SOUTHEND THEATRE SCENE
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Main feature writer - Kim Tobin
  • COMING UP
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
    • David Streames Interview
    • Daniel O'Donnell
    • Matt Wycliffe Interview - Million Dollar Quartet
    • Ian Anderson - Jethro Tull
    • Tony Stockwell Interview
    • Priscilla Queen of the Desert Tour - Interview with Emma Crossley
    • Phil Walker - Guitar Heroes
    • Rock for Heroes Review
    • Once the Musical - We interview Daniel Healy & Emma Lucia as we are invited to watch the cast rehearse!
    • The Overtones 2019
    • Derren Brown - Showman
    • Stephen K Amos Interview
    • Geoff Norcott INTERVIEW
    • Diversity and Kev Orkian Interviews
    • Giles Cooper talks about Nigel Slater's TOAST
    • Kristian Lavercombe - Riff Raff - Rocky Horror Show
    • Dan Partridge & Martha Kirby talk Grease the Musical
    • Village Green Festival 2019
    • Lee Mead, David Streames & Richard Foster
    • Craig Revel Horwood
    • Jenny Gayner
    • Nigel Slater
    • Alex Bourne Interview - Annie Tour 2019
    • Beverley Craven Interview
    • Gary Barlow and Tim Firth Interview - Calendar Girls
    • Tom Stade 2019 Interview
    • Karen Gibson - The Kingdom Choir
    • AJ Pritchard
    • Jonathan Wrather - The Picture of Dorian Gray - Tilted Wig Productions
    • Kevin Clifton & Graziano Di Prima Interview - Burn the Floor
    • Elesha Paul Moses Interview - Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?
    • Juliet Mills & Maxwell Caulfield Interview
    • Juliet Mills Interview
    • Holly Liburd - The Bodyguard
    • Alexandra Burke - The Bodyguard
    • Janine Duvitski Interview
    • Matthew Kelly & David Yelland
    • Aled Jones Interview
    • Quadrophenia Live Interview with Doug Freeman
    • Diversity's Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo, Perri Kiely & Terry Smith
    • Ali James & James Cranfield
    • Ed Speleers, Mairi Barclay & Adam Lilley
    • Rachel Lumberg & Faye Christall Interview
    • Rain Main - Mathew Horne & Ed Speleers
    • Charles Sharman-Cox
    • Matt Terry & Antoine Murray-Straughan
    • Collabro Road to the Royal Albert Hall Interview
    • Steve Michaels - Elvis
    • Paul Young Interview
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Jersey Boys Interview
    • Colin Blunstone - The Zombies
    • Dave Kelly - The Blues Band
    • Clive John - Johnny Cash Roadshow
    • Paul Opacic & Richard Walsh
    • Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace
    • Alexander O'Neal Interview
    • Kevin Whately - Our Finest Hour
    • Jenny Eclair - Grumpy Old Women Tour
    • Séan Aydon - Great Expectations
    • Joe McElderry Live in Concert
    • Nichola McAuliffe Interview
    • Natalie Anderson & Jonathan Halliwell
    • Geoff Norcott Interview
    • Mark Steel - Comedian Interview
    • Debra Stephenson & Alice Barlow
    • Dr Feelgood's Kevin Morris
    • Ali James Interview - Oh Yes It Is!
    • Tom Stade Interview
    • Sarah Earnshaw - Nativity the Musical
    • Karina Jones - Wait Until Dark
    • The Stylistics
    • Tom Chambers & Charlotte Wakefield
    • Jessie Wallace - Deathtrap
    • Paul Bradley - Deathtrap
    • George Kemp - The Wipers Times
    • Joe McElderry - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    • Ian Hislop & Nick Newman - The Wipers Times
    • Chris Simmons, All or Nothing the Musical
    • Caroline Flack, Tom Chambers Interview
    • Ruth Madoc
    • Scott Reid - Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
    • Samuel Clemens, Director
    • Elizabeth Elvin
    • Ray Cooney - Out of Order
    • Susie Amy
    • Sue Holderness
    • Shaun Williamson
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher & Oliver Ormson
    • Geoff Norcott
    • Navi - King of Pop
    • Damian Williams Interview
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher Interview
    • Samantha Womack Interview
    • Les Dennis Interview
    • Clive Mantle - The Verdict
    • Stephen Bailey Interview
    • Steve Hackett Interview
    • Alastair Whatley - The Original Theatre Company
    • Paul Carrack Interview
    • Janine Johnson - Back to Bacharach Interview
    • Lewis Griffiths - Dirty Dancing
    • Ben Portsmouth Elvis Tribute
    • Paul Nicholls - Shawshank Redemption
    • Anne Odeke - Night Must Fall
    • Elaine Paige
    • Jimmy Osmond - Christmas Extravaganza
    • Brian Conley & Gok Wan
    • Jonathan Kiley - Qdos Pantomine Producer
    • Lee Mead - Some Enchanted Evening
    • Maximum Rhythm & Blues
    • Joe McElderry - Northern Light Tour
    • Carol Harrison - All or Nothing
    • Paul Cattermole - The Rocky Horror Show
    • Tommy Steele
    • Cheryl Baker - Formerly of Bucks Fizz
    • Gabrielle Cocca from Cats the Musical
    • PJ Proby Interview
    • Ashleigh & Pudsey - Mission ImPudseyble
    • I'm Cold - Alex Thorn
    • Mon Amie - supporting Jason Donovan
    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
    • Richard Ede - The 39 Steps
    • Collabro
    • The Searchers
    • Fanny Galore
    • Paul Carrack
    • Rose Marie
    • Gary Wilmot, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson
    • Megan Terry
    • Sharon Rose - Little Eva in West End's Beautiful
    • Roy Chubby Brown - Britain's Rudest Comedian
    • Fascinating Aida's Dillie Keane
    • Ben Portsmouth - Elvis Tribute Artist
    • Ugly Sisters, Martin Ramsdin & David Robbins - Cinderella
    • Lauren Hall (Cinderella)
    • Michael Harrison, West End Producer
    • Brian Conley
    • Sharon Rose - X Factor
    • The Bodyguard - Zoe Birkett Interview
    • Alex Bourne (Daddy Warbucks)
    • Michael Corbidge Royal Shakespeare Company
    • Ashton Moore - Samson
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Phill Jupitus
    • Michael Sharp Playwright
    • Ray Cooney OBE
  • MUSIC
  • YOUTUBE
  • Features
    • Echoes From Essex
    • Immersive Actor Training
    • Afternoon Tea at the Cliffs Pavilion
    • N-Act Theatre Stage - Village Green
    • Chameleon Productions
    • Sheku Kanneh-Mason
    • Aladdin - Panto Cast Announcement
    • Sounds Familiar Music Quiz
    • N-Act Theatre in Schools
    • Ray Cooney comes to see Lindisfarne perform his play
    • Theatre Etiquette
    • Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Society's Backstage Crew
Picture
MAXIMUM RHYTHM AND BLUES
with The Manfreds
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
​Thu 20 Oct
‘‘Fifty years on and we are at the peak of our game’
says Mike d’Abo,  to Jacquee Storozynski-Toll - as The Manfreds start their tour.
Picture
Although very busy, Mike d’ Abo kindly took some time to answer a few questions:-
​
Thanks very much for sparing the time to chat to me about the new tour, which begins in Plymouth.  On the 20th October, you will be performing at the Cliff’s Pavilion in Southend, have  you  performed there before?
Many, many times over the years.  I even have a favourite pub that I always go to when in town. One funny thing I remember was about ten years ago.  I did a gig in Southend and was in a local restaurant, where a guy was playing the guitar.  A customer asked to sing with him, and suggested various songs such as Smoke on the Water, but the guitarist didn’t know any of them.  Finally, he handed him his playing list, and the only song on it the guy could sing was Postman Pat.

I thought you were going to say that he chose one of yours and you joined in.
 No, he didn’t do that, but I would have done.  I often perform when people recognise me and ask for a song.  I like doing that.

The band reformed in 1991 with several of the original members. How did that happen?
It was the suggestion of Tom McGuiness when we met up for a party. The Manfreds now consist of original members Paul Jones, myself, Tom McGuinness and Mike Hugg – who founded the group.  In addition, there are Rob Townsend, Marcus Cliffe, and Simon Currie.

When you reformed didn’t bassist Klaus Voorman want to join?
Klaus lives in Germany now and is really a graphic artist.  He designed the Revolver cover for the Beatles and was very much part of the sixties era having known the Beatles from their Hamburg days.  We are still in touch, he recently asked me to proof his English for a book he is bringing out called The Birth of an Icon – Revolver 50. That is because it is fifty years since that album. We have had several bass players since including, Tom Robinson, Benny Gallagher of Gallagher and Lyle, Dick Cadbury and now Marcus Cliffe.

This tour has PP Arnold and Zoot Money guesting. Have you worked with them before?
 I have performed with PP Arnold, who was originally a Tina Turner Ikette.  Zoot is a legend with his Big Roll Band, and is very much part of the era, but this is the first time I have worked with him.   He has one of my songs on his new album. They will be performing several songs, and also duetting with Paul and me. 

Why is the tour called Maximum Rhythm and Blues? 
When Manfred Mann started with Paul Jones it was more R&B than it became later when I joined.  However, as we have toured with guests such as Maggie Bell of Stone the Crows, Colin Blunstone, and now Zoot of course, R & B is still relevant.

Why have you changed the name to Manfreds?
 We had to, because Manfred Mann the performer is still touring with his Earth Band so we can’t use the name.

I noticed on the earlier tour dates that you aren’t appearing at all the venues. Why is that?
Three or four years ago, I said I didn’t want to tour anymore.  I have a young family and don’t want to be away from home for too long.  However, I love performing, so I have agreed to do a small amount.  I have done ten tours in ten years.  I usually do the summer festivals and a tour approximately every 18 months.  Derek Nichol, who promotes Flying Music likes to add me to the tour, as it broadens the appeal.  He also promotes the Sounds of the Sixties tours.  Sometimes, we tour as the Manfreds alone, and sometimes we have guests. When they tour without me, the emphasis is on Paul’s hits and there are jazz instrumentals.

As the band are all involved in different things, is it difficult to get together.
Paul is very busy with his Blues Band and his radio show so we will only have a couple of days to rehearse.

Will you both be performing only your old hits or newer material?
It is 70% the well-known hits and 30% newer songs as well as the duets. Paul Jones is the Master of Ceremonies and he and I will probably alternate songs.  He will take the lead on his songs, and I will provide keyboards and backing vocals, and on my songs, he will provide backing vocals and harmonica. He is a formidable harmonica player.  I will also perform some of my self- penned songs and Tom McGuiness of McGuiness Flint will perform some of their hits.

Some years ago my brother Richard Myers, who is a sixties buff, had your songs played on the Three in One spot on Brian Mathew’s radio show Sounds of the Sixties.  He chose When the Sun Comes Shining Through, by Long John Baldry, Loving Cup by the Fortunes and The Last Goodbye by Chris Farlowe.
Gosh, it is nice to remember those songs.  The Long John Baldry version came about because Tony Macaulay heard it and took it to Pye record company as a ballad.  It wasn’t written as one. Also, I loved the Fortunes and their counter melodies, and tried to reproduce it with Loving Cup.  It was a number one in Holland. The Last Goodbye is on record as a film theme but it wasn’t.  Andrew Loog Oldham, the Stones’ Manager thought the title sounded like a film and publicised it on that basis.

Do you intend to release any new material?
It is difficult to get a recording deal nowadays, even Elton John can’t get one.  It is all about ‘networking.’  It was easy in the sixties but then by the 70s and 80s the hit makers became obscure.  Now we are back.  It is all revivals now; we will be promoting a CD compilation of tracks from over twenty years, the classic hits but adding new material as well.
Picture

When not performing, do you want to concentrate on your song writing?
I do perform separately as I do An Evening with Mike d’Abo; there I perform all the songs by people that most influenced me such as Fats Waller, Tommy Steele, Elvis, The Everlys and the Beatles.  In my opinion they were the greatest rock and rollers, particularly their early stuff.  Paul McCartney singing Long Tall Sally and John Lennon doing Dizzy Miss Lizzie can’t be beaten. However, I also want to raise my profile and get my material performed by other artists such as Robbie Williams. My songs have a more emotional content than a rock beat.  I want to work with new, young musicians. The success of our tours raises our profile for a newer, younger audience. 

Your song Handbags and Gladrags has become a classic, and was even used for the TV Programme The Office.
It is nice of you to say so.  It was written for Chris Farlowe, but others have covered it.  Stereophonics recently had a hit with it after their singer Kelly Jones heard it on a Rod Stewart album ,and wanted to record it. Ricky Gervais wanted to use the Rod Stewart version, but it would have cost too much so they recorded it themselves.  I am flattered they used it, but nobody realised that it was my song. 

Your cousin Maryam was a Bond Girl, and your daughter Olivia is a successful actress.  Do none of your family want to follow you into the music business?
Maryam now runs an agency for Bond Girls, and Olivia has written songs that she released on an album.  The next up and coming d’Abo is Phoebe.  She is a successful DJ and travels the world playing on the club scene.  She also appeared in an advert for women’s products on TV. 

 Finally, how do you feel about still performing after all these years?
This 7-piece line-up is at the peak of its game.  Paul Jones and I agree that we deliver more energy, and have a better repertoire than we ever had in the sixties.  We have to be fit to do the tours, and whilst we are healthy and energetic, there will be even more tours in hand.  

On that note, I will leave you to get on with your busy life.
Thanks, I enjoyed talking to you and give my regards to your brother.


 For tickets at the Cliffs Pavilion call the box office on 01702 351135 or go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk

Home

About

MUSIC

INTERVIEWS

FEATURES

Copyright © 2015