to be a great time for all of us.
What would you
like to achieve ideally by the end of 2005?
Realistically I would be very happy to have spread a smile
on Stray fans’ faces across a couple of continents and
be looking forward with Del, Dean and Karl to recording the
next CD of new Stray material.
What has been
the reaction to the new Stray line-up so far? Have you got
any recording plans for this year?
So far it's been well received and the ‘Stray Army’
has made us all feel at home straight away. At our first gig
in Leighton Buzzard some people arrived from Southend and
announced “Lemmy sends his love” Aaaah sweeet!
No recording plans so far but watch our website for news.
How important
do you feel the internet is for promoting your music?
Very handy piece of kit . . . and here it is at work!
What has been
the live highlight(s) for you? How easy/hard is it to get
gigs and promotion for gigs?
As I said it’s early days for us but Clive Aid was special.
I think the gigging situation is tricky for everybody at the
moment but if we stick at it and take the right opportunities
who knows?
Do you see the
interest in Stray's style of music growing in the UK and Europe
at the moment? And worldwide?
If you look at what’s going on at the moment, definitely
in the UK! Stray have always gone down well in Spain and I
reckon Germany and Scandinavia should be up for it. The feedback
from the US sounds very promising; we’ll let you know
more later in 2005.
What's the most rock 'n' roll moment you've had so far?
Blimey. . . pissed . . . naked. . . trying to find hotel room
door. . . close call. . . that’s all folks!!!
What do you like doing
in your spare time?
Being with my sons, mountain bike riding,
watching MotoGP/F1, listening to music, learning!
Message to your
fans?
Don’t worry, it’s 'all in yer mind'!!!
Many thanks
to Jason Ritchie at
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