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Brutally frank Graham
A new interview with Graham Bonnet, where he is introduced as “talkative and often brutally frank”. And brutally frank he is all right.
On the second disk of his latest album The Book that consists of re-recorded classic tracks from Graham’s career:
How did the idea of doing the re-recordings for the second disc come about?
That was the record company’s idea – much to my chagrin, actually. It’s hard to do those songs again and feel enthusiastic about that after 30, 35 years on some of them. To record them again means you have to put them under a microscope and make sure that everything is kind of living up to as good as the old version or better than the old version, or that it’s good in its own way. I think the band actually reinterpreted the songs pretty much in a really good way; I just was worried about the vocals being sort of like the old ones. It’s a long time ago; it was hard to get through those songs and re-record ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ and ‘All Night Long’ and whatever else because the originals, to me, are still the better versions… To be honest with you, I can’t listen to them again because I like the way it felt to do those songs years ago. To do them now was harder work than the original sessions.
On his days in Rainbow:
In addition to your voice, you’re known for having one of the more unique images in the scene. How were you able to maintain your identity and image back in a time when the industry was perhaps calling for a much different look for a frontman in your genre?
I really didn’t think I belonged when I joined Rainbow, for instance. I went to sing the audition with a suit and tie on; I looked like a bank manager or whatever. There were a few jokes and snickers around the room when I approached ready to sing my audition piece. But after I had done the song, they all smiled and laughed and made me sing two or three more times over to make sure I wasn’t kidding when I sang it. I got the job not because of my suit or whatever, but because of my voice, I hope. The music comes before the way you look. But I’ve always been into 1950s music and the 1950s look, and I wasn’t going to change just because I was asked to join a so-called ‘hair’ band, a Heavy Rock band or ‘Heavy Metal’ band, if you will. It wasn’t my thing; I never knew who Rainbow was, so it was totally different for me. Eventually, I fit in; they got used to me looking the way I looked. As long as I sang okay, everything was good. With the album I sang on, I sang my heart out because it was something I had never done before; it was all new music to me. I learned along the way from [then-Rainbow bassist] Roger Glover and from [Rainbow founder] Ritchie Blackmore how these songs were written, because I was used to more sort of R&B-type songs… I thank Ritchie and I thank Roger for guiding me through it, but it felt absolutely wrong for me to be there. [After the audition], I went home to my manager in London and said, ‘I don’t think I belong in this band.’ He said, ‘What the hell are you talking about? I heard you sang your balls off on the audition piece.’ I said, ‘But I look wrong. The music they’re playing is sort of classically influenced; it’s not like the stuff I do.’ He said, ‘You’ve gotta do it.’ I went back again to finish off the album… It worked out well, but it was a long procedure because it was something totally new to me. I felt very, very green and pretty much like a baby being introduced to this genre of music.
Read more on joelgausten.com.
Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info and to Jari Kaikkonen for the videos (which were shot in Helsinki on April 21, 2016).
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
OMG he should stop trying to sing these songs..EOTW sounds pretty awful.And he really looks like an old car salesman now.
February 1st, 2017 at 22:37Makes sense I guess. Revisiting old studio recordings & singing them again, it’s like being asked to go back to highschool & redo a piece of homework from your formative years….. Why would you?. It’s always for the money & the fans. Thankyou Graham, you’re an absolute champion!. Be happy.
February 2nd, 2017 at 00:23His voice is still very good .. also , fashion style, black shirt and tie … it’s ok 🙂
February 2nd, 2017 at 09:01Powerful rock songs “Eyes of the World” and “Lost in Hollywood” still fresh, especially in live performances
L L GB
Oh, yes, his voice still sounds pretty strong! Why should he stop singing these songs? Just because there are a few cracks here or there in the upper register? Come on! This guy is almost 70 years of age. Hats off!
February 5th, 2017 at 07:47Byron that’s an hilarious comment looking like a used car salesman as it’s pretty normal in this day and when these singers get to a certain age
February 5th, 2017 at 23:56their voices and singing abilities will never be the same but gee i will always give them credit for doing their best, and judging by what Graham has suggested it is a little difficult re-recording the classics from the past i guess in some respect why change a good thing hmmm. A little disappointing but due to lack of ticket sales or lack of interest, G.B. and band announced a tour of Australia for memory the middle of 2016
the dates and the venue were set for an evening of rock music then the next day a cancellation oh well not much you can do.
Just listen how high this legend sings. In my book he is the equal or better than Ian gillan or dio or plant rock on graham
June 1st, 2019 at 07:07