60 Second Interview Kim Wilde

KIM WILDE

WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING CONSIDERED THE NUMBER ONE BRITISH FEMALE RECORDING ARTIST IN THE 80’S?

All I wanted to do was put out records so this didn’t have a huge impact on me, although this is a great statistic for me!

WHEN ‘KIDS IN AMERICA’ EXPLODED ONTO THE MUSIC SCENE IN 1981 YOU BECAME A STAR OVERNIGHT, HOW DID YOU COPE WITH THE FAME?

I grew up with a famous Dad (Kim’s Dad Marty Wilde was a rock star in the 60’s) so I wasn’t at all starry eyed although I was only 20 when the record came out - I took to becoming a pop star like a duck to water!

WHAT ARE HIGHLIGHTS AND PITFALLS OF BEING A RECORDING ARTIST IN YOUR OPINION?

I love music, writing and singing, creating harmonies, melodies and just going to the studio doing what I love. Plus, I get to work with my brother Ricky who is incredibly talented as a guitar player, managing director, producer and song writer. He is actually known in my family as “the genius!” Pitfalls – definitely has to be the talking! I’m sure in the first few years I spent longer talking than singing. I do like the interviews but when you are doing more of them than singing it’s a hard thing to get your head around.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CAREER ACHIEVEMENT?

Certainly ‘Kids in America’ - that was an awesome piece of pop. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT?

Becoming a horticulturist. Nature and environment are so important to me and I have done a lot of press on this recently – you don’t have to be retired and old to get into gardening. “Kim and the Courgette” – the new wave of rock and roll!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU WHEN SONG WRITING?

Feeling and emotions. My songs are always from a personal perspective.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SONG AND WHY?

‘You Came’ is beautiful, honest and pure. It was originally written by Ricky after the birth of his first son but we worked on the lyrics together so it could mean something to everyone more in the form of a love song.

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING TOUR?

I can’t wait, so excited! The costumes are amazing. There is a lot of surprises and I have two drummers as well as the most amazing band and production team.

HAVE YOU GOT ANY NEW MATERIAL OR JUST THE KIM WILDE CLASSICS?

In the ‘Greatest Hits Album’ we have two new tracks; one with Boy George and another with Thomas Pool – we are keeping to the Kim Wilde classics for the tour though.

WHAT OUR MALE READERS WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU SINGLE?!

I’ll politely decline to answer that at the moment! Original Wild child Kim exploded onto the music scene in the 1980’s defining the sound of the decade with ‘Kids in America’ and subsequent hits ‘Chequered Love,’ ‘You Came’ and ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On.’ Just about to embark on her UK Greatest Hits Tour this September taking her from Glasgow to Bournemouth and everywhere in between, Surrey Rocks caught up with the legendary star and quizzed her on all things musical and somewhat trivial in our 60 Second Interview.

WHAT’S THE ‘WILDEST’ THING YOU HAVE DONE?

I ended up in a hotel lobby naked! After a night off on tour 5 years ago, I mistakenly thought my bedroom door was the bathroom door and locked myself out of my room in just a thong. I had no option but to walk into reception covering my boobs with my hands to get a spare key. It was so embarrassing!

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE 3 THINGS TO A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

A piano, secret stash of Fruit Pastels and Dr. Hauschka products for my skin.

WHO WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL CELEBRITY DINNER PARTY GUESTS?

Professor Brian Cox - we’d spend all night talking about black holes!

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN?

My parents always said: “Trust your Instincts” and they were right. Even at 62 I do always listen to what my instinct tells me.

BIGGEST INSPIRATION?

My children, Harry and Rose. Rose is at University now and Harry is in a band called Wonderhorse.

WORST HABIT?

Eating too many Fruit Pastels!

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

We are putting a new album together in the early part of 2023 and there is a lot of change going on. Can’t say much more now but I’m steering a steady ship at the moment and just waiting for the next big wave. You know how it is!