INTERVIEWS
IN HOUSE INTERVIEW WITH JET
1st January 2007
Jet's with me right now in the studio and we're grabbing the chance to catch up on everything, including future live dates, the progress of the album and burning questions like ‘How’s the new single ‘San Antonio’ going, ‘Are there going to be any more single releases? ‘Can we download it? 'Is Jet forming a new band? And if so when? All this and more in this interview and informal chat with Jet.
Studio: So how has the single San Antonio gone down with the fans?
Jet: I'm absolutely over the moon with the reaction. We've had some great comments on the website and I've received loads of great e-mails from all over the world from people saying how much they're enjoying San Antonio and Ignition. We've sold copies in he USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany all over I'm really pleased.
Studio: Are you going to press up some more?
Jet: No, we always wanted to make this a sort of celebration edition because it was the first single release in forty years, I know I've had other things out but for me this one was special because I felt it marked another complete new era in my career. That's why I like the productions because Nigel keeps me sounding like Jet, but puts it all in a very modern environment without ruining the feel, I don't know, it's hard to explain but I'm really loving it and I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life!
Studio: So you're not pressing up anymore?
Jet: No, like I said we wanted to make it special so we only pressed a thousand and we're just about sold out now so we're all really pleased.
Studio: You put this out on your own label, Crazy Lighthouse records, yes?
Jet: Yes we did. When I first met Nigel we had a meeting here in the studio and he played me a demo of 'Ignition' which I really liked. He told me then that if I wanted to record it he would put it out as a limited edition himself. I then heard San Antonio and after that, the future was sealed, we got on so well as a team, we decided to invite the few people closely involved in the team to invest a little money in the studio time to complete the first single (San Antonio-Ignition) and then the album, so basically we got some cash together and finished the recordings pressed up on the retro vinyl CD's, got the artwork done and all the other bits and released it ourselves.
It's really good because any profit we've made from it goes straight back into the making of the album so every fan that's bought one has actually contributed to the making of the new album, it's great!
Studio: So, the comments about the tracks, do you read the web site forums and things
Jet: Yes of course I do, it's great when I see people I know, or people I've seen at gigs the night before and they post things up. Yeah I love it.
Studio: There's no pictures on the site, loads of people have asked for pictures, so why aren't there any?
Jet: Well first jetharris.net was never made to compete with Jetharris.com. It was for announcing the single release and keeping the fans informed of the progress of the new album. We've had a bit of a hold up because we've been so busy with the album that we never seem to have the time to all sit round and get some content together for jetharris.net.
Studio: So we're going to see some new stuff coming up, yes?
Jet: Yes!
Studio: Like what?
Jet: Well like this interview for a start
Studio: Very funny Mr. Harris. You say that you read all the postings so I have to ask about the remark by 'BigTwang' regarding your sound and the use of a drum machine?
Jet: Well everyone to there own, but first of all, if Mr Twang wants a bigger ‘Twang’ from me, then unfortunately he’ll have to wait for the album to come out. This version of San Antonio is just the first track of the whole album and it’s the single version as well. I think my sound suits this track and it’s a question of ‘horses for courses’. When a track warrants a 'Big Twang' then ‘I’m yer Man’ but you know, we like the whole feel of this instrumental version and we just hope the fans do as well.
Studio: What about the BTs comment about you using a drum machine?
Jet: Well….. it's not actually a 'drum machine' as in, you just ‘press a button' and a drum beat of some description comes out. I don't know the technical terms but they're all individual recorded drum sounds programmed in. Nigel used to play drums and some of the tracks he's actually played drum parts in from and electronic kit and some he's used the keyboard to play in. The question or comment about BT being the first to boo me off stage if I come on with a 'drum machine' is 'er' silly, cos neither myself nor Nigel, or indeed any of us in the new band would consider going on stage without a live drummer. Of course we're going to use a real drummer! we've just finished recording a great track with real drums. Bob Jenkins is playing drums on a track called "The Fouth Man". Bob played with Barbara Dickson for some time, and before that Labi Siffre, Kiki Dee and many others. Funnily enough on Bobs first professional recording booking he turned up to the studio and was nervous enough this being his very first professional session, When he walked in, his heart nearly leapt out of his mouth when he saw who the producer was.... It was Tony Meehan! cor!.... I'll tell you, it's just another coincidence in this whole thing, so many things are happening that just sort of seem like they should do. Tony Meehan was Bob's idol at the time, and now thirty years later he's playing on an album with Tony's old partner. Weird huh? So Mr ‘Twang’.....no booing necessary thanks.
Studio: So how many tracks have you got finished and when can we hear them?
Jet: We’ve got five completely finished, about four in different stages and about ….. Oh I don’t know maybe ten fifteen ideas kicking round.
Studio: When’s the album coming out?
Jet: It's going to be mid summer, we've got our work cut out to get it finished we've had a few hiccups along the way but we're determined not to cut corners cos were making this a world class album.
Studio: And how many tracks on the album?
Jet: There’ll be around twelve to maybe fifteen we don’t really know and nothing’s set in stone yet. It depends how long each track is. They tend to be a lot longer these days. In the old days a two min' twenty track was quite normal, but I think after they played Bohemian Rhapsody on radio one the whole thing started to change, so it just depends.
Studio: So who exactly is the Jet Harris' Band, are you still with the Rapiers or what?
Jet: Yes of course I’m still playing with the Rapiers, I've been using them as my backing band for a long time and we still do gigs together, just because I've come out with a new single that's a bit different doesn't mean everything is going to suddenly change. I'm still doing gigs with them now.
Studio: What about the future, are you going to be using the Rapiers on the new line up?
Jet: Like I said, nothing is going to suddenly change, I can always see myself doing gigs with the Rapiers in the near and distant future but when I do the live program featuring most of the tracks from the album, I'll be using the new band.
Studio: So who exactly are the 'new band’ and what does it consist of?
Jet: Well there’s yours truly on Bass and guitar together with Tim Marshall playing bass. On drums we have Bob Jenkins, Nigel’s on trumpet and percussion, Vocalists are Debbie Worthy who's worked on countless singles and had record of the week on radio one, and a really talented vocalist and lyricist 'Charles (Chucky) Taylor' whose contributing a lot to the feel of the album as well as to supply it with some great lyrics. On guitar/s is Paul Rumble. Paul's great and he's my main right hand guitar man. He works closely with Nigel to get the right 'feel' to the tracks. Nigel loves it cos the way it works is Nige explains the feel and the production direction he wants to go for and goes through the parts and the way he want’s certain things done or to sound with Paul before they bring me in. Then Paul works with me on the parts and makes things clear as only one guitar player to another can do, and away we go!
We've also started writing together and just finished our first piece 'The Fourth Man' so... it’s just a great team!
Studio: So, Jet are you going to write some more?
Jet: Yeah ... I've got some things started, Paul's got some ideas, so has Chucky and of course Nige, so we're all going to knuckle down and get the writing finished. I’m spending more time now in the studio with Nigel, and Paul lives close so he’s in a lot too. It’s working great!
Studio: Sounds good but a lot of work still to do?
Jet: Yes it is a lot of work, and although Nige and Paul live close to each other, a lot of us still live in different parts of the country, and what with everybody having other commitments as well, we find it difficult to all get together at the same time, but thanks to modern technology we can do things in 'shifts' but it takes longer!
Studio: So when’s the new band going to do their first gigs live?
Jet: Well ... I'm not going to say where but we've got our first gig booked in Sept 2007.
Studio: Why aren't you saying where?
Jet: Cos I'm not, you'll have to wait.
Studio: But why so long? Why can't you just incorporate the new tracks in your existing show?
Jet: OK I'll explain. The new album is being produced in a very modern way, like I said earlier, it's still Jet but it's different. You know, we're using lots of percussion and some tracks have brass on, What with new vocalists and a new drummer, you know, all these things have to be rehearsed, you can't just sort of 'slot them in'
Studio: Are you rehearsing yet?
Jet: No not yet. Of course we have all played together, but we've been so busy in the 'recording' environment that we haven’t had time to actually get together and rehearse one song after another.
Studio: But surely you all know the songs?
Jet: Course we do! But it's different when you're recording them, you just seem to concentrate on that one song for an intense period and then on to learning or writing the next. Buy the time you come back to it it's hard to remember what you did. You’ve got to rehearse things right through from start to finish and keep on and on till you know it backwards.
Studio: So when are your going to start?
Jet: We have a rehearsal room lined up and and we intend to get a couple of days in first the first month of this year and step it up from there.
Studio: Busy boy eh? So what's coming up in 2007
Jet: Well first of all we have a new single mix of San Antonio. It has vocals on it and again it’s so different. It's sorta changed, but it's not, oh .... you have to hear it. This one's a must at a party. Ha!
Studio: Well how do you mean it's changed, like what?
Jet: Well I think it’s maybe a bit more Latin or Spanish ... it just sounds great with the lyrics in. I'll give you a clue, cos one of the lyrics is 'old skool with flavor baby!' So pick the bones outta that. Then we've got 'Play it Down' that's cor ... well, different again.
Studio: Like what?
Jet: Well ... this one's got quite a lot of vocals in it, and Debbie's taking the lead. Again don't know exactly what to say about this but it's exciting and memorable. I think anyone that liked Apache will like this one.
Studio: Talking of Apache, will you be including the old hits like that with your new band?
Jet: Yes, definitely I’d be mad not too ... Look the great thing about it is, we all realize that these great old hits are 'classics' and we're not trying to compete with them, we respect them as part of music history and Nigel's spent years in showbiz himself so we know the fans will always want to hear Apache, Man with the golden Arm etc, etc, etc, yes of course the old hits will be included.
Studio: Sounds good, what next Jet?
Jet: Well we always planned to release the first special edition single first, followed by a cheaper download release. The vinyl CD was expensive to produce, and as you know I signed every copy and we wanted that version to be more of a collector’s piece. It is now available I believe to download from itunes, napster, etc at normal download prices so people who don't want a 'collectors' item but would like the songs in their collection can now download it.
Studio: You said 'another single mix of San Antonio’. When are you going to release that version?
Jet: Oh .... I can't say at the mo, we're talking to record companies and all that, it's a part I hate, I just like doing the music, but I know I've got a great team around me, and they're all dedicated to bringing out the music we're producing right now. It's the most exciting time I've had for a long time with my clothes on!
I've had enough now so I'M OFF!!! We’ll keep you posted on the progress of the album because we really appreciate the support we’ve had from you all. We’ve had over twenty three thousand visits so far on the www.jetharris.net website. THANKS EVERYONE! I know we’re really busy, what with the writing and recording and all that, but we’ll make a real effort to keep you updated on this site from now.
Now I’m really off, Ta Tah !
JET
1/16/2007
In the studio, looking out to sea, somewhere in Dorset.
All of the photo's on this page © The Official 'Jet Harris' 2007 Album Pages.