When HUB Met... GO WEST!

Peter Cox and Richard Drummie of Go West don’t have the outward appearance of ‘Rock Stars’; indeed they have aged incredibly well in a world normally known for its excesses and just last year they celebrated 25 years in the business. They originally formed Go West in 1982 with their debut single, We Close Our Eyes, reaching No. 4 in 1985. They went on to release five further albums, notably Indian Summer in 1992, which contained one of their biggest hits, The King of Wishful Thinking.

In 1993 Cox and Drummie relocated to LA. Richard returned to the UK after three years and has continued to work in the music industry concentrating on song writing and producing other artists. Peter stayed in California however, focusing on his solo career. The band reformed in 2005 to mark their 20th anniversary and they have continued to write, record and perform ever since.

The key to the continued success and longevity of the band has to be Cox and Drummie’s enduring friendship. They remain close friends and have a great deal of mutual admiration and respect for each other. Indeed despite a split in the interim years their relationship is more like a marriage that has stood the test of time.

When it was announced that Go West would be headlining the Saffron Walden Carnival this year HUB jumped at the chance to get together with Peter Cox and Richard Drummie for a warm up session - and maybe a little flirt (well what girl wouldn’t?)!

Who inspires you musically?

Richard: Joni Mitchell and the Bombay Bicycle Club
Peter: Paul Rodgers from Free and Jarle Bernhoft

How do you think the music industry has changed since your early days?

Richard: It’s definitely changed for the worse; it is almost impossible to make any money selling albums. In fact the only way for 95% of artists to make any money is by gigging.
Peter: Yes, it’s definitely a labour of love. It’s very hard for an artist to make the jump from working full time in a nine to five job to earning a living as a musician.

Best ever gig?

Richard: Probably the first time we ever played Hammersmith Apollo. I remember going to see bands at the Apollo so for us to sell out there was amazing. Our manager wanted us to do Wembley but we have always hated seeing bands there so why should our fans have to? So we did four nights at the Apollo instead.
Peter: I agree with Richard, probably the first gig at the Apollo, but I also really loved playing at Henley last year. To play in front of 14,000 people all singing along to King of Wishful Thinking, 25 years on, was amazing.

Do you have any regrets?

Richard: I really wanted to do a Thunderbirds video for the first single of the second album; we met up with Gerry Anderson, everything was ready, but at the last minute the record company lost their bottle.
Peter: We also turned down doing the theme song for the Bond film, The Living Daylights. It would have been financially lucrative but we just couldn’t get inspired by the difficult title.

Which is your favourite band?

Richard: Free.
Peter: The obvious choice would also be Free

Are there any dead rock stars would you bring back?

Richard: Gary Moore and Phil Lynott
Peter: Jimi Hendrix

Which was the first album you bought?

Richard: Tubular Bells
Peter: Tighten Up (reggae compilation)

And the most embarrassing?

Richard: David Cassidy: Dreams are Nuthin More Than Wishes on vinyl with a reversible cover
Peter: A Vangelis album – although I love it other people might think it’s embarrassing!

Do you have a music guilty pleasure?

Richard: Barbara Streisand
Peter: I can’t think of any music that I listen to that I am embarrassed by.

Looking back, at previous carnivals we’ve had ABC and Tony Hadley playing; what can we look forward to with Go West?

Well obviously we are much younger and better looking and we won’t be wearing suits! For more info on tour dates, CDs and all things Go West visit www.gowest.org.uk Richard will be doing a charity trek to Cambodia later this year; for more information on how you can join him, or sponsor him, check out: http://www