Reminiscin' - Interviews - Average White Band

What honestly can be said about a band, who has sold out shows over three continents, won numerous Grammies and has secured their musical legacy worldwide. Stemming from home grown turf, Average White Band made their mark in the early 70's and still continues to make dance floor classics. From TV adverts to movie screens their music has transgressed all mediums.

Grasping a solid fan base Average White Band produced the very best in soul and funk music accentuating their musical influences - Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Sam and Dave. Creating over 18 albums including their current release and embarking on a 45 date world tour - what is left for a band that achieved everything and more?

Reminiscin' got on the case to find out why music is so important, their love for soul and why they are anything but average.

You began your musical careers in the UK although your music was loved and admired, why do you think the UK was not receptive to your sound (at the time)? And how did the move to LA change the success of the band?
I think it was a small country relatively. Even though we had a strong cult following it wasn't really enough to sustain us over a long period of time. We just felt naturally drawn to the US, because that was where all our influences were. The American audiences, especially the black audiences really took to the band, and that was enough to sustain the band because it was such a big country. There was constant work there, whereas there wasn't really enough work in the UK. It really wasn't that conscious it was just a natural progression. It was just a case that offers come up and you take them.

Growing up in Scotland - did your home grown traditional music help mould AWB?
Growing up in Scotland in the sixties when we all started playing. We all came from different parts of Scotland. I think Scottish music is very soulful in its essence and very danceable. Growing up listening to Scottish country dance music for example, there is a very definite and soul beat ideal for dancing. You would hear that stuff on the radio all the time, but it wasn't really cool to do that as far as playing goes. I do think the influence was definitely there. I mean bagpipe music is very soulful and blues. We really took ducks to waters as far as soul music went.

Forming in the early 70's did that era play a role in your musical output?
I think it was about really good songs with good harmonies. The musical scene in the 70's had drawn towards Glitter, Eric Clapton and also Hendrix had been out as well. Everyone was trying to be the next Jimi Hendrix or the next Eric Clapton and we kinda decided that we rather not have as many solos and concentrate on good songs. We had two horns and two saxophonists and wanted to concentrate on good songs and good arrangements. It was about harmonies and style. It was quite a different approach at the time, but we have basically stuck to that. Trends do come and go, but there is still a market for it.

Your music has been featured in various blockbuster movies and TV adverts-how does it feel to hear your music when watching the big screen?
It is a good feeling. Well you also know your gonna get a few cents or a few pennies. Our music has been used in at least half a dozen of movies. The most recent one was Starsky and Hutch where they used 'Cut The Cake'. My wife and I went to see Swingers, and they had pieces within that. My wife likes to see the credits at the end, and sure enough right at the end, there was our mention with my name on there. That is kinda cool.

As a musician - why is music important to you?
It's second nature. It is apart of what we do. If you are grown up with something and that is what you do for a living and did it for fun in the beginning and it is still fun after all these years- it is a part of your essence. It is who you are really. You gravitate to what you like and who you are. If you find a way of doing that, then it makes it all the better.

The band has undergone different line up's over the years - has this influenced or change the band's persona or delivery in any way?
Yeah, 'cos obviously it has changed the output because the new fellas who have come in, the new musicians they bring their own influence to it as well. That is a good thing, because it means the band is constantly changing and on going. Having said that our current saxophone player Freddy V he has been with us for 10 years. Our drummer Rocky Bryant, for example he has been with us for a couple of months and he is tremendous to the line up. He just brings in his own groove and everyone just adapts to that and it changes things, but it keeps it interesting at the same time.

Your music has been sampled and revamped by popular heavyweights on the music scene. Does it come as a surprise that even the younger generation has taken to your music/sound?
Yeah, but it also a good compliment. If the kids are sampling tunes that we did 20 years ago then it validates what we were doing in the first place. Average White Band is one of the most sampled bands - there is at least 250 unaccounted samples that all sorts or artists have used.

Having achieved a total of 18 albums -where do you get your musical drive from?
The influence. Your influence by different people - people are creative they write songs make grooves. I mean who knows where influence comes from. You hear snippets of things but a lot of the ideas come from playing. When you go to a gig or a show you have a sound check to begin with and in the course of playing someone will come out with in idea.

You are in the midst of a 45 date World Tour as well as planning to release your latest album- Are you working on any other new material?
We have just finished a live record with BB King, but that will be available later on this year.

As you are currently touring is there any particular country you are looking forward to performing and why?
Japan, it is just because we have not been there before and it is a very interesting country. We were in Moscow two years ago which was also interesting and we were in Dubai two weeks ago, but unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see the place.

Average White band has predominantly played live music - what is the essence of playing live music?
An audience. It's not like playing in an empty room where you are not getting anything back. What makes the difference is the audience getting off on what you are doing. When we were playing last night there was a young audience and they were jumping and dancing about-it was great to see kids who don't just go to clubs, where there they is a DJ on. I think they enjoyed the fact that it was live music and there are people playing instruments as oppose to a DJ spinning records. That gets your adrenaline going.

With your hectic schedules - When do you get some 'time out'? And how to you spend your free time?
Usually the quiet months are December, January and February and then it picks up March and by April we start going again. Tours like this can be pretty intense. When I do get some time out I just stay at home and cook. A lot of the guys take advantage of the town that we are in, for example one of the guys went to the Tate Modern and today one of the guys has gone to the National Portrait Gallery.

Lastly define Average White Band in three words…
Come and dance.