PC's been repaired - are you prepared? Here's the interview I did with Phil Ryan after the gig at Franzis.
Mikes: Nice little venue, Franzis, isn?t it?
Phil Ryan: A nice and funky place. The vibes are good.
I just spoke to new drummer Ren? Robrahn. He said he?d met you all, except Martin, on the first day of rehearsals. You didn?t have much time, did you?
We had seven days of rehearsal, this is the fifth gig. Considering the limited time everybody?s happy.
Speaking about Ren?. What do you think about his inclusion in the band?
Ren? is like a breath of fresh air. His drumming style suits us. He?s able to play quite subtle things. And he?s a great guy to be with.
His addition is a reaction on what happened towards the end of last year?
There was a change in the band. I think it was inevitable. There were irreconsiliable differences between factions of the band. The un-experience of the last recording broke the straw.
What exactly happened?
There wasn?t really a row. What can I say ? fuck, it?s very complicated and personal.
Please tell me how you experienced it.
From where I was looking at things it was inevitable. It would have happened in the near future. Maybe right after the sessions. Martin was left hold of the baby. I?d pissed off to Denmark in a state of self-righteous indignation. After I cooled off and had spoken to him I felt I couldn?t do anything but help Martin finishing the record. We went towards Murdochs studio and finished it off there as best as we could. I wouldn?t say the result is as I?d wished to be. But nevertheless it?s a step into a new direction.
You?ve got a new guitarist in James Beck. How did he get drawn in?
Josh?s been playing with him in Ringolevio and a couple of up and coming Swansea bands. I?d heard him play and Martin knew his playing. It?s exactly what we wanted. For a 19 years old he plays with a lot of maturity and dynamism. As soon as he steps forward, which he?s already started doing, he?ll more than live up to any expectations of guitar loving Man fans.
I think especially the interplay between him and you worked tonight.
<With James> I?m trying to get back to the relationship I had to Micky Jones as a guitarist. We?ll throw ideas at each other.
I noticed that you?ve been putting some energy into the backing vocals. I think they?re a great asset to the band but need to be put into focus even more.
They?re getting much better. Good you spotted that! It?s right what you?re saying: We concentrated more on the singing than the band has done for centuries.
But then again I think that Josh?s lead vocals are lacking guts.
Again, for one Josh so young he?s a really talented writer. And ? I feel quite happy that you adopt any approach to his performances. I think it?s great with the two young guys. Once you?ve got some gigs under your belt it could be a formidable combination.
In the forum of the Manband Archive there seems to have been less sympathy for this outfit than for George and Bob. How do you feel about that?
It?s a bit laugh and cry at the same time and that?s all I say about it. What bugs me is that Martin has been pointed out as the fucking villain and nothing could be farther from the truth. Without Martin the band wouldn?t have been together in the shape. Besides he?s the musical force in the band. He?s taken responsibilities of the band. He deserves a lot of credit for keeping the band together this long.
The set mainly contains rather short songs. Have the days of long improvisations gone?
I like tight arrangements. The songs Josh has written, I really like them. But I also like the kind of improvising possibilities albeit confined, like in Victim Of Love, Circumstances or Do It. The 20 minute versions of C?mon have gone forever. But who knows ?
You?re playing a lot of Martin stuff. Some fans of the band complain there?s hardly stuff from Micky or Deke ?
Conflict of Interest - Deke wrote. Dream Away ? Deke wrote and Micky used to sing it. I thought they were your representative of all the styles.
What?s the most noticeable change of the new line-up?
There?s a definite enthusiasm which has returned.
08/12/2023 -
Supported by The Trembling Knees, Man at The Bunkhouse in Swansea.
02/02/2024 -
Man at Backstage at The Green Hotel in Kinross.
15/02/2024 -
Man at The Half Moon, Putney in London.
