10 Questions for Glenn Gregory
With hits such as Temptation and Come Live With Me, singer Glenn and the band Heaven 17 were stars in the ’80s and ’90s. They play the Rewind Festival in Perth, July 20 to 22. Glenn wrote the soundtrack to ITV’S hit drama Liar last year, and he’ll tour with David Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti next year, singing and recreating the star’s iconic albums.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST REWIND FESTIVAL LIKE?
Honestly? We weren’t sure it would succeed. Then we drove there and saw thousands of people. It was like Glastonbury, and we knew we’d hit on something exciting.
IS THE CROWD MADE UP OF DIFFERENT GENERATIONS?
Yes. We’ve had a huge upsurge in interest in our music, and Rewind has helped in that. Kids today listen to all sorts of music.
WHAT IS THAT DOWN TO?
When I was young I’d look through my mum and dad’s albums, old and scratched, with dog-eared cardboard covers. Not inspiring. But now there’s no old packaging to put kids off. It sounds fresh on the internet. No hiss or clicks.
ARE YOU A CANNY BUSINESSMAN?
No. I just get ripped off (laughs). I’d love to say I have great financial people around me to sort that stuff, but I really don’t. I’m happiest in the studio rather than counting my money.
WHAT’S THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE BACKSTAGE AT REWIND?
Brilliant. Old rivalries have long gone. We all realise how lucky we are to be doing it after all these years.
YOU’RE SINGING BOWIE WITH TONY VISCONTI?
Yes. I’ve done many gigs with him and David’s drummer Woody Woodmansey, recreating the albums they worked on. We’re playing Glasgow and Newcastle next February. David approved, in fact Tony told me he’d shown him a video of us and David started dancing with excitement.
DID HE COME TO ANY OF THE GIGS?
Sadly no. One night in New York I rang him on stage and had the audience sing happy birthday to him. The next day he died. Tony was the first to know. He said David wanted us to carry on but he’d leave it up to us.
SO WHAT DID YOU DO?
We were all for it. All days off were cancelled.
HOW’S YOUR SOUNDTRACK COMPOSING
COMING ALONG?
My writing partner Berenice Scott and I have written the theme to the new ITV drama series Vanity Fair which goes out in August. Our new album Afterhere will be out in September.
YOU HAVE 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE. HOW DO YOU SPEND IT?
I’ve been toying with writing my own Requiem, so I’d finish that, then I’d jump on a motorbike and go as fast and as far as I could. I used to ride but it became dangerous. I’ve always wanted one last go.