Clive Gregson was the leader of Any Trouble (signed to Stiff in the ‘80s) and went on to join Richard and Linda Thompson’s band, team up with Christine Collister, release over 20 solo albums and spend 15 years in Nashville working as a session musician and producer. His new group the Guilty Men have an album out soon called Invisible Confetti. Here he digs out a few old records and remembers …
… buying Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Hollies and Hendrix singles in record shops in Ashton Under Lyne.
… the launch of Any Trouble - “three good-looking blokes from Crewe fronted by their dweeb uncle”.
…when school bands had names like Blazé Vole and Dali and guitarists wore a Pete Townshend white boiler suit.
… “if you think of yourself as a guitar player, don’t stand next to Richard Thompson.”
… working with John Wood, the only man present at all three Nick Drake sessions.
… skinny ties, houndstooth suits and “why we were totally the wrong band to be signed to Stiff”.
… meeting the man whose band he stole and who’d never forgiven him.
… the five ‘60s British Invasion bands who all had to change drummers to succeed.
… “tell people you’re going to retire and you suddenly become very popular”.
… why there’s no gig circuit in Nashville.
… the Stiff Tour of American with Tenpole Tudor, Dirty Looks and Joe “King” Carrasco.
… pub circuit days playing Springsteen, Little Feat and Band covers.
… how not to make “a complete Horlicks" of recording Nick Drake’s Northern Sky.
… Wakefield Town Hall, location of “the worst gig ever”.
… why Benny and Bjorn suddenly dropped him like a hot brick.
… recording eight albums in Lockdown.
… his new band - surely ‘supergroup’?! - formed with members of Barclay James Harvest, the Mindbenders and 10cc.
This also includes a live performance of Bobby Shafto as learnt from Bert Weedon’s ‘Play In A Day’.
All information about the Guilty Men and upcoming album here:
theguiltymen.c...
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3 окт 2024
