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Ten Questions with...

NIGEL GLOCKLER

Nigel Glockler was the drummer with Saxon from 'The Power & the Glory' album and stayed with them right until the late 90's. He has also appeared on albums by Asia, GTR, Toyah & many more.

1. What are you currently up to?

Currently I'm busy writing for media - TV/film - but I'm planning another Mad Men album and sifting through ideas - writing proper will begin in the New Year. Also, although I'm no longer touring with Saxon, we're starting the writing of their next album in a couple of weeks - Doug lives nearby so we'll be getting together - with Paul Quinn as well - to thrash some ideas out at my studio. I co-wrote four tracks on Killing Ground so I guess you could say I'm the sixth member!

2. What has been the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career to date?

Highlights-wise, it's been playing with so many great musicians and also touring the world and visiting countries i would probably otherwise never seen. Lowpoints - getting pneumonia on tour and playing with an oxygen mask - never missed a gig though! Felt like death at times but got through it.

3. Who have been your biggest influences on your career?

Neil Peart, Simon Phillips, Terry Bozzio, Vinny Coliuta, Bill Ward to name a few!

4. Saxon - how did you come to leave the band? Would you like to rejoin for the 25th anniversary in 2003? Could you see Biff ever allowing the original Saxon back, even for just one gig?

I ripped a muscle between my neck and shoulder - like pulling a piece of raw steak apart - and was told to lay off playing for a few months - fully healed now! - i didn't think it was fair to my replacement to suddenly go back so i started writing the Mad Men album during this time. I honestly have no answer for the 25th tour question - i have my own thing going now so i'm not sure if i could do it time-wise - might be fun but who knows - see what next year holds.

What's the original Saxon? I was in the band longer than Pete Gill so do you mean the Power And The Glory line-up? I think too much water's gone under the bridge - there's a lot of bad feeling floating around so I can't see it. Don't forget, Doug and Nibbs are fantastic players - they're always being slammed in certain quarters, being called faceless session musicians - I'm sure you know who I'm talking about without naming names - but that's absolute bollocks if you pardon my French!!! The real fans love them! I've seen it! They are fully fledged members of Saxon!!!!

5. You worked with Asia - how did this go? Were you ever asked to join full time at all? What other sessions have you enjoyed?

I met Geoff Downes when recording the 2nd GTR album - he was producing - we became good friends and he asked me to do the Asia sessions for "Aqua" - great fun. We keep in touch all the time - Will be going down to their studio soon - John Payne, Geoff and myself are curry freaks so I guess we'll be hitting the local Indian restaurant swiftly followed by a few pints!!!! I wasn't asked to join the band at the time of the Aqua sessions - they weren't touring due to getting the album done and I went back in the studio and on the road with Saxon. Every session has had it's own enjoyment level - I can't recall one that was problematic.

6. How did you get to join Saxon? What was it like touring with the band - any good road tales to share? Which album(s) do you consider to highlight your talent best?

I had just got back from Germany - I was with Toyah at the time - and one of the Saxon managers was a good mate and happened to ring me up to see if I was available to do The Denim And Leather tour as Pete Gill had injured a hand.

The tour was due to start in a couple of days in Brighton - where I live! - so, to cut a long story short, I had to learn nineteen songs in two days and do the gigs - originally I said I would do a week as i was planning to go into the studio with Toyah to do a duo type thing - just vocals and all sorts of percussion - much like Siouxsie and Budgie of The Banshees (The Creatures).

However, after we played Bingley they asked me to join and, as they say , the rest is history - stupid thing was though, I had tickets for the Brighton gig but ended up playing it!!!!! There are too many road tales - I couldn't sort out one!

"Power......." was an important album for me - I felt I had something to prove to the Saxon fans and it was my first studio album with them. I think my fave is "Unleash the Beast" - I was totally satisfied with all aspects of it - composition-wise and playing-wise.

7. You have a solo CD with Doug Scarrett - how did this come about? What style is it and could you pick out some album highlights for us please?

As I mentioned in an earlier question, because of my injury, I had a lot of time on my hands so i just started writing.

Originally I was going to get Doug to play on it but we got some stuff written together so it ended up being a project for both of us. Style-wise, i guess it's a bit progressive meets heavy rock with a few different mixtures thrown in - a lot of the tracks are full of keyboards and quite pompous and grandiose - I love some of the really big Genesis instrumental stuff - we were influenced by music that we liked - there was no master plan to create an album in any one particular style although it is all instrumental.

A track called "Dreadnought" seems to be a fave with people but, then again, so does another track called "Snow-capped" - this is very Genesisy - I got into Tony Banks mode on the keyboards!!.

8. If you could create a fantasy band line-up who would be in it and why?

There are just so many great musicians out there whose playing I love that it's just impossible to only have four or five.

9. Outside of business, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Free time? What free time?????? I enjoy F1 - usually go to the Monaco GP - my brother lives nearby so I stay with him. I enjoy the countryside, going to see local bands, going for a curry, going to the pub, PC games, cycling, loads of different stuff!

10. Message for your fans...

I always say this and it's true - without you, we musicians wouldn't get anywhere so I really appreciate your support - Thanks ever so much for your belief.

Website: www.nigelGlockler.com

Interview © 2002 Jason Ritchie/
Format and edit: The Music Index.

All rights reserved.


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