ON TRACK: STEVE HARLEY ANSWERS TOTAL MK'S QUESTIONS AHEAD OF STABLES RETURN
Steve Harley returns to The Stables on Sunday (October 12) with his A Closer Look - An Acoustic Set. It's a certified winner with fans as it utilises material from each of Steve's 13 albums.
Those taking up tickets will engage with favourites including Mr Soft, Judy Teen and, of course, Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me), but will also be treated to recent material from releases The Quality of Mercy and Stranger Comes to Town.
Steve tackled our On Track teasers...
The song that first awakened your musical senses
There was always music playing at home in the 50s and 60s.
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
I don't have an iPod or MP3 player, so CDs fill the car and my study with all the music I want to hear.
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
I was paid £15 to cover for David Bowie at Beckenham Arts Lab, in the Three Tuns pub, one Sunday night in 1972. It seemed like a lot of money, but mostly there was the thrill of hearing applause for my original songs. Been playing live ever since.
Your best on stage memory...
Royal Albert Hall in July this year. 3,500 stood and sang the refrain to "Tumbling Down" without any urgings. It was a fabulous sight - but, over 42 years of playing around much of the world, there have been many unforgettable moments (give me a minute, I'll try to think of some…!!!)
And the worst gig you've ever done
No gig is bad, really, only some places. But we avoid the less salubrious joints these days. I'm no youth; creature comforts come into the deal these days.
What made you take up the guitar
I desperately wanted to be stand in front of the mirror and actually play, rather than adopt the air-guitar stance. My best friend throughout primary and Grammar school, Ron Jay, was a pianist, and his older brother, Martin, played guitar, so they taught me the rudiments and then I was off on a never-ending life of song-writing. I was writing songs and singing in folk clubs even while I was a newspaper reporter from '68 to '72.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you'd have written
I wish I could claim "No Regrets". But do listen to the original, by the genius writer Tom Rush.
The story is heart-breaking, the poetry sublime. "I know you're leaving; it's long over-due…"
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
"A Friend For Life" - it hits the button full on. Each word feels like I care, really care about what the narrator wants to get across.
And many have told us that they have used it as "their song," at their wedding or anniversary. Aaahh!
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
I would want to play piano like Liszt; write like Dylan and dance like Michael Jackson, so it would need to be a composite. Is that allowed?
Are there any current musical influences that you might look to?
My current influences tend to be the old ones - so not really current at all. I listen to Joni Mitchell when I want poetry to interesting chords, The Beatles when I need reassurance that two guys like Lennon and McCartney really did meet and even brought the great George on side. They say miracles only happen in the Bible, but, hey…..
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
Cheap school kid rap is a big turn-off. Heavy-metal doesn't do much for me. But all music is good, because it pleases and entertains someone, somewhere.
Finally, plug your forthcoming dates
The Stables, AGAIN! The best small theatre in Europe to my knowledge, and I've played hundreds.
Keep up to date with all things Steve at www.steveharley.com
Your best on stage memory...
Royal Albert Hall in July this year. 3,500 stood and sang the refrain to "Tumbling Down" without any urgings. It was a fabulous sight - but, over 42 years of playing around much of the world, there have been many unforgettable moments (give me a minute, I'll try to think of some…!!!)
And the worst gig you've ever done
No gig is bad, really, only some places. But we avoid the less salubrious joints these days. I'm no youth; creature comforts come into the deal these days.
What made you take up the guitar
I desperately wanted to be stand in front of the mirror and actually play, rather than adopt the air-guitar stance. My best friend throughout primary and Grammar school, Ron Jay, was a pianist, and his older brother, Martin, played guitar, so they taught me the rudiments and then I was off on a never-ending life of song-writing. I was writing songs and singing in folk clubs even while I was a newspaper reporter from '68 to '72.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you'd have written
I wish I could claim "No Regrets". But do listen to the original, by the genius writer Tom Rush.
The story is heart-breaking, the poetry sublime. "I know you're leaving; it's long over-due…"
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
"A Friend For Life" - it hits the button full on. Each word feels like I care, really care about what the narrator wants to get across.
And many have told us that they have used it as "their song," at their wedding or anniversary. Aaahh!
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
I would want to play piano like Liszt; write like Dylan and dance like Michael Jackson, so it would need to be a composite. Is that allowed?
Are there any current musical influences that you might look to?
My current influences tend to be the old ones - so not really current at all. I listen to Joni Mitchell when I want poetry to interesting chords, The Beatles when I need reassurance that two guys like Lennon and McCartney really did meet and even brought the great George on side. They say miracles only happen in the Bible, but, hey…..
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
Cheap school kid rap is a big turn-off. Heavy-metal doesn't do much for me. But all music is good, because it pleases and entertains someone, somewhere.
Finally, plug your forthcoming dates
The Stables, AGAIN! The best small theatre in Europe to my knowledge, and I've played hundreds.
Keep up to date with all things Steve at www.steveharley.com
