NEW Justin Q&A - Play Until Your Fingertips Really Hurt.
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Justin Hayward
1. You've often credited Marty Wilde as your primary influence that encouraged you to write your own songs, but what do you think made him feel you needed to be pointed in that direction? Marty was an example to me, as a performer and a writer – he wrote a lot of his early recordings under a different name. I was already writing (not very good) songs. Marty taught me that your own materiel was the best way to establish a style and identity, so songwriting needs to be properly respected. When you write from the heart, or express an emotion that moves you in a song, the always-discerning listener could be moved by it too. It is the way to truly express yourself in music. Marty was a huge influence for lots of young musicians and singers, as well as me - he set me on the right path because he knew I was looking for a path to go down!
2. Have you ever tried dabbling in the visual arts, like drawing, painting, or photography?I think most people do. I started when I was two – I’m still only dabbling! I did pass Art O level though.
3. Are there any current plans for you to work with Alan Simon again?
Not at the moment, although I missed a project of his because of Moodies work. We keep in touch and I love working with him.
4. What do you remember most about the band's early French TV appearances in the '60s? They were mad and fun and we laughed a lot. I am glad we did all that stuff - it’s a visual record of us at a time when we thought that visual recordings weren’t important, so we often didn’t take them seriously. Looking back they were great fun, even though we always seemed to arrive after no sleep, and (some of us) rather stoned.
5. Would you consider doing a short video (or videos) on your website or MoodyBluesToday of you giving a guitar lesson (or lessons)?Lesson one: – play until your fingertips really hurt, and then keep on playing. When your fingers don’t hurt anymore then you can play.
6. Do you ever still consider experimenting with musical instruments you haven't tried before?Oh yes, but I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy anything you have to blow into, apart from harmonica.
7. Who have been your favorite interviewers? Russell Harty, I liked him a lot, and Scott Muny.
8. Fairly recently a 1968 live performance of Nights was released on a French compilation DVD, "Bienvenue chez Guy Béart (années 60-70)," are the band consulted when items like that are released outside of the Moody Blues' own business sphere?We are not consulted, although of course we should be.9. On a similar topic, there are still a number of the band's single clip videos in archives around Europe that are as yet unreleased, has there ever been any effort on the band's part to seek them out and compile them for sale?There have been a couple of proposals by eager professional video compilers. But because, unlike in question 8., if it was officially connected to us they would always respect the owners of the videos, and then it can be very complicated and difficult.
10. What was your reaction to learn that Jeff Wayne's "The War Of The World" will be performed in Germany in their own language, by entirely German performers?Great - Should be fun. I wish Jeff well with it. If anyone can make it work it’s him.
11. As the DVD of Mike Batt's "The Hunting Of The Snark" has finally been released to the public, could you share what that production was like to work in?I’m not aware of the release on DVD of the live Albert Hall version that me and Billy were in. But it was certainly a lot of laughs, with great music.
12. Other than writing/singing "The Actor," did it ever occur to you to want a career in acting?Music was my only choice, and love.
13. Often through the years you have said that fans tend to look for and find more meaning in your songs than is really there, are there songs you've written that you think actually have MORE meaning than anyone would guess?
Yes. I’m sure there are.
14. Do you have a favorite comedian (or comedienne), both from the past and today?Tommy Cooper and Tony Hancock – and Lee Evans. I did a radio show once when Lee and I were being interviewed, and I had to desperately try to stop myself dissolving in uncontrollable laughter and stupid giggles the whole time.
Justin Hayward