Rock N Roll is here to stay, dig it til the end! The key to any good rock song is the Guitar everybody learned that when Chuck Berry came on the scene.
Most notable he was guitarist for Tears For Fears & played the iconic guitar solo on Everybody Wants To Rule The world. He was involved on the albums ‘Songs From The Bg Chair & Sowing The Seeds Of Love. Neil has had an illustrious career and went on to work with Robbie Williams for ten years. Recording the guitars on the big hits such as the solo on Rock DJ..Love Supreme.. Feel..Come Undone. Others he has shared the stage on tour and recording studio with are Tina Turner [Steamy Windows] Morrissey [Last Of The Famous International Playboys] Natalie Imbruglia, James Morrison [Undiscovered] Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, Jane Wiedlin [Rush Hour] Lisa Marie Presley, Heather Nova, Naked Eyes, Climie Fisher [Love Changes Everything] Van Morrison, Paul Young [Don’t Dream It’s Over] Holly Johnson [Love Train] to name a few..Working with all these iconic artist you can only imagine Neil has some amazing stories to tell. Now on his own…
Releasing his own solo guitarist singer/songwriter material since 2011, His latest single Unbroken is out now!
New Album Come Out of the Silence is out now!
We caught up with Neil as he talked about the single Unbroken and more!
How has the release of Unbroken gone down so far?
It’s tough anytime you release something as your own label..Manager..Musician…Artist. Wearing all these hats is a daunting task. So far in the UK its had 50 plays on Coast 1079 which is a good start..Some of the BBC stations are starting to play it but as far as the big stations…Nothing to my knowledge. Austria has started to play it as they did with my previous single Paper Kite..Also Germany.
This is your first solo material since in 2013, how long did it actually take to produce?
My songwriting partner Steve Torch died in 2013 which hurt a lot & i was trying to find my way with writing lyrics once again..It took me a while but i’m very happy with the 2 songs i completely wrote single handedly on the new album. We All Hurt Inside & Fly Butterfly. All as i answered in previous question..It’s a daunting prospect to release a new album on your own..I kept putting it off.
Can you tell us something about the single no one else knows?
It’a about my dad..He died over 16 years ago & it still feel raw sometimes..It’s about the kind of love that can’t be broken..It’s unbreakable.
Will you be releasing anything more in 2019?
Yes maybe..I’m thinking of writing more of a blues album..Im not the worlds greatest blues player but that don’t seem to stop guitarists releasing a blues album. It won’t be twelve bar blues as I’ve never really liked that stuff apart from Status Quo & i’ve never studied how to play it.It will be a more English hard rock blues with my own twist.
If you could work with any other band on a single, who would it be and why?
I would love to play with Status Quo purely for the fact they were my main influence for picking up a guitar.
What’s it like playing solo rather than be apart of Tears For Fears.
The hotels aren’t as nice..The shows are much smaller..i don’t get paid as much & It’s a struggle but i’m happy i’m doing it.
What do you get up to in your spare time when not working on music?
I’m always working on music..It’s my passion..hobby & leisure time. I write a lot of production music for CHR [Chapel Of Rock in the UK] Go on the occasional holiday but i can’t relax. I always feel i should be working. I find it hard to switch off.
Will you be touring at all in 2019?
Just finished a tour of Austria with my band. Looking at a few other options now..When & where i can fit things in etc. Wish i had a good manager. Ha ha