What's Been Happening With Jeremy Spencer

Live Q&A session with Jeremy Spencer

On February 17th Indian Express hosted a live chat with Jeremy Spencer for over an hour. Below is a transcript of the questions that were posted and answered.

Question:
Maitreyi: I guess I'm about your age and I grooved to a lot of the music they send from out west, but I don't relate to the earcandy they play now. Why has the sound changed so horribly?
Jeremy Spencer:
Hi Maitreyi!!! It's a puzzle to me too. I guess it has something to do with more competition for big bucks and more central control globalisation of record marketing industry. What do you think it is??:-)

Question:
Indimoron: Why do u think indian audiences understand u're music so well?
Jeremy Spencer:
I think its because they tune into something more deeply. I enjoy playing for the Indian audiences and they pickup on that too and they are intelligent.

Question:
Indimoron: U're playing style is pretty much u're own, but vaguely reminds me of page.Any comment?
Jeremy Spencer:
You mean Jimmy Paige?

Question:
Ram: Have you had any recent concerts, jam sessions or albums made with other ex-Fleetwood Mac artists like Peter Green, John McVie etc - are there any planned in the near future? Have you considered playing in other Indian cities, i.e., other than Mumbai?
Jeremy Spencer:
No. I know of nothing planned in the near future. Yes we are playing in Bangalore this time on the 25th Feb at Chowdiah and would be doing Delhi, on the 5th of March at Hotel Ashoka.

Question:
Indimoron: Who's your fav. guitarist?
Jeremy Spencer:
Of recent ones, I like Mark Knopfler.

Question:
Hellen: Why did you choose only guitar as the musical instrument?
Jeremy Spencer:
I also play piano, I enjoy it very much. But for emoting for me there is nothing like slide guitar.

Question:
Erica: You said you'd like to play with B B King. You said it was your dream. How come? Are you in touch with B B King?
Jeremy Spencer:
I do know B B King. I had the privelege of doing a tour with him in England in 69 and sat for hours talking to him on the buses! He's just a good blues player.

Question:
Dude: What are the names (and phone numbers if poss) of the girls who are performing with you?
Jeremy Spencer:
Will give you the names, Christy Gibson and Angelina Johnson.

Question:
Minna: Cliff was mighty popular here too, in fact the Parsi community still plays "Congratulations" every time a couple finishes tying the knot - the Bombay wedding bands are just programmed to break out! But why did you like Cliff? Did you ever meet him and really chat with him?
Jeremy Spencer:
I liked his music of the late 50's and early 60's. Very simply put together good vocal and tasteful guitar work.

Question:
The blues is my favourite music. I've noticed particularly in the US that it represents a huge part of the general music scene. Does this interest you?
Jeremy Spencer:
I am more interested in playing this music to people who haven't heard it before or at least are not familiar with it.

Question:
Rajiv: In your opinion, does music today represent an improvement or would you rather consider it just the opposite, as far as the quality artistically? Who would you consider one of today's musicians in terms of real musical art in the classical sense of the word? By that I mean not just commercially made into a commodity that others want to purchase.
Jeremy Spencer:
I am not oh so familiar with the current music scene. So it is hard for me to judge. So many recordings are done with samples, multilayering techniques, its hard to tell sometimes who is really good, but in my limited knowledge again I like Mark Knopfler.

Question:
Ricardo: Do you consider your abilities as a guitarist to be improving over the years? How do you come up with some of the different sounds that you get out of your guitar?
Jeremy Spencer:
Yes, for sure, thank God. I like to experiment with the tones coming straight out of the amp without effects boxes and the guitar I use offers nice variety of pickup tones. So combined with that and finger picking and slide work I like to see what different sounds I can get.

Question:
Hellen: How was your performance at Rang Bhavan like?
Jeremy Spencer:
I won't be able to say until Saturday night at 10.00 pm after its over! Are u coming??

Question:
Hansraj: What kind of music do you prefer listening to. Do you like Indian Classical?
Jeremy Spencer:
I am not familiar with Indian Classical. I like some Indian fusion music such as A. R. Rehman.

Question:
Sunalee: Along the same lines, you mentioned that it's similar to playing a violin which is why you often close your eyes when you play. Not being a musician it's difficult to fully understand this, though it seems a beautiful concept. Is it as though you're better able to feel what you play that way?
Jeremy Spencer:
Yes. It helps to feel it better when you close your eyes! ;-) ;-)

Question:
Max: Do u define ure music as blues and how is it different from country western? Is it alternate music?
Jeremy Spencer:
Blues has come from the poor blacks of the southern states. It has a more soulful mourning sound. Country music came from southern cowboys and is essentially white music with its roots in Irish and German folk songs. It's not alternative music. Although whats termed alternative music nowadays is quite abundant. Is there any alternative to alternative that you know?

Question:
Nilesh Ashar: You have said in a press interview earlier that you relate better to India than to UK. Please elaborate.
Jeremy Spencer:
I have spent most of my time in the last 25 years living in what is called third world countries and I like it better than living in the West. People just seem simpler, sweeter, and easier to get along with!

Question:
Hansraj: Any plans to perform along with A R Rehman in the future?
Jeremy Spencer:
Dream on!!:-) If he wants to it's ok with me!

Question:
Nisha: When next do u plan to come to India?
Jeremy Spencer:
When NAB asks me again.

Question:
Janani Gandhi:
My parents want me to learn piano but I want to play the guitar. There are big fights at home these days because of this. Please, please tell my mother how fantastic the guitar is!
Jeremy Spencer:
I learnt the piano first when I was 9 years old and it gave me a great foundation in music. My hearts desire was to play the guitar but we couldn't afford one until I was 15. I wasn't excited about playing piano but my parents encouraged me and I got inspired to continue with it after hearing Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Question:
Leo: Are you still friends with the people in Fleetwood Mac? Do you have any contact with them? Did you attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony when the awards were given in 1998?
Jeremy Spencer:
Yes we are still friends. I still have contact mostly with Mick Fleetwood. I did not attend the ceremony because I was doing concerts in India.

Question:
Robert: How important do you consider the drums, bass and rhythm guitar in performing your type of music, particularly the blues?
Jeremy Spencer:
Very important. Although you can try it unplugged and solo like the old 20's and 30's bluesers like Robert Johnson and Blind Willie Mctell.

Question:
Nilesh Ashar: Do you (still) play the piano? Any public performances?
Jeremy Spencer:
We thought about doing a number which featured me on a piano but decided to wait. I like to do sequence recordings at home using piano and keyboards.

Question:
Rita: Have you ever been to Bangalore before? You've probably heard that it's the city that is particularly for it's love of music and fun.
Jeremy Spencer:
I have never been but we will this time and it's somewhere I wanted to play since my first visit to India 5 years ago.

Question:
Anita: Which song do you enjoy performing the most? Details please...
Jeremy Spencer:
I don't know...I haven't really thought about it. I like performing them all for different reasons. Of course a good slow blues number like "Bleeding heart" gives me chance to emote a lot on the guitar.

Question:
Indianmoron: What're somme of u're fav. songs. Would "free bird" be in that list?
Jeremy Spencer:
What's "free bird"??? I like Shania Twain's on "You are still the one I run to....", "My father's eyes" by Eric Clapton.

Question:
Sunalee: How can I get your autograph? I would just die if I got to meet you in person. Have smelling salts ready...
Jeremy Spencer:
Ohhhhhhhhhh....that's so encouraging, especially after seeing the photo of myself at the top of the page! Are you coming to Rang Bhavan?? Get my autograph then....;-)

Question:
Sanjay: You remind me of someone who has a great talent, but has opted to maintain one's musical integrity rather than to compromise artistically. I don't know if that's true, but just in seeing you perform it struck me in that way somewhat in a fashion of artistic integrity from another era--That is a time when people (which may even exist today, though given the information
overload one really doesn't know, does one?) actually persued their music or their art for the sake of fulfillment. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Jeremy Spencer:
You said it. I do feel that way. I have compromised artistically on a couple of albums 20 years ago and, God willing I would definitely not do it again.

Question:
Niharika Manjrekar: Hello Mr Spencer. I love western music, but my parents hate it. They want me to hear only Indian classical music. Please help me convince them that it's not wrong, only different.
Jeremy Spencer:
Hello Niharika!! I can't do much about that. Can you introduce them to some music you think that they would like to kind of break them in gently and I would understand them if you are bashing them over the head with heavy metal music!!

Question:
Anand: Can you play a little piano when you get down to Bangalore. I noticed on the chat that you do play? Could you include a number that can feature you on piano, just for fun?
Jeremy Spencer:
I'll see what I can do.

Question:
Nikita: Mr. Spencer are you working on east-west fusion music?
Jeremy Spencer:
It's a difficult question I would like to but it takes authenticity to really pull it off. I am playing with 6 Indian musicians so I guess that is fusion in itself!! But musically it's in a blues framework.

Question:
MikeG.: Will this series of concerts be recorded? If so, will they be made available via internet or cd? I love your music and really enjoy the new stuff (1998) alongside the F.Mac In Chicago tunes! Where are you living now?
Jeremy Spencer:
Will do a quick ADAT eight channel recording of Rang Bhavan. Don't know if it will be available commercially. Glad you like my new stuff. Thanks.

Question:
Herman: It said in the newspaper that you have an Instrumental CD coming out. How long do I have to wait? Any timing on this one?
Jeremy Spencer:
Don't know maybe I'll put it on the web. Bye everybody. Good questions. God Bless you..Bye!! Jeremy.

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