| 4eigner.net The Foreigner Website | Updates |
| [ Main ] [ The Site ] [ The News ] [ The Band ] [ The Music ] [ The Fans ] [ The Links ] | |
| The Band: Interviews: 2nd chat with Ian McDonald | 01.10.02 |
|
This is a chat with Ian McDonald by The Artist Shop / Talk City, which was done on Sunday, May 3th, 1998. The original version of this document is located at http://www.artist-shop.com/irc/mcdonald.htm, but you'll enjoy more the next format. Index (Introduction) Moderator: Many will remember Ian as the main composer keyboardist / wind instrumentalist for the original King Crimson. Those days have been beautifully captured on the recent DGM archival release, "Epitaph". More recently Ian has toured Japan as part of Steve Hackett's band along with John Wetton, Chester Thompson and Julian Colbeck. Hackett is releasing these performances, which included early King Crimson material, on both CD and video at the end of April. This is Ian's second appearance here at Talk City. Ian, we appreciate you taking the time out to come back and speak with us today. Welcome to ªMusic and Talk City! Welcome Ian. Ian McDonald: Thank you very much. It's my pleasure to be here
and I look forward to talking to the folks out there and am interested to find out what they want
to know. (1) Moderator: Ian can you start us off by telling us about your tour with the Steve Hackett band? How many performances were there? Ian McDonald: We just did four performances in Japan. This was in
December of '96. I would like to have done more than four. We were just starting to get good when
it was time to go home. I would really like to do something like that again as I hadn't played
publicly with Steve or John before. (2) Moderator: Hard to leave eh? Ian McDonald: Yes, it's hard to leave Japan anytime. It was my
third trip there and I always enjoy Japan. But it was good to get home anyway. It was a couple of
days before Christmas. And three weeks of jetlag on top as we'd rehearsed in London (LOL). Moderator: And now, lets take some questions from the audience. (3) mista_ted: The new album is called "Epitaph", is this work connected to King Crimson early style (according to song with same title from 1st album)? Moderator: Good question, great collection. Ian McDonald: Yes, in fact these are recordings of the original
band. Essentially bootleg recordings done in concert without our knowledge for the most part and
thanks to modern technology we were able to clean up the tapes and improve them sonically.
Because they were almost unlistenable in their original state - some of them. There are four
discs altogether. Discs 3 and 4 in particular show the original band at its best. There are some
amazing group improvisations. (4) Moderator: 2 & 4 show some incredible playing. Moderator: Ooops 3 & 4 Ian McDonald: Thank you. Ian McDonald: Yes, it's a side of King Crimson that you
didn't really hear on the first album. So I'm very happy that this "Epitaph"
box is available now. Moderator: Those audiences must have been totally blown away. Our guest today is Ian McDonald. He is here to talk about the new King Crimson live release "Epitaph". As well as his work with Steve Hackett and Foreigner. To send a question to Ian use the following format; Type /msg ASKIAN Your question here. Your question will be put in the queue and asked in the order it was received. (5) robtron: Ian... I've got a recording of your Oct 1969 Croydon show with Crimson where you play a song called "Trees" with pieces of "Birdman" and "Wish-Bone Ascension"... were you guys planning to cut this, or "Birdman", on the second Crimson album? Ian McDonald: That's funny. I just recently heard that tape
myself for the first time... (6) Moderator: How is the quality of the recording? Ian McDonald: I had completely forgotten that there was a piece
of "Birdman" incorporated into "Trees". There were no plans
to record "Birdman" as I had yet to write it. And I probably found that little
excerpt in "Trees" very useful. So I borrowed it from myself. (7) heyday: Ian, one of personal favorites is "Tomorrow's People" was that originally written for Crimson? Ian McDonald: Not as far as I know. That's one of Mike
Giles' compositions. I don't know exactly when he wrote that. But I have a feeling that
that's a post Crimson composition. (8) bob3: Ian, I heard that you've done or are working on a solo CD? Tell us about that. When will it be out? Ian McDonald: Hopefully by the end of the year. As yet there is
no signed deal, so I'm a little reluctant to talk too much about it. But it will be a solo album
with various guests on vocals, etc. And I'm very much looking forward to putting this album
out. (9) dan-etweb: Rumor has it something BIG is scheduled for next January comemorating KC's 30 anniversary. Can you tell us what? Ian McDonald: I was hoping you would be able to tell me! Moderator: Ouch Ian McDonald: I don't know of any specific plans. Of course,
wouldn't it be nice if the original band got together for a concert? (10) Moderator: Or a tour. Ian McDonald: That would be my highest hope, but it seems
unlikely. Don't mean to be putting rumors out. But there has been talk of doing "something" but
there's no specific plans that I know of. (11) Moderator: So at this point those are only rumours. Ian McDonald: Oh, yeah. There's definitely talk, but it's just
talk. At least everyone is talking and friendly, so there's always a possibility of "something"
happening. (12) Moderator: A King Crimson "Orchestra" would be interesting. I suspect we would hear about something in Elephant Talk. Do you follow ET? Ian McDonald: Well I don't have a computer, so I don't keep completely up to date with the latest goings on, so I'm not on the mailing list for the newsletter. Crimson "Orchestra" - interesting if not Chaotic (LOL). One idea I had was to have Fripp on stage throughout the evening starting the show with the present KC and then going all the way back. Moderator: Wow. Ian McDonald: And closing the show with the original band. That
would be something! But it's just an idea, I don't wish to spread rumors. (13) Moderator: Might have to do it on consecutive nights like the Ring Cycle. That's a lot of music. Ian McDonald: Oh boy! I suppose so. One band each night! I think
I would prefer to do the same show 5 nights running! (14) robtron: Ian...how long did you guys (John, Steve, etc.) have to practice "I Talk To The Wind" & "In The Court Of The Crimson King" for the Japanese performances? They're performed amazing true to the original songs. Ian McDonald: We had 10 days to rehearse the entire set, which is
not a lot of time considering that many of the players had never played most of the material
before. But everybody worked very hard to put together a good show. (15) xpac1: My dad really likes your music and he would like to know what do you think the best KC song was, in your eyes? Moderator: Shouldn't that be ears? Ian McDonald: Hmmmm. Well, I'm always biased towards the first
album, I unashamedly have to say. And I think the best song on that album is
"Epitaph". It's my favorite track and to me it's Greg Lake's best
vocal anywhere. (16) Moderator: That's a song that works with pretty much any instrumentation. Ian McDonald: And it's just a great song. (17) Moderator: It's interesting to hear how much of the 2nd and 3rd Crimson albums were played by the original band. Ian McDonald: I've never heard any other instrumentation
really. (18) Moderator: Lake does it with just solo guitar. Works very well. Ian McDonald: Yes, when the group broke up, we were already
working on new material hence, "Pictures Of A City", which showed up on the
second album, can also be heard on the "Epitaph" box set as "A
Man, A City". It was already in our live show. Also I had written "Cat
Food" whilst on the road during the first tour. (19) Moderator: And some of "Islands" was already taking shape in the form of "Drop In". Ian McDonald: Does Greg do that (solo guitar
"Epitaph")? I've never heard it. (20) Moderator: He used to do it with "ELP". It was part of a medley of songs like "Lucky Man". Very good. Very powerful. Ian McDonald: "Lucky Man" was actually one of the first songs we did with King Crimson! A bit of trivia there. When we began rehearsals, but it was dropped only to resurface later with "ELP"? Moderator: Wow. Too bad there's not a tape of that
somewhere. (21) bob3: Tell us why you left Foreigner? Moderator: Did you see bob3's question there Ian? Ian McDonald: Regarding Foreigner - I guess Mick
Jones felt the group was not big enough for the both of us. You can draw your own
conclusions on that. (22) Moderator: Same old song and dance eh? That's a shame, did you enjoy your stay with Foreigner? Ian McDonald: Well, suffice it to say that it was not my
intention to leave the group. Yes, I had a great time... (23) Moderator: You were with them for 4 albums no? Ian McDonald: 3 albums actually... Moderator: Sorry... Ian McDonald: I co-produced and had a lot to do with the first three albums, perhaps more than I am credited for. Or does that sound like sour grapes! Moderator: Not at all. (24) robtron: "Modern Masquerades" is a great album. Why did Fruupp break up? Do you stay in touch with these guys? Ian McDonald: Well, first of all, thank you. Yes, I'm quite
pleased with the way that album turned out. I have no idea why they split up. I haven't really
spoken to them since making the album. I moved to the U.S. shortly after making that album. (25) xpac1: If you had the chance to work with any musican EVER who would it be and why? Moderator: Interesting question. Ian McDonald: Maybe Miles Davis or John Lennon.
I always wanted to work with them, but never had the opportunity. I think it's pretty obvious why
one would want to work with John Lennon. He was one of the greatest songwriters of all
time and just a great rock'n'roller! (26) Moderator: I was just reading about Sean Lennon this morning. Ian McDonald: I could think of all kinds of other people. Moderator: I guess he's got some interesting new music coming out. Ian McDonald: Yes, Sean has an album coming out. Isn't that right? Moderator: Yes he does. (27) heyday: Ian, one of my favorite albums is "McDonald And Giles"... I need to buy it on CD... any chances of it being re-released in the States? Ian McDonald: Oh boy! The only place that it's available right now is in Japan. And there are certain importers from whom you could obtain it from. I'm actually at the moment trying to regain the master tapes. I have always wanted to do a re-mix and re-mastering job on that album. With any luck that could come out early next year. Moderator: Of course, The Artist Shop could get it for
you. (28) robtron: Can you give us any clue as to what directions King Crimson might have been heading toward had the Fripp, McDonald, Wetton, Bruford ensemble stayed intact after "Red" was released in 1974? Moderator: That would have been a great band. Ian McDonald: That's hard to answer. My function on that record
was merely as a session player. I believe I only played one solo on one song. So I don't really
consider myself a member of that particular group. I think it was Robert's intention to
disband that group all along. And I think he only asked me if I would tour with them to see what
I would say before he disbanded the group. I said yes, I would tour. A little revenge on
Robert's part maybe. (29) Moderator: He was unhappy with Crimson at the time? Ian McDonald: Who knows what goes through Fripp's mind
(LOL). (30) Moderator: Probably a mistake to second guess him. Ian McDonald: Yeah (LOL). He's hard to figure out, that
one. (31) phoenix: Will be Lou Gramm or any other Foreigner member - past or present - playing on your new album? Moderator: Good question. Ian McDonald: Actually, yes. Lou was kind enough to give
me a vocal on a lyric that we wrote together. And it's a great song. I would love everyone to
hear it. I would probably ask Al Greenwood to do some keyboard work also. (32) robtron: Ian... have you played any live small venue gigs lately beyond your accompanying John Wetton (which I attended in NYC)?... Or any other plans for live performances of your own stuff? Ian McDonald: Well when I get my solo album finished, I will
definitely be touring then. I may play at the Long Island Guitar Show which would be Saturday,
May 16, even though I'm not billed, I will be there. But I have no other plans at present to
play. (33) Moderator: Any idea on who will be in the band? Ian McDonald: This thing on the 16th, I'll probably just sit in with the house band which is lead by guitarist Jimmy Vivino from the Conan Obrien show band. Moderator: Very cool. Ian McDonald: Peter Frampton is headlining that
show. (34) Moderator: What contemporary artists do you find interesting? What do you find yourself listening to these days? Ian McDonald: I listen to mostly classical music. I find that I'm listening less and less to rock music. But there are a number of interesting bands coming out of England right now such as Pulp, The Verve, and I still don't know why Radio Head's album was voted best album of all time in Q magazine. Moderator: LOL I was wondering that myself. Ian McDonald: I also listen to jazz - Coltrane and
people like that. It seems to me that there are just too many bands which is spreading the really
good players too thinly. If one took the best player from each band and say had a quarter
of the number of bands out there right now, I think there would be some really great music being
made. (35) robtron: Tell us about your new cut of "21st Century Schizoid Man" with Ian Wallace... coming out on his new CD... Ian McDonald: That's an interesting track. It's a combination of
"21st Century Schizoid Man" and a Thelonius Monk tune called
"Providence" (I think) and it switches from one tune to the other. That was
fun to do. (36) xpac1: What are your personal goals for the future? Ian McDonald: The immediate goal is to secure a recording
contract. And then I just want to make as much music as possible. (37) Moderator: You must have quite a backlog of ideas. Ian McDonald: Actually, that's true, I do. But sometimes it's
hard to write when you don't have a specific outlet for the material. (38) Moderator: I hope we can hear some of them soon. I know the feeling. Ian McDonald: So knowing that I am a "recording artist" hopefully
will mean that I will be able to have a creative burst! (39) robtron: When's the last time you have played a mellotron before a live audience? You were one of the purveyors of this unique sound. Ian McDonald: The last time I played a mellotron in front of a
live audience was the last show of the original King Crimson! (40) Moderator: The mellotron is such a distinctive sound. Adrian Belew has a great mellotron patch in his GR-1. He uses it on "Dinosaur". Ian McDonald: I don't own a mellotron, although I am thinking
about trying to obtain one of the original group's instruments. I recently recorded my flute for
some new customized mellotron tapes which should be available in the near future. (41) Moderator: Didn't Crimson buy their first one from Yes or visa versa? Ian McDonald: No, actually we bought our original mellotron from ads in the newspaper. Moderator: Funny, I've never seen one for sale in my local paper. B-{)} Ian McDonald: Of course, we are talking about 1968 here ;-) I
remember driving all over the English countryside to pick these things up. We had three
originally. Those Mark II style mellotrons are now worth a pretty penny. (42) davideric: Is there any unreleased McDonald And Giles material in your archives? Moderator: Good question. Ian McDonald: Actually, no. Although I recently played flute for some tracks that Michael Giles is recording! And when I do my solo album, Mike has offered to return the favor and do some drums for me! Moderator: Outstanding! Ian McDonald: Mike and I recently recorded together also
with Steve Hackett doing a remake of "I Talk To The Wind" with
Steve doing the lead vocal. This turned out really well. I hope Steve puts it
out on one of his records. (43) Moderator: Is there anything else you would like to mention before we conclude today? Ian McDonald: No, I would just like to thank everyone for their questions. And I look forward to doing it again sometime. I amazed at how much some people know! It's very interesting. Moderator: Very cool Ian. It's been great chatting with you. Looks like our time is up. I'd like to thank everyone for joining us tonight. Ian, we appreciate taking the time to come and chat with us. We all hope you'll come back to TalkCity again soon! Ian McDonald: Likewise, it's nice chatting with you too. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk directly to the fans. Moderator: Finally, thanks to The Artist Shop for
working with us on this conference. We especially appreciate the efforts of Gary Davis
in giving us the opportunity to speak with Ian McDonald. Don't forget to drop by
The Artist Shop and explore all of their musical offerings: http://www.artist-shop.com.
Thanks for coming everyone. See you later. |
| Chat Credits | |
|
| The Band: Interviews: 2nd chat with Ian McDonald | 01.10.02 |
| [ Main ] [ The Site ] [ The News ] [ The Band ] [ The Music ] [ The Fans ] [ The Links ] | |
| © 2000-03 4eigner.net The Foreigner Website | Updates |