Tony is a recording engineer who has experienced what it is like to work in not only his own studio, but also in many others, including major studios, such as Sawmills & Abbey Road. He is also a producer, songwriter, singer, guitarist and a band leader.
Besides his well placed passion for art, he has pursued his musical career with the experience and pedigree of a winner. His ability to change genres and switch effortlessly from his much beloved Rickenbacker guitars to a Telecaster really becomes apparent in his new recorded work. If you were a fan of his earlier work with the Rampant Carnivores take heart, this new body of work is amazing. It’s almost like it was a transition that is so logical that it had been planned. Had it been planned or was it just a series of events that lead to this radical departure from his earlier sound? Let’s find out for ourselves.
The Great British Blues Band
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Tony I am honored that you have allowed me to interview you for It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll and the Rickresource forum. So let’s get started.
The “Carnivores” obviously came to an end. How did you decide what to do next?
Tony
Eric, our bass player, decided that it was time to leave the Carnivores because of other commitments & all though he was prepared to continue until we found another bassist, I thought that this was a great opportunity to consider what I wanted to do musically. Ironically, I had decided to record a solo blues album about 6 months before & had all ready started the writing, so this was the perfect chance to go back to my roots.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
The Great British Blues Band is obviously a blues band. What caused you to focus on that particular genre and how did you find such great players to play with.
Tony
All I wanted to do when I was a kid, was to be a bass player. I had numerous odd basses & then in ’76 I bought a Precision, followed in ’78 by my dream bass…a Rickenbacker 4001JG. I’ve used Ric basses ever since. As time went on, I realised that as a writer, the guitar was more suitable, so I bought a Telecaster, which was to remain my sole type of guitar for around 17 years or so. I was soloing in scales that I had learned from somewhere or other & found that they really didn’t fit in with contemporary music at the time & so I considered myself a very poor player. I then heard a Roy Buchannon album & all though infinitely superior to me in EVERY way, I recognized a lot of the riffs from my own playing & it was only then that I realized that I had learned quite by accident, a very blues orientated style of playing. Over the years, I have deliberately stuck doggedly to my style, despite the fact that it often didn’t quite ‘fit’ with other types of music, because I didn’t want to dilute what I was. In the past, I have had blues bands, but you do tend to gravitate towards rock, hence the Rampant Carnivores. With this background, it was easy to return to the blues after the Carnivores.
I asked Kit, the Carnivores drummer, what he thought & he was very keen indeed to give it a go (& is a natural blues drummer). I have known & played with Vicki for many years, so I approached her about taking on the keyboard parts. All though she knew little about the blues, she was also keen to be part of the project. We advertised for a bass player, but couldn’t find one that we liked, so Vicki now plays bass with her left hand & Hammond with her right. It really does sound very good indeed & I’ve never been happier with a band.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Tony when you write a song how do you hear it in your head? Is it just a concept of say, melody, chord and rhythm patterns or are you more like Beethoven and actually hear all of the parts as a montage of sounds?
Tony
I usually write in one of two ways….either totally in my head, or by sitting down with a gtr & finding a riff, which I then expand. I always hear it complete in my head, with all the parts…whichever way I write.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Do you approach the arrangements for your music from a musicians point of view or more from a producer or recording engineers point of view?
Tony
A bit of each. The core of the song is arranged as a musician, but then the producer in me takes over to add the stereo interest & ‘arty’ parts. With the Carnivores, it was not unusual to have a dozen or so gtr parts, but I try to keep it a lot simpler for the GBBB. I really think it’s important to have interesting arrangements….many of mine have ‘hidden’ parts, that are really only accessible to the attentive repeat listener. Just my way of offering the enthusiast a little extra.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Does the band provide you with input to what the final mix recorded work should sound like?
Tony
No…I am solely responsible for the final result. My band is not a democracy & this works extremely well. We are all proud of each other & the band & we all have our jobs within the band, but when it comes down to it, the band was formed around my writing, style of playing & voice, so it’s my call. No one has any issues with this what so ever. There is great pride to be had by being part of a professional band & we are all very much of the opinion that the overall performance of the band is far more important than an individual performance. I hope that even though the band is centered on me, my production skills allow me to showcase a band playing as a unit & not just a guitarist with a backing band, as this is very much our belief within the band. After all, you’re only as strong as your weakest member!
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Do you ever find yourself in conflict when the musicians want to explore a musical direction and the producer/engineer in you wants to capture what you know will sell? How would you resolve a situation like that?
Tony
Never in the GBBB. We discuss certain aspects of live arrangement quite often, as we are reproducing album arrangements that are more complicated than the three of us can provide live. But frankly, Kit & Vicki are so good, that the solution quickly becomes obvious.
With regard to clients projects, where I am acting as a producer in the studio, then there are often times when our opinions differ. Most of the time, it involves all the things that make songs difficult to listen to (genre specifics excepted)…long intros, long solos, long verses, poor song arrangement, ‘dated’ sounds etc. However, when I have explained & justified my opinion, then 99% of the time, I am allowed to correct it. At the end of the day, we are all working together to get the very best product, as the artiste wants a competitive & professional product to put his name to…& so do I. It’s all about dialogue & understanding. I am not an oracle & don’t know it all, but I can offer my experience & frankly, that seems to do the job most of the time.….but I have learned to think carefully before I advise, as sometimes, even the most inexperienced client is right & can come up with something that you hadn’t thought of.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Tell us about your first experience at Abbey Road Studios? Were you in awe of your surroundings and its rich history?
Tony
Sorry about this, but no, not really. The first time I went up, it was as a producer for a client that wanted top quality mastering. I made up a short list of mastering houses & Abbey Road was the studio of choice. The client was a Beatles fan, so we had a tour of the facility by Nick, our mastering engineer & then got down to business. I had a job to do in a facility that was costing my client a small fortune, so I was under a little bit of self inflicted pressure. I had committed my client to a costly mastering session, with a mastering engineer that I didn’t know, in a studio that I had never been to & using reference monitors that where totally unknown to me….it could have been a disaster! But it wasn’t!!! Nick Webb was fantastic to work with & we hit it off immediately & the reference monitors were the best & most natural sounding monitors I had ever heard (mind you, at £20.000 the pair, they should be!). We came back with a world class job & everyone was happy….not cheap, but worth every penny.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
What is your fondest memory of Abbey Road Studios?
Tony
Without doubt, it is the friendship of Nick Webb. Over a period of time, we became good friends (he even played a cameo part on a Carnivores song). He is a wonderful chap, not only a great mastering engineer, but also has fantastic people skills & a great sense of humour. He has recently retired & has moved to my neck of the woods, in Cornwall. Hopefully, we’ll get to see each other a lot more socially now.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Tony, what have you learned from your experiences with your previous bands that you have used to make your current band better in all respects?
Tony
Probably the biggest thing I’ve learned is tolerance, but also a refusal to compromise. I’m quite a hard task master I admit, but I genuinely respect the members of my band as great musicians & I hope I let them know this. A mutual respect is pretty essential in any band & I’ve learned not to make do. Now, nobody gets in my band if I don’t think that they are 100% compatible, both musically & socially. It only leads to heartache if you choose musicians because of lack of choice…my advice is make do with what you have until the right person comes along. You’ll be surprised at what you can do….Vicki’s left hand bass is a prime example. I know what you bassists are thinking, but as a bassist myself, I am astounded at the great sound we get using this method & even bass players who come to watch us have to admit that you don’t miss the bass!
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Who manages your band? I am talking about the high level decisions not the day to day, we have to find a way and a strategy to get from point A to B for a gig sort of decisions.
Tony
We have no outright manager at the moment. Dai Hardee looks after us at local level & is what I term a Personal manager. He gets us local gigs, but also liaises with bookers, promoters & looks after our personal needs (beer etc:-0). He is great at this, as he has a friendly personality & is very patient, so gets on well with bookers & the like. We have a promoter based in the home counties that looks after us nationally, but is not a management company. When the right management comes along, we’ll no doubt do a deal, but only if it’s right.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
This is becoming a bit of a stock question in my more recent interviews Tony, where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
Tony
In many ways, a musical career is in the hands of others, unless you do all the leg work. That’s a full time job in itself & the question really is how much time I want to spend by finding the right people to take the band forward. This question will be answered more fully four questions down the line!
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Tell me all about your band mates. Who are they what do they play, where did they gain their experience?
Tony
I touched on this earlier. Kit is our drummer & I found him with an advert in a local shop window. The Carnivores previous drummer broke his hand in a car accident, which had problems healing, so we mutually decided to look for another. I very nearly turned Kit down, as he was only 19 & with all respect to young musicians, they very often lack the experience to join a pro band. Am I glad I didn’t, as he has blossomed into a truly superb drummer & is an absolute natural blues player. A really great personality....loyal, conscientious & an all round good egg.
I’ve known Vicki for many years. She used my studio on one occasion & I liked her voice so much, that I used her on a clients album that I was working on at the time. I then used her as a session singer on several albums, before I found out she was a keyboard player too. We hooked up & performed as a duo for a couple of years, but finished when I started the Carnivores. We kept in touch though & when I decided to go back to the blues, she was my first call. Again, so glad it was, as she is also incredibly conscientious, a great person to be around, with a terrific sense of humour. Both Kit & Vicki are a real asset to me & I couldn’t want better band members & friends.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
If you had an unlimited budget for recording and promoting your band, what would you do that is different from what you are doing now?
Tony
I would record somewhere else. I can handle playing & producing, but the actual engineering is a pain. I’d much rather hand that over & concentrate on everything else. With regards to promotion, I suppose that with a large budget, you could hand the photos/printing & publicity over to a company that specializes in that sort of thing. Again, it would take a big chunk of time & worry off of my shoulders.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Tony you have placed your music on your website. How else are you planning on marketing your product?
Tony
When the album is finished, I will then look at how to promote it. In reality, your management should help deal with that, so I suppose the first step is to use the finished album to attract a decent management company.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
A while back you were ready to push music into the background and become and artist. Do you still have thoughts along those lines or have you settled on a course that will keep you in the music business?
Tony
A good question, that I am very much mulling over at the moment. Many forumites are aware that I have had a pretty tumultuous past 18 months or so, during which time things haven’t exactly gone my way. The loss of the Carnivores meant ridiculous amounts of work bringing a new band together & all that that entails. As a result, I pretty much ignored everything else, including my painting & my studio. In hindsight, this was pretty stupid, as my art was going in an incredibly positive direction & now I have lost the contacts & the impetus. Being entirely truthful, I have known for sometime now that my art is my future. I am not the greatest artist in the world, but I have sold every painting I have ever painted, have featured in magazines & have been interviewed by major fine art publishers….it’s really only a question of time before I have to make THE decision, so I have to act now to protect the future of the GBBB. I have all ready taken steps to concentrate more fully on my painting & there is a very real possibility that I will stop my studio work & sell my personal facility. I have to decide now, as to how much time I will spend on promoting the band further & will meet with my two current promoters to discuss this. There is no question of the band finishing, as I have never enjoyed my playing as much as I do now, but it is more a question of shifting responsibility to allow me time to pursue my painting career. If I don’t make extra time, then I could lose it all, so it is vital that I find someone to take the day to day running of the band away from me. If I lose the studio & the general running of the band, then I will have the time I need to concentrate on my playing & on my painting. If I can’t find someone…..well?? This is not a new dilemma for me, as I have sold my studio twice in the last three years, with view to doing this very thing, but my procrastination has now resulted in a real urgency that has to be addressed. Sorry if this is getting too personal, but this question has come at a very decisive time…..& you did ask!
In short…in five to ten years time, I would like to be painting & playing, but not engineering or responsible for running the band!
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Who has been your biggest influence?
Tony
Another good question, but I don’t really have an answer. I’ve never really needed influences, as I am such a perfectionist, that I have always strived to be better than I can possibly be. I have driven myself to the point of spoiling the moment & am never fully satisfied with what I do….always trying to achieve the next stage. A shame really, as it has genuinely taken the shine off of what should have been good times. I am actually confident in my product, whether it be music or paintings, but it doesn’t stop me looking at the flaws & not the bigger picture…as a result, I find the business of self promotion torturous.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Speaking from the vantage point of a blues guitarist who is your favorite guitar player and why?
Tony
I have lots of favourites, Roy Buchannon, Buddy Guy, BB King, but my two very favourites are Albert King & Robert Cray. Albert because he just drips blues from every crevice (am I aloud to say that?) & Robert because of his all round strength. A great player, strong songwriter, sound, lyrics…everything, especially his voice. I love his guitar technique.
The player that has had the most impact on me from a live perspective is Freddie King. I have a live album & it is one of the most exciting albums to listen to ever…you’re almost breathless. He really knew how to construct a set & work an audience. Brilliant stuff & it taught me a lot when putting together our own set.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
What advice do you have for those who want to become a successful musician?
Tony
If by successful, you mean earn your living from it, then that’s a toughy. Selling out is one way (nothing wrong with that), but if you don’t want to do that, then just be the very best that you can. Bookers really appreciate professionalism & I suppose we get gigs in places that don’t normally have blues acts because of that. I was told once that coming to see the band was like seeing a big act, but in your local area….which was nice. A decent front man that’s able to relate to the audience, a well constructed set, good song joins with tight intros & outros…basic professional standards that are all too often overlooked by many a band. A good attitude when dealing with audiences & bookers is essential, but above all of this, look for a good promoter or entertainment agency.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Where can we listen to and then go to buy your music?
Tony
At this moment, the only place you can hear our music is at our myspace site http://www.myspace.com/thegreatbritishbluesband. We have a 7 song EP available, but only from gigs or the website. When the album is finished, we will be looking for a distributor & then it will be more widely available, but that’s at least two months or more away yet.
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Tony on behalf of It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll and The Rickresource forum I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to participate in this most enjoyable interview.
Tony
You are more than welcome.
