MARC ALMOND

WHEN WE HEARD THAT THE LITERAL LEGEND THAT IS MARC ALMOND WAS RELEASING NEW MUSIC WE JUST HAD TO GRAB A FEW MINUTES WITH HIM. THIS GUY HAS ALMOST 40 YEARS BEHIND HIM IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, AND OVER 30 MILLION RECORD SALES. BETWEEN HIS WORK WITH SOFT CELL, HIS SOLO WORK, AND HIS FAMOUS COLLABORATIONS HE HAS RECORDED SOME OF THE MOST ANTHEMIC SONGS OF OUR TIME: TAINTED LOVE, SOMETHING’S GOTTEN HOLD OF MY HEART, THE DAYS OF PEARLY SPENCER, AND SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE. HIS MUSIC HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME, AND HIS MORE RECENT WORKS HAVE BEEN CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED. AS HE RELEASES BRAND NEW ALBUM ‘CHAOS AND A DANCING STAR’ THIS WEEK WE ASK HIM WHAT HIS SECRET IS….

MARC (THE LEGEND) ALMOND, LET’S TAKE A STEP BACK FIRST. WHAT WAS THE MOMENT YOU FIRST REALISED YOU WERE FAMOUS? HOW DID IT FEEL, AND DID IT FEEL LIKE YOUR LIFE INSTANTLY CHANGED?

Probably the day after Soft Cell’s first performance on Top of The Pops. One second you’re watching it religiously and the next you’re on it. It was very surreal and happened very quickly. A girl in the newsagents said, ‘It’s you, isn’t it?”

WERE THERE GOOD PEOPLE AROUND YOU TO KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND, OR WERE THERE JUST A LOT OF “HANGERS ON”?

You can always count on your family to keep your feet on the ground, but professionally we really didn’t know what we were doing in the early days. The advice given to us wasn’t the best, but we live to tell the tales.

YOU HAVE A CAREER THAT SPANS 40 YEARS, MUSIC FROM EARLY IN YOUR CAREER IS STILL PLAYED IN CLUBS TODAY, WHAT’S YOUR SECRET?

To keep doing what you do as long as there is still love for it, and to try and work with great talented people.

IN THE EARLY 80’S YOU NEITHER CONFIRMED NOR DENIED YOUR SEXUALITY, WHEN YOU DID COME OUT IN 1987 DO YOU THINK IT AFFECTED YOUR CAREER?

Did I come out in 1987? I thought I was still in.

BUT GOING BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD, YOU KNEW FAIRLY EARLY ON THAT YOU WERE GAY AND YOUR DAD WAS LESS THAN

SUPPORTIVE, TELL US ABOUT THAT…

You know quite young if you’re gay, it is really about how that is processed, what environment or family you find yourself in, how much joy or shame or help is attached to it, so many factors. I mean no one asks straight people when was it they realised they were straight. but I have less energy. Getting older, aching joints (after wearing heeled boots for 40 years), and the accident affected my memory which is why I’m a patron of Headway the brain injury charity that supports people recovering from brain trauma. I’ve been there and I’ve experienced some of the difficulties. I’ve been lucky and had a good recovery.

AND AS FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE LGBT COMMUNITY OF TODAY, YOU’VE BEEN VOCAL OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT…

I haven’t really. I was accused of being transphobic by people on Twitter regarding a gender specific toilets comment I made, and it suddenly becomes something else. When you look at who I am, and who I work with, what I’ve done and who I’ve championed, it’s absurd to say I am transphobic.

YOU WERE ALSO FAIRLY ANTIESTABLISHMENT BACK IN THE DAY, BUT NOW YOU ARE MR MARC ALMOND OBE, HOW DID THAT ALL COME ABOUT AND HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF SUCH AN ESTEEMED TITLE?

I don’t know when it actually happens, but it does to all of us sooner or later. And I was really proud of getting my OBE. Who would have thought it?

YOU ARE STILL ACHIEVING DIZZY HEIGHTS OF SUCCESS, BUT THAT VERY ALL NEARLY ENDED WITH A MOTORCYCLE CRASH, WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU TO THIS DAY?

I’ve never been good at focusing and multitasking and, after my accident in 2004, I find it even harder. Also it’s ironic that I get offered more things than ever that I would like to say yes to,

WE’VE HEARD YOU HAVE A LOVE OF RUSSIA, AND IT SHINES THROUGH IN SOME OF YOUR MUSIC. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

I first went to Russia in the early nineties and found the people were amazing… I still go frequently and actually lived there for many years.

BUT THESE DAYS YOU’RE SETTLED IN THE UK, WHAT’S A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MARC ALMOND?

Manic!! Well it depends what project is taking place. At the moment I am gearing up to the new album release on January 31st which involves live sessions on radio programmes and various different interviews internationally, all whilst planning a one-off performance with Chris Braide at the Royal Festival Hall and preparing for some shows in Japan. There is a lot going on at the moment. No two days are the same.

AT 61, YOU’RE AT A STAGE IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU COULD BE THINKING ABOUT SETTLING DOWN, BUT YOUR NEW ALBUM CAME OUT AT THE END OF JANUARY. DO YOU GET CREATIVE DRY SPELLS OR IS YOUR HEAD ALWAYS SPINNING WITH IDEAS?

I’m inspired by so many different art forms and genres that I do tend to get a bit carried away with always thinking about the next project.

TELL US ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM “CHAOS AND A DANCING STAR”. ANY STAND-OUT OR PARTICULARLY PERSONAL TRACKS ON THERE?

Chaos and a Dancing Star is one of my favourite sayings, a quote of Nietzsche; ‘You have to have Chaos in your Heart to give Birth to a Dancing Star.’ You can take this to mean different things, but to me it means out of chaos comes something wonderful, something bright, creativity. Out of repression and turmoil, whether in life or within yourself, comes art, music and creative expression. We live in chaotic times, we hope something positive will emerge out of it. I wanted to write romantic apocalyptic love songs and set the songs in fatal end of days settings with a touch of mystic paganism yet hopelessness. Lovers against a burning sky.

YOU HAVE THE ENERGY (I’M 40 AND GETTING OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING TIRES ME)?

I love what I do. I stick to a routine of early nights and eating well – very rock and roll!!

WHAT CAN YOUR FANS EXPECT WHEN THEY SEE YOU ON TOUR THIS YEAR?

To let go and have a fun evening dancing and singing.

WELL MR MARC ALMOND OBE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US. WE ARE ACTUALLY HONOURED!

MARC ALMOND’S NEW ALBUM ‘CHAOS AND A DANCING STAR’ IS OUT NOW VIA BMG. MARC ALMOND & CHRIS BRAIDE PLAY THE LONDON ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL ON 10 FEBRUARY.