The Johnny Heywood Interview
Johnny, it's been a few years - how are you today?
I'm very cool, once again thank you.
Well, we've a lot to catch up on since we last spoke in 2003.
Yes, it's been an incredible time. It could take years to tell you about my life... but I can leave out the bits where I ate and drank and just slept and I could really cut back on describing the parts where I just watched the telly. That way, I could bring it down to a couple of minutes.
Great, that's the angle I was shooting for. Just don't leave out the sex bits and the drugs.
Hey, you just leave my family out of this, ok?
Sorry!! Ok, how did it all start for you, musically speaking?
Well, I needed something else to play with after I found I couldn't get away with taking my Action Man to school any more as it got in the way of my "O" levels, so I found the guitar. My brother Gordon was a big influence as he played one first & I just picked it up from him. I bought a bass finally so that I could start a band with a couple of guitar playing friends.
Yes? A familiar story. Did you sing at this point?
Yes I did. I was singing before my voice broke and I could easily hit all the high notes of guys like Robert Plant of Zeppelin and Deep Purple's Ian Gillan.
Phew! You must have been brilliant?
Nah, it sounded like shit. My brother used to laugh at me.
Tell us about how your bass playing has developed.
Well, the bass player used to be the fat boy who was the poorest guitar player in the old days. Funnily enough, I have been meaning to lose some weight... and my guitar playing certainly could use some practice but other than that, Bass is my life, totally and without equal. Oh yeah, alongside singing.... and my rather fine collection of vintage Action Men..... and my woman Sarah, too. Christ! I'd get killed if I didn't mention her.... and flying too.... and my yummy collection of basses and guitars under my bed. Yes, it's a full life and very rewarding.
Great! So now you've got back together with Rob & Ross and Burn is once again on the road.
Yes, I do apologise. It wasn't my idea and if I could have got my very funny cabaret act together then I wouldn't need this. My philosophy in life is always, always move forward, never back. Unless they pay me to, of course. Then I'd do any old crap.
Incredible!
Yes it is.
Can we expect any new material?
Well, I can definitely say you will hear some different songs. I mean, what is new? I don't like to look beyond 1969 and certainly not after 1975 so you can see where the band is pitching it's music. We are doing Still I'm Sad and technically that's a Yardbird's 1960's song but we get round that by doing the 1995 Rainbow version along with our wee bits to keep it fresh.
Super! Where do you see it all going in the future?
Good question. I think a move away from the rather loud, noisy music we have been playing all these years is long overdue. I feel we could do something a little quieter and slower like Westlife did on their covers album. I'd rather like to try wearing a dinner jacket, singing in front of a big band and doing standards whilst telling a particularly hilarious story involving Rob, Ross and a one legged budgie named Arthur. It's really very funny.
Fab and Groovy! It all sounds really exciting?
Yeah, it'll be a dream come true. No more of that noisy drummer in my ear and that house-demolishing wall of sound from the guitar department! Plus, I must do a medley of my acoustic pieces with the London Philharmonic if they are available on the 17th. If not, I'll just use the accordion setting on my Casio keyboard and fudge it. Probably be a whole lot cheaper that way.