Part 2  (August 2002)

OK, Martin's had a couple of days to get settled with his new baby, and he's been good enough to sit in the comfy chair and face the Spanish Inquistion yet again. He didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.... because as you well know ...... oh never mind.

OK Martin...... what was your most recent UFO/Schenker gig? And what was your favourite Schenker gig? The most recent Schenker gig where I tried to see him was at the Astoria in London in 2000 on the Covenant Tour. Of course we all know about the events in Manchester that put paid to that, but I have waited 18 years to see some bands play again in the UK, so I'm hopeful for 2003 to see Michael and the boys back in Town. I'm keeping the faith. Favourite gig? ............... mmmmm difficult that, but I guess the show that was filmed at the Hammersmith Odeon on the 'Built to Destroy' tour. I was there, and I still have the VHS cassette!

What is it about the way he plays? Can YOU put it into words? I just love the very clean way that Michael plays. Its very melodic. No need for huge amounts of effects. Yeh.... wonderful, isn't it.

What were your thoughts about Manchester? And Donington? I wasn't at either gig, and I don't feel qualified to judge anybody. But to have Michael the way he is, I guess you have to accept him, warts an' all. Isn't that what 'Rock an' Roll' is all about tho?

Yeh.... that's what I love about it. I love the close-to-the-edgness of it, and the way it's true blood-and-guts reality, not manufactured or stage-managed by puppeteers.

What is the Schenker choon that most makes you go all wibblywobbly? Trying to pinpoint just one is almost impossible. But 'Love to Love' has
always been a big favourite. Yeh, mine too! Can you play it? If some kind soul would please tab it then I would certainly try to learn it (hint hint!). I think someone in SITN will gladly do that for ya - it's the least we can do!

What was the first choon that you tried to play when you got the guitar? And did it sound as good as it always has when you've air-guitared it for the last 25 years, hahahaha. Armed and Ready ............... and it certainly was still Armed and still Ready!

Does it feel like sacrilege to be playing it at all? A little naughty, yes. But I'll just keep the action warm. It's certainly better than the thing ending up hanging on wall in a museum or in a Hard Rock Cafe somewhere. Yes!!! Definitely!

How did it feel to play Schenker choons on it? Did you pretend you were him? Did you tuck it into your thigh like he does, and keep your head down? Did the imaginary crowd clap and cheer? Yehhhh...........wonderful when that happens, aint it. MSG/UFO stuff is certainly the material that should be played on it. Playing 'Happy Birthday' on it, is out of the question! The guitar shape kind of dictates the way you hold and stand with it ...... certainly gives me a case of backache! Hehehe I'm a bit old to pretend to be Michael ...... but when I was younger, well...... Yeh.. me too ! Even now, sometimes, when no-one's looking......

I bet you can't even think of playing non-Schenker stuff on it, can you? (Bert Weedon's 'Play In A Day' version of Little Brown Jug, for instance?) I have my trusty Strat to play all the other stuff on, like 'Chairlift to Heaven'

Hahahahahahah. Are you (or were you) in a band? If so, tell us about it. I've never played in a band properly, Jammed with people on occasion. Unfortunately work eats up a lot of my time.

Have you ever written your own songs? If so, are you a poet with words, or a poet with music? Or a poet with drums, hahahaha. Again, I've never had the time to sit down and do that kind of thing. Maybe 'I'm a poet and I didn't even know it'. Maybe indeed! Who knows what will happen now you have that thing!

OK, well, now it's time to talk about amps'n'valves and stuff, and I'm gonna let you just ramble on and on cos I'm completely out of my depth.
So.... What other guitars do you own or have you owned? Why? What amps/valves/strings and all that stuff do you prefer? What was the best tone you ever got? How? Using what? Blahblahbalh.

I started playing on a classical guitar and didn't really get on with that, so I switched to electric (no pun intended) I just had a black Les Paul copy to really wind the neighbours up with. I've had a Fender Strat for quite a while now and I've always had Marshall amps .......... I guess watching all those bands in the 80's with their wall of Marshall's influences you a bit I'm not snobby about strings and stuff - I just use whatever comes to hand when I need to buy things. As long as it's close enough that'll do me! But I will be keeping the V 'as is'. I'll keep the strings and PU's the same, and I'll get a local techie to give the internals a tweak to keep it in tip top condition.

John Norum once sat with me till 4 in the morning, explaining all about tone and how to get it. He said it's all to do with your fingertips and how soft they are. Of course, this could have been a chat-up line he uses on all the gorgeous skinny young redheads, but it had a ring of truth about it. Do you have any strong feelings in support of this? Or any other ideas as to tone? Nope none at all, if it sounds good .... do it!

Rhythm. Is it all about keeping time? Or what? 'It certainly is, Stanley!'

OK, well that's quite enough about the ampy-valvey stuff. Now tell us all about tigers and why you love them. Also tell us about any other interests or things that you feel strongly about and which you want to tell us about - you've earned the right!
I'm a real wildlife supporter. I wish I could do more. But Tigers are my main interest. They are just amazing. And meeting two of them face to face was certainly a huge thrill, and a bit scary. I guess I'm a bit of a 'champion of the underdog'. I hate to see anybody or anything being mistreated or abused, life is too short for that kind of stuff! Respect seems to be the missing element in today's society.

Very true. You should see amount of lip I get from this SITN rabble.
But one of our better-behaved SITN fellas said to me yesterday 'Michael gave me his pick after a UFO show one night and I went home and played things I never dreamed I could play. I actually fell asleep holding my guitar and woke up with the pick still in my hand! If only the poor £%&*ed up bastard really knew what his music and those guitars mean to people like us! I can't imagine the mystical power housed in that wire and wood!' Do his feelings echo your own?

I think people can be 'inspired' to do amazing things they didn't think possible, on occassion. So yes I'd agree with that.

And is there one choon that sums up how you feel at the moment, as the owner of that 'wire and wood'. I'll hum it, you play it! 'Fanfare for the Common Man' .... that's me I guess, just a very lucky average geezer! Darlin, the last thing you are is 'average'. Not only do you have one of the greatest guitars known to mankind, but you also have an Access All Areas pass to our Strangers in The Night VIP club!
Life don't get much better than that!

Misty green and bloooooooooooooo-ooo-ooo-ooooo .... Love to love to love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu (I can't sing Fanfare for the Common Man, so you're gettin Love To Love instead, ok!)


Augist 2002