It is an honor to make this questions to one of the most important singers and thinking people of my generation (for me at least) especially since your last solo album has reassured me that the restless spirit we met in ALMIGHTY is back with a vengeance. Some of the questions were made for your first album, yet never got answered, through your fan club so let’s go at your second solo work
1. This is the second time we speak as I was the last guy interviewed you at the EMI offices in Greece for Metal Invader magazine a few years ago. Since then you got another album with them “Psycho Narco” and then silence ,what did it happened? You resurfaced last year at the DEF LEPPARDS shows as opening act on a solo-acoustic base!! And now you are back with a second solo album. Is it the band situation not attracting you anymore?
I started writing some songs in 2001 that where a little bit different to The Almighty stuff mostly on acoustic guitar. The Almighty had reformed in 1999 it seemed like a good idea at the time, but the ambition and drive we had originally was lacking and I became disillusioned. I played the songs that I had written to a publisher who gave me some money to record them and this gave me the idea to make a solo record. I wanted to push myself and show that I could do something different to what everyone expected of me. I had never even thought about being a solo artist up until that point. Sometimes when I tour I take a bass player and drummer with me and we do the solo stuff electric or sometimes I just decide to go on the road with just myself and an acoustic guitar. I love the fact that I have the freedom to choose either.
2. How much has your life at the US influence you as a musician and artist in general?
As nearly all my songs are written from experience, then of course the USA has an influence on me, as does anywhere I have lived. Ireland and Scotland will always have a big influence on me as that’s where I was born and spent most of my youth. I think some of the best rock n roll comes from the States and this music has always been an inspiration for me.
3. I can consider musically this album as a continuation of songs like “bandaged knees”. Do you agree?
Yes. I think people are very quick to say that my solo stuff is very different from The Almighty, but I had always been writing songs in that vein , like “ Bandaged Knees’ and “Jesus Loves You…But I Don’t”.
4. Tell me a little about the musicians at the album ? How did you got involved with Joe Elliot and persuaded him to help you and with your second solo album? Or was the opposite and he got you in to recording it?
Joe Elliott has been a friend of mine for a very long time. When I lived in Dublin, we lived quite close to each other. He heard the early songs I was writing and really like them. He let me use his studios to record some demos and then he offered to produce my first solo album with my other long time friend Ronan McHugh as co-producer. I was more than happy with how “Tattoos and Alibis’ my first solo album sounded that it felt like the absolute right thing to get Joe and Ronan to produce “Love Many Trust Few”.
5. There is some new elements that we didn’t expect here, some country feeling at the background and a laid back feeling in general, how did it that happens?
I have always loved Johnny Cash and Steve Earle and a lot of Americana music. Going solo pretty much meant that I could fully explore these influences as much as I wanted.
6. The lyrics are giving me a sense of depression and pecimism, am I right? They are on contrast with the musical identity of the album was that on purpose?
Not really. My lyrics have always been kind of full of sarcasm. I like to tell it like it is, but I am trying to be positive .Yes, it’s a crazy world out there and I am glad to be part of it. When you lie down in the dirt you get up with the fleas!
7. Songs like “guilty” are more than adult orientated rock, they are like Charles Bukowski or Raymond Carver are living through your lyrics. Has Ricky Warwick become an adult who struggle through the modern day lifestyle?
Everybody has to struggle everyday and I am no different than anyone else. I can sing about what it felt like when I was 16 years old but I think it would be wrong to sing about what its like to be 16 years old in today’s world. I believe that Revolution starts in the mirror!
8.How self depicting is “Learning to fall”
Very. It’s a song about going through life and taking all the shit life can throw at you. You have got to learn to fall so that when you get back up, you stand up even stronger than before.
9. How did you got involved with Sanctuary management, how can they help you with your current work, with all the problems Sanctuary has?
I am NOT managed by Sanctuary management. I am managed by Mark Litten for HK Management. I record my albums then license them to whatever label I feel can do the best job and give me the best deal. Sanctuary put out “Tattoos and Alibis’ in the USA and Europe and Universal put it out in Japan. With “Love Many Trust Few” Sanctuary put it out in the US only, Townsend released it in the UK, Sleaszy Rider in Europe and WHD in Japan. Licensing deals are the best way to work for me as I retain the rights to my albums.
10 Having a contract with a Greek Label was a surprise, why, how and who was responsible for it. Also why the new album version has the “running free” cover?
We got in touch with each other through the websites. I was looking for a label in Europe to release the album and Tolis who runs Sleaszy Rider offered to put it out for me. So I was more than happy to do the deal. I have always loved the song Running Free by Iron Maiden and one day I wondered what it would sound like stripped down on the acoustic guitar, I thought it sounded cool, so I recorded it. I sent the song to Steve Harris and he told me he thought it was great. So I have his blessing on it.
11. Although a lot may expect a heavy metal album, here we have a variety of sounds, that In my ears are familiar with an updated version of Neil Young, or Tom Petty with a touch of Bryan Adams.(At the vocals department). How easy was for you to get off the creative orbit of your old band and on the other hand , stay near your personal ideas without fearing that they say you will selling out, to a more “commercial “ sound It was very easy.
I felt with The Almighty that at the end I wasn’t feeling it as much as I should be. I needed a new challenge. I have always written from the heart. I love music, all kinds of music and I wanted to explore all the possibilities that I hadn’t had the chance to yet. I actually found it very liberating to be solo as I could be very selfish and please myself instead of worrying about what other people in the band would think.
12. What is the reason for you releasing solo albums, now, and not lets say a few years ago when the ALMIGHTY was almost in a break when you are looking for your second guitarist? Are you going solo in the future, or a new band is among your future plans?
To be honest, I didn’t release anything when The Almighty was in a break as I was dealing with some drug problems and it took me about 2 years to sort myself out. I am very happy being a solo artist and will continue to make solo records for as long as I can. I like to keep myself very busy and have lots of other projects going on, one of them being CIRCUS DIABLO.
13. You were always a rightfully angered singer, with a political point of view. At this album your lyrics are a little more abstract and have a sense of decadence and self resignation, what happened to the young angry man, has he fed up with the rock industry world?
I still get angry and pissed off. I am just exploring other ways of getting my point of view out there. Sometimes one man and a guitar with something to say can be way more powerful than a band of distorted guitars with a singer screaming about nothing.
14. I want you to list me your major influences as a singer and how this influences can be heard in your singing? When we discussed in Greece last time you told me of your punk rock influences and your love to rock n roll. How did you decide to leave distortion aside this time?
I still love all my punk influences and always will. I still listen to Stiff Little Fingers, The Clash, Motorhead, MC5 as well as Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty etc. I think guitars don’t necessarily have to be distorted to be powerful, I like big crunchy guitars like AC/DC. If I had used the same guitar sounds I used when I was in The Almighty then there would be no point in going solo.
15. Shall we expect any touring for the album? How difficult was for you to open solo for the Defs and their loyal audience with the album, not even at the stores?
I have already been touring the album in the USA and UK. Opening up for Def Leppard was fantastic I got a great reaction at the shows I played over 170 shows opening for them. My albums where in the stores the whole time I was and have been on tour. I would like to get over to Europe later in the year.
16. What color describes Warwick’s life in our days? What Tattoo, would you have to celebrate this new album?
Well blue is my favourite colour. I already have “ Love Many Trust Few” tattooed on my arm.
17. To paraphrase an old BLACK OAK ARKANSAS song , ”will electricity return to Ricky’s house sometime”?
It has never left and is always welcome !
18. What are you listening at these days?
Supersuckers, The Living Things, Drive-By Truckers
.
19. You told in various magazines ALMIGHTY are an old story, has the recent shows at the UK, let the sense of a reunion come in, as a lot of fans of the band like me, over here in Greece never had a chance to catch the band on stage?
Those 2 Almighty shows were great, probably my personal favourite. It was the first time in 10 years that line-up had played together. It was all for a good cause as Floyd the Almighty bass player is suffering from leukaemia, so all the money went to Cancer charities. So it was a very personal and special reason to get back together for those 2 shows. As amazing as the shows were it didn’t make us feel like reforming the bans again. Although we might play live again someday, who knows ?
20. Your other project “Circus Diablo” a few details on that, is that the electric answer to our prayers?
CIRCUS DIABLO features me on guitar, Billy Duffy (The Cult) on guitar, Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver on drums) and Billy Morrison ( Camp Freddy and ex The Cult) on bass and vocals. We have just finished recording the album and it fuckin rocks. It will be out later in the year and we will probably play some shows later in the year.
21. Give me five tips for a new singer/band to become better.
1. Play from your heart.2.Rehearse as much as you can.3.Never take no for an answer.4. Learn from great established songwriters and musicians.5.Always strive to write better and better songs.
22. With whom would you like to collaborate on a next solo album if you had the chance?
Bruce Springsteen.
23. How do you see the musical scene in England, with bands like DARKNESS becoming the favorites of media in our days, copying the 80s hard rock bands?
I don’t really pay that much attention to it to be honest. I know what I like and that’s all that matters to me. I see music in only 2 categories… good or bad.
24. A few words for the Rock Hard readers
Thanks for all the support, please check out the album.
25. Is there any case we may see you sometime on stage in Greece?
I would love to come to Greece and play and hopefully I can very soon.
Ricky I have waited along time to listen something new from you and once again I was more than happy with your work thanks to Amazon.com, I got it a few months ago)
Please keep on writing songs, cause you and Justin Sullivan are one of the few real people left in the rock n roll industry, and sometime try to collaborate with Wayne Kramer and Hellacopters, a fan request.
I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME , Thanks again.
You are very welcome. Thank you for your questions and I hope my answers are okay.
All the best,
Cheers,
Ricky Warwick.
H συνέντευξη δημοσιέυθηκε με την κυκλοφορία του τότε σολο άλμπουμ του, στο περιοδικό Rock Hard
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