Roxy Music - Re-make/Re-model

author unknown

Uncut Magazine, March 2001

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS AT THE SAVOY WITH REFORMED SEVENTIES STYLE GODS

Roxy Music are to reform for the band's first tour since 1983. At a press conference at London's Savoy Hotel in The Strand on February 12, original members Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay announced eight UK dates in June to be followed by a world tour taking in Canada, the US and Europe, which will keep them on the road until late September. They also held out the prospect of entering the studio to record the first new Roxy Music album since 1982's Avalon.

With not a feather boa or ostrich feather in sight, the trio looked like louche bankers in their Savile Row suits and silver cuff-links. Upstairs in the Savoy's exclusive American Bar (strictly jacket and tie, no jeans), barman Peter Dorelli had even create a new cocktail named "The Roxy" in their honour, served in a tall champagne flute with a sugared edge and combining "a fragrant blend of apricot juice and apricot brandy with a dash of creme de cassis topped up with champagne".

Before the momentous announcement, a brief film recalled the highlights of their career and lingered lovingly over the results of the 1973 Melody Maker readers' poll. Roxy Music were voted best new act -followed, for heaven's sake, by Peter Skellern and Lynsey de Paul. It served as a timely reminder that the Seventies were not all good and reinforced just how far ahead of their time Roxy were.

Downstairs amid the gilt and chandeliers, the press conference got off to a bad start. Why, after 18 years, had they finally agreed to reform? "We were made an offer to do the tour and we all had time to do it," Ferry replied. It was a dismal accountant's answer, but fortunately Manzanera was on hand to dispel any suspicion they were merely getting back together for the filthy lucre.

"There's a sense of unfinished business," the guitarist interjected. "I always felt we had a lot more to give." And, he joked, when you look at the listings of tribute bands you never find a surrogate Roxy Music. "You can't cover our songs very easily, so we thought we'd better do them ourselves."

The live show will feature songs from all their eight studio albums, but no new material. "The arguments haven't started yet, but there'll be three or four from each record. People want the hit singles, but it would be good to dust down some of the more obscure things as well," Ferry said.

Mackay promised "a new approach to some of the old songs", but felt it was "a bit of a cheek to force new material on the public when what they want to hear are the ones they know."

"We've got to get used to working with each other again," Manzanera added diplomatically.

But Ferry dangled the tantalising prospect of them going back into the studio together later in the year and even expressed the hope that Brian Eno would join them. "First things first. But who knows? Ask us again in late September when we've finished the tour." He also revealed that Eno will feature on at least one track on his new solo album, due for release in October. "I asked him two years ago to do some shows, which would have been just the two of us. But he said he didn't like playing live. He'd be the first to admit he's a studio animal and not for the touring game. But we hope he will be involved if we go into the studio."

"It sounds as if we've been playing together for the past 20 years," Manzanera insisted on the basis of early rehearsals.

"Listening to the early albums again it's strange how detached you feel from it. But when you start playing the songs they come back without thinking," Mackay added.

Ferry predicted a live LP from the tour - "unless we play too many bum notes" - while Manzanera said the group now plans to investigate the prospect of releasing the BBC sessions from the early Seventies, which have only ever been available on bootleg. "I hope we can put out something interesting with some new material," he said.

And how will a reformed Roxy Music go down in the current musical climate? The band's continued influence can be heard everywhere from Pulp and Suede to Radiohead and Moby. But Manzanera felt glad they are not starting out today. "I feel sorry for people who are. It all seems so contrived now. I thought you just got together and played with your mates because that's what you wanted to do." And 30 years later, you get a champagne cocktail at The Savoy named after you. Viva rock'n'roll.

Text copyright 2001 Uncut, used without permission.
With thanks to Grant Goggans.