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Instead of just pasting the article about John Miles that I wrote for
the Derby Evening Telegraph, here's a full transcript of the interview I had
with him prior to the opening of the Dan Dare musical in 2003. I hope you find
it of interest.
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Andy Potter, June 2003 |
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John Miles - In
Conversation |
Andy
Potter: |
How are you doing? |
John
Miles: |
Im great, a bit knackered but okay |
Andy
Potter: |
Dan Dare where did the idea come from? |
John
Miles: |
It didnt actually come from me, but Tom Kelly who wrote the
script, hes a big Dan Dare fan since the Eagle comic days and he came to
me to ask if I wanted to do it. Wed worked together on Tom and Catherine,
and it was fun to work with him so I said yes. The next thing I knew was about
six months later when he dropped the script off at the door, and lots of copies
of the comics so that I could immerse myself in the stuff. I cant say
that the Eagle was my favourite comic though.
When I started to read
the script I immediately thought of sixties music and rock and roll, and Tom
had already written a few lyrics down that suggested the era straight
away. |
Andy
Potter: |
Was it down to you to write both music and lyrics then? |
John
Miles: |
No, Tom actually writes the lyrics and I edit them down into song
form |
Andy
Potter: |
So are musicals the way forward for you these days? |
John
Miles: |
I dont really know to be quite honest with you, but I enjoy
doing them because youre not sitting down with a blank piece of paper.
Youve got characters and story which means youve got a start.
Its an enjoyable writing exercise from that point of
view. |
Andy
Potter: |
Going back to the start of your career, where does the creative
process begin? |
John
Miles: |
Ive collaborated with a various lyric writers and stuff over
the years, but its many different things. Sometimes you get inspired by a
musical thought or a phrase that you hear somebody saying, if youre in a
working mode you take it from there. Otherwise you think you ought to write
something and then you do sit down and start with nothing. |
Andy
Potter: |
Are we going to get another album from you? |
John
Miles: |
Its possible. If I feel really inspired to do one, then I will
but I would have to be really happy with what I was writing, and that it was
great and that I should record it. |
Andy
Potter: |
When did it get to be that music was your life and career and not a
job; or is it still a job? |
John
Miles: |
If youre talking about touring then it still is a job, because
its like groundhog day, on the other hand, the creative process I still
enjoy it very much. Touring with Tina Turner it was like sixteen months on the
road, basically doing the same show, so you end up on automatic pilot.
Thats when I found golf, because it took my mind off it. It used to get
me out during the day and I wouldnt have to think about the show. Plus it
kept me out of the bars at night! |
Andy
Potter: |
How many times did you go around the world then? |
John
Miles: |
We did four or five tours with Tina, two with (Joe) Cocker, one with
Jimmy Paige, it was just a lot of stuff. |
Andy
Potter: |
How did you get involved with the tours? |
John
Miles: |
I was put forward by Alan Clarke from Dire Straits, who used to play
in my band a lot of years ago. He was putting a band together for a TV special
and eventually a tour and he literally bumped into an old guitar technician of
mine who told him to give me a ring. I auditioned, got the job and it all came
from there. |
Andy
Potter: |
Was it performing and living in the real world ? |
John
Miles: |
It was basically a case of being spoilt rotten for me, you
didnt have to pick a suitcase up or anything apart from play. We stayed
in the best hotels, we flew everywhere business or first class it was crazy,
but it was amazing. |
Andy
Potter: |
Whats next? |
John
Miles: |
A few gigs in the summer, Night Of The Proms, well see what
comes.. |
Andy
Potter: |
You do have phenomenal respect in the business though, dont
you? |
John
Miles: |
I dont know why, perhaps its because I can drink more
than anyone else (laughs) |
Andy
Potter: |
In this country perhaps you havent got the respect you would
have had if youd been American? |
John
Miles: |
Respect or success? |
Andy
Potter: |
Youve got respect in the industry, so success then |
John
Miles: |
I dont worry about it, I wouldnt change a thing to be
quite honest with you. When the punk era came in it sort of screwed everybody
up and I guess it put a dampener on my career. Ive got no regrets and
Ive been a very, very lucky man in the business, Ive worked with
some of the best people and Ive had a great time. |
Andy
Potter: |
What is the one thing or piece of work that sums up what you got into
the music business for? |
John
Miles: |
Probably Music, because its still played or if I keep doing
musicals we might get something into the West End. |
Andy
Potter: |
My personal favourite is The Right To Sing |
John
Miles: |
That was written in a moment of anger. At the time we were going
through a lot of crap with the record company. They were going bust I think and
what happened was they said that they couldnt afford to let me do an
album, but just a few singles and they started sending me ridiculous songs that
they wanted me to cover. I think they were just trying to force my hand, which
they did, and thats how The Right To Sing Came About, because I felt I
was being gagged. |
Andy
Potter: |
John, thank you very much. |
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