So what are you up to these days and what keeps you involved in music?
At the moment I am busy with the 'Mayday' album, which
was released on 7th October. We started the tour last night in Sheffield
- it went well.
The album was recorded back in 1998 in Manchester at Saucy Soaps Studio. It
was originally just available through the website, but due to demand it has
now had an official release.All the tracks have been remastered. It is partly
a reflection. It includes a preview from the album of 'The Big Sleep'. I like
to think of the album as grown-up. The line-up on Mayday is different to the
musicians touring, who are different to the last tour. It is similar to a jazz-band,
people come and go. It is whoever is available for the current project. It
is good to infuse new blood. I worked with the bassist 5-6 years ago and the
drummer is only 19!. It is a four piece on the album and 3 piece touring. One
of the main reasons I left the Stranglers was to be more flexible - it suits
me better.
With the tour we are also previewing some new tracks, which are likely to appear
on the next album. They are just at the acoustic stage. We are also doing more
Stranglers songs than ever in the live set.
You started your tour last night, how did it go? In your
long career, which gigs, spring to mind as the most memorable?
You always feel hesitation and intrepidation before the
first tour date, wondering at the reception, how the new set will go down
etc.
There has been many, many memorable shows. One that springs to mind was the
Stranglers supporting 'The Who' at Wembly Stadium. Another was a festival in
Switzerland which I did after leaving the band. It was on top of a mountain,
and all around there was a totally awesome view. The strangest gig has to have
been in France. We (the Stranglers) played at a 24-hour bike race. The bikes
were doing the circuit as we played. All you could here were the bikes engines'.
I see that you featured in 'Never Mind The Horlicks' on BBC2
in July and over the last 12 months you have been in mainstream publications
such as Mojo and Q - do you feel like a freak who is wheeled out on special
occasion or that there is a general interest in this genre of music again?
Is it still relevant today?
Like everyone I was expecting a renewed interest this
year with it being 25 years of punk. It is not just this year when such publications
have been interested. The longer your career in music the more areas you
fit into. I sometimes get approached when people are researching the mid
70s, before punk hit. Again I sometimes get asked about the 80's and 90's
which I think is great. I wouldn't continue if it was not challenging. I
will continue creating interesting music, and not rehashing the past.
You can see the effect of punk on culture more and more as the years go on.
You can see the influence everywhere in TV, film making etc. There has not
been another musical force since punk, you cannot really count Brit pop. Until
there is something new the interest will remain.
What have been your main musical influences, and which bands
can you hear your influence in?
My Dad was a huge classical music fan so a grew up surrounded
by that. My older brother, who I shared a bedroom with was a big Jazz fan,
so that was around me all the time. And my other brother was into Cream and
Hendrix. It was the Beatles happening when I was growing up n the 60's.
I can hear the Stranglers sound in Elastica. I approached Justine to duet 'Golden
Brown' with me, but sadly she declined.
What is the best and worst Hugh Cornwall / Strangers cover
you have heard, and who would you feel privileged to cover one of your songs?
I have heard some really bad Golden Brown covers. But
the best I have heard was also a Golden Brown cover by Omar. It is really
beautiful. I wrote and submitted a song for the latest Bond movie. The track
is 'Hola Cadiz'. It would have been sung by Madonna which would have been
amazing.
Tell me about how Sons Of Shiva came about and how do you
find this different to your solo work, different to Stranglers?
Again the Sons Of Shiva album was only originally available
over the net. Because of popularity it has now been released officially.
I was approached by 'We Love You' Record label who have really eclectic tastes.
They put together the poet Sex W Johnston, me, Chris Goulstone and the sculpturer
Barry Flanagan. I provided the music. This came out with a £50.00 art
book!
Sons Of Shiva started as a side project, which I really enjoy. I met the poet
after recording one song, and then wrote the rest of the music on my pc in
the studio. I picked the music that best went with each poem. Myself and the
producer Chris put it all together at Chris's studio. We got the idea of having
a sphinx like cat on the cover from Chris's cat. The cat would come and listen
in the studio each day (it is not Chris's cat on the cover).
We may do another album, possibly 'Return To The Sons Of Shiva'. We played
live four weeks ago with a bassist and drummer and Chris on Keyboards.
Do you prefer to play live or studio work and has it always
been this way?
When I was in the Stranglers I preferred studio work,
these days I prefer the live stuff. Writing is becoming easier and easier.
It is like falling off a log. The studio is not as challenging as playing
live.
With the Stranglers and yourself touring at more or less the same time, would
you ever to appear on a bill with them and who would headline and why?
I would happily appear on the same bill as the Stranglers.
Four years ago we were asked to appear on the same bill at a European weekend
festival. They were headlining. The promoters wanted to put me on another
day, which fine by me. But sadly the Stranglers said they would pull if it
were to happen. So I never played.
Tell the readers 5 facts about yourself that they will not
know?
1) I listen to a lot of classical music
2) I love going from a sauna into a plunge pool
3) Spanish food is my favourite
4) I admire the author Philip K Dick
5) I love films
Plans, gigs and releases planned for 2002/03.
There is the tour. We Italy and Croatia at the end of
the year. I would love to play South America and the far East - so offers
welcome. There is a new album planned, plus a film and autobiography for
next year. And possibly more Sons of Shiva.
Any final comments?
Thank you, it has been very pleasant. If we tour the far
east, you must come with us as the journalist and cover the tour.
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