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MM - I have
to start by asking you where you call home and do you secretly have some
Romany blood in you? 2004 definitely seems to have been the year of the
UK, with 2 extensive tours under your belt and another one on the way
for Christmas.
AB - I live in New York City near Times
Square on 44th street & 10th.
MM - Do you ever get tired of living out
of a suitcase for long periods of time or do you enjoy moving around
from town to town, country to country, meeting your fans and just doing
your own thing?
AB - I play music, lately I've been
playing a lot & I guess you could say that I'm happiest when I wake
up & know I've got a gig to play that night.
MM - You’ve just completed your ‘Get
Animal 2004’ tour. How did it go overall?
AB - It's not over yet, I've got 18
more UK electric shows & 4 shows in Italy, 4 in Spain & off for
the Xmas Acoustic tour.
MM - Do you find you are still winning
new fans over with each tour as more and more people get to see your
live performances?
AB - Of course, anybody in earshot of
my guitar gets infected.
MM - Do you find all this traveling
around and meeting new people inspiring to you as a song writer?
AB - It might when I decide to record
another album, I only write when I have to make an album.
MM - The band released their latest album ‘Boneyard’ a few months
ago. What made you decide to release a compilation and how has it
been received by the fans and media?
AB - Most people haven't heard
my songs, I though Boneyard might be a chance for people to hear my
work, I don't know how it has been received but I sold all the copies I
had on tour so that's a good sign.
MM - The band signed up to Z Records
here in England for the release of ‘Boneyard’. How did you
come to hook up with this particular label and was it solely for that
one album or for a longer term relationship?
AB - It's a one off deal, The guy Mark
contacted about doing a show and suggested we put out a comp album to
help promote my tour in the UK & get to radio.
MM - September saw you perform at the Z Rocks Festival in Liverpool
alongside such artists as Jeff Pilson and Mitch Malloy. How did
you enjoy the festival?
AB - It was fun, but we've done
over 150 shows in the UK in the space of a year, I look at the whole
tour or tours, not just one show.
MM - You’re currently putting together the dates for your Christmas
tour. I believe it’s to be a semi-acoustic tour? What can
your fans expect from the Christmas shows?
AB - Some really cool rope lights &
lot of the songs from Acoustica, NY Times & Grave New World albums,
some cool covers as well.
MM - You changed drummers between the
‘Get Animal 2004’ tour and the earlier ‘Third World Roar 2004’
tour. What happened there?
AB - I wanted to shake things up a bit,
there was too much Spanish being spoken in my tour bus & it did my
head in, so I sacked the drummer & got an American.
MM - Two of the big talking points of
your shows, other than the music and actual performance, are the
fireworks and the ‘flaming guitar’. They’re always very
exciting to watch but have you ever had any accidents and set anything,
or anyone on fire before during your act?
AB - No, I'm extremely careful & we
are very concerned about the safety of everyone. Once I used to
use these flame throwing flash guns but I kept checking them to see if
they were loaded & they would go off in my face. After about the 3rd
time I stopped using them, this was years ago.
MM - Another thing that has always impressed me
is that you actually take the time to ‘dress’ the stage before you
go on with rope lights and stuff. It really does create a bit of
excitement and atmosphere at the shows. It’s a shame more bands
don’t make a bit more effort.
This year alone I have seen you perform 2 gigs on each of the tours
you’ve done. I have to say it was great to watch the under
18’s really digging your music at the recent gig at Bradford Rio’s.
Do you get much chance to listen to other bands and if so are there any
you’re really digging at the moment?
AB - I
listen to whatever is on TV or Radio & I like bands with really good
guitar players or really cool singers
MM - Earlier this year you visited the
Marshall factory in Milton Keynes and met Mr Marshall himself!
What was that like?
AB - It was an honour to bring my
babies back home. There's a little bit on my web site about it
MM - You’ve led quite an extreme life
with lots of highs and lows. During this time have you ever felt
like giving up on the music and turning your back on it all, or do you
find inner peace through your musical creations?
AB - I like to listen to my albums when
I finish them, that's a good feeling, another then that I'm just a
working guitar player. It's just what I do & I do it very well. If
you're going to do something in your life, you should try to do what you
do best.
MM - A number of years ago you wrote a
book called “The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly On My Brain” about the
rebirth of your musical career during your time in Spain. Do you
still have the manuscript and do you think you’ll ever go as far as to
publish it?
AB - Yes I have it & there's a lot
dirt in it, some people in Spain could get arrested or police problems
if it wasn't edited. I may publish this book if a publisher was
interested.
MM - Never one to seemingly rest on your
laurels, what do you have planned for 2005?
AB - I just might pack it in & rest
on my laurels, I'll probably do 200 shows & a new record, I'll
figure that one out when I get to Italy & have a few days to think
it over.
MM - Finally, is there anything you’d
like to say to all your fans out there?
AB - I'd love for you to come to show
& say hello.
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