Personnel Page
The Crew
Warwick Sayce: Tour Management
The
title means Warwick is responsible for everything that goes on on the road.
Anyone that knows him is aware that 'responsible'and 'Warwick' are not
two words often used in close proximity, but I think he just gets bad press.
When working with us, it's only been when he's off duty that the Warwick
trouble-gland has gone into mischeif production. This happenned particularly
on the Tori Amos tour last year, under the bad influence of Zach and Sarge
from their crew (Warwick once told Sarge in no uncertain terms that Americans
didn't know how to headbutt, Sarge then proceeded to prove him wrong in
the most immediate and practical way possible. Warwick bled for hours).
He also is landlord to one Jim Crosskey, and believe me he rules his household
with an iron rod, very Dickensian. I'll add more when I think of it, or
when Warwick wishes to comment himself.
Matt Napier: Front of
House Sound
...
which means he controls what you hear, a very specialist job. The
youngest, and by far and away the most devestatingly sexy person in the
touring party, possibly in Oxford, Matt was so adversely affected by the
air of sobriety and sensibility that surrounds UBT on tour that his previous
persona of wild young care-free sex-God was very swiftly replaced by quiet,
soon to be happily married professional. Sorry Matt. He's so fantastic
at his job that he was head-hunted by the millenium dome to make their
sound system work properly. I just hope we can get him back for our
forthcoming dates.
Other people have passed
through our tours. Here's a word or two about each, and Jim's own inimitable
reading of them...
'Big' Neil MacDonald:
(he's the one in the middle)
Neil
was our first proper backline tech (looks after all the instruments), working
for us from after the Higher Than Reson tour through to the end of the
European tour in May '98, at which point he very sensibly deserted for
a job as Stereophonics tour manager. A double edged sword though; while
he has certainly been anything but short of work, I think by now he must
be a bit tired of their "this is DEFINITELY the last tour before we record
the next album" speil. That claim was first made for their Millenium Eve
show at Cream in Liverpool, here we are nearly five months later and they're
still plowing their way through the states.
Jim says: Neil was a fountain
of knowledge to me. A gospel of rock, footie and classic British
cinema, our time together will not be forgotten. The Wicker man,
indeed.
Duncan Swift:
Swifty (as he's commonly known) shared Neil's load on the 'bigger than
it knew it was good for' Almost Here tour. An Oxford stalwart, everyone
knows Duncan, and everyone who overcomes their fear enough to talk to him
loves him. He also disappeared into a hard labour camp that is the
Ash touring party.
Jim says: A man who's physical
presence is only outweighed by his gentleness, good nature and all-round
wonderfulness, long may he tower over us like a calm multi-pierced guardian
angel.
Adam Cummings: After
the other two had jumped ship, Adam sailed into the breach from the Japanese
tour right up until the end of the Almost Here campaign in France (including
the Tori Amos marathon).
Jim says: Stray too long,
and he will tempt you to the darkside. If you need any encouragement,
he's there in a flash - the devil on your shoulder. Adam's secret
weapon is - he knows EVERYTHING.
Mike Stewart:
He'd be our regular monitor man (controls what we hear on stage) if we
could. But, the best is in demand, and besides it's not often enough that
we play venues that have a monitor desk for him to fly. Last seen making
Travis think they sounded good.
Jim says: Mike has wisdom,
which he will dispense on request. Quick to laugh and slow to scowl,
always there when you need him. A trouper.
Leggy: Whenever
we could afford him, and whenever it was appropriate, Leggy operated the
lights pointed at us. Except for Route Du Rock, when he forgot his passport
and we had to abandon him at Dover. Works so hard and so constantly he
has no idea what his home looks like.
Jim says: There's an almost
cartoon like quality to Leggy. Not in any childish or purile way,
just in that he has that larger-than-lifeness that makes any time in his
company a pleasure. Anyone fancy a game of pigs? (We stand
a chance of beating him at that, unlike monopoly!!)
Mike Hornby: Did monitors
for the Tori tour, and a couple of other shows. Long time Auteurs (and
all associated Luke Haines bands) compadre, well suited to that job in
demeanour.
Jim says: Now then.
Here's a chap with attitude. If you want your soup northern and laconic,
well he's the man to serve it to you. Cold. Like they do in
Blackpool.