In a brand new exclusive interview conducted by Rock N Roll Universe,
(www.rocknrolluniverse.com) legendary former 10cc drummer and
influential music video director Kevin Godley discusses his days in
10cc, Godley & Creme, working with The Beatles on the video for "Real
Love" as well as his recently rekindled collaboration with fellow 10cc
member Graham Gouldman, who have reunited after over three decades as
GG/06. Godley, a founding member of 10cc, has gone on to be one of the
most sought after directors in rock history. As a music director,
Kevin Godley has worked on a total of 56 videos, both solo and with
former partner Lol Creme, from Duran Duran's "Girls On Film" ( which
had the distinguished honor of being the first video banned by MTV ),
Asia's "The Heat Of The Moment," Yes's "Leave It," The Police's
"Every Breath You Take," Herbie Hancock's "Rockit," to Eric Clapton's
"Forever Man" and until their last partnership on George Harrison's
"When We Was Fab."
After the two split in 1989, Godley has continued to be called upon by
rock royalty, directing videos by U2, Paul McCartney, Sting, Eric
Clapton, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Elton John, The Black Crowes and
in 1996, The Beatles on the clip for "Real Love" included on the
critically acclaimed 'Anthology' project. Still working steadily to
the present day with Bono, Bryan Adams and relative newcomers HIM,
Jamie Cullum and Keane, his resume as a music director is one of the
most prestigious in rock history.
As previously mentioned, Godley has recently reunited with Graham
Gouldman for the first time in over three decades to form band GG/06.
Together they have recorded a number of new songs which are currently
available via their website www.gg06.co.uk A short excerpt from the
interview follows below :
Rock N Roll Universe : During the recording of ' The Original
Soundtrack' in '74, Eric Stewart has credited you with coming up with
the idea for "I'm Not In Love" to have the very innovative backing
track which consisted of multi layered vocals. In fact there are 256
vocal tracks on the song. What was your inspiration for that, and do
you remember how you felt when you heard the finished version for the
first time?
Kevin Godley : Who thought up what is lost in the mists of time. But
if I did, like most things, it came from a curiosity about how sounds
that existed in one's head might sound for real. There were no
samplers back then so you couldn't dummy run anything. Anything as
complex as this required an almost scientific, mathematical hands on
strategy. Its inspiration, however, was desperation. We'd already
recorded "I'm Not In Love" as a cheesy bossa nova and it sucked. This
vocal idea was hopefully a way to draw out the haunting quality of the
song that we knew was there but couldn't reach. It took forever to do
and involved multi-tracked single notes mixed down to quarter inch
tape. Quarter inch tape loops flown back onto all but 4 tracks of the
multi-track. Faders assigned to each note and the desk, in effect,
played, by Lol and Eric like a giant keyboard. Each performance pass
was then mixed, on the fly, before going again.The most unexpected by-
product was the sheer density of the audio signal generating an
undercurrent of atonal spill that added a ghostliness to the overall
sound. Pre-Eno, mechanical, ambient music.
Rock N Roll Universe : Was there ever a feeling when you were
recording it that you were coming up with a classic?
Kevin Godley : Yes. I think so. Firstly because it sounded like
nothing else. Secondly because the textures served the song so well.
After a certain point everything we overdubbed, however strange,
solidified its character further. Someone once told me that Bryan
Ferry heard it on the radio, whilst driving, and had to pull over to
listen. Urban myth, lovely if true. Who knows?
Rock N Roll Universe : Do you ever feel that due to the band having
had hits which were relatively straight forward in comparison to what
was on the albums, that 10cc aren't as well respected in the general
public's eye at least as bands such as Queen, Roxy Music and Bowie?
Kevin Godley : It used to piss me off but I understand it, now. I
think it's less to do with music and more to do with personality and
style, or lack of it in our case. People, on the whole, like their
rock stars to live like rock stars. 10cc didn't O.D., wear make up,
kill anyone, do smack, change sex, drink their own piss or commit
suicide. No dysfunctional mythology = unmemorable. That's how it is.
Rock N Roll Universe : What are the chances in your opinion of there
being a full 10cc reunion with the original members? Is that something
which you'd be interested in undertaking at this point?
Kevin Godley : I can't imagine it. The stress would be incalculable.
The air would freeze. Brains would burst.
To access the interview go to this location :
http://rocknrolluniverse.com/rocknrolluniverse_456.htm
Low bandwith users may access the interview at this location :
http://rnruniverse.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=qas&action=display&thread=1175956078
Rock N Roll Universe
www.rocknrolluniverse.com
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