Post by Chris on Oct 23, 2009 10:58:07 GMT -5
Here is the most recent Interview. It is from Click Liverpool.
CLICK INTERVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTERVIEW: Music legend Cat Stevens
by John Harkin. Published Fri 23 Oct 2009 11:32
Yusuf Islam is one of the most controversial pop icons of the last 50-years. Better known as Cat Stevens, Yusuf has had a string of massive hits throughout his illustrious career, including Wild World, Moonshadow, Morning Has Broken and Matthew and Son.
The music icon is now making his long-awaited touring return and ClickLiverpool caught up with Yusuf to talk about his comeback, the X-Factor and why you shouldn't mention Coldplay....
CLICK: Hi Yusuf, how does it feel to be touring again?
YUSUF: I feel like Cecil B DeMills; it's a complex operation, but I'm excited by the prospects.
CLICK: You were away from the music business for 25-years, what made you come back?
YUSUF: Today there’s a whole new audience listening to my old recordings. It’s encouraging to see a brand new generation being inspired by some of the probing themes of my songs. I once went through a stage where I turned my back on everything that I’d done before, but of course that was an over zealous reaction to the spiritual happiness that I’d discovered in Islam. Now, the music's coming home again and I’ve picked up the guitar – the piano is a little too heavy for me right now!
CLICK: You first started your musical career 43 years ago, are you still enjoying it now as much as you were in 1966?
YUSUF: Certainly, but the music world has changed. It's more corporate where there are only a few Giant companies running the shop. I never worked well with company regimes.
CLICK: You have toured with some amazing artists, who is the most talented musician you have ever had the pleasure of working with?
YUSUF: Hendrix and Chick Corea.
CLICK You recently claimed you would consider a lawsuit against Coldplay as their song Viva La Vida bore resemblences to your song “Foreigner Suite”. Now that Coldplay have reached a settlement with Joe Satriani, will you be pursuing your lawsuit against the band?
YUSUF: It's been blown out of proportion. One day I simply mentioned something to somebody, which some of my fans thought was obvious. But what most people missed is that I stole the same melody from myself and rewrote a whole new song for my previous Album released in 2006 called, An Other Cup! The song was called Heaven/Where True Love Goes. Now, actually, that does sound more like Cold Play than Foreigner Suite. Should I sue twice?
CLICK: You sold the song "The First Cut Is The Deepest" for £30.. does it annoy you that so many artists have had such massive success with the track since you relinquished the rights?
YUSUF: Not true, I still receive royalties but they were halved through a cunning publisher deal made when I was still green.
CLICK: Have you been recording new material recently?
YUSUF: A new Album is being written, but first I have started recording a Concept Album of the Musical, Moonshadow. A single of Matthew & Son may soon be released, it's a killer!
CLICK: What do you make of the music scene today?
YUSUF: The X-Factor trend describes where it's got to.
CLICK: Who are your favourite modern day musicians?
YUSUF: Tom Waits, Green Day, Red Hot Chilly Peppers and.. not Cold Play!
CLICK: Are shows like the X-Factor destroying genuine music talent and diluting the industry as a whole?
YUSUF: Please see my answer above - exactly my sentiments.
CLICK: How have you developed as an artist in the past few years?
YUSUF: I have a great respect for musical individuality and style. That's why I continue to explore to do things never done -write songs which have not been written.
CLICK: Is there any famous songs of yours which you don't like?
YUSUF: Can't Keep It In.
Yusuf Islam will be performing at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Dec 5.
Yusuf will also be performing in varuious venues in the UK on the following dates:
November 23 – Birmingham NIA
December 8 – London Royal Albert Hall
As well as the hits and songs from new album Roadsinger, the show will feature a 30 minute preview of Yusuf's debut musical 'Moonshadow' with full cast.
CLICK INTERVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTERVIEW: Music legend Cat Stevens
by John Harkin. Published Fri 23 Oct 2009 11:32
Yusuf Islam is one of the most controversial pop icons of the last 50-years. Better known as Cat Stevens, Yusuf has had a string of massive hits throughout his illustrious career, including Wild World, Moonshadow, Morning Has Broken and Matthew and Son.
The music icon is now making his long-awaited touring return and ClickLiverpool caught up with Yusuf to talk about his comeback, the X-Factor and why you shouldn't mention Coldplay....
CLICK: Hi Yusuf, how does it feel to be touring again?
YUSUF: I feel like Cecil B DeMills; it's a complex operation, but I'm excited by the prospects.
CLICK: You were away from the music business for 25-years, what made you come back?
YUSUF: Today there’s a whole new audience listening to my old recordings. It’s encouraging to see a brand new generation being inspired by some of the probing themes of my songs. I once went through a stage where I turned my back on everything that I’d done before, but of course that was an over zealous reaction to the spiritual happiness that I’d discovered in Islam. Now, the music's coming home again and I’ve picked up the guitar – the piano is a little too heavy for me right now!
CLICK: You first started your musical career 43 years ago, are you still enjoying it now as much as you were in 1966?
YUSUF: Certainly, but the music world has changed. It's more corporate where there are only a few Giant companies running the shop. I never worked well with company regimes.
CLICK: You have toured with some amazing artists, who is the most talented musician you have ever had the pleasure of working with?
YUSUF: Hendrix and Chick Corea.
CLICK You recently claimed you would consider a lawsuit against Coldplay as their song Viva La Vida bore resemblences to your song “Foreigner Suite”. Now that Coldplay have reached a settlement with Joe Satriani, will you be pursuing your lawsuit against the band?
YUSUF: It's been blown out of proportion. One day I simply mentioned something to somebody, which some of my fans thought was obvious. But what most people missed is that I stole the same melody from myself and rewrote a whole new song for my previous Album released in 2006 called, An Other Cup! The song was called Heaven/Where True Love Goes. Now, actually, that does sound more like Cold Play than Foreigner Suite. Should I sue twice?
CLICK: You sold the song "The First Cut Is The Deepest" for £30.. does it annoy you that so many artists have had such massive success with the track since you relinquished the rights?
YUSUF: Not true, I still receive royalties but they were halved through a cunning publisher deal made when I was still green.
CLICK: Have you been recording new material recently?
YUSUF: A new Album is being written, but first I have started recording a Concept Album of the Musical, Moonshadow. A single of Matthew & Son may soon be released, it's a killer!
CLICK: What do you make of the music scene today?
YUSUF: The X-Factor trend describes where it's got to.
CLICK: Who are your favourite modern day musicians?
YUSUF: Tom Waits, Green Day, Red Hot Chilly Peppers and.. not Cold Play!
CLICK: Are shows like the X-Factor destroying genuine music talent and diluting the industry as a whole?
YUSUF: Please see my answer above - exactly my sentiments.
CLICK: How have you developed as an artist in the past few years?
YUSUF: I have a great respect for musical individuality and style. That's why I continue to explore to do things never done -write songs which have not been written.
CLICK: Is there any famous songs of yours which you don't like?
YUSUF: Can't Keep It In.
Yusuf Islam will be performing at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Dec 5.
Yusuf will also be performing in varuious venues in the UK on the following dates:
November 23 – Birmingham NIA
December 8 – London Royal Albert Hall
As well as the hits and songs from new album Roadsinger, the show will feature a 30 minute preview of Yusuf's debut musical 'Moonshadow' with full cast.
Great interview and very candid. 
One thing I can't believe is that he doesn't like "Can't Keep It In"! 
I love that song and have always felt very uplifted by it!! Oh well, he's got the right to not like something he wrote...just hard to believe. 
, at least now I won't be the only one catchin' flack!! 