Jam - Italy

Before forming The Pineapple Thief, you were in Vulgar Unicorn, a band which did three albums.

That band featured different instruments, like trumpet, saxophone and violin, while with TPT you are the classic 5 men line up. Do you feel the sound less varied now? Were you looking for more linearity or maybe a rockier approach?

I think with Vulgar Unicorn, Neil and I (it was just two of us) were up for trying anything.  One minute we were doing prog-jazz, then drum and bass, then rock, then metal, then ambient, then prog - it was great fun but the albums tended to sound a bit more like a compilation!  I guess, in that sense, the sound is definitely less varied but it's no bad thing.  We're now a 4 man line up, so we need to make sure the sound we get in the studio can be represented live.  The live sound is so important to me now - with VU, we never had any desire to take it on the road.  With TPT, the live show is equally as important as the studio.  One journalist recently summarised us as settling down to a simple guitar, bass, vocal and classic keyboard line-up (mellotron, rhodes, piano and strings).  I have to say, I do like the idea of having a more defined 'sound'.

You were not the main singer of Vulgar Unicorn, is it true? If so, what pushed you to take the role of lead singer in the end?

Man, that's a good question.  I'm having to think back now...  Years ago, before we did 'Under the Umbrella' (circa 1989) we were recording demos in our local studio.  I was also playing in a frankly terrible live band and taking some of the vocals.  I thought I wasn't half bad so insisted on singing 'Primrose League' in the studio.  I sucked.  So, when we came to record the album for Cyclops we enlisted the talents of a local musician, Tony Busby.  Over the years, from playing more live gigs (many with my bass player Jon Sykes in a funky rock band called 'Terminal Headspin'), my voice gradually grew stronger.  By 1999, I felt it was time to give it a try again.  Listening back to 'Abducting' I still cringe at some of the vocal performances.  I've settled down now - I think I’ve got the vocals working quite nicely now!  So, in answer to your question, I'd hate the idea of writing personal stuff and getting someone else to sing it (like The Who do).  I've always wanted to sing...
 

Can you explain the reason of the strange name of the band, The Pineapple Thief?

I always set out to get a 'non-descript' name.  I don't want to give anything away when someone picks up a CD and sees our name for the first time.  It actually came from a film called 'Eve's Bayou'.  A little girl is branded a 'pineapple thief'.  I've lived with it for so long now I forget how odd it is.

This is TPT sixth album if I am correct, but the first three were much more your solo outlet, before you actually founded a proper band. What do you think your mates add to your music, apart from the mere performing?

Come to think of it, TPT seems to be split into 2 epochs.  The first epoch was poor old me locked in my studio, only emerging to eat and drink.  Then all of a sudden I had a fan base and with it calls to play live.  So, I got my mates together.  After Variations comes the 2nd TPT epoch.  As I said earlier, the live sound is just as important to me.  We have a great time together and playing live to such wonderful crowds really gives us a buzz and energy.  Obviously, I write the stuff but they contribute to production and I certainly don't dictate exactly what they play.  We are a band and friends, not 'bruce soord and his session musicians'.

I read on the site that your drummer, Keith Harrison, is the nephew of “a certain Gentle Giant keyboardist”. Do you mean Kerry Minnear?

I'll pass you over to keith to answer this one....

'Yes, I'm Gentle Giant keyboardist Kerry Minnear's nephew.  I grew up
aspiring to follow in these auspicious footsteps and always hoped to one day
play in a band which might reach the same heights of critical acclaim and
have a loyal fan base across the globe like Giant.  Despite having folded the
band some 25 years ago and now living in relative obscurity these days,
Kerry and the other Giant members are regularly invited to reform and
indulge the considerable mass of ever-faithful fans' wishes to hear them play
live again.  Kerry follows my progress in music with interest as he
does that of his own children, all of whom are highly talented like their
father.  Clearly, the benefit of wisdom from a man whose experience of many
years as a member of a hugely successful, and latterly revered, progressive
rock band is invaluable!'
 

I heard that the guitarist Wayne Higgins has left the band. Are you replacing him or will you continue as a quartet?

yeah, that was tough.  We'd been together for 5 years but Wayne just couldn't commit the time he knew he needed to.  We're playing as a quartet now and it's working really well.  I've had to up my game and take on a lot more parts, as has Steve with the keyboards.  We played Manchester in the UK last weekend and everyone told us it was by far the best performance they had seen.  So, I’m just happy we're getting better and better...

You are usually placed under the progressive tag: do you agree?

Another tricky question.  I could waffle on for years about it, but in short - yes.  But we're not 'prog'.  I write songs, some of them short, some of them certainly not 'progressive' in the traditional term.  But then, Different World and Too Much to Lose are definitely 'progressive' - longer songs, not conforming to traditional radio friendly boundaries (structure, composition, instrumentation).  There's a sticker on the front of the album that quotes us as 'one of the most influential bands of the new art rock'.  I'm not sure what art rock is!  We're probably all of the above.

 
As much as it can be irritating the usual game of the similarities, who are your reference points? I can hear some Pink Floyd, some Porcupine Tree and even some Muse: am I right?

Yes.  Throw in some supertramp, yes, elbow, radiohead, deus, queens of the stone age & beck for good measure.  It's not irritating when journalists quote references - it's a necessary evil when trying to convey what music sounds like.  We sell a load of records because fans of more established acts have been recommending us. 

This is your first album with Snapper, after a few albums with Cyclops. Do you think this can help the band to reach a wider audience?

I really hope so, but I know how busy the music world is out there.  I'm certainly set up - it's a huge step up for us and Kscope, whilst having a lot of resource, still convey the air of a true independent.  We're playing London on Thursday and I know most of them will be down there and we'll share a beer and have a laugh.  At the same time, they have opened a lot of doors for us already and made our music available through all kinds of channels.

Are you planning to play in other European countries apart from England?

Definitely, one of the most exciting things about 2008 is that we may get more opportunity to play in Europe.  We're playing Poland in September but really, we need to get out and tour Europe.

 
The last question is more my own curiosity: I have read somewhere an interview where you said that Anthony Phillips was the reason why you bought a 12 string. It’s funny, because I am just finishing a book about his whole career, and Ant Phillips is usually very underrated.

Hah, you're the first person to mention that!  yeah, I grew up listening to a LOT of Anthony Philips.  'Geese and the Ghost' is still one of my all time favourite albums.  Also, I absolutely love 'Slow Dance' - that influenced me a lot as far as the lush, layered string ensembles are concerned.  You know the first bit, where it all of a sudden cuts to the percussive section after the string intro?  When I think about it, it's not a million miles away from the drastic change I introduce in 'too much to lose'.  Yeah, he's definitely underrated.  I'd be interested to read your book - how many albums has he released now?  I've got most of the 'private parts and pieces' releases.  I'm going to have to dig out my old vinyl and give them a spin...