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This is an exclusive adam-ant.net interview with Boz Boorer! Boz Boorer -- charistmatic, charming and an exceedingly talented guitarist and performer. Aside from working regularly with the Polecats, Morrissey, and a host of others, Boz assisted as a songwriter and was featured on Adam Ant's 1995 album release, Wonderful. He also spent at least a month on the road with Adam and his entourage to promote the unreleased Persuasion album. This underrated rockabilly GOD just got back from touring with Morrissey and he took the time to speak with adam-ant.net. --- June/2000
adam-ant.net: Please tell us where and when you were born. Also, how was your
childhood overall?
Boz:
19.5.62 Edgeware Middlesex, I was educated at Orange Hill school,
one year below Matthew Ashman, the same year as his sister Emma. I left
at 18 after passing music a level quite enjoyable. My childhood was very stable.
Boz: I listened to pop music in a serious way around nine years old, played recorder then clarinet, then started on guitar at 12 and put a band together at 15.
adam-ant.net: Who were your musical influences? Who do you respect as a musician now?
Boz:
T.Rex and Marc Bolan were the first things to completely blow me away.
Then the great 50s guitarists like Cliff Gallop, Les Paul, Jimmy Bryant, Eddie Cochran.
Nowadays I like people like Edwyn Collins, Bernard Butler, Joe Strummer, and Beck.
adam-ant.net: You have been performing with Morrissey for years and you recently
returned from his tour again. How did the tour overall go?
Boz: Fantastic, some new places in South America, good audiences, good
people.
adam-ant.net: How long did you perform with the Polecats? Can you tell us about it?
Boz:
1977 to 1983 but we still play even now, hopefully in September, we
played a lot , and more recently we have been to Japan a few times. We
have released a few albums.
adam-ant.net: Even though it says 'don't ask' on the webpage? Can you tell us the
story behind Morrissey with the bride? (You don't have to if you don't
want to but the pic is highly amusing!)
adam-ant.net: Where and when did you meet Adam Ant?
Boz:
At Marco's house when they were planning the Persuasion tour.
Boz:
Strangely enough, I did feel a particular vibe in there that was quite nice
and the piano in studio 2 had a very familiar sound to it!
adam-ant.net: Aside from performing on the Wonderful album (and assisting with songwriting), you also toured with
Adam and the band, how long did this last? Did you enjoy touring?
adam-ant.net: What is your favorite song from Wonderful? What was your least favorite? Do you feel that you contributed musically to the album or did Adam basically have the plans for the album already set allowing little room
for musical changes, etc.
Boz:
Wonderful itself is a great track; I like the entire album, not a weak
track on it in my opinion , the tracks were mainly written round here all
of us together, Ying and Yang was an older song of mine , we used the
actual demo guitars on the finished thing.
adam-ant.net: What was it like working with Marco Pirroni and Adam Ant? Do you have any stories to share, etc? Do you still remain friends/acquainted with
any of them today?
Boz: It was a great experience; Adam's a great workaholic with a great vision
I still see Marco from time to time, haven't seen Adam for a while though.
Boz:
Of course!
adam-ant.net: Tell us about your new recording studio?
Boz: It was for my own use but over the last 4 years I have started doing sessions with lots of friends it's small but has a good sound.
adam-ant.net:
You tend to spend a lot of time in the US, on tour with various bands, etc. Do you still consider England your home?
Boz:
Yes, I always come home, my kids are at school here and me and my wife
have a place here.
adam-ant.net: You have a new gig coming up in London. Can you tell us about it? Can tell us about your next new projects planned for the next year or so (if
you know them).
Boz:
My next gig is at the Fleadh festival in a band called Velvet Ghost with
Chas Smash from Madness and lots of other people, but we're on very
Early, it's a bit ska-ish and like a lad's band.
adam-ant.net: According to your webpage, you played several gigs (with your wife Lyn
also) in a band called Dixie Fireballs and you performed at the Tennessee
State Women's Prison. Can you tell us how that went? Were you intimidated
with the audience?
Boz:
The prison gig was great, the girls loved it, and we just finished mixing
the live album from the gig. It should be out soon.
adam-ant.net: What other musical projects have you been involved in lately? You
recently did a gig in Ireland - how did it go?
Boz:
Ireland was good; we just put a rockabilly band together and played some
small pubs at part of a Roots festival.
adam-ant.net: Do you find touring takes a toll on your family life? Do you have children, etc. or does your partner, Lyn travel with you often?
Boz:
It means my time at home is quite concentrated, but they do come and visit occasionally.
adam-ant.net: What are your next musical projects?
Boz: I'm doing the Fleadh Festival on Saturday with the Velvet Ghost.com a new
band with Chas Smash from Madness. Then some rockabilly in September with
The Polecats - not sure where yet.
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adam-ant.net: How old were you when you started getting involved with music (i.e.
playing a musical instrument, picking up your first guitar, listening to
tunes, etc.)? 
Boz:
It's just an amusing picture, we were staying at an hotel in Bournemouth
and there happened to be a wedding going on and someone snapped a photo.
Boz:
Can't remember how long the Persuasion tour was, 4 or 5 weeks I think,
It was a great band and a lot of fun to do. (adam-ant.net note: Boz unfortunately didn't get to tour for Wonderful as he already had tour committments with Morrissey.)
adam-ant.net: If Adam asked you to perform with him again, would you consider it?
Boz:
New York, L.A. , Nashville , Copenhagen, San Francisco
My most memorable gig ...LA forum with Morrissey 1991 when David Bowie
joined us for the encore!
