00:00:01: You’ve been with Bush since basically the beginning. Starting out as their driver and switching over to head of security. The fans love seeing you on the road and can not get enough of you. Are you still going to be working with the band on tour? Will you be at any of the upcoming shows this fall?

Bone: Let me thank you again for all the work you did to try and help me get on “SURVIVOR” sure wish I made it! Ya, it’s very exciting to think of Gav being back on stage as “BUSH” We talk once or twice a week, mostly about life and where it has taken us, me into being an “Old Fart” and his life as a Husband, Father and Artist. The new Bush concept Album and initial Tour I have not been involved with simply because in these early stages there is not enough for me to do and as you know I’ve had a series of other commitments to other Artists for the year. Hopefully as Bush gathers a renewed strength I will become as intimately involved as ever! And as far as the “BUSH” fans go I have always “LOVED” you all and the interaction with you guys have been some of my favorite times in my 33 years out here!

00:00:01: What did you do for your most memorable birthday and what age were you?

Bone: As far as my favorite birthday I can only say it was 12 years ago and in a “LEAR JET” with my “BUSH” brothers!

00:00:01: The world is going to finish in 1 hour. How are you going to spend that hour?

Bone: If I only had a hour left of life I would certainly spend it with my wife and daughters in my arms!

00:00:01: In addition to touring with Bush you mentioned working with other artists and bands such as Journey, REO Speedwagon, Sammy Hagar, The Pogues. Which band or artist has been the easiest to work with and which one has been the most difficult?

Bone: The worst artist ever were the “KINKS” Other than them I have been blessed with the greatest clients a man could ask for in this business!

00:00:01: What is your favorite sound?

Bone: “SILENCE”

00:00:01: If you are planning on hitting the road with Bush what are you looking forward to, if anything?

Bone: When the time is right I very much look forward to being part of the new “BUSH” family.

00:00:01: Do your friends call you Bone or is that just a nickname you have on tour? And how did it come about?

Bone: The name “BONE” came about the first year I toured and yes that is almost my real name, even my kids call me “BONE” There are men I’ve worked with for 30 years that don’t know my real name! Laura, thank you for always being so faithful to us and working to keep “BUSH” alive. My Warmest affection, “BONE

00:00:01: For those who don’t know in a way you’re not totally new to the Bush family. You stepped in for the end of the Bush’s last tour when their original lead guitarist left the band. And now you’re embarking on what is really the next generation of Bush music. It’s been almost ten years since Bush has put out a new album. What kind of expectations do you have, if any, once this new tour starts and new album comes out? Would you be at all surprised if Bush becomes as massive as they were when Sixteen Stone or Razorblade Suitcase were out?

Chris: I have an idea in my head about how I want my guitar rig to sound, and what equipment I will use to chase that sound. Most guitar players will understand that we rarely, if ever, capture the sound we want. I have been chasing a sound all of my life.
My only other hope is that the fans are happy with the shows.
I would be very surprised if Bush had the break out success of 16 Stone, simply because the landscape for rock music is so different today than it was when that record came out.

00:00:01: What’s the nicest thing that anyone has ever said to you?

Chris: You’re the best dad ever, I love you!

00:00:01: This will be your first official Bush album. You’ve played many Bush songs from all their past albums while finishing out the 2002 Bush tour as well as with Gavin Rossdale solo stint. So by now you’ve had a chance to really soak in their music and get a feel for the Bush sound and even put a bit of your own spin into that while on the road. How much influence would you say you contributed to the new album and perhaps really the updated sound? Listening to Afterlife I could tell that it really fits with today’s music fits with the now. At the same time it still well within the realm of Bush.

Chris: That’s an interesting question. I think I have a very unique perspective on the Bush timeline, having come from playing live with the original Bush lineup on the Golden State tour, as well as studio recordings with Gavin on different albums, television and movie soundtracks, culminating to the upcoming Everything Always Now release.

I think it’s impossible to tell exactly how much anyone’s presence in the studio influences the recording process. Everyone contributes to the vibe on some level and it’s probably true to say that we are all both more and less important than we think we are. I feel it is my job in this band to use my technical skill as a guitarist, and knowledge of effects and sonics to add to the sonic palate Gavin has to draw from. I am a guitar and gear junky, and I love to bring new toys into the studio for us to play with. I prefer to go into the recording studio devoid of any preconceived notions about what the tracks are, or what my parts should sound like. My goal as a guitarist is to have the technical ability to perform any idea I hear in my head effortlessly in tune, time and tone. Most of the time my initial “takes” are the ones that end up on the record, other times it’s a dialogue between my first instinct and something Gavin hears in it that could be different. I have been working with Gavin for so long that I can sense when he’s really digging something, or if I should move on to another idea. Left to my own devices I tend to lean in the direction of jagged and angular guitar ideas. Where I think this is most noticeable is in places like the chorus of “Afterlife” which is a major scale stacked in fourths, or the solo section of “Lay down your guns” which is a nod to “Scary Monsters” era Fripp/Bowie collaborations. I do listen to a lot of experimental and electronic music as well, and take pride in making guitar parts that sound “unlike” the way guitar traditionally sounds. I think a lot of the ambient work on Gavin’s solo record Wanderlust, and Everything Always Now is really cool, and I really appreciate that Gavin and Bob Rock let me tweak out on my pedals and create “ear candy” for certain sections of music on the new record. If you put on headphones and listen to the spiraling guitar noises in the second verse of Afterlife, or the “My Bloody Valentine” style effects on the middle eight section of “Into the blue”, you can hear some of that influence as well. Of course Gavin plays guitar as well, and since it’s his main instrument to write on, any guitar parts that I am creating usually have to be developed around his guitar parts. This can be challenging for both of us at times, like sharing a video game with only one controller, but we have managed to create space for each other and over time gravitate towards those spaces. Within this framework that is once again Bush, we have developed as artists and musicians.

00:00:01: What is your idea of heaven?

Chris: Presence

00:00:01: What do you bring most to a friendship?

Chris: Strength, laughter and good fashion sense.

00:00:01: Over the past eight years you’ve really gotten a taste of Bush experience and a taste of what the fans are like. The fans welcomed you almost immediately for the short portion you toured with Bush. And many Bush fans became Institute fans as you worked through that project and even onto Gavin’s solo works. How would you compare the fan base and fan interaction with that of other bands you’ve worked with eg. Helmet or Orange 9mm? Do you find Bush fans to be too intense at times?

Chris: Well, not everyone welcomed me immediately. I remember some pretty harsh and negative things being said about me on the Bush forum when I first joined. But that kind of friction has helped me grow as a person and a musician.
It’s true to say that overall the reception was warm and enthusiastic, and meeting people like you really helped me to find my own space within the Bush community. O9mm came out of the hardcore scene, so when I toured with them I would actually know a lot of people at the shows, stay at their houses and go to dinner with them when I was in town. I did a lot of couch surfing back then. Helmet has a small hardcore following and over the nearly ten years that I performed and recorded with them I got to know those fans fairly well and I still keep in touch and interact with some of them. I really love the passion of the Bush fans and I have yet to find any of them too intense. I strive to have a more direct and honest communication with the hardcore fans that have stuck with Gavin and I for almost a decade. I love to look out in the crowd and see someone like you, or Ace, or Heather and catch a smile or steal a moment with one another. Even thinking about it now makes me smile. We need each other, and I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for the hardcore fans.

00:00:01: What is your all time favorite Bush song?

Chris: Zen and people is a close second. I am a big fan of Duane Allman and I love playing electric slide guitar loud and to big crowds; sometimes I pretend I am Duane while I play those songs.

00:00:01: It’s great hearing from you! It’s been over ten years since we first saw you appear on the scene with Bush during The Science of Things. It was a bit strange at first for the fans to see a new face during the tour, but it seemed everyone embraced you no questions asked. Were you involved in the making of that record? Or were just brought on for the tour? Did you have any influence on the Bush sound?

Sasha: I was involved in the recording of The Science of Things, in particular ‘Letting the Cables Sleep’ , ’40 Miles from the Sun’ and ‘English Fire’. Paul Eastman, my tech. and I, sampled and got hold of the original synthesizers ready for the tour. Rehearsing with the band was one of the great experiences of my life. Next to Robin’s powerful loping grooves and Nigel’s red hot amp valves I was immersed, 3D, in the Bush sound. The main obstacle for me was changing set-up in time to catch up with the band, already onto the next song. My only influence was the joy I expressed playing with the guys.

00:00:01: These days everyone has heard of the band Muse who have sort of been catapulted into the scene because of the Twilight phenomenon. Back in the day they were just a small fairly unknown English band. On Bush’s 2000 European Tour they had opened a bunch of shows for you guys. I had read in an article that shortly after touring the boys from Muse had asked you to join their band and that you declined. First off, is it even true that you were approached? And secondly, do you think things would be different for you now if you had become part of Muse? Being apart of Bush is a fantastic feat in itself, but to be part of two bands that have rose to fame would be quite amazing.

Sasha: Muse were fantastic from the very first show we played in Europe. Matt was a live wire, a real virtuoso, held back only by the fact he had two arms and ten fingers. From the first moment we met I felt a brotherly bond. He asked me to join them for a live T.V. appearance in London which clashed with Bush’s heavy schedule so there was never a way of doing both. That’s where the story came from. I remember watching the Muse T.V. live performance and feeling quite sorry for the guy they brought in as Matt was shooting him killer looks as he wasn’t keeping up. Matt is a one off, and the other guys were a delight to be around. Those shows, Bush and Muse together, were fantastic.

00:00:01: You mentioned that your current projects include working on Film Scores and that you possibly are going to release another album. I’ve seen your name come up here and there in movie credits and I remembered when you released Remasterpiece with Chris Coco. It’s almost as if the music you make now is night and day from the Bush sound. Can you describe your current style of music and tell us more about your next album? Do you miss making and/or playing the more hard edge sound of Bush? Is that something you would ever go back to?

Sasha: I always wanted to be a film composer. My Dad made movies when I was growing up so I’d spend my weekends in dubbing theatres as the sound team put together the post production. Music, SFX, dialogue and all the nuances which breath life into the pictures. At the age of six I had piano lessons. Paul Williams came over to the house to play his freshly composed Bugsy Malone soundtrack. Vangelis took me to his studio regularly to go mad on his synthesizers, Mark Knopfler berated me for not knowing enough harmony, Mike Oldfield turned up with his score of The Killing Fields and Ennio Morricone came to the house to sing and play his score for The Mission. In between there were always musicians in the house. Serge Gainsborough, Jean-Michel Jarre, Tony Hicks, Rick Wakeman, George Fenton and Keith Emerson. Apart from a baby girl, there was nothing else I ever wanted.

00:00:01: If Bush ever decided in some way shape of form to reunite and tour… do you think you would be a part of that?

Sasha: In a perfect world they would get back together. All of the Band were much more accomplished than they ever let on, probably due to a Press angle which associated them with Grunge, partly because they are what I call a real band. They honed their skills over many years before success came so when we all saw them on MTV they were ‘fighting easy’ as the Karate expression goes. I’d love to see them live again, whether it’s from the best seat in the house as I had or with you in front of house.

00:00:01: What gets you excited about life?

Sasha: Music, music and Ava. I get to be a musician with every breath. I’ve been able to follow my dream so I’m as excited every day as I was when I first got the music bug at around six years old. I now have a daughter who’s five, Ava. I’m seeing life through her eyes and loving every second. Girls are cool.

00:00:01: What is a family tradition you’ll pass on to your kids?

Sasha: I’d love Ava to get into music. She plays piano like Jerry-Lee Lewis, using any part of her body other than her hands to make sounds. She loves crashing a huge cymbal Robin gave me and strumming the ‘Strat’ Bush gave me for my birthday on tour. She’s more into being Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz at the moment but the world’s her oyster. I want her to be in her fantasy world for as long as possible. The only tradition I’d like her to follow is being kind and understanding toward others.

00:00:01: Social networking has seem to taken over and become a staple in many people’s lives. For some, it is their life. How do you view the world of social networking, with sites like Face book, MySpace, Twitter, Tumblr, etc? Is it the wave of the future or a passing fad?

Sasha: I’m a slave to the computer. Skype, email, YouTube and Google. It’s here to stay and growing. I love the fact I can have any idea and find someone on YouTube who’s done it, doing it, or knows a someone who can, as a gift!

The new CD I’m making, solo piano versions of all my Dad’s movies, is teaching me to find a good five hours a day on the piano exclusively, not including composing. I try to keep my web browsing focused and to a minimum at the moment, releasing more time for the natural world.

00:00:01: ….On a side note…. do you still have the video that you were filming during the Golden State Tour? I remember talking to you backstage at one of the after parties and you were filming a bunch of fans and asking them questions. I think there’s a small bit of footage of me yapping about the album after the Ft. Lauderdale show. That was a fun tour!

Sasha: I do have the ‘footage’ (old term for data) and you’ve got me thinking. At some point I’ll speak to Gavin about cutting out the endless filming passing trees from the tour bus and make it available.

God bless you all! Sacha x

00:00:01: How have you been! I’ve been working on getting some questions together. Before I sent my questions over I thought to ask a small handful of fans what they would ask you given the chance. I thought it would be great to get into the mindset of what the fans are thinking about and what they might be interested to know about you. Much to my dismay the same question kept coming up… when, what, where, how are you going to get back with Bush? BUT it is my feeling that this question has already been beaten to dead and that we have had our answer for some time. So moving on…

Nigel: Bush getting back together…….I always thought that ‘Bush’ in its prime was an edgy, searching band trying to push ourselves in a more left of centre position which is where I am happiest. So, they are some of the reasons why we didn’t do the album……. It all seems such a long time ago now like a different life but I watch clips on Youtube and miss it. I hope I go out and play some shows soon over here though as I really miss playing live.

00:00:01: The other thing I found interesting is that many of the fans just generally thought it would be cool to hang out with you. One fan asked: ‘do you want to play on my new solo album?’ , Another fan said: ‘I WOULD ask him if we would jam with me.?’ , lastly this fan said ‘hey wanna go grab dinner?’ … It’s clear the fans think it would be super cool to hang or play music with you, there’s a lot of talented people out there that you’ve influenced. Have you ever gotten together and played with any of your fans?

Nigel: Never really played with any fans – had a jam with a few people who had seen the band years ago. Playing music is my favourite thing so I’m always happy to play. People get me to play on tracks from time to time but they pay me of course.

00:00:01: How often do you sit down and play with other musicians? And is it more for fun or more business oriented?

Nigel: I do a lot of music in my studio, it’s very rarely for business. I try to please myself which leads to productivity challenges, if you get my drift. Jammed with my nephew recently who is a wicked jazz drummer. That was fun! I’m still trying to finish another solo album – I guess nobody is waiting outside the door for it so I’m taking too much time. Only 12 years and counting.

00:00:01: If you had to verbalize a slogan for your life, something you live by, what would it be?

Nigel: A slogan for life – just do.

00:00:01: What’s a phrase or saying you say a lot?

Nigel: That I’m working on bits and pieces of music.

00:00:01: Music has changed in the past 15 years. It’s an ever changing machine. The phrase ‘alternative’ used to catergorize bands that sounded like Bush, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, but there really aren’t any new bands coming out with that sound and making it onto the airwaves. It seems that the ‘alternative’ label is being used to describe bands like Bloc Party, The Kooks, Kings of Leon, MGMT, Shiny Toy Guns, Peter Bjorn and John, all of which seem miles away for the alternative sound of yesteryear. Have you embraced the new alternative bands and their sound? Do you think if you started a band or joined in a band today it would sound like these new bands or would you go in a different direction altogether?

Nigel: I don’t think I would join a very contemporary sounding band – music is so cyclical that once you’ve been around for a while you tend to recognise the influences which I suppose has always happened. I really like the Kings of Leon because they embrace so many different eras of music, churn it around and come up with their thing which I like a great deal. They also play together so well. Alternative is I suppose an alternative to the top 40 so punk rock was alternative , electronica was alternative, with our era alternative sort of became the top 40 so what is ‘alternative’? The interesting thing now is that the lines are all blurred and so you get Lilly Allen playing on the same bill as the Kings of Leon. They’re both huge acts and you’d thing the Kings would be the edgy underground band but they sell more records. People have much less tribal tastes. The mainstream has eaten all the different strands and can cope with them all if that makes sense.

00:00:01: What is one landmark in the world you hope to one day see?

Nigel: Like to go to the Pyramids or Tibet or Nepal or the North Pole or….

00:00:01: What age of your life would you want to revisit, given the chance?

Nigel: Don’t wanna go back – rather be happy or unhappy where I am.

00:00:01: Thanks again for taking the time to talk with me!! You’re a wonder!

Nigel: Well there you go. I am working a lot harder on music right now to try and finish up a bunch of things. My voice hasn’t improved so I expect there will be an instrumental release of some sort.

I hope all is well with you.

Take care!

Nigel x

I’m adding an new section to the site call 01 on 00:00:01. I’m hoping to do a series of interviews that all revolve around Bush. Either they helped make or influence Bush’s music or they are just some how tied to the band in some way. Hope you all enjoy! I will be posting the first interview shortly!

Laura

1. This is probably the most obvious question… what have you been up to? Are you working on any new music?

I’ve been hanging out at home, spending time with my wife and children, re-acquainting myself with a life that doesn’t involve having a countdown to the next date of departure. Life has become more open ended again which is refreshing after years of knowing that I only had a few days at home and then I’d be off again. An enviable position until you have children and then it becomes (for me) more of a heartbreaking position. Being stuck in a hotel room in Des Moines or the middle of Germany at two in the morning unable to sleep wishing that you were at home with your family is something I remind
myself of when I miss being on the road.

I’ve recorded an album with a friend – we’re fishing around for a deal right now – I’ve done all the music and he’s done all the singing. It’s a new direction in some ways so if we can get a deal you might get to hear it. We’re calling it ‘Book Club’. I’ve been working on a few commissions also and tried some more solo stuff but I’ve enjoyed collaboration more recently so that’s the way I see myself going in the future. I’ve done some mixing for a band or two also which I’ve enjoyed. I’ve become a lot more competent as an engineer in the studio in the last year or so so maybe I’ll end up working in that arena. It’s great because the studio is in my basement so I don’t have to go too far to go to work in the mornings. I miss playing live so maybe a new band is possible. Not sure really. I expect I’ll do something with Gavin again one day but probably not for a while.

2.Any plans for starting a new band or working with other bands, or do you plan on working a more behind the scenes roll?

3.What’s the best album you’ve bought in the past year?

The new Jane’s Addiction album.

4.You come from a very musical family, are you going to encourage your children to learn and play music or are you just going to sit back and see what interests they develop on their own?

I’ll encourage it and let what follows happen naturally.

5.Last news we heard was of the birth of your second child Oscar.. is there another baby in the works or is two enough?

Two is enough but never say never!

6.Do you think your life has finally gotten back to a status of normalcy? Do you still get approached by fans while doing everyday life things?

Sometimes I get approached and I really enjoy it. It’s quite a thrill. My life at home was never that abnormal. I always had time for our fans and still do.

7.Favorite Bush song?

Probably Machine Head! My favourites tend to be from the first two albums which were the fun ones to make. From then on things become trickier and more externally influenced.

8.What Bush song do you think you had the most influence on?

I would answer that by saying the song I had the least influence on was ‘Out of this world.’ I think I had an influence on everything we recorded.

9.Have you seen any good concerts lately? Is there anybody you haven’t seen in concert but would love to?

I’ve seen John Cale and Neil Young recently. Both were pretty amazing.

10.Recommend a good book.

Yellow Dog by Martin Amis

11.Tell us one of your quirks.

Trying to read about 20 books at once.

12.Have you ever met someone famous and they just weren’t what you expected?

They were all pretty much as I expected. Warren Beatty was friendlier than I would have expected (name dropping or what!!)

13.What are some other things you enjoy doing that don’t involve music?

All the usual things- books, movies, art, food, wine….

Unbelievable.. with as busy as this man is he was nice enough to do in interview for us. Thanks a million!!!!

1.Describe your musical works in 3 words.

Revolutionary, Serene, Provacative

2.What can we expect from the new album?

Dream filled landscapes augmented with memorable melodies that will simply blow your mind

3.What new bands are you currently listening to?

Sigur Ros, Royksopp, Ours

4.What are the best and worst parts about touring?

(best) Meeting lovely people (worst) Gavin in a bad mood

5.What the craziest thing you’ve seen on tour?

Watching Tool from the side of the stage & the fires at Woodstock

6.At what point did you stop telling Bush fans ‘I’m not famous’ and realize that you we part of the Bush experience.

I’m not famous!!

7.Favorite Bush song?

Little Things & 40 Miles From The Sun

8.Who was your first concert?

London Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven

9.If you were only allowed to listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be (title and artist)?

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (because it’s really long)

10.What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment?

Conducting “Schubert” in Moscow

11.Name something you would like to do before you die?

Have a worldwide no. 1 album

12.Are there any issues (on anything) that you feel strongly about or feel don’t get enough attention?

Everyone should be loving to each other all the time. Everyone should recycle and be nice to the environment.

13.What always cheers you up?

My girlfriend

14.Name something that drives you crazy, that you just can’t stand.

Dishonesty, big egos, & manufactured pop groups

Love & thanks!

sacha
x