Post by Robin on Dec 3, 2003 18:36:48 GMT -5
The 60's & 70's - INTERVIEW W/ IAN MITCHELL of BCR
From: RobinOlson 11/17/2002 9:50 pm
To: ALL (1 of 7)
32.1
INTERVIEW WITH IAN MITCHELL OF THE BAY CITY ROLLERS VIA HIS WIFE, WENDY.
Let's get started!
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Robin: How did the Bay City Rollers come to be?
Wendy: Their manager Tam Paton wanted to manage a band. He was a musician himself but didn't have "it." He was looking for "it'" and found "it!"
Robin: Where are the Bay City Rollers from?
1968-1975 Scotland, 1976 Scotland and Ireland and 1978-1982 Scotland and South Africa
Robin: Who wrote the BCR lyrics and music?
Wendy:The BCR had top writers such as Martin and Coulter and even Eric Carmen.
Robin: My favorite Bay City Rollers songs are:
"You made me believe in magic" and "The way I feel tonight" which are great love songs. "Saturday Night" was a great 'gettin' ready to partttttyyy' song,
and I also liked "I only wanna be with you" "Summerlove Sensation" and "Money Honey". What are Ian's favorite BCR songs and why?
Ian's answers:
"The Way I Feel Tonight" -- because it was our wedding song.
"Money Honey" -- It is a great song, very much Power-Pop.
"Wouldn't You Like it" -- great song to play!
Robin: Those outfits! Why-Oh-Why? My own opinion is that BCR made good enough music that they really didn't need that "gimmick" of the Tartan Plaid outfits...and that it probably scared a few people away. Do you agree or disagree with that statement?
Wendy: LOL! I happen to like the outfits because it gave us fans a way to say..."HEY, WE LOVE THE BCR!" It started as actual clothing that was worn during that time...it was a fan who added the tartan and gave the management the idea of the look. Then the scarfs were added because the kids used to bring them to concerts of ANY band. I still have my Ian scarf and it was pinned under my wedding gown the day we married.
Robin: I heard once --that the Bay City Rollers chose the name of the band by someone sticking their finger on a map with their eyes closed. Is this FACT OR FICTION?
Wendy: Fact...kind of. Tam, the manager, put in a map of the USA. He wanted the Rollers to go from The Saxons, a British name, to an American sounding name. The pin landed on a map of Michigan and the closest city that sounded good was Bay City. The ROLLERS came from wording that was on the map to describe waves coming ashore.
Robin: Is Ian still in touch with any old Bay City Rollers?
Wendy: Yes, with two of them. But he has heard from almost all of them from one time to another throughout the years.
Robin: How come there's no official band site or reunion tours?
Wendy: There is really no Bay City Rollers anymore. The band members do their own thing. The lead guitarist owns the name and has done nothing with it. No reunion tour in the works...
Robin: Has Ian written any songs for you? (If not, he'd better get that pad and pen out --LOL)
Wendy: Absolutely NONE! No biggy though...I am waiting for Paul McCartney to do that!
Robin: What is Ian doing now? Any tours planned? Any new records available?
Wendy: Ian is going to start touring with a new band that is doing a 70's review. He will be doing mostly private events but if there is a Casino or state fair in the works, I'll let everyone know!
Wendy: He has a Christmas CD called "The Gift" available for sale. www.ianmitchell.com/gift.htm All proceeds go to the building fund of our Catholic Church. Ian, having grown up in Northern Ireland, understands the freedom he has been given to worship in the USA, so he wants to give back to his new country and to God...so this is how he has chosen to do it. I am on some songs as are some of our friends. We like it...hope everyone else gives it a listen, it is for a great cause! We are Catholics without a church! lol
Thanks Robin for the questions! It was fun answering!
Wendy
END INTERVIEW
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Robin: Those are all the questions that I have for now, but your answers might spawn some new questions, ok?
Also, I'd like to invite other people viewing this board to jump in and ask their own questions!
Lastly, I have many fond memories of "cruisin around" with my friends and hearing BCR on the radio. What a great time it was! The Bay City Rollers were energetic, upbeat and helped shape that fun party atmosphere we all had back in the swingin' seventies. They definitely deserve their place in 70's Rock n' Roll History!
Thanks so much for taking the time to catch us up on Ian Mitchell and the Bay City Rollers!
Keep Rockin'!
Robin
PS) Visit Ian's Official website at www.ianmitchell.com
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From: SusieWI 11/20/2002 5:17 pm
To: RobinOlson (2 of 7)
32.2 in reply to 32.1
Nice to meet you Wendy (and Ian).
In Ian's biography, he says he sued himself twice, what is that all about?
When he was "ix" with Cheri Currie and the others, did they make an album?
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From: wantanaitis 11/21/2002 3:55 pm
To: SusieWI (3 of 7)
32.3 in reply to 32.2
Hi Susie!
You asked: "In Ian's biography, he says he sued himself twice, what is that all about?"
Answer:Ian wanted me to tell you that he was joking around. The reason being was that there was so much suing going on he said he's probably sued himself twice and didn't realize it!
You asked: "When he was "ix" with Cheri Currie and the others, did they make an album?"
Answer: Actually the band was called The Mix and no, it was short lived because half the band wanted to go in one direction of nostalgia and the other half wanted to do new things. So...they split.
Thanks for asking Susie and going to Ian's Website!
Take Care!
Wendy-Ann Antanaitis
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From: Mark (markt777) 11/22/2002 11:11 pm
To: wantanaitis (4 of 7)
32.4 in reply to 32.3
I've had friends who have played in local bands for years. Without exception, there's always some sort of friction or disagreement between various combinations of the members. I'd guess it really multiplies when there's success and managers and producers and record company execs, etc.
How much artistic freedom does the band manage to retain once they make it big? And does playing become more of a job than a joy once there's so much responsibility? Do the personality conflicts get worse?
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From: wantanaitis 11/22/2002 11:40 pm
To: Mark (markt777) (5 of 7)
32.5 in reply to 32.4
Hi Mark,
Ian said that when he was a Roller the band didn't really have artistic freedom but did have amazing song writers so to him that was worth it. He did write a song that was released on the Dedication album along with the bass player.
As far as the joy as playing, yes, it became more of a job, but he still did like it. However, it was too much for a boy of 17 years old from a village in Ireland to handle.
As for personal conflicts, Ian also said that there were alot of conflicts in the band and that was based on artistic freedom. He enjoyed the other members but didn't care for the fighting over who was going to write what and what song should be sung.
Hope I got enough info for you!
Wendy
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From: Mark (markt777) 11/23/2002 12:07 am
To: wantanaitis (6 of 7)
32.6 in reply to 32.5
Thanks Wendy!
Does Ian have any certain concerts or recordings or events that especially stand out in his memory? Any favorite cities or places to play?
To venture to musical tastes: any particular musicians, groups, albums or songs that he is particularly fond of or influenced by?
Being a guitarist, does Ian have a favorite model? Any favorite paticular guitar that he just keeps going back to? Any other favorite equipment (amps, effects)?
I see Ian's new album appears to be religious-Christmas rather than just commercial-Christmas. I'd like to say I appreciate that.
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Edited 11/24/2002 4:56:18 AM ET by Mark (MARKT777)
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From: wantanaitis 11/24/2002 5:09 pm
To: Mark (markt777) (7 of 7)
32.7 in reply to 32.6
Hi Mark!
<<<Does Ian have any certain concerts or recordings or events that especially stand out in his memory?>>>
Ian's reply: My first sell out solo concert in Japan at the Buokan.
<<Any favorite cities or places to play?>>
Ian's reply: Toronto, just because it is a favorite city of mine to be so I loved playing there.
<<<To venture to musical tastes: any particular musicians, groups, albums or songs that he is particularly fond of or influenced by?>>>
Ian's reply: Rod Stewart, Slade, Mike Oldfield and David Cassidy!
<<<Being a guitarist, does Ian have a favorite model? Any favorite paticular guitar that he just keeps going back to? Any other favorite equipment (amps, effects)?>>>
Ian's reply: Gibson SG Guitar, but perfer to play Fender Strat when playing LIVE and Roland JC120 Jazz Chorus for the Amp
<<<I see Ian's new album appears to be religious-Christmas rather than just commercial-Christmas. I'd like to say I appreciate that.>>>
Thanks Mark, as Catholics we do view Christmas as a Christian religious holiday. And all the CD money is being given to our Church building fund, so we wanted to keep it as religious as possible but added some non-religious songs.
Ian would also like to thank you, Mark, for asking him these questions...I am just a faster typer so I typed them for him! lol
Wendy
