Sam Burnett Interview 2003
Sam Burnett on Back To Zero Album.!
Who/ What/ When did the idea for this Back to Zero album first come to light?
Brian’s a strong believer in fate and I’m a strong believer in extreme co-incidence. So you’ll have to decide which of the two this is.
To set the scene, after we split in 1980 (1979, really because the next line-up was without Brian and Andy Moore, so that’s when I consider we quit) I didn’t see, hear from or smell Brian and Andy for 23 years. We lived in each others pockets and grew up as teenagers together, and then .. phut … all gone. Thought about them, and Mal, our workhorse of a bass player on many occasions but I allowed that whole period of my life to become nothing more than a teenage memory. I guess I was blanking out a lot of the disappointment and heartache that goes with not really achieving what I knew we could have achieved if we’d been nurtured properly.
I kept up playing in bands and they all split badly so in 1988 I quit for good and bought some recording equipment. I worked on my own for a good few years and was happy but the live bug started to bite. Got back into a few bands around 1990 but they weren’t my bands and I hated not being the songwriter so I quit again in the mid nineties.
Back to the home studio again, but with the arrival of my children, I just didn’t have the time to write much.
I was surfing the net one day in early 2001 when I stumbled across Jimmy’s Purple Hearts page. I was stunned to see that Brian had a page there with his e-mail address. I didn’t mail him immediately. Followed a few links from there and noticed how many mentions Back To Zero were getting. I mailed and then spoke to Jimmy and that inspired me to mail Brian. First communication in a long, long time.
I’d just ordered a new studio and was wondering what to do with it. I’d thought about re-recording everything I’d done in the past starting with the original BTZ stuff. But apart from the single and the B-side, I couldn’t remember the songs. They were all there somewhere but I’d locked them all so far back in my head that I couldn’t find them. I had no recordings to fall back on.
Jimmy put me in touch with Detour who were touting a poor quality early bootleg from ’79 and Dizzy sent me a copy.
Brian and I met up in May 2001. He brought along his collection of BTZ memories, with photos that I hadn’t seen in over two decades. It was a very inspiring and emotional night and we agreed to record the songs again there and then.
Despite having the tape from ’79, there were songs that were never recorded and Brian (with his legendary and unfaltering memory) set about unlocking some pretty deeply hidden memories from the deepest parts of my brain.
He did a job that many a psychologist would be proud of. Along with a lot of ‘ Da..da..da.dada. … then it goes la-da-da-de de’ which isn’t quite so technical.
That’s the definitive answer.
Was it strange playing/recording the songs after all this time?
Yes. There was a degree of nostalgia involved but creatively it gave me the boost I needed having apportioned so much of my time to raising children. Brian and Andy were both extremely supportive in encouraging me to rework the songs but I think we all agree that the essence of how we were in ’79 has been retained immaculately.
It got even stranger when Brian came down to lay the vocal tracks down. There are more than a few moments on this album that, when we were tracking Brian’ vocals, the hairs were up on the back of the neck. It was like time-travel suddenly became possible!
Which song in your mind stands out so much now and has got you thinking ‘yes this should have been the next single’?
‘Talking To Myself’ although that won’t mean much until you hear the album
Talk us through the tracks and tell us when they first originated either live or demo and how much have the band changed them.? … Can I answer this once the albums out and people have heard it because it’ll make a pretty boring read otherwise?
Was it great fun meeting up with the band and playing again? Who was the hardest original member to trace?
It’s been a blast meeting up again and we’ve got this sort of bond now like we actually care about each other far more than we did in’79. Rehearsals aside, we meet up regularly and check each other by e-mail and phone several times a week. We’re all in our forties now and whilst we’re not quite at the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ stage we’re not as reckless and carefree as we were the first time round so I think we all feel it’s important as friends to consider each others well-being as we grow older.
We had a rehearsal recently and we just kept looking at each other playing. I think we couldn’t quite believe that we were in the same room after all this time, just getting it on and really enjoying each others company. When we played ‘Modern Boys’ ( which was going to be the first single originally) I’d arranged the song for one guitar and two vocals at the start and Brian and I were just looking at each other and filling up.
Andy played bass at the first rehearsal but on the second he went back to drums. To hear him drumming again for the first time since he was just turned seventeen ( and he was a fine drummer even then ) was just one of the most emotional things since my girls were born. Awesome.
Mal now lives in Paris with Sophia and the three mini-Mals so he was the last original member to contact. We’ve met twice now and had great nights both times. Unfortunately he won’t be able to join us live, but we might just tempt him to do a guest spot somewhere.
You must be proud of the album and pleased that 20 years on Back To Zero have the chance to do something positive?
Very proud of what we’ve done, not just in terms of the album ( which is a great piece of work! ) but with the whole attitude of the band. Due to the limitations of my studio we couldn’t get Andy down live but he’s had the strength of character to still come along and listen and comment constructively. I played bass on Mals’ behalf and not one word of criticism from him, just support. Brians’ attitude has been amazing. Even during times when I doubted myself he’s always found the right thing to say to keep me going.
Who’s influenced/inspired you most during the making and recording of the album?
Brian, Andy and Mal. Also Jeanette ( my wife ) and my daughters Eavie and Tabitha who have sung and recited Shakespeare for the album! There aren’t too many five and seven year olds that know all the words to ‘Your Side of Heaven’ and ‘Back to Back’. Then there’s Clive Reams (from Maximum Speed) who’s been my brother in law for twenty years, and my mum and dad who after all these years still encourage me to do what I love doing. Jimmy continues to play a big part of course.
So when can the fans expect a release?
Dunno. Soon, I hope. We’ve been let down by a certain people who showed initial enthusiasm then faded away but we might be on to something good at the moment.
Which labels have shown an interest and what do you think of the music buisness today compared with back then.
We haven’t put it about too much yet because we’re not going to sign this album over to someone that wants to stick the odd track on a compilation album or just shelve it indefinitely. I think we may have done that once before. We’re talking to the right people now but we’ll see how it goes. Waited 23 years for this. Not about to rush into anything.
Music business today? It’s always been a business and is there to feather it’s own nest so if you go into it, don’t expect anyone to be furthering the course of great music or to care too much about you other than in a fiscal sense. There are some, however, that start small and have nothing more than a passion for music over money and I guess we’ll go with someone like that.
Is the title / artwork decided for the LP?
Nope. Been too busy but there won’t be no targets and scooters on the album, tell you that now. Also any play on the word ‘mod’ won’t appear anywhere in the title . No offence meant to anyone reading this but you’ve all got to take this album as it is – made in the twenty first century. We don’t need to fall back on those kind of references because you’re gonna love it anyway. Any references to the past are strictly lyrical.
Can we expect some live shows in London and other places?
Yes.
Would you consider releasing a single or cd single?
We’ve discussed that but I reckon it’s ripping people off for a few quid because the albums got thirteen tracks on it, earns the record company more dosh and is better value for money for the buyer.
What plans for the future of you the band?
Pretty much written the next album already and Brian has broken the habit of a lunchtime by writing some songs for it too. A few gigs when we feel we’re good enough to give people value for money. More nights out with Brian, Andy and Mal in cosy restaurants with a disproportional amount of wine on the table.
Many thanks Sam and good luck with the LP.
Pleasure.
Many thanks to Sam for his time in doing this interview thanks also to Jimmy for letting me use pictures from his web site.
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page added April 1st 22.30
