¡There’s always plenty of stuff to do! Interview to James Stevenson by Diego Centurión for Revista The 13th.
Chelsea was your first band, what memories do you have of those years? Well the punk rock times in London, in 1977, were very exciting. There was live music everywhere – and the feeling things were changing. That the old order was getting overthrown. It was dangerous too. If you wore a leather jacket everyone wanted to fight you! Then came Generation X (Generation X) with Billy Idol and Tony James, How did that step, the years of "Kiss Me Deadly" with "Dancing With Myself"? I was only 21 when I joined generation X. It was great to join a band that was successful – Chelsea was never a hugely successful band, more of an underground band. But I think Billy had been planning a solo career before I even joined the band. But it was great to be in Gen X. Billy is very charismatic – he was born to be a star. But surely the big jump was Gene Loves Jezebel, do you think the same? Yes I agree. I didn’t know much about GLJ when I joined – and obviously the circumstances of me joining, with Ian Hudson, the original guitarist having a nervous breakdown, were very stressful. But the first tour I did, 1985 in the US, was electrifying. The band was different to any other I’d been in until then – it was always a unique group. It was challenging – but I grew to love the band. I think some of my best ever work has been with GLJ. Especially the album Heavenly Bodies – I love that record.
Gene Loves Jezebel has brought you some times to Latin America. But I remember well (1988 and 2000). What do you remember of those tours? We’ve always had a fantastic time in South America. Hopefully we will be back soon. I played in South America with The Cult also in 1995. How did you feel with the legal battle between the Aston brothers? It’s a tragedy. But in my opinion Michael has done such terrible things it was inevitable their relationship would suffer badly. Have you had to choose to stay with Jay or Michael? Or all came naturally? I would never, ever, work with Michael Aston again. Jay was always the spearhead in the band. And sang most of the songs anyway. New concert March GLJ? Any chance of a new album? Yes, I have been talking with Jay about a new album for GLJ Last year you participated in the Electric 13, with The Cult, band that brought you to Argentina in 1995. How do you remember both experiences? I love playing in The Cult. Billy Duffy is a very old friend – we’ve been friends for over thirty years! Me and Billy are quite similar as guitarists in many ways. We both have many of the same influences.
He has participated in several albums, including The Alarm, Glen Matlock. How do you feel about collaborations? Because besides being friends, I think it must be wonderful to seek their cooperation, right? Of course. Glen played on three tracks on my solo album. In fact many of my friends play on my solo album – Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet, Chris Bell and Pete Rizzo from GLJ, Barriemore Barlow from Jethro Tull!
Already a few years ago that the decades of eighties and nineties are fashionable. How do you see this trend? Do you feel that brings some benefit to artists who shone in those years? But my question is more related to those artists who have disappeared and have not created anything new. Well if people aren’t creating anything new that’s their choice I guess. There was some terrible music made in the 80s – but there’s always good stuff too. Do you do you spend time listening to new bands? Not enough. The problem is there are so many! It’s difficult to wade through all the crap to find the good stuff. I don’t think many new bands have done anything significantly new – the younger generation needs to find it’s own voice – like we did with punk, goth etc. They haven’t done that yet. The International Swingers. Another of those bands we mentioned as "group of friends". You guys have started for fun and have entered a studio? Yes – no-one answered and advery to be in the band (LOL). We are hopefully recording an album in May. There are some free downloads on our site I think – www.theinternationalswingers.com We are all friends who love to play together. Clem Burke is an incredible drummer.
Tell us about the EP "The Shape of Things to Come" That’s just for people to get a taste of the flavours of my album which is out in March 2014 What are the plans for 2014? I have dates with The Cult in the US in April – and there’s been talk of the band coming to South America later in the year. The International Swingers album and gigs and also I have to promote my solo album – ¡there’s always plenty of stuff to do! Do you plan to record with a band of those mentioned above? Hopefully GLJ, The Swingers, I may even play on a new Chelsea album. In The Cult I’m strictly a touring guitarist – can’t see Billy ever asking me to play on a Cult album (LOL)
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