Jade Wright meets the Modfather’s right hand man ahead of his Liverpool show
MOST musicians dream of selling millions of records, or starting their own hugely successful band, or even joining one of their idols in an arena-filling touring outfit.
Steve Cradock has done all three. He is familiar to most as the long-serving guitarist in Paul Weller’s band. He also founded Ocean Colour Scene, the nineties powerhouse that knocked Oasis’ Be Here Now off the number one spot.
This weekend he’s in Liverpool to play a solo gig at Eric’s.
“We always have a good time in Liverpool,” chuckles Steve, 42. “I think last time I was in town was supporting Beady Eye. Liam loves Liverpool. He had the Lennon suite at the Hard Day’s Night and he was in his element.”
When Steve plays his headline gig on Sunday, he’ll be making the most of the Cavern Quarter.
“I’m really looking forward to playing Eric’s,” he says. “I’ve got pictures of The Jam playing there. It’s a really iconic venue for the city, and I was honoured when they asked me to play.”
He’ll be performing a mixture of old and new songs. But with two bands and a solo career, how does he find the time to write?
“I did two months on tour with Paul (Weller) and I’d built up a bank of songs,” he explains.
“I played them to Andy Crofts (also in Weller’s band) while we were away and he really encouraged me to get it finished. He ended up helping me out with some of the lyrics too, which was great. He made me feel that I was ready to do another record.”
It was recorded over a fortnight at Deep Litter Studios in Devon.
“It’s quite a mellow record, which is probably a reflection of where it was recorded,” explains Steve. “It’s a barn on a farm in Devon. It’s very rural and it’s full of magical instruments.”
It’s a very personal record, notably Only Look Up When You’re Down.
“That was written for my mum because she hasn’t been well,” he explains. “But it can be taken in general terms as a way to look at life. I didn’t want it to be too maudlin.”
While My Scooter Sits Idle boasts one of Steve’s finest couplets to date (“My scooter sits idle/Just like my Gideons Bible”, while the barnstorming Last Days Of The Old World will delight long term fans. It also features a certain Mr Weller.
“I recorded that in three hours at Black Barn and Paul asked if he could play the bass. After that he did some backing vocals too, which was great, obviously. I wrote the chorus and Andy Crofts wrote the lyrics on the verse. It’s a rough mix but it’s got a good message.”
Born in Birmingham and raised on a teenage diet of The Who, the Small Faces and lashings of Jam, Steve’s first band The Boys were a ferocious power-pop outfit. His next band, Ocean Colour Scene (formed with ex-Fanatics singer Simon Fowler) reflected the new technicolour gestalt. Within a year they were at the vanguard of a second wave of bands, only for label wrangles to delay the release of their debut album.
Recruited by Paul Weller for his band in 1993, the guitarist’s infectious enthusiasm soon kick-started OCS back into life, and second album Moseley Shoals spawned four top 20 hits including karaoke perennial The Riverboat Song. Follow up Marchin’ Already cemented the band’s place at Britpop’s top table with an appearance at Oasis’ Knebworth gig.
Alternating between OCS and a role as The Modfather’s guitarist ever since, Steve only got round to making his solo debut, the splendid Kundalini Target, three years ago.
“It’s taken a while but I’m pleased with the results,” he smiles. “The best things come to those who wait.”
The Steve Craddock Band play Eric’s on Sunday February 26
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Article source: http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2012/02/23/music-jade-wright-meets-steve-cradock-ahead-of-his-liverpool-show-99623-30377540/