BLACK IS THE NEW BLUE - WHERE ARE THE MUSICIANS NOW?
Derek Austin, keyboard session musician extraordinaire, was a member of The Keef Hartley Band, Caravan and played with Linda Lewis’ band. His synth soloing is brilliantly savage on ‘Paradise Tonight’!
View photos and listen to and buy tracks Derek features on.
Jon Baker, aka Jon Banknote, is doing all sorts of smart musical things with Arve Henriksen, Andy Sheppard, GwIlym Simcock, Jon Hassell, KLF’s Bill Drummond and other luminaries, such as Orlando Gough, as well as bringing on his community-based music education and performance plot, The Voice Project: www.voiceproject.co.uk His Norwich-based band, The Neutrinos, have released two memorable albums of controlled violence and pelvic groove, and often gig in Berlin. Check out their rather fab website: www.neutrinos.co.uk
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Tony Beard’s drumming credits include Go West, Hall & Oates, and, currently, The Johnny Winter Band. During our recording sessions, he introduced me to the delights of veggie food at Manna in Primrose Hill. He drummed fabulously solidly on two more tracks from the original album sessions, ‘Fighting For Your Love’ & ‘Angry’. Sadly neither has found its way onto BITNB. (They’ll feature in From The Vaults in the foolness of thyme.) Tony & Mike Sheppard had a great understanding, which is clear on the way they drive ‘We All Need Someone To Die For’. What’s not too well known about Tony is that he played guitar on a Crosby, Stills & Nash live cover of one of his songs, ‘Straight Time’ on the ‘Live It Up’ album, and that he’s a genius Jimi Hendrix impersonator, often being asked to do solo Hendrix spots at gigs.
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Duncan Browne was a very close friend for a long time before his hideously early death from cancer in 1993. He was an inspirational bloke, a self-taught guitarist and a unique songwriter. ‘Criminal World’, which he co-wrote, was recorded by David Bowie on his ‘Let’s Dance’ album. (I name-check the song in my lyrics for ‘Alice’.) His solo at the end of ’I’ll See You In Heaven’ out-Jeff Becks my favourite guitarist, er, Jeff Beck! And as for his ultra-sensitive acoustic playing on ‘Dancing In The Rain’ (and his fine whistling at the end of the track) ... . Marvellous. (Many thanks to his lovely wife Lin for the photos.) Christ, DB and I used to hit it ... especially in local Greek tavernas. Ouch! Anyway, every time I walk down Westbourne Grove, I say hi to Duncan, because his spirit very much lives on. Please visit his excellent ‘tribute’ website, which features a rare video of him performing his outstanding song, ‘The Wild Places’: www.insyncnet.com/duncan
View photos and listen to and buy tracks Duncan features on.
Jenny Cairney is the sultry speaker during ‘Dancing In The Rain’. What a voice! Not surprising, as she’s the daughter of Scottish actor, writer and legendary raconteur, John Cairney. Jenny was running a wine bar in Notting Hill called ‘Russkies’ when I met her, which attracted a stupendously hard-drinking crew of Scottish musicians, such as the seriously talented guitarist-composer Alan Darby. Many times I found myself waking up on one of the floors upstairs from the bar in a shocking state, hello, ‘the morning after’, mine’s a double, squire, oh dear ...
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Kiki Dee needs no introduction from me. She sang BVs brilliantly with Linda, Coral and Dee on a couple of tracks, one of which is included, ‘Age Of Consent’. She’s still touring and giving her all with that instantly recognizable voice. How brilliant is that!
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Martin Ditcham is the master percussionist of our times. Having studied under Bernard Purdie, he’s drummed and played perc with countless stars, from Sade to Elton John, and was one of the founder members of the short-lived but never-to-be-forgotten modern jazz groove combo, Man Jumping. He now plays gigs on a regular basis with Chris Rea, Gilbert O’Sullivan and the owner of one of the most beautiful voices in the world – and no relation! - Mary Black. For more info about Martin, check out this link: www.mary-black.net/disco/musician/9.htm
View photos and listen to and buy tracks Martin features on.
