John Illsley - The Life & Times, Music and Memories Tour - video interview
Having released his sixth solo album 'Coming Up For Air' earlier this year, the former Dire Straits bass player has had a busy touring schedule, which included a performance at Glastonbury as well as dates across Europe. He's now gearing up for the next sequence of shows that combine acoustic versions of songs from his solo and 'Straits catalogues with a Q&A with long-time friend Paul Cummings.
In this latest interview with Andy Rawll for Decibel Report, John talks about his first public performance at his school as well as his reminiscences of Live Aid and events and circumstances that inspired the lyrics on early songs like 'Once Upon A Time In The West'.
Andy also spoke to John back in May about what was then his brand new studio album ‘Coming Up For Air’ in particular, the background to the individual songs. He also reflects on the evolution of Dire Straits’ sound from the tricky rhythms of the debut album to the widescreen sonic palette of ‘Love Over Gold’ and ‘Brothers In Arms’.
Five years on from his recovery from leukaemia, John takes as much pleasure from taking his music on the road as he relishes time with his family, painting and enjoys life in his local community in the New Forest, Southern England.
He reveals that his ongoing plan is to tour two or three times a year, for a few weeks at a time, with the addition of occasional one-off gigs or festival appearances. As such, following a series of UK dates in March and Germany in September, he’s now gearing up for a further set of shows in November 2019.
Although his original plan to tour Spain in October was aborted, he does expect to return there in 2020, as well as considering dates in parts of the UK and Ireland that have previously been bypassed.
With thanks to Mark Fuller and the staff of the Karma Sanctum Hotel for their rock ‘n’ roll hospitality and supreme customer service during the making of this video.
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