Kevin Godley interview - exclusive!

Recently, I was surprised to recieve an email from Kevin Godley's PR about whether I'd be interested in interviewing him for this site. What gave it away? The name Random Brainwave, or the subtitle You Don't Like It Because You Didn't Think Of It? Or maybe he read posts like this? Either way, I was very happy to rattle off some questions to the ex-10cc and Godley & Creme member, and here they are with his responses. GG06 fans might be interested in something called Barry's Shoes...

1) Godley & Creme have been called the British Frank Zappa. How much on an influence was Frank Zappa on G&C (and early 10cc)?

We were Frank fans, yes. But I don't believe he was a direct influence on G/C or 10cc. He, like many others, showed that anything was possible. We digest so many sounds and musical mind-sets during our lifetime that singling out influences are tricky. Perhaps Frank's attitude more than his sound was noticeable in our stuff although there are some instrumental moments on 'L' that are quite FZ-like.

2) According to allmusic.com, The History Mix made it all the way to 37 in the US. Were you surprised that such an esoteric album was was able to sell, even on the back of Cry? What do you think that the general reaction was from anyone expecting an album full of Crys?

I actually didn't know that. No idea about reactions to that album, either. I would imagine a lot of people were baffled. It was our first stab at a collage sampling exercise. 12 Crys it wasn't. What it was was a celebration of 25 years of G/C working together, essentially assembled by J.J. Jeczalik of Art Of Noise with us overseeing. We did a similar anniversary cut - up project with our music videos. I guess I'd want my money back, too.

3) Paul McCartney appeared in a completely understated role in the Freeze Frame album - I first heard Get Well Soon on the Images compilation, I didn't even know it was him until I bought Freeze Frame on vinyl and saw his picture. How did that collaboration come about? And would you agree that it was the best album he appeared in for the entire 80's?

We know Paul from Strawberry studio days when he produced his brother's album. We thought it would be cool to get someone other than ourselves to do BV's for a change so we called him up. He said yes. We didn't expect him to but what a thrill. If you're saying our album was better than any of his that's very kind.

4) Whenever I play (one of my favourite G&C songs) The Party to people, they usually ask for me to turn it off within the first minute. What do you think about today's safe, bland musical landscape in which people can't handle a song like The Party? And how are you addressing this with GG06, if at all?

Glad you like 'The Party'. It's based on real parties and name checks real people. If they ask you to turn it off it's because it sounds odd and it sounds odd because musical vocabulary has been diminished. They won't realize it but sub consciously, everything must be understood and assimilated within a shorter space of time. Mass-market brainwashing dictates 'if something doesn't move me in 5 secs I will switch off, mentally'. Result one: A less inquisitive audience and 'easier' music. Result two: A backlash… A growing, healthy trend to dig around the Internet and rare record shops for the truly unusual and adventurous. So it's not all bad. GG/06 is a more relaxed proposition to anything I've previously been involved with. There's no 'mission statement' as such other than a belief that we have things to say. That said, I do hate 'bland' so what you get is classic song writing meets instinct and experiment. We're learning how to make that work. Once we know how to do it we'll probably stop.

5) How many new songs are in the pipeline, and how long until they are released?

Lots of songs. Lots of bits and pieces. A chorus looking for a verse. A verse looking for a middle eight. A riff, a sound, a half written lyric. We've just finished writing a song called Barry's Shoes and hope to record it very soon.

6) Many fans were surprised when the GG06 songs didn't sound like 10cc. Are GG06's darker lyrics an attempt to break away from people's expectations, or simply where you're at in 2006/7?

We're trying to avoid too much overdubbing and sidestep that whole 'perfect performance' syndrome. We're looser all round so it is going to sound less considered, less produced, less sculpted, hopefully more soulful and real. Lyrically I don't think the GG/06 stuff is too far removed from what I've written before. If I were to extricate all my lyrical contributions to 10CC / Godley and Crème they'd be quite dark. Today it's only me contributing words, at least so far, so the songs are going to feel darker as Graham's letting me follow my instincts without trying to re-balance or lighten me up. That said, the songs sound like who we are now and, most definitely, how the world is now. If anything I'm trying a bit harder to hit a more personal and truthful vein and I am, I admit, taking the words a little more seriously.

7) What do you think of Graham's continued use of the 10cc name for touring?

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. I actually sang a couple of songs with the band, at 2 gigs, on their UK tour.

8) Finally, can we expect either a GG06 album, or a G&C box set (hint hint) ever?

An album's worth of music, yes. 12 songs or thereabouts? Yes. Whether they appear as a CD or remain as pure downloads only time will tell. A G/C box set would be cool, I agree.

and thanks for taking the time out to answer these questions.

My pleasure. KG

For more on Kevin Godley and Graham Gouldman's latest music project, please see http://www.gg06.co.uk

Thanks to William James for setting this up!