| 1. What are you currently up
to? |
Learning material for a Ronnie Montrose tour in November, finishing
mixes, learning keyboards for Creedence shows in New Zealand, writing
songs for a couple projects, starting to write the score for a short
film and pleading with my dog to stop digging holes.
|
| 2. What has been the highlight(s) and lowpoints(s) of your career to
date?
|
Highpoints? Their are too many to list really. No bullshit... I feel
very fortunate to have played and shared musical ideas with so many
incredible musicians. All the guys in The Babys, Bad English and
sessions with so many others. Playing and Creating music is its own
reward and there is a silent brotherhood which comes as a direct
result. I enjoyed talking with Jimmy Page about the old Yardbird
days and wild adventures with Led Zeplin as much as I enjoyed the
months we played music together. There are so many more great things
that have happened to and for me as the result of my involvment with
music that I am forever indebted. The only lows are when
good things come to an end...and they all do.
|
3. The Babys - how did this band start out? What was the highlight of
your time in this band?
|
Jonathan and I joined the band after they moved to the States from
England. That was the first taste of success I had experienced with a
recording band. We were constantly working, whether it was in the
studio or on the road. We were a very close unit. The highlight was
being on stage together. We rocked.
. |
| 4. You were a member of the 'supergroup' Bad English, which featured
fellow Babys' member John Waite. Why do you think that Bad English
had the success that the Babys didn't?
|
It could have been the record company or management or
timing...probably a combination...hard to say. I think The Babys
were much hipper than Bad English. Lets face it, although a killer
band, Bad English was a flavor of the month band. It fit in with
everything going on at the time while The Babys had its own little
niche. Which went against the New Wave and Punk music of the time.
|
| 5. You did a very good album, that does get sadly overlooked, with ex-
Toto singer Fergie Frederiksen. How did this collaboration come about?
|
I've actually done two albums with Fergie. The first was called
Frederiksen/Phillips and the second was Fergie's solo
album "Equilibrium" which I produced. Fergie and I had done a few
unsigned projects together and enjoyed the camraderie. We were
approached by Magnus Soderkvist to do a CD as a duo for Empire
Records. We were both in between bands so it sounded like a great
idea. I had been writing songs with no home for them and We'd
been wanting the opportunity to do a CD together so this seemed
perfect.
The Frederiksen/Phillips CD was a studio project for most people but
Fergie and I have worked and colaberated together on material for 14
years. We still do. Remember there were some 20 musicians and singers who joined in on that record.
|
| 6. Any band you would love to play in? What artists would you like to
work with still and who have you enjoyed working with most?
|
I wish I could have worked with Jimi Hendrix and Phil Lynott. They
were very influencial in my twisted development.
|
| 7. You are currently producing and working with some new artists.
Could you tell us some more about them and your future plans in this area?
|
I'm always looking for new artists.
|
| 8. Outside of business, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
|
Golf has been a constant throughout my life. Walking on green grass
and focusing on your game takes the world's troubles away for a few hours
|
| 9. The last thing that you read?
|
The warranty on my new NIKE driver.
|
| 10. Message for your
fans... |
Don't do what I do
|
