Mercury Roadrunner's Interview with Tim Staffel
Jul 27, 2021 15:41:22 GMT
The Real Wizard, emrabt, and 6 more like this
Post by Mercury Roadrunner on Jul 27, 2021 15:41:22 GMT
Tim Staffel’s Interview for Unofficial Russian Queen Fan Club
PS: Hello, Tim, it’s an honour for us in URQFC to talk with you,
my name is Pavel Strashnyy and I’ve always been a fan of your vocals, I consider you to be quite a dramatic and unique vocalist.
TS: Pavel, that’s very kind of you - I will do my best to answer the queries as clearly as I can. I should apologise in some cases where it is actually so long ago that I don’t have a clear recollection...
Q: I have always been a huge fan of your song ‘Stray’ - what is the inspiration behind this song?
A: It’s quite an early song: mid-’seventies or so - basically the inspiration is personal - there have been times in my life (as I’m sure in many peoples’) where you feel ‘surplus to requirements’ in a particular social situation - you know, you don’t seem to fit - whatever personal qualities you have don’t gel in a particular scene- could be a romantic attachment, with a specific person, or within a group dynamic where things aren’t working out… I just wanted to express the alienation in general terms so that it meant something in a wider context.
Q: When approximately can we wait for your new album?
A: I’m hoping to get to Barcelona in mid-September and record the album over a three-week period with my son and some players that I’ve been looking forward to working with - the pandemic really screwed everyone’s plans up - but hopefully We can get back on track. I would think we could expect digital media in maybe the Spring of 2022
Here are some questions from URQFC to you
- The name of the group ‘Smile’
Q: Were you the author of this name? Did Brian and Roger have their own ideas for the name of the band?
A: I seem to remember that it was my idea at the time, but I wouldn’t put money on it; if Roger or Brian contradicted me, I wouldn’t be able to argue. However, the Smile logo was mine - I created the original artwork back in the day - We had it on Roger’s bass drum - and I printed some cards myself at Ealing College. There are tee-shirts on sale I believe from the Queen website that have the original logo reprinted...
- ‘Polar Bear’ – Brian’s Song.
Q: Did Brian and Roger take part in recording vocals in that song?
A: Yes, Brian takes the lead vocal on the verses, and I take the second half each time - then all three of us join in on background. Brian’s voice is lovely - I rather think mine is a bit ‘forced’
- ‘April Lady’ – what was the connection between Stanley Lucas, who wrote this song, and ‘Southern Comfort’ band, who recorded it in 1971?
Stanley Lucas had nothing to do with ‘Southern Comfort’ - true, they recorded the song two years after us - and the writing was credited to Carl Barnwell from that band but Lucas was an American writer who doesn’t appear to have done anything else...
Q: It’s clear, that Roger takes part in recording vocals in this song. Did Brian also record backing vocals?
A: Again, Brian takes the Lead vocal - The three of us record the backing harmony block, and Roger has the answering lead to round off each verse
- ‘Doin’ Alright’
Q: Who started to write this song? What parts were written by you and what parts were written by Brian?
A: This is pretty difficult to recall, although I feel sure it would have been Brian supplying the original chord progression, to which I would then add lyrics - and most likely modify some of the chords myself to fit a lyric that I wanted to include
- ‘Step On Me’
Q: Same kind of question here. Who started to write this song? What parts were written by you and what parts were written by Brian?
A: I’m pretty sure that this was a Brian song entirely; but again, as I put the lyrics to it - if I wanted some modification that allowed the narrative to flow better, Brian would respond and adjust things...
- ‘Earth’
Q: Did both Brian and Roger took part in recording vocals in that song?
A: Only on the backing harmonies. I took the lead vocal exclusively; Incidentally, when Brian recorded the new version on my aMIGO album - He sang brilliantly!
Q: It’s sounds like this record has a synthesizer in it – who played this part?
A: It isn’t a synthesizer - it’s a Hammond Organ; I don’t know who played it, but I always thought it was a hugely important part of the recording
(Editorial remark:
'Blag' –
this song is based on riff by Roger,
Roger is the author of 60 % of a song,
and Brian (‘Brighton Rock” part) and Tim share 40 %.
Main collaborative part between Brian, Roger and Tim in that song was an arrangement.
Tim owns rights for the 50 percent of ‘Doing All Right’,
and all the other ‘Smile’ material belongs to Queen management)
Q: Is it true that future Queen’s roadie John Harris played keyboards in ‘Smile’?
A: No, it isn’t true. I don’t recall if John was even particularly musical
Q: Is it true that one of Queen bass players, Mike Grose, once played bass in ‘Smile’?
A: After I left Smile - the guys kept the name for a short while - I think Mike Grose may have played bass during this time, and after the name-change
Q: How do you remember the recording sessions with ‘Smile’?
A: Not very well, to be honest - It was fairly primitive compared to modern day - I think we were recording on a 16-track Studer tape machine; I had a P-Bass; that’s pretty much all I can remember...
Q: What is your the most favourite memory / special story about you and Brian in ‘1984’?
A: It isn’t really one specific occasion, it’s just that ‘1984’ was a schoolboy band, fundamentally, and we had little in the way of pressure to interfere with our enjoyment of the experience. We hadn’t been ‘digested’ by the music business - we were largely pleasing ourselves about where, and how we played.. It was a pretty special time.. We gigged regularly and got paid for it (not a fortune, but a boost to our regular parental allowances)
Q: Do you remember which ‘Smile’s song was Freddie’s favourite?
A: I would guess it would be either ‘Doin’ Alright, ‘Polar Bear’, or possibly ‘Silver Salmon’, since those were the three Smile songs he actually sang...
Q: Do you remember Freddie and you ever playing/jamming/singing together?
A: Probably at the college, just casually - for fun
Q: Do you remember Freddie, Brian and Roger paying/jamming together before you decided to leave ‘Smile’ and they formed ‘Queen’?
A: No, I don’t - You have to remember that Smile wasn’t a very long-lived band.. me leaving was fairly sudden, and there wouldn’t really have been much of an opportunity for ‘cross pollination’ in the last couple of months
Q: What are your memories about studying with Freddie?
A: Neither of us were as committed to the idea of a college education as we ought to have been (but we weren’t alone in that) - it was London in the mid-’sixties - the centre of a global cultural revolution of the young, and we were in the middle of it; I guess we both just wanted to eat, sleep and dream about music! I think we both were awarded our diplomas, but we couldn’t really wait to get out in the world and play in bands full-time!
Q: What was other’s student’s attitude to Freddie?
A: Freddie was just another guy on an art course - nobody was any more special than anyone else - we were all creative individuals with something to say in one artistic discipline or another - I think everyone respected everyone else’s skills and space… there was an internal social vibe, of course - mix of humour and seriousness towards the discipline...
Q: Can you remember in more details how you introduced Freddie to Brian and Roger?
A: I didn’t really ‘introduce’ Freddie to Roger and Brian, Freddie was a part of the social circle at college which was interested in Music; I would visit Freddie’s gigs sometimes, he would visit ours - we would all go to concerts and generally talk, chat and absorb music and musical influences… Freddie was a member of the local peer group; he belonged, and so it was natural that we would all mix and socialise independently
Q: Do you remember meeting Mary Austin when she and Freddie were just starting dating and what are your memories of her?
A: Marry was a sweetie; she was a gentle girl as I recall - I didn’t seen her again after those first few years; I always wonder if she changed much after the tragedy
Q: The Flat on Ferry Road is said to have members of ‘Smile’ and friends as a residents – can you remember any special stories about that place and company of you living there?
A: Roger actually lived there. It was a student flat - Brian and I used to visit and rehearse acoustically with Roger in one of the front rooms. Certainly, I think that’s where ‘Doin’ Alright’ was written. There was dope, I recall, and a lot of laughter...
Q: It would be really great for you to come to Moscow, Russia, with concerts and interviews. We would be happy to see you here.
A: Well, I am very grateful for your interest in me and my music. I would love to play in Russia; and we can hope that some day it might be a reality. The pandemic has been difficult for everyone. We hope it is over now.. but we shall have to wait and see….
PS: We thank you for your time and hope to see you with concerts in our country.
All of the very best,
Pavel,
URQFC
vk.com/queenrocks
PS: Hello, Tim, it’s an honour for us in URQFC to talk with you,
my name is Pavel Strashnyy and I’ve always been a fan of your vocals, I consider you to be quite a dramatic and unique vocalist.
TS: Pavel, that’s very kind of you - I will do my best to answer the queries as clearly as I can. I should apologise in some cases where it is actually so long ago that I don’t have a clear recollection...
Q: I have always been a huge fan of your song ‘Stray’ - what is the inspiration behind this song?
A: It’s quite an early song: mid-’seventies or so - basically the inspiration is personal - there have been times in my life (as I’m sure in many peoples’) where you feel ‘surplus to requirements’ in a particular social situation - you know, you don’t seem to fit - whatever personal qualities you have don’t gel in a particular scene- could be a romantic attachment, with a specific person, or within a group dynamic where things aren’t working out… I just wanted to express the alienation in general terms so that it meant something in a wider context.
Q: When approximately can we wait for your new album?
A: I’m hoping to get to Barcelona in mid-September and record the album over a three-week period with my son and some players that I’ve been looking forward to working with - the pandemic really screwed everyone’s plans up - but hopefully We can get back on track. I would think we could expect digital media in maybe the Spring of 2022
Here are some questions from URQFC to you
- The name of the group ‘Smile’
Q: Were you the author of this name? Did Brian and Roger have their own ideas for the name of the band?
A: I seem to remember that it was my idea at the time, but I wouldn’t put money on it; if Roger or Brian contradicted me, I wouldn’t be able to argue. However, the Smile logo was mine - I created the original artwork back in the day - We had it on Roger’s bass drum - and I printed some cards myself at Ealing College. There are tee-shirts on sale I believe from the Queen website that have the original logo reprinted...
- ‘Polar Bear’ – Brian’s Song.
Q: Did Brian and Roger take part in recording vocals in that song?
A: Yes, Brian takes the lead vocal on the verses, and I take the second half each time - then all three of us join in on background. Brian’s voice is lovely - I rather think mine is a bit ‘forced’
- ‘April Lady’ – what was the connection between Stanley Lucas, who wrote this song, and ‘Southern Comfort’ band, who recorded it in 1971?
Stanley Lucas had nothing to do with ‘Southern Comfort’ - true, they recorded the song two years after us - and the writing was credited to Carl Barnwell from that band but Lucas was an American writer who doesn’t appear to have done anything else...
Q: It’s clear, that Roger takes part in recording vocals in this song. Did Brian also record backing vocals?
A: Again, Brian takes the Lead vocal - The three of us record the backing harmony block, and Roger has the answering lead to round off each verse
- ‘Doin’ Alright’
Q: Who started to write this song? What parts were written by you and what parts were written by Brian?
A: This is pretty difficult to recall, although I feel sure it would have been Brian supplying the original chord progression, to which I would then add lyrics - and most likely modify some of the chords myself to fit a lyric that I wanted to include
- ‘Step On Me’
Q: Same kind of question here. Who started to write this song? What parts were written by you and what parts were written by Brian?
A: I’m pretty sure that this was a Brian song entirely; but again, as I put the lyrics to it - if I wanted some modification that allowed the narrative to flow better, Brian would respond and adjust things...
- ‘Earth’
Q: Did both Brian and Roger took part in recording vocals in that song?
A: Only on the backing harmonies. I took the lead vocal exclusively; Incidentally, when Brian recorded the new version on my aMIGO album - He sang brilliantly!
Q: It’s sounds like this record has a synthesizer in it – who played this part?
A: It isn’t a synthesizer - it’s a Hammond Organ; I don’t know who played it, but I always thought it was a hugely important part of the recording
(Editorial remark:
'Blag' –
this song is based on riff by Roger,
Roger is the author of 60 % of a song,
and Brian (‘Brighton Rock” part) and Tim share 40 %.
Main collaborative part between Brian, Roger and Tim in that song was an arrangement.
Tim owns rights for the 50 percent of ‘Doing All Right’,
and all the other ‘Smile’ material belongs to Queen management)
Q: Is it true that future Queen’s roadie John Harris played keyboards in ‘Smile’?
A: No, it isn’t true. I don’t recall if John was even particularly musical
Q: Is it true that one of Queen bass players, Mike Grose, once played bass in ‘Smile’?
A: After I left Smile - the guys kept the name for a short while - I think Mike Grose may have played bass during this time, and after the name-change
Q: How do you remember the recording sessions with ‘Smile’?
A: Not very well, to be honest - It was fairly primitive compared to modern day - I think we were recording on a 16-track Studer tape machine; I had a P-Bass; that’s pretty much all I can remember...
Q: What is your the most favourite memory / special story about you and Brian in ‘1984’?
A: It isn’t really one specific occasion, it’s just that ‘1984’ was a schoolboy band, fundamentally, and we had little in the way of pressure to interfere with our enjoyment of the experience. We hadn’t been ‘digested’ by the music business - we were largely pleasing ourselves about where, and how we played.. It was a pretty special time.. We gigged regularly and got paid for it (not a fortune, but a boost to our regular parental allowances)
Q: Do you remember which ‘Smile’s song was Freddie’s favourite?
A: I would guess it would be either ‘Doin’ Alright, ‘Polar Bear’, or possibly ‘Silver Salmon’, since those were the three Smile songs he actually sang...
Q: Do you remember Freddie and you ever playing/jamming/singing together?
A: Probably at the college, just casually - for fun
Q: Do you remember Freddie, Brian and Roger paying/jamming together before you decided to leave ‘Smile’ and they formed ‘Queen’?
A: No, I don’t - You have to remember that Smile wasn’t a very long-lived band.. me leaving was fairly sudden, and there wouldn’t really have been much of an opportunity for ‘cross pollination’ in the last couple of months
Q: What are your memories about studying with Freddie?
A: Neither of us were as committed to the idea of a college education as we ought to have been (but we weren’t alone in that) - it was London in the mid-’sixties - the centre of a global cultural revolution of the young, and we were in the middle of it; I guess we both just wanted to eat, sleep and dream about music! I think we both were awarded our diplomas, but we couldn’t really wait to get out in the world and play in bands full-time!
Q: What was other’s student’s attitude to Freddie?
A: Freddie was just another guy on an art course - nobody was any more special than anyone else - we were all creative individuals with something to say in one artistic discipline or another - I think everyone respected everyone else’s skills and space… there was an internal social vibe, of course - mix of humour and seriousness towards the discipline...
Q: Can you remember in more details how you introduced Freddie to Brian and Roger?
A: I didn’t really ‘introduce’ Freddie to Roger and Brian, Freddie was a part of the social circle at college which was interested in Music; I would visit Freddie’s gigs sometimes, he would visit ours - we would all go to concerts and generally talk, chat and absorb music and musical influences… Freddie was a member of the local peer group; he belonged, and so it was natural that we would all mix and socialise independently
Q: Do you remember meeting Mary Austin when she and Freddie were just starting dating and what are your memories of her?
A: Marry was a sweetie; she was a gentle girl as I recall - I didn’t seen her again after those first few years; I always wonder if she changed much after the tragedy
Q: The Flat on Ferry Road is said to have members of ‘Smile’ and friends as a residents – can you remember any special stories about that place and company of you living there?
A: Roger actually lived there. It was a student flat - Brian and I used to visit and rehearse acoustically with Roger in one of the front rooms. Certainly, I think that’s where ‘Doin’ Alright’ was written. There was dope, I recall, and a lot of laughter...
Q: It would be really great for you to come to Moscow, Russia, with concerts and interviews. We would be happy to see you here.
A: Well, I am very grateful for your interest in me and my music. I would love to play in Russia; and we can hope that some day it might be a reality. The pandemic has been difficult for everyone. We hope it is over now.. but we shall have to wait and see….
PS: We thank you for your time and hope to see you with concerts in our country.
All of the very best,
Pavel,
URQFC
vk.com/queenrocks
