Steve Cradock… Profit in Hundred Mile High Peace City

Interview: Steve Cradock – part 2

Published on February 5th, 2012 | Jonny Abrams

Here is part 2 of Rocksucker‘s interview with Steve Cradock…(click here to read part 1)…

Ocean Colour Scene – “The Day We Caught the Train” (from Moseley Shoals)

Have you heard Simon [Fowler, Ocean Colour Scene front man]’s Merrymouth album?

I have, yeah. Have you?

Nope.

He’s a bit slow with it, to be honest with you. I don’t really know what’s happening with it. He was trying to get it released by someone and I don’t think people are taking it up. I think it’s okay, to be honest, but I think he could have done a lot better, without wanting to put down my mate. I think he only wrote about six songs on it; our bass player Dan wrote three or something, and then there are a few covers. I just think it’s okay.

Have you talked about doing another Ocean Colour Scene album?

We have, and I think we’ll be writing from the middle to the latter part of the year, and hopefully try to get it out next year. It has been spoken about, yeah.

Ocean Colour Scene – “The Riverboat Song” (from Moseley Shoals)

Excellent news. Any plans to mark the fifteenth anniversary of Marchin’ Already in any way?

No, I don’t think so, because we’ve done the Mosley Shoals thing. I think we’ve done two tours for that now, which has been good fun but it’s sort of like Groundhog Day, really. I’ve enjoyed doing it but I think we need a new album before we tour again.

You have these great albums under your belt, still retain a fervent fan base and, in my own experience, are still remembered with great fondness by many casual fans who remember the hits. However, certain elements of the music press tended to get a bit sniffy about Ocean Colour Scene for whatever reasons, and the last few albums haven’t received anywhere near as much coverage as your mid-to-late-‘90s work. Do you think you’ve had a raw deal from the media?

I don’t really care either way, to be honest with you. Do you?

I think so, yes. Obviously only in certain factions, but it seems to be a fate that’s befallen many a band from that era whose great songwriting ability held no sway with the more sardonic journalists who like to appear edgy by constantly putting down the old and trying to usher in the new (and more often than not – *cough* NME *cough* – getting it woefully wrong)…

I’m not really arsed what journalists think, really. There are a lot of journalists that we get on with, but overall I’m not really arsed.

Ocean Colour Scene – “Hundred Mile High City” (from Marchin’ Already)

Do you know whether Damon [Minchella, former OCS bassist] was offered the role of Primal Scream’s new bassist or not?

Not that I’ve heard of. There have been some rumours , but I don’t know. I’ve not spoken to Damon in maybe six years.

Are there any obscure and/or up-and-coming artists that you’d like to recommend or give a shout-out to?

Well, I’d have to say The Moons, which is the band of Andy Crofts who plays keyboards in Paul’s band. He’s just done a new album, and it’s my favourite album at the moment. I think it sounds great, quite retro but it’s got a clean sort of edge to it.

Ocean Colour Scene – “July” (from One from the Modern)

Finally, if you were forced to spend the rest of your days in solitary confinement, but were allowed to bring the entire works of five different artists along to tide you over, whose would you choose?

I’d take the soundtrack to The Pianist; I saw that last night and I’d have to take that with me. I’d take The Beatles in mono…

Ooh, nice stipulation.

…I’d take Broadcast, I’d take…let me think…I’d take the Simply Soul compilations. One more…errr…Small Faces maybe. Steve Marriott, definitely.

You supported him back in the day, didn’t you?

I supported him twice, yeah. He’s a laugh.

Did you get to hang out with him?

I did, yeah, the second time I got to hang out for most of the day with him, which was an experience. I got to smoke the first spliff with him, and he was riding high, really; he was quite pissed, but good fun. He didn’t turn weird or nasty or anything, which was good, and his voice and guitar playing were just amazing.

The Smokin’ Mojo Filters – “Come Together”

Are you the type to get star-struck at all?

I was when I played with Paul McCartney [for the “Come Together” War Child charity single released as The Smokin’ Mojo Filters]. That was quite a star-struck moment, I think. But it was fine; him and Linda skinned one up and everyone calmed down a bit!

Old habits die hard, eh?

I don’t know if he still does it, but he did then! Old habits as opposed to bad habits, yeah.

So you have smoked a spliff with Paul McCartney.

Yeah.

At the risk of appearing deeply uncool myself – and with the obvious addendum of “don’t take drugs, kids” – that is quite possibly the coolest thing that anyone has ever told me, ever.

Really? (Chuckles)

Steve Cradock, thank you.

Click here to read Steve Cradock discuss Aston Villa FC with Football Burp

Ocean Colour Scene – “Profit in Peace” (from One from the Modern)

Steve Cradock will play the following UK dates in February and March…(click here for links to buy tickets)…

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 Scotland (The Tolbooth, Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, Sterling, FK8 1DE)
Fri, 10 Feb 2012 Scotland (Maggie May, 60, The Trongate, Glasgow. G15EP)
Sat, 11 Feb 2012 Scotland (The Attic, 57-59 Hopetoun St, Bathgate, EH48 4PB)
Sun, 12 Feb 2012 Scotland (Dirty Martinis, 8 Langlands Street, Kilmarnock)
Fri, 17 Feb 2012 Birmingham (HMV Institute, Digbeth)
Sat, 18 Feb 2012 Tumbridge Wells (The Forum. Fronthill, The Common, TN48YU)
Thu, 23 Feb 2012 Manchester (The Ruby Lounge, 28-34, High St, Manchester, M4 1QB)
Fri, 24 Feb 2012 Wigan (Indiependence, Kings St West, Wigan)
Sat, 25 Feb 2012 Scunthorpe (The Priory, Ashby Rd)
Sun, 26 Feb 2012 Liverpool (Erics Live, Mathew St, )
Wed, 29 Feb 2012 Yorkshire (Wakefield)
Wed, 29 Feb 2012 Wakefield (THE HOP – 17, Bank St Wakefield Wf1 1EH)
Thu, 01 Mar 2012 Blackburn (The Live Lounge, 79, Northgate, Blackburn, Lancs BB21AA)
Fri, 02 Mar 2012 Cleesthorpe (Pleasure Island)
Sat, 03 Mar 2012 Hull (The Piper Club)
Sun, 04 Mar 2012 Newcastle (O2 Academy)

For more information, please visit stevecradock.com

Artists: ocean colour scene, paul weller, steve cradock

About the Author

Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.