‘You never know what’s going to happen on stage’
After wowing the crowds at Newark Festival earlier this year with hits including We Close Our Eyes, King Of Wishful Thinking and Call Me, Go West are back in October for Stepback To The 80s. Peter Cox tells HELEN BARNES why it’ll be a great show
How will the Stepback tour differ from the 80s festivals, like Newark?
That’s a good question! I guess it won’t be that different, other than the line-up of artists that you may not have seen before. Inevitably, there are only so many artists in an 80s context that could be deemed a headline – I imagine it’s Tony Hadley headlining it, is it?
Yes. Are you good friends?
I have a lot of time for Tony and I know him pretty well. I didn’t know him back in the heyday of Spandau Ballet or Go West, although we did once share a dressing room back then and barely spoke once! Since the 80s revival we have toured together and only this year I performed on a cruise with him, which was great fun. I really got to know him when I was involved in a TV show called Reborn In The USA. He will be very quick to tell you he is younger than me!
When we met at Newark, you asked me to be kind in my review. The crowd absolutely LOVED you there. I can’t actually find anything negative about you online, so why would you think anyone could be anything other than kind?
The reason I said that is because you never know what’s going to happen when you walk out on the stage and you never know what your voice is going to do either! My main agenda is that we are as good as we can be, which obviously involves me being up to speed and that everyone enjoys the show. People like what they like and there’s no accounting for taste. Obviously at these big festivals there are a number of artists all doing their own thing and social media gives you the chance to give your own personal feedback. People will say, I loved artist A, but didn’t care much for artist B….
At events like these, where there’s a collection of artists, do you watch any of the others perform before you go on stage?
Always! I always go to see what the competition is like – it’s friendly competition. In a context like that, every artist must be wanting the crowd to go away saying “Wow, so and so were really good”, so it’s an opportunity to gauge the crowd and the level of enthusiasm.
If you could swop places with another lead singer for the day, who would it be?
That’s an unusual question… (thinks for a moment) It would have been fun to have sung some of Paul Young’s songs – I’m a big fan. When our first single came out, Paul had already had some chart success and he was a singer I could relate to.
Is there a song you wish you’d written?
Oh yes, any number of songs! I will equate this with my answer to “what’s the best song
of all time?” So, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, by Marvin Gaye.
Are you off on holiday anywhere this summer?
Yes – I’ve already been to Tenerife this year and I’m going to Majorca in September.
How do you keep fit?
I go to the gym.
Is there anything you’re rubbish at?
Pretty much any kind of sport! I try to stay in shape, but it’s not the same as having hand-eye coordination. At school I played football – I was in goal and was a TERRIBLE goalkeeper! I’m a comparatively sensitive person, but the psychological scars from being goalkeeper (laughs) are very painful!
What makes you smile?
Well, I have a lot of great memories from playing shows, but I remember driving over Kew Bridge with Richard (Drummie – the other half of Go West), in what I fondly refer to as the Go West mobile – a very old Fiat with the driver’s door held on with a piece of rope and we drove over the bridge and We Close Our Eyes came on the radio. Hearing it on the radio for the first time when you didn’t know it was coming on, well, you could hardly believe it!
Which is more fun, performing now or back in the 80s?
I probably enjoy it more now. That kind of attention for a few months there in 1985, that you get when you have a hit record, I don’t think I was psychologically prepared for it. The whole thing went by in such a blur. I didn’t really embrace it.
What about Nottingham then – have you heard of anyone famous from here?
PC: Er……Robin Hood? I’ve actually been to Sherwood Forest as I’ve played at Clumber Park a few times.
Any good memories from time spent here?
I haven’t spent a lot of time in Nottingham to know it as a city of culture, but I do remember that when we toured with the Christians and Hue And Cry, the Royal Concert Hall was our last gig on that tour. I remember that show particularly and what a great audience it was. Pat (Kane – one half of Hue and Cry) was on no coffee and no alcohol for the whole tour. I was somewhat disciplined, but not as disciplined as Pat! Unfortunately, for me to be as good as I can, then after the show I must go to bed – but in Nottingham, on that night, at the end of the tour, we did have a little party! I remember it fondly, it was a good night.
■ Stepback To The 80s is at the Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, on Saturday, October 27. Go West are joined by Tony Hadley, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Young, T’Pau, Katrina of the Waves and Chesney Hawkes. Tickets from £55 through Ticketmaster.