Mike Oldfield

This tag is associated with 3 posts

Interview: Luke Spiller


The first Struts album Everybody Wants came out in the UK in 2014, with a glam rock sound that features some of the best rock vocals this side of Freddie Mercury. A highlight of this album was “Could Have Been Me”, with a singalong chorus that sums up the band’s philosophy of living life to the fullest. This album and the band’s energetic live performances earned them the blessing from bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, and the Foo Fighters.

The second Struts album just came out on October 26 of this year, and keeps the magic going with songs like “Body Talks” and “Primadonna Like Me”. There’s glam, there’s anthems, there’s even a power ballad. The Struts continue to show us that rock and roll is alive and well.

This interview was for a preview article for noozhawk.com for the 11/4/18 concert by The Struts at the Majestic Ventura Theater. It was done by phone on 10/18/18. (Anna Lee photo)

Interview: Paddy Moloney

paddy

The Chieftains have been thrilling audiences with traditional Irish music for an amazing 55 years, with Paddy Moloney on uilleann pipes, tin whistle, and amusing banter for the whole time. The band is filled out by longtime band members Kevin Conneff (bodhran, vocals) and Matt Malloy (flute), with plenty of young talent along for the ride.

They are also known for their collaborations with artists from other musical worlds, including the likes of the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Sting, Pavarotti, and many others. Along the way, they have released roughly 50 albums and won six Grammy awards.

This interview with Paddy Moloney was for a preview article for noozhawk.com for the concert by The Chieftains on 2/21/17. It was done by phone on 1/31/17 (photo courtesy of The Chieftains).

Interview: Steve Hillage

Steve Hillage is best-known for his amazing guitar playing with Gong during its classic Radio Gnome Trilogy phase (1973-75), and for his subsequent solo career which included the albums Fish Rising (1975), L (1976), Motivation Radio (1977), Green (1978), and Rainbow Dome Musick (1979). He also played with the prog rock band Khan which released their only album Space Shanty in 1972, with Kevin Ayers on the album Bananamour (1973), and on the live performances of Tubular Bells at Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1973 and for the BBC in 1974.

In the 1980’s, Hillage worked as a producer for artists including Simple Minds, Cock Robin, and Robyn Hitchcock. Then, after meeting Dr. Alex Paterson, he co-wrote, co-produced, and recorded songs with The Orb, including the British hit song “Blue Room”. Hillage and Miquette Giraudy also formed the still-active ambient dance band System 7, which has collaborated with Paterson, Derrick May, and others.

This interview was done by phone on 7/25/12.