Graham Oliver
Thank you for your questions and I am doing fine thanks you for asking.
I did have copies of the BMG releases of Saxon albums so far both on Cd and Vinyl and I am very pleased as they have done a great job of the ones released so far, I did supply many of the archive photos and adverts for the CD booklets and myself and Steve Dawson oversaw the outtakes digitalisation at Abbey Road studios as well as providing tapes from our own archive that have been used to expand the CDs.
You mentioned the younger Metal fans and at our concerts and festivals, this year we have been playing selected tracks of these Saxon classic NWOBHM songs to promote the BMG releases and we have been blown away at the audience singing along to every song even though it's obvious that some were not even born when these songs were first released. We find this very satisfying that our music is very relevant in the rock world of 2018.
I do agree with your assessment regarding how we progressed as the first album SAXON was our live set in the 70's, where we were supporting bands like The Clash, Whitesnake and Heavy Metal Kids to Ian Gillan band so a mixed time were energy was from the punks and great musicianship and songs from other bands. So we kind of put it all together for instance when I wrote the opening chord to Motorcycle Man, which was inspired by "Pretty Vacant" by the Sex Pistols and "See The Light Shining" was Deep Purple "Highway Star" inspired but we wrote all songs as a collective five people all together it was a very exciting time as we all had different influences, some that came out in the music we just played and wrote what we felt. I would come up with a riff like "Power And The Glory", "Denim And Leather", "Never Surrender", "The Hungry Years", "Wheels Of Steel" etc. and Paul Quinn would have a riff guitar part and all the band collectively worked out arrangement and Vocals with Biff.
We recorded two albums in The Who's studio in London so we found this very exciting as it had a great vibe. Pete Gill swears that the ghost of Keith Moon visited him during the drum break in "Suzi Hold On", but its the camaraderie of the original line up of the band I recall on these sessions that the chemistry was most prevalent and creative.
"Decade of The Eagles" is one compilation that's a must as it covers the evolvement of the band through the songs chosen by BMG and must be the definitive discography of classic NWOBHM 80's Saxon legacy.
We actually were signed to Parlophone / EMI we had great expectations as this was the Beatles label so we needed distribution in the USA as Carrere record did not have a good distribution in place when we toured with Rush ,ACDC ,Sabbath etc.. We hoped that Capitol EMI would facilitate this which they did but too late for "Wheels Of Steel" / "Strong Arm Of The Law" etc. But in my opinion their choice of producer was not good as they did not understand Saxon at all but it was in the contract that the producer was their choice .
The twin guitars of myself and Paul Quinn were instrumental in the Saxon sound and composition of songs' feel. "Street Fighting Gang" is a great example of the two styles working together. I recall just the two of us at my house working out riffs like the "Hungry Years" my opening riff but Paul's verse riff the two halves made one great and if a solo required a bluesy approach, like "Dallas 1 pm", it was me, or a mind blowing solo like "Ride Like The Wind" then Paul did the solo and these two styles blended well in solos and rhythm .
I am very pleased that my contribution to Saxon resulted in Gold and Silver albums with sell-out tours. "Two Nights At Hammersmith" for example that line up changes statistically seemed to affect sales but the foundations we forged then ensure that ODS so others can bring our music to a whole new audience in 2018. At our meet and greets, with no extra charge, we sign BMG releases as much as original versions if not more to a whole new bunch kids, job done.
Lior "Steinmetal" Stein
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