The Nik Turner Interviews
Nik Turner and The Fantastic All Stars
Live at
The Nevern Arms
"So it's not really a wedding huh Nik?"
"Some guy I met on the beach asked me if we'd do it as a favour, and I thought yeah why not. The important thing's the music right?"
It reminds me of the first gigs Hawkwind played at All Saints Hall, in the Grove, not just because it's a small venue, but because the people here don't know what's about to hit them either. Somehow there's nothing strange about hearing Nik play jazz in the Welsh mountains, I've heard him play in all kinds of places and in all kinds of states. There is something special about that same feeling, that only the band, you, and maybe three people in the audience truly understand what's going on, and what it is they're hearing.
Nik and I both remember the Isle of Wight Festival where Hendrix played his last gig in Britain. I was on stage behind Jimi's amps taking photographs, Nik was in front of the stage resting his chin on it, his face painted silver and his eyes shining bright. Jimi dedicated a song to "the cat with the silver face" and too soon after that Jimi was no more. Me and Nik meanwhile are in pub in Wales and we are interrupted in our reminiscing by John, he's been married 50 years, it's his party, someone's hired a band and he want's to dance..."Can you play a waltz? You know... 1... 2... 3 - 1... 2... 3... ?"
"OK chaps... let's do 'My Favorite Things'.(...Da-da-da-dada-dadada--da-dada.... de-doo-do-de... dah)"
"Come see us at the Ranch before you head back to Spain,
you haven't met my manager yet, he's called $id Money."
The Fantastic All Stars are
Nik Turner: Vocals, Alto Sax, Flute and TuxedoMike "Black Notes" Jones: Keyboards, Hammond Orgasm, Piano (ma non troppo)
Baby Face Welsh: Trumpet and Flügelhorn
Christopher "Pix" May: Guitar
The Rhythm Twins
Gaz Tashin: Bass
&
Mark Thyme: Drums
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