James Stevenson "The Other Side Of The World" interview

 This year saw the release of "The Other Side Of The World", the excellent second solo album by guitarist extraordinaire James Stevenson, so did a global pandemic help or hinder the recording? Talking all things about the album and what we can expect in the coming year it's time to catch up with James!

With a global pandemic happening did that forced downtime spark the idea for the album or was it something that was already underway and did the pandemic help or hinder the recording process?

A bit of both. I always wanted to do a second album - but lockdown definitely gave me the time to do it. I recorded the song "The Other Side Of The World" to be played at my brother Dave's funeral - that was the catalyst.

I emailed the files to Smiley and Peter Walsh and I was really pleased with the results, even though the reason I'd written the song was heart-breaking. So I asked Pete if he thought we could record a whole album like this and he thought we could.

Were all of the songs written with the album in mind or are there some that have been on the back burner so to speak?

Well "New York 10023" was a very old piece of music about a mad night I had in New York in the mid 80s with the model Paula Hamilton. I rerecorded it for the album - and even though it's basically an instrumental people do like it a lot. I got Johnny Pisano (Willie Nile's bass player) and Thomas Trask (who was David JoHansen's guitarist) - two New York mates to speak the script I wrote at the end - just to give it a New York edge.

"Take A Little Love" I wrote with Adam Masterson a few years ago and "Point It To Your Head" is a song by Steve New whose version was never released - so I recorded a version as a tribute to Steve. Other songs like "I'm Getting Over You Now", "Just Like I Do", "Gotta Find That Feeling", "When You're Feeling Sad and Lonely" and "Ugly/Beautiful" are all recent, or finished as the album progressed. "In The Nighttime" I wrote when I was about fourteen or fifteen - but I updated it a bit.

You've used a core "band" for the album featuring yourself, Peter Walsh on keyboards and Smiley on the drums then adding in guests for selected songs - do you think this helped focus the sessions and give a more unified feel overall?

I think it did, yeah. I liked the fact I played all the bass guitars too. I love to play bass and I don't think I'm a bad player if I say so myself! I didn't know Pete Walsh was such a great keyboard player until this album...he's very modest - but he's so tasteful. He produced the album too of course. So Pete, Smiley and I would basically knock the songs into shape and then I'd get people in to embellish. Terry Edwards is incredible and all the girl singers, Jessica Lee Morgan, Elizabeth Westwood, Tracie Hunter. I got my lifelong friend Henry Badowski out of retirement to play sax on "Baby Come On" - it was Henry who encouraged me to record "In The Nighttime" - we were in bands together in school. My friend Rana Rains did some great vocals on "New York 10023" too and Mike Peters added the harmonica on "Point It To your Head" of course.

Peter Walsh co-produced the album alongside you and has a rather impressive CV featuring such household names as Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker, Spandau Ballet, Boomtown rats and Heaven 17 amongst others, where did your paths first cross?

You can also add Simple Minds and four Gene Loves Jezebel albums! We met when our A&R man at Geffen, Gary Gersh, wanted him to produce "Desire". It worked out great and he's been a Gene Loves Jezebel staple ever since - right up to GLJs last album "Dance Underwater". He has an incredible pair of ears and is a close personal friend too.

You've kept the guest list quite short with Elizabeth Westwood and Tracie Hunter returning again to provide the majority of the albums backing vocals, your Holy Holy bandmate Jessica Lee Morgan takes that role on the album opener "Baby Come On" and one Michael Peters lends his harmonica skills to "Point It To Your Head". Were there any guests that you would have loved for the album but couldn't get?

To be honest I would have liked Steve Norman to play sax on a track or two. He was incredible on my first solo album "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" but he was tied up in Berlin doing stuff.

What are your hopes and expectations for the album?

I just want as many people to hear it as possible. I'm very proud of it.

The album as well as the title track are dedicated to your brother David who sadly passed last year. Is there anything you'd like to tell us about him?

Well he was my best friend as well as my brother - the one person I would always call first to talk about anything. There were only fifteen months between us. I was destroyed when he died even though I knew it was inevitable and because he lived in Australia and died during lock-down I couldn't even go to his funeral. 

I discovered it was caused by a familial gene on my mother's side. You have to inherit it from a parent. If you have a parent with the gene you have a 50/50 chance of inheriting it. If you inherit it you die from Pick's Disease, it's terminal and there's no treatment. 

My mother died very young from cancer when she was only forty eight, before the disease took hold but her sister, my aunt Janet, who I absolutely adored, had the disease and died from it in her 50s but we never realised what it was until my brother started developing symptoms. It came from my mother and aunt's mother Claris Raynes who died of an illegal backstreet abortion in the mid1930s - she was only 28! So it's been hard to work out the trail.

I tested negative but it was a very stressful time.

You write about some very personal subjects lyrically on the album, do you find it cathartic to do so?

I've always written from personal experience - I think most artists in any genre do that don't they?

All the reviews I've seen have been full of praise and seem more positive than those of your debut "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" despite that album being a firm fan favourite ever since its release. Are you happy with how it has been received?

Yes, everyone does seem to like it. I'm very proud of both of my solo albums.

One thing that is striking about the release is that your vocals seem stronger and more natural, is this something that you consciously worked on?

Not really - I think they just evolved because I sang more. But I agree with what you're saying. My ex-wife Elizabeth Westwood did help with a bit of coaching - she's an awesome singer.

You've announced one live date for this year so far, do you envisage being able to play more solo shows next year?

Yes. Pizza Express Live in Holborn, London December 12th. I really want to do more solo gigs if I can.

I know Smiley will be playing drums with you in December but have you finalised the rest of the band yet?

Yes. Smiley on drums, Terry Edwards, Patrick Ralla on keys (Mark Taylor sadly couldn't do it) but Patrick is awesome. Peter Rizzo from Gene Loves Jezebel on bass - he's my fave bass player of all time. And Liz Westwood, Jennie "Belle Star" Matthias and Tracie Hunter on BVs. Hope we can all fit on the stage!

What can those people fortunate enough to be able to attend the London show expect to hear in the set, with two albums of original material you certainly have enough to play all your own songs but are you tempted to play anything from your long career so far or even some covers?

It will be songs from my two solo albums...but I might throw in a surprise!

Are there any plans to potentially record the show for a digital release or maybe a livestream?

There aren't, maybe next time. So if you want to see the show get to the gig!

There have been plenty of tours in the news being affected due to band or crew becoming infected and having to cancel shows. Do you have any restrictions yourself that you'd like to see in place for the immediate future?

I think that's just the way the world is right now and we're gonna have to soldier on and hope for the best.

Do you envisage a few short notice calls asking you to fill in to allow gigs to go ahead within the multitude of friendships you have?

I'm always up for that!

One of the lockdown releases saw the rapid writing and release of the album "War" by The Alarm in order to catch the spark and it was very well received even garnering national media attention. With how quickly things move forward with The alarm and that live dates couldn't be played to support and promote it do you think there's a potential it may become somewhat of a "lost" album?

I hope not. I think it's a really strong album. But we are living in very strange times for sure!

Did the impact of the pandemic allow you any more time to develop your autobiography?

A bit, I've been slack there I have to admit - all my focus went on the album.

With the pandemic far from over but with live music making a return (albeit with some dates having to be pulled or rescheduled) what is 2022 looking like currently for you?

Well from March it explodes! Holy Holy first, then The Alarm and then Gene Loves Jezebel UK dates. Then Gene Loves Jezebel have the Cruel World Festival in the USA May 14th - not sure if you've seen the line-up for that but it's incredible! Yeah 2022 looks very busy with tons of cool stuff - thank god!

That certainly sounds like there's a lot to look forward to next year and not forgetting that solo gig in London on December the 12th this year. James Stevenson, as always, thank you very much!

James' excellent second solo album "The Other Side Of The World" can be ordered HERE!

Tickets to the Pizza Express Holborn gig in London on December 12th can be ordered HERE!

James Stevenson readies new album release!

I'm very glad to be able to announce that James Stevenson will be releasing a new solo album this year: his first album of new material since the fantastic "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" in 2014!

The new album is called "The Other Side Of The World" and features eleven tracks including one instrumental with James providing all the guitars and bass as well as lead vocals and Smiley all the drums.

More information as it becomes available and keep an eye out for an interview with James around the albums release!

The Rebelles release debut album

Many of you might have come across The Rebelles in the past, a vocal harmony group fronted by Tracie Hunter & Elizabeth Westwood who put a different spin on punk standards. They even supported The International Swingers at the bands only UK gig to date back in 2013 albeit with a slightly different line up.

For years there has been promise of a guest laden debut album and after much patience it is finally available to order!

Amongst the many familiar names that feature on the album those that will be of particular interest to Alarm fans are James Stevenson, Clem Burke, Glen Matlock & Slim Jim Phantom who appear alongside Mick Jones, Ian Hunter, Earl Slick, Kenney Jones, Chris Spedding, James Hallawell, Chris Musto, Neil Gabbitas and Paul Stacey.

Order the CD directly from Tracie Hunter for just £12 inc postage in the UK, £13 for Europe and $20 for those in the USA. Paypal traciehunter@icloud.com remembering to give your address!

As you can tell by the track list the original punk idea has broadened to take in a wider range of genres and the album features the following songs:

All The Young Dudes
Cracked Actor
Hanging On The Telephone
Motor Bikin'
Stay With Me
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Stray Cat Strut
The Last Time
Sorrow
Walk On The Wild Side

Own a James Stevenson guitar!

It's not every day that you get the opportunity to own a guitar that belonged to someone that has played with such an incredible and diverse mix of bands and artists across the years but now you have the chance as guitar legend James Stevenson is selling a small part of his collection!

The four guitars that are being sold are : 61 SG Junior (£3250), Gibson SG 2001 J200 w LR Baggs Gibson J-200 Guitar Fans & Players (£2500), 66 Fender Electric XII Olympic White (£5500), Fender Electric XII 78 Guild D55 (£2000) all have their original cases.

Hopefully the musicians & collectors out there will be excited and might actually know what they are!

Contact James directly @JamesOnGuitars on Facebook or via his website www.jamesstevenson.info if you have a serious offer and want to know more!

The Record Charity Book

Tim Darvell will be known to many UK Alarm fans (and many American ones after attending the Gathering there this year and last!) as well as being a fan himself he is also an author and fundraiser raising both money and awareness for the treatment of Bowel Cancer. His first book had heavy Alarm connections and now with the publication of his new volume "The Record Charity Book" that is something that continues! So here is what you need to know....over to Tim!

"I had been thinking about doing a follow up book to Lives & Times during the last couple of months of Mum’s life, and when she died my mind was made up, and I began approaching people to be in The Record in September 2016.

The Record has been done in memory of mum who died of bowel cancer on August 29^th, 2016 one week after her 80^th birthday. The cancer had spread to her brain, and she was moved into a nursing home for palliative end of life care once there were no ore treatment options available.

Lives & Times concentrated on Mike, Eddie, Dave & Twist, so for The Record I turned my attention to the current line up. 

I met Smiley at his studio in Fleet in spring 2016 just after his 4^th album, Smiley’s Friends Eclectic, was released. I spent a fascinating hour talking to him about his career, and this was just before the launch of the Blood Red album. 

I met James in Oxford at the O2 Academy before the band’s gig there in October 2017, and he gave me a fascinating insight into his musical roots.

 Then just when I thought I wouldn’t get Jules we had a great chat a couple of months ago, and her chapter is the longest chapter in the book and covered just about everything in her life.

The connections in the book continue with Gaz Top who I met before the concert at The Forum in London last May. Welsh rugby legend Rupert Moon also came on board. He is a great friend of Mike & Jules, and he gave me an amazing tour of The Principality Stadium.

 Ryan Hamilton needed to store his stuff in my hotel room at the recent New York Gathering, so I grabbed the opportunity to get him in the book. Finally there is the wonderful and inspirational fan of The Alarm, Gillian Wood, who is a bowel cancer survivor.

The book has 65 chapters, and everyone taking part gave up their own time to do it.

Since I published Lives & Times in 2015 I have met and become great friends with so many fellow fans of The Alarm. The support for that book took me rather by surprise, and as someone who used to keep very much to myself at concerts it made me come out of my shell, and it has been one of the best and rewarding things that has ever happened to me. I remain truly grateful for the wonderful and generous support from the fans.

The Record is available to pre order now in paperback and hardback from my website rivers2cross.com, and it will also be available to buy from all the usual online outlets soon including a kindle edition. All proceeds raised from sales of the book will be donated to Bowel Cancer UK. Since mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, almost £10,000 has been raised.

Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK. 16,000 people die every year. 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, which is one person every 15 minutes… Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable and if detected early at stage 1 over 90% of patients can be successfully treated. At the last stage 4 just 7% of patients live for 5 years or more. This makes raising awareness about the disease vital to help improve early diagnosis rates. This is the reason why I continue to do what I do, as it raises money for Bowel Cancer UK, but just as important it helps to raise awareness about this awful disease."

James Stevenson Guests on Alvin Gibbs release.

James Stevenson guests on two tracks on "Your Disobedient Servant"  the recently released solo album by U.K. Subs bassist Alvin Gibbs.

Released under the name of Alvin Gibbs And The Disobedient Servants the album features a host of special guests including Brian James, Leigh Heggarty, Mick Rossi and Steve Grittall. James lends his talents to "Camden Town Gigolo" and "Dumb".

You can purchase the album either on CD or digitally via bandcamp which you will find HERE!

"A Divide Of Two Halves - Racing the Tour Divide for Love Hope Strength Foundation" by Lydia Franklin

Lydia Franklin releases her third fundraising book for LHS this week full of nods to Mike Peters, The Alarm and LHS as well as having a foreword from a certain Mr. James Stevenson, as someone who had read her previous books covering her cycling ventures I was eager to read the third.....I wasn't disappointed!

“If it all went to plan it wouldn’t be an adventure. If it was easy it wouldn’t be an adventure. Woo hoo, this is an adventure!”

For those of you that don’t know Lydia there’s probably a couple of things you should know. She’s  very driven and regularly undertakes challenges that most would consider insane while all the time fundraising and promoting the music centric cancer charity Love Hope Strength Foundation. The other thing you need to know is that she doesn’t do failure! So having previously cycled the fabled Route 66 & the length of New Zealand (both trips documented in the books “Putting the metal to the pedal” & “Racing the Phoenix” respectively) her latest adventure was to take on the Tour Divide, a solo time challenge, starting in Canada then crossing the border into America.

Now I won’t get into the whole route and mechanics of the tour divide as to be honest it confused me a bit but essentially, big climbs, very hard roads and you’d need to be insane to really contemplate doing it in normal situations let alone on a pretty tight schedule as you have limited time booked as holiday before you have to return to the UK back to the day job! It would have been a massive feat even if everything had gone to plan and needless to say it didn’t! So *spoiler alert* Lydia is forced to abandon the challenge as she would run out of time …. This to me is a more interesting premise as it allowed some freedom to explore places she wouldn’t have been able to see whilst also rationalising the decision to end her race early. As someone once sung “Failure isn’t about falling down, failure is staying down” and that’s something that Lydia was most definitely not going to do!

Throughout her whole trip Lydia wrote blogs each day in order for those at home to be able to follow her progress, make sure she hadn’t been eaten by bears (they feature in the story and provide many a moment that made me smile!) and also to help promote her fundraising goal. These blogs for a large part of the book, are very easy to read and because they were written in the moment you really do feel what she was going through on any given day, her state of mind, levels of exhaustion and any mechanical challenges from the bike. Nothing has been clouded by memory or blurred in any way so it is the closest chance of being in the moment you will get. Each chapter has an update at the end where Lydia reviews that day and her memories of it, sometimes expanding of something or just reflecting on the trials she faced.

One thing that struck me was the random kindness of strangers that litter the book, from those that give help, advice, mental support, encouragement, water, even a place to stay without wanting anything in return. It’s all too easy to be cynical in this day and age and we forget there are many people out there willing to help a total stranger.

As the trip concludes you really empathise with Lydia as she battles getting back to the routine of everyday life far from the adventure, rattlesnakes and bears! No doubt her next adventure is already being planned…..go with the Crazy & good luck Lydia!

As a kind of footnote at the end of the book there’s 26 pages from a Facebook Q & A session that answer many questions that you may well find yourself pondering while reading “A Divide Of Two Halves”. This made for interesting reading as well as giving you something extra after the book had concluded. For the avid cyclist there is also a full breakdown of the bike Lydia used, what equipment, kit and yes even clothing….or lack of!

“A Divide Of Two Halves – Racing the Tour Divide for LoveHope Strength Foundation” is available now from Amazon in paperback or onKindle or directly and selected cycling stores.

James Stevenson "40 Years" A selective Interview!

For 40 years James Stevenson has lent his unique talent to a massively diverse selection of bands & solo artists with the release of "40 Years in the Rock 'n' Roll Wilderness (a Selective Retrospective)" you can now marvel at the diversity while enjoying some truly great music....and guitar solos!

What made you decide to release a retrospective?

It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a few years. The logistics were quite complicated, getting all the right permissions etc. but I kind of wanted to do it for myself – me being the only common thread. I think it’s an interesting collection – and also I wanted to introduce people to some of the lesser known artists whose work I really admire and to introduce fans of one band to others I play in.

Why now?

The time just felt right. It’s actually taken about two years to sort it all out.

With such a long and broad career how did you go about choosing which tracks to include?

Tons of different factors. It was hard. I would have loved a Scott Walker track on there, but sometimes the logistics were too complicated or permission was impossible to obtain. I had to like the track myself. I know that sounds weird but I have played on stuff I didn’t like just to pay the bills.

What was it like revisiting some of the more off the beaten track songs during your selection process?

That for me was a really enjoyable part. I hadn’t heard the Charlie Harper song for years. The Gary Holton track was something I suddenly remembered at the last minute and knew I had to include it.

The album kicks off, quite rightly, with “Urban Kids” by Chelsea, recording that must have been pretty special considering how young you were at the time?

Yeah I was nineteen I think. Kit Lambert produced it. Working with him was really great. I think that was the first time I played proper lead guitar on a record.

I’m guessing from some of the absences of material reflecting parts of your career you may not have been able to secure the rights for some songs?

Well everyone was really helpful. Billy Idol’s manager refused me permission for the Gen X track – so I went to Tony James who got them to change their minds – so I owe him for that. When I went to Beggars for Desire by Gene Loves Jezebel they just said I could have it “gratis” which was really sweet of them – usually you have to pay an advance. Obviously it’s easier if a mate, or you yourself, own a recording.

There's nothing representing your time in The Cult?

Well I’m not on any Cult recordings. I’m sure no guitarist except Billy Duffy ever will be. I was just a hired gun. There might be the odd live recording with me on it but I was never a member of the band – I was just a hired gun, so it never entered my mind to try to include a Cult track.

What made you choose “Andy Warhol” by Gen X ? Does it have fond memories or is it a nod to your present Bowie connection with Holy Holy?

I just thought it was a great version – very different to Bowie’s. The band really gave it our own slant. And I suspect many people have never heard it. Dancing With Myself would have been a bit too obvious.

You’ve said on social media before that one of the favourite things you ever did was the Henry Badowski album “Life Is A Grand…” I’m guessing it’s not an album that most people are familiar with, what makes it so special to you?

Well I was in bands at school with Henry so I’ve known him virtually my whole life. He’s a very talented and unique songwriter and instrumentalist. Yeah, he just made that one album for A&M in 1981, but he still has a cult following. I’ve often tried to talk him into recording new material commercially, but he hates the music industry.

Your start with Chelsea & Gen X doesn’t seem a natural fit to bring you to Kim Wilde & Annabel Lamb what was it they wanted you to bring to their sound?

Well things just happen along the way don’t they? Mickie Most got me in with Kim because he wanted there to be a band in the Kids In America video. I only play on a few tracks on her first two albums. Annabel was really just a session. Wally Brill who produced the first Chelsea album was producing it – so he knew what I sounded like and wanted a bit of that on the song. She went on to have a hit with a cover of The Doors’ Riders On The Storm of course.

I thought I knew most of the acts you’d been involved with, baring some of the sessions maybe, but The Hot Club and The Smart are new ones to me! What can we expect and what made them essential tracks to include on “40 Years…”?

Well Hot Club was the first band I had with Glen Matlock. We only made two singles, both with different singers. Steve Allen from Deaf School and The Original Mirrors is on the track I chose, which was a B side. When he left we got Clark Datchler in. He and Calvin went on to form Johnny Hates Jazz. It was kind of an unfocused band – but still important to me because it got me out on the road again which I hadn’t done for a while because I’d been a professional mimer with Kim for over a year. As for The Smart let me make it clear at the outset the name The Smart was nothing to do with me LOL. Dave Martin the singer was the rhythm guitarist in Chelsea and he and Geoff the bass player left to form The Smart in 1980. They asked me to join a couple of years later. We made an album that never got released at the time. Epic kept saying they were going to sign the band but never did – typical of the industry at that time. I actually really like the album – you can get it now – so I had to include a track.

Many will know Gary Holton from his acting career in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet or musically for his time in Heavy Metal Kids so where does The Gang Show fit in?

Well just after Hot Club, Glen and I formed a band with him. As well as an actor he was a rock and roll legend of course. I don’t think Big Tears has ever been released before. I just realised I had to include it right and the end of compiling 40 Years. I remembered it in the nick of time. I saw The Heavy Metal Kids at The Biba Rainbow Room when I was about fourteen and they were brilliant – especially Gary. I think I went to that gig with Henry Badowski actually……

For those that haven’t heard it before it may surprise some people that you feature on “Brand New You’re Retro” by former Massive Attack member Tricky which is very different to the genres that you usually favour.

Yeah – you end up on all sorts of records along the way LOL. I actually loved playing on Maxinquaye – I’m pretty sure I’m on a lot of it – but only got credited on this one track.

Was it difficult trying to mix different genres into a working running order?

No – it’s more or less chronological except here and there where I’ve kept tracks by the same bands next to each other in the running order. For example Desire and Break The Chain by GLJ are about seven years apart time-wise but I kept them next to each other on the CD.

When you approached this project did you have certain essential cornerstones that you had from day one or was the selection process fairly fluid?

The track-listing changed all the time. I was mortified when I first got refused Gen X – although I wasn’t in the band for long it was an important part of my career I felt I had to include. The cornerstones were the bands I feel are most important in my career – Chelsea, Gen X, GLJ, The Alarm, The International Swingers and Holy Holy.

Did you have any trusted friends that would suggest songs to you or give you a deciding vote if you were stuck?

Yes a few people. There are friends you respect whose help you engage when you can’t make a decision. Jules Peters vetoed the original cover LOL – which I’m glad about because Karl Parsons came up with a brilliant one after that.

What tracks were on the short list but didn’t make the final album?

It was especially tough deciding which tracks to include from the first Chelsea album and also The Smart. I nearly went with Something’s Got To Give from Under Attack too because I love the song. Also from Chelsea’s Faster, Cheaper And Better Looking – Cosy Family Way almost didn’t make it but then I decided I really liked the guitar solo LOL.

You’ve chosen just 3 songs to represent your work within The Alarm, “45 RPM”, “Superchannel” & “My Town” what is it about them that stands out for you above others?

Well Superchannel and 45 were both hits, that’s why I went with them. Then it was a toss up between My Town and Something’s Got To Give. Tough choices.

You’ve not chosen anything from your latest albums with either Chelsea or Gene Loves Jezebel is there any reason for this?

I just felt they were too recent – I’m really proud of both Mission Impossible and Dance Underwater - they need to be listened to in their entirety – for now anyway.

Your collaborations with Glen Matlock see you choose 2 tracks from the Philistines & 3 from The International Swingers. Now that Glen has left the Swingers do you have any plans to work together again?

Well John Carlucci’s been playing bass with The Swingers and he’s worked out great. But with Glen never say never, I guess. He told us the reason he didn’t want to do TIS anymore was that he wanted to stop playing bass and concentrate on being a singer songwriter. But recently he’s been playing bass with Clem and Walter Lure in The Heartbreakers so who knows.

The retrospective closes with 2 tracks from your excellent solo album “Everything’s Getting Closer To Being Over”, I remember you saying you were writing a follow up album so what’s the latest and how long will we have to wait to hear it considering how busy you are?

Well I’ve written the title track – it’s called The Other Side Of The World. It’s about my younger brother Dave and his battle with early onset Alzheimers. It’s been absolutely fucking heartbreaking

Are there any plans for a Vol. 2 if the album is successful?

Hadn’t thought of that. Maybe, although getting this one together has been a monster job.

Lastly……what can we expect from James Stevenson in 2018?

Well there’s a lot of Alarm in the diary. I want to get out and promote Dance Underwater with GLJ because I think it’s such a great album. Holy Holy too of course and also there may be some stuff with Daphne Guinness whose album I played on courtesy of Mr. Visconti. Sometimes I don’t know what to expect to come round the corner myself……

James, as always it's been amazing! Thank you & see you at the Gathering!

"40 Years in the Rock 'n' Roll Wilderness (a Selective Retrospective)" is available to order now for just £15 plus £3 p&p! Just CLICK HERE for details!

James Stevenson Retrospective

James has released a double disc selective retrospective covering a broad spectrum of his career, of course there are some gaps but what do you expect when your cv is as long as James'!

 "40 Years In The Rock 'n' Roll Wilderness" will be available from early February for £15 plus £3 p&p (or grab it in person if you are fortunate to be attending The Gathering in a few weeks) and can be ordered direct from James by clicking HERE!

The 32 tracks James has selected are....

1. Chelsea - Urban Kids
2. Chelsea - Trouble Is The Day
3. Charlie Harper - Barmy London Army
4. Gen X - Andy Warhol (live)
5. Henry Badowski - Baby Sign Here With Me
6. Kim Wilde - Water On Glass
7. Annabel Lamb - Tell Him
8. Hot Club - Heat
9. The Smart - Don't Worry
10.Gary Holton and The Gang Show - Big Tears
11. Gene Loves Jezebel - Desire (Come And Get It)
12. Gene Loves Jezebel - Break The Chain
13. Tricky - Brand New You're Retro
14. Gene Loves Jezebel - Come Naturally
15. Jay Aston - Who Wants To Go To Heaven?
16. Gene Loves Jezebel - Jealous (Acoustic Version)
17. The Alarm - 45 RPM
18. The Alarm - Superchannel
19. The Alarm - My Town
20. Beki Bondage - Move Over
21. Chelsea - Sod The War
22. Chelsea - Living In The Urban UK
23. Chelsea - Cosy Family Way
24. Chelsea - Home
25. Glen Matlock And The Philistines - Open Mind
26. Glen Matlock And The Philistines - Hey Mister
27. The International Swingers - FBI
28. The International Swingers - Fool's Holiday
29. The International Swingers - Whatever Works Now
30. Holy Holy - The Width Of A Circle (live)
31. James Stevenson - Suzi's Problem
32. James Stevenson - Come On People

James Stevenson Interview - June 2017

Photo courtesy of Lis Garrett Photography

Ever since it was announced that Gene Loves Jezebel were heading back into the studio to record new material via last years Pledge Music campaign I've been really excited and the resulting album "Dance Underwater" is simply amazing. Now with the album about to get released to the general public I thought it would be good to have a chat with the guitar legend that is James Stevenson.....but with James being Mr 72% you just know there will be a lot more to cover!





It’s been a long time coming “Dance Underwater” was definitely worth waiting for, you must be pretty happy with the finished album?

Yes, we’re all very excited about it. It’s our first real studio album in nearly twenty years. We’re over the moon at how it turned out -

You’ve said previously that one of the reasons that Jay has been reluctant to release new music is that his brother Michael would capitalise on it. Do you have any comment on the fact that as soon as the album was released to the Pledge backers Michael announced his a UK tour of his version of GLJ?

Let’s not talk about Michael. We all think he’s an asshole – and his behaviour proves it over and over again.

I see that tour has been postponed now till later in the year, will it have any impact on any legitimate UK live dates from yourself, Jay & the rest of GLJ?

We have a reciprocal agreement with him that he can play in the UK as long as he uses Michael Aston’s GLJ – that way everyone knows what they’re getting.

What are the plans for “Dance Underwater” , it gets a physical release in June I believe, what are your hopes for it?

June 30. Well that as many people hear it as possible and that it gets us some profile back and we can go out and play for as many people as possible. We’ve been too quiet for too long.
Summertime, the first single, sounds like a hit to me. We’re cautiously optimistic as they say.

Are you happy with the reaction so far from those fans that have had the album since the Pledge?

Yes – everyone seems to love it. I think it’s the strongest album we’ve ever made.

“How Do You Say Goodbye (To Someone You Love)” seems to have a distinct Bowie vibe to it, has being in Holy Holy influenced any of your writing recently?

Well Pete And Jay wrote that. I thought it was more classic 60s a la Barry Ryan but with dark lyrics. I asked Tony Visconti if he’d consider doing the strings for it and told him we had no budget and so not to feel obligated just because we’re friends. When he heard the song he said I love it, I’m doing it! He did a fantastic job. The pizzicato in the second verse is genius. Maybe that’s what gives it a Bowie vibe for some people.

Will there be a single released to promote the album or in this day and age of streaming sites is this an outdated concept?

The song Summertime will be the first single – released June 23.

Photo courtesy of Nigel Adams

You’re invited to talk about the album on the radio & they ask you to play 3 songs from it, which 3 would you pick to best promote it?

How Do You Say Goodbye? (To Someone You Love), Izitme and Flying (The Beautiful Blue) probably.

You’re currently playing a guest slot on the European Mission dates, how have the new tracks come to life live & which have made it into the set?

We want to do a lot of the new album when we go out live and The Mish tour has been the perfect opportunity to start working them in. So far we’ve done How Do You Say Goodbye?, Cry For You and Flying. And we’re using loops live on the new songs – something we’ve never done before.

Your solo album “Everything’s Getting Closer To Being Over” is getting a second lease of life with the release of it on gorgeous blue vinyl …. Are there any plans for a follow up?

Yes. It’s going to be called The Other Side Of The World and I’ve written the title track. It’s about my brother who was recently diagnosed with a horrible terminal illness called Pick’s Disease. It’s had a massive impact on my life.

You recently did another informal show with Smiley, was this as fun (& chaotic) as the Thursday night pre-Gathering show?

Even more so I’d say! I think we’re going to start making them a regular feature – we have such a laugh doing them, they’re easy – just pick a town the night before The Alarm are playing.

2 blokes walk into a bar....

It’s already proving to be a massively busy year for you, two new Alarm albums, 2 UK tours , the first American Gatherings, the prestigious Vans tour, more festivals than you could throw a camp fire at, Holy Holy tour, Gene Loves Jezebel album and live dates…..and I see there is also demos in preparation for a new Chelsea album! What can you tell us about that and are there other projects that I haven’t mentioned?

Well there might be some International Swingers shows too! LOL. Yeah it’s a crazy juggling act. I’m flying back from The Alarm US tour for one day on July 24 to film a Sky Art’s TV show with Holy Holy. And now GLJ is going to start to get busy again – crazy – but I love it.

“Blood Red” seems to have been a slow burner with most now fully embracing the album and some heralding it as one of The Alarms best what is your opinion of it?

I think Mike’s written some great songs for it. I didn’t play guitar on Blood Red at all, only Viral Black. I thought Tomorrow should have been the single – love playing that live. As you know I’ve been playing mostly bass with The Alarm recently because Craig’s been out with The Mish – and Jules has been playing keys. It’s been great having her on board.

This is the album most have taken to be the more personal release of the pair of albums being released this year what can you tell us about “Viral Black”?

Well as you’d expect it’s darker, very black. It has the song Two Rivers on it which is already becoming a live monster.

Were the sessions recorded for both albums simultaneously & if this is the case does “Viral Black” see you again on bass?

I think I played a bit of bass – but George Williams the producer did most. I played guitar on Viral Black. Though MP played a lot of guitar too. No they were recorded separately, Blood Red first. Viral Black we recorded in Liverpool.

For many it’s been strange seeing you playing bass on the recent tour & festival run, how have you been finding it?

Well I love playing bass. I played bass in bands at school and on tons of records, I did a lot on The Alarm “Bond”. I’ve always had a couple of basses at home so it’s like riding a bike really…..



How hard did you look for the rare Gibson bass that matches your beloved Les Paul?

I knew I had to have one. They made 209 white ones in the 70s. Managed to track on down in London thankfully.

When rehearsing for the Gathering what advice, if any, did Craig give you?

Craig plays bass his way, me my way. I have massive respect for Craig as a bassist but we approach the instrument quite differently. I will always definitely, primarily be a guitar player.

The 2 American Gatherings & World Record Store Day events seem to have been a massive success, what are your thoughts about them?

They were just fantastic fun to do. Everyone was positive about the new line-up with me playing bass and it was just a great time. And when I pick up my Les Paul for the solo at the end of Two Rivers – the final song in the set – it feels like I’m releasing a whole set worth of lead into that one solo – because it’s the only solo I play in the set! LOL

Mike said that they would be happening again, can you confirm whether they will become an annual event and if so will it be held in the same cities each year?

I can’t confirm that – that would be Mike’s call.

The band are just about to embark on one of its biggest American tours being part of the Vans tour…. Do you know yet if you will be returning to the guitar for these dates and if so who will be playing bass?

Photo courtesy Cathi Simpson

I will be playing bass. Jules will be on board and I’ll play guitar on about four songs – that’s the way the band is right now. I think of The Alarm as MP as the nucleus of the band, with a floating line-up around him.

With such a full year already planned do you know what’s happening next with Holy Holy….are there plans to take the Ziggy Stardust show to America or Europe?

I’m sure there will be more Holy Holy in the UK and Europe this year. I think the USA will be next year.

If Woody asked you to pick another classic Bowie release to feature for the next tour what would your choice be?

Would have to be Aladdin Sane wouldn’t it?

With being out and about so much this year what has been keeping you entertained musically, do you get much of a chance to hear new music?

Not really. Woody loves that band Rival Sons – they’re good and I’ve been listening to them a bit.

What do you choose to do when you have those rare moments of down time?

I’m trying to finish my book. But finding the time is so difficult. But I’m getting there. I think it will be an interesting read. There was so much I’d forgotten, but I kept a diary so all these stories are written down and now I’m remembering and re-discovering them. Many are pretty hilarious, and some are sad. It a no holds bard, warts and all, honest story, I hope.

Catch Gene Loves Jezebel at the Black Heart, Camden, London on June 26th, buy the new single "Summertime" digitally from June 23rd and the awesome new album "Dance Underwater" from June 30th.

James, thank you once again for your time and for being a gent!

Photo  courtesy of Nigel Adams