Phil Manzanera - My guitar for freedom

“We're musicians from every corner of the world, with different stories and styles. The only thing that unites us is the desire to create something beautiful, in the name of the freedom of peoples”. This is the neo-global Phil Manzanera who took the stage in Rome, at Villa Ada, for “The Liberation Project”, the concert in support of equality and peace organized to mark the 25th anniversary of democracy in South Africa, Mandela Day and the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The legendary Roxy Music guitarist and successful producer, the tireless Philip Targett-Adams, has thrown himself enthusiastically into this new challenge, which is taking him around the world with his varied troupe of collaborators.

How did you get involved in the Liberation Concert project?

It all started with an idea from my friend Dan Chiorboli, who was born in Ferrara but grew up in South Africa, right during the apartheid era. He invited me to join this show, a big gathering that features songs from the Italian partisans, South African songs tied to the anti-apartheid struggle, and anthems of the Cuban revolution. We have musicians like Juan de Marcos of Buena Vista Social Club, Cyril of the Neville Brothers, Cisco Bellotti (formerly of Modena City Ramblers), the Guinean kora master N'Faly Kouyaté, and many others. We range across every front, from rock to folk, so you might end up hearing Roxy Music songs sung in Mandinka. We then thought of symbolically bringing together the anniversaries of Nelson Mandela's birth, the advent of democracy in South Africa, and the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, to shine a light on political issues that remain hugely important in today's world too. We want to speak to the new generations, to make them aware of history so the same mistakes aren't repeated. Starting with the story of that extraordinary man Nelson Mandela was, and the sacrifices he had to endure for the freedom of his people.

Is there also an album drawn from the concerts?

Yes, we've released the triple album “The Liberation Project - Songs That Made Us Free”, which contains all these songs. And there will be another record next year, this time a single one, on which I hope to also involve Jovanotti. It's something that can still grow, we're only at the beginning of the project.

Is it easier today to promote music from non-Anglophone countries?

Yes, for decades people only listened to music coming from the United States or Britain; now we're finally discovering the national traditions of many countries, Italy included. Technology, fortunately, lets us connect people with each other in every corner of the world, even through music.

Are you still in touch with Bryan Ferry and the other members of Roxy Music?

We played together two months ago in New York to celebrate Roxy Music's induction into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. We're still in touch because we have shared business interests, there's always something to discuss. For instance, together with Andy Mackay (the band's saxophonist, ed.) I'll be taking part in the Roxymphony project: we'll be doing concerts backed by an orchestra, presenting Roxy Music's music in a completely different, symphonic and orchestral setting, but there will also be sung tracks, including “Love Is The Drug”, “More Than This”, “In Every Dream Home A Heartache” and “Out Of The Blue”. An album will come out of it at the end of September. And I'm still in touch with Brian Eno (a member of the band's original lineup, ed.) too, I wouldn't rule out working on projects together.

What's the secret of this formidable band, always so ahead of everyone in every era?

We've always been a tight-knit team, we worked to always get the best result. And it seems to have worked. As for having been forward-thinking and influential, well, it's true, but I don't dwell on it too much, for me there's only good music and bad music.

What's your favorite Roxy Music album?

The second one, “For Your Pleasure”. I think it's the most original and complete one.

It's also my favourite, along with “Avalon”!

Well then, I'm glad we're on the same wavelength…

You're also known for your passion for Italian music, Neapolitan music in particular, perhaps because of a family connection: your grandfather was from Naples…

That's right, my grandfather was an opera musician and played in a travelling band, the Cavaliere Castillanos Opera Company. He came to the UK in 1911 on tour and met my grandmother. But I don't even know her name — I found out about this story in 1992. I've even been to Naples looking for his records, but I found nothing: I'll keep searching…

Speaking of Naples, you also knew Pino Daniele…

Pino came to visit me at my studio in England before the tour. He was a fantastic musician, he played with real heart: he did classic blues, but in a Neapolitan version. And he was a truly special person. It was a joy to know him and to tour with him. He had a huge impact on people outside Italy too: he played a universal kind of music that was immediately appreciated. He's one of the greatest Italian musicians, a true bluesman: you should be proud of him. I also met two other Neapolitan artists: the singer Eduardo De Crescenzo and the guitarist Mauro Di Domenico.

Did you also work with them?

Yes, I made the English version, more blues-oriented, of De Crescenzo's song “E la musica va” (“The beat goes on”), presented at the Sanremo Festival in 1991. As for Di Domenico, I met him three years ago at the Festival di Sicignano degli Alburni, and on that occasion we performed together: he's a real guitar master.

What do you think of today's music?

There are so many artists and so much good music in every corner of the world. I listen to everything, from modern South American music to English pop-rock to modern classical. What's missing is a new Bob Dylan, a new Jimi Hendrix, a new Miles Davis. Maybe also because it's harder now to break through and build a major following.

Is there any current band that reminds you of Roxy Music?

For example, there's Black Midi, an English experimental rock outfit with a very strange, original style. I find something of our own creative madness in them: they're the most original thing I've come across since the early Radiohead. But back when we started out with Roxy Music, we wanted to be strange and experimental while also being commercial: that's partly what made our formula unique. Above all, though, I think a band needs a sound to become truly great. It happened for the Beatles, the Who, Pink Floyd: all the greats. And today it's hard to achieve that.

You need to find the right producer?

Exactly, and we were lucky to meet Chris Thomas, who had been George Martin's right-hand man. We learned a lot from that noble British tradition, the one of the Beatles, of the Abbey Road studios. Thomas worked with Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, Elton John… There was always so much to learn from him. In general, I like “classic” producers in the George Martin mould, not engineer-producers in the Phil Spector style. Producers need to be able to make musicians think, and offer them alternative ways of realising the ideas they have in mind.

You yourself became a producer, for major artists such as John Cale, Nina Hagen, David Gilmour and the later incarnation of Pink Floyd. How do you experience this role behind the mixing desk?

Yes, producing has become a significant part of my work. My most successful records were the ones with David Gilmour, and also the last album by Pink Floyd. It was a huge challenge for me, but it worked. I've also produced Spanish-language artists like Héroes del Silencio, Enrique Bunbury and Draco Rosa, who even won awards in the United States. But I think I'm done producing records now…

Why is that?

It takes a huge amount of time and energy. Plus you also have to be a great psychologist with musicians. Basically, you have to mix everything together, like a bartender making cocktails: it's just too tiring (laughs).

So what will you do after the Liberation Tour?

I'm working with the Finn Brothers (Neil and Tim), a legendary New Zealand duo I've worked with before. They haven't done anything together in 25 years, but now we've got five new songs almost ready.

(04-08-2019)

(Extended version of an interview published for the newspaper Leggo)

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