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There are few of us (well at least five) heading to Maida Vale next Tuesday.
So does anyone have have any questions they'd like to ask?
...there will be a chance for you to put your questions to Bob Geldof, Pete Briquette, Simon Crowe and Garry Roberts themselves.
Questions could be about A Tonic for the Troops and its legacy, how it influenced their later work and careers, or about their song-writing craft more generally.
To help us ensure we have a full range of questions to use in the recording, we are asking for them to be sent to us in advance. Please submit your questions as soon possible you can submit as many as you like (though if your question is chosen you will only be able to ask one).
In my opinion. The stand out Album (A tonic for the troops). I would like to know from each. What would have been the standout song for them. The one that went this is going to be the start of something good here?, that started to form the basses of the LP. I know that they had a booklet out round about 79/80 and most of the songs, when each member was asked seem to come from Tonic. Also would there have been a song that they would have dropped in fav of another song being added to the LP. (I know by the post some of you would drop Can't stop. Which I think is pretty good). As they did when the LP came out in the USA
It would be good to get some details on the contributions made Godley and Creme... what, they picked Tonic over V Deep?!!
Did we ever get an answer to what Geldof speaks/sings immediately prior to the sax solo on Rat Trap? Though that's too geeky for the recording in question, I guess.
It would be good to get some details on the contributions made Godley and Creme... what, they picked Tonic over V Deep?!!
Did we ever get an answer to what Geldof speaks/sings immediately prior to the sax solo on Rat Trap? Though that's too geeky for the recording in question, I guess.
Yep, absolutely amazing they didn't pick V Deep. :-p
Probably a bit late as I've been away for a week but : Geldof famously hated recording, is that true for the rest of the band?
Were all the songs completed before going into the studio, or were you still tweaking them?
What is the night life like in Hilversum, Netherlands where the album was recorded?
Who's idea was the sax on Rat Trap, and do they find the Springsteen comparisons a bit unfair or flattering?
Was Tonic easier or more difficult that the debut album?
Any chance of doing a full Tonic For The Troops live performance, seeing as the Rats have sold out London twice in the last two years. Lots of band now are doing a full album as a special live show, or better still two full live albums?
If you could go back and record Tonic again what changes might you make?
Was Mutt Lange the ideal producer- he was according to Geldof a 'strict disciplinarian', who took no nonsense?
No not really but I suppose if you really like any band/artist then it's easy enough to think up questions. Equally another part of me likes the 'mystery' of not being told everything. It's a bit like watching a great sci fi/special effects film and then seeing the dvd extras and finding out how all the effects/visuals were done digitally.
One thing about Tonic is that the band had to do their parts over and over again. Geldof was not ever happy with recording, and I think Mutt Lange was a bit of a perfectionist.
Unfortunately the Beeb appear to have opted for the less nerdy questions! They ignored my anorakky ones and picked the one I'd put in as researcher bait. Still, means no queueing!
Probably a bit late as I've been away for a week but : Geldof famously hated recording, is that true for the rest of the band?
Were all the songs completed before going into the studio, or were you still tweaking them?
What is the night life like in Hilversum, Netherlands where the album was recorded?
Who's idea was the sax on Rat Trap, and do they find the Springsteen comparisons a bit unfair or flattering?
Was Tonic easier or more difficult that the debut album?
Any chance of doing a full Tonic For The Troops live performance, seeing as the Rats have sold out London twice in the last two years. Lots of band now are doing a full album as a special live show, or better still two full live albums?
If you could go back and record Tonic again what changes might you make?
Was Mutt Lange the ideal producer- he was according to Geldof a 'strict disciplinarian', who took no nonsense?
I can answer question 3 with a counter-question: what night life?
Unfortunately the Beeb appear to have opted for the less nerdy questions! They ignored my anoraky ones and picked the one I'd put in as researcher bait. Still, means no queueing!
Same here. All my in depth and profound questions about the album discarded, though suspiciously alluded to in the questions asked by John Wilson and I get to ask the throw away one I stuck a smiley next to
Shame you didn't get to ask your question. But the upside was getting a prime seat!
Unfortunately the Beeb appear to have opted for the less nerdy questions! They ignored my anoraky ones and picked the one I'd put in as researcher bait. Still, means no queueing!
Same here. All my in depth and profound questions about the album discarded, though suspiciously alluded to in the questions asked by John Wilson and I get to ask the throw away one I stuck a smiley next to
Shame you didn't get to ask your question. But the upside was getting a prime seat!
All the perks of a question, none of the awkward mumbling! Although your's went down pretty well!
suspiciously alluded to in the questions asked by John Wilson
Funny you should say that. Noticed mine pretty much reworded and asked by him. Maybe he already had that in script and therefore no need to select mine.
Thought he did a very good job overall and clearly had researched well. Showed good continuity skills too as questions led to naturally to next topic/song.
suspiciously alluded to in the questions asked by John Wilson
Funny you should say that. Noticed mine pretty much reworded and asked by him. Maybe he already had that in script and therefore no need to select mine.
Thought he did a very good job overall and clearly had researched well. Showed good continuity skills too as questions led to naturally to next topic/song.
Yes, I thought that when they mentioned the album title. I have to confess total ignorance on where the title came from, but shagging makes total sense to me.
I suspect the questions were part of their research and fed into his script. John Wilson was superb, I wish I had a voice like his. I suspect he is a bit of a fan himself, the parting comment about a teenager listening to the LP in their bedroom was quite telling along with mentioning the quantum leap between the first and second album.
Probably a bit late as I've been away for a week but : Geldof famously hated recording, is that true for the rest of the band?
Were all the songs completed before going into the studio, or were you still tweaking them?
What is the night life like in Hilversum, Netherlands where the album was recorded?
Who's idea was the sax on Rat Trap, and do they find the Springsteen comparisons a bit unfair or flattering?
Was Tonic easier or more difficult that the debut album?
Any chance of doing a full Tonic For The Troops live performance, seeing as the Rats have sold out London twice in the last two years. Lots of band now are doing a full album as a special live show, or better still two full live albums?
If you could go back and record Tonic again what changes might you make?
Was Mutt Lange the ideal producer- he was according to Geldof a 'strict disciplinarian', who took no nonsense?
I can answer question 3 with a counter-question: what night life?
Certainly both A Tonic For The Troops and The Fine Art of Surfacing were recorded at the Phonogram Studios in Hilversum. Lots of famous acts recorded there down through the years. MY question was meant to be ironic, but you never know when rock stars get together, what may happen.A seemingly boring city may be more exciting than one might think.
