it: There’s this legendary
tape called the Jackson Tape which was on the Internet a few years ago,
then disappeared somehow and it’s rumoured that the band itself
or Tony or Peter have bought this tape and apart from that we would like
to know what’s the story behind this tape and what’s going
to happen with it – will it be dusty on the shelves or whatever?
So we would love to hear something about that?
Richard Macphail: In
fact I have to say today is the first time I have heard about it as it’s
in the display case there, and I was saying to Helmut and Christian and
the others, What is this about?, because these pages of notes about it
are in a handwriting that I do not recognise, and it isn’t any
of the band’s handwriting, so I actually phoned Tony Banks, who
was at home this morning, somewhere between his stamp collection and the
garden, it’s a busy time of year for gardeners, and he basically
told me the story behind it, which is that Jackson is or was an English
painter, I believe, we think he might be Peter Jackson, and the BBC were
making a documentary programme about him. And for the music they had organised
a man called Paul Samwell-Smith, I don’t know if his name is familiar
to you, he started out as the bass player of the Yardbirds – remember
the Yardbirds: Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page all played in the
Yardbirds, they were the kind of forerunner of Led Zeppelin, the rampant
of the Yardbirds turned into Led Zeppelin. Paul Samuel Smith became a
producer and was Cat Stevens’ producer for the whole of Cat Stevens’
first 4 or 5 solo albums. Peter was wheeled in to play flute on a song
called Kathmandu, which is on, I think it’s the first Cat Stevens
solo album, it’s called Mona Bone Jakon. So Paul Samwell-Smith
knew of Peter, and one thing led to another and he asked the band to write
and record some pieces for this documentary. And the 4 pieces of music
are titles, I believe, of paintings of Peter Jackson, so that’s
why they are called that. For whatever reason this documentary never saw
the light of day.
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Tony thinks the son of the producer, not
Paul Samwell-Smith but the television producer, got hold of the tape
and he didn’t know for a long time [loud feedback from the PA]
clears out your sinuses! – who’s on the sound there? It’s
just like the real thing, used to happen all the time when I was back
there! Also makes you completely forget what you were saying…
Yeah, so the son of the producer didn’t know what he had and
then somehow stumbled on the possible value of this tape. And this has
all happened in the last two years, is that right? Then it was auctioned
on the Internet – and the band got together and bought it from
this guy and I don’t know how much they paid for it in case anyone
was going to ask that.
it: So the band in
this case were Tony, Mike and Phil?
Richard: No, Tony,
Mike and Peter.
it: So without Phil?
Richard: I don’t
know – they borrowed the money from Phil [big audience laughter,
big smile on Richard’s face].
it: So what will happen
to the tape now?
Richard: OK, in fact
Tony said to me that this guy, to prove his tape was authentic, sent
them a CD of it, which was all they ever really wanted, you know, they
weren’t that bothered to have the actual absolutely original
reel-to-reel tape but they decided to go through with whatever deal
they had made. So they are now in possession of the tape and the intention
is to release it through – he said “the website”
– what website does he mean? Is there a Genesis website? [answer
from Q: Yes there is.] I should know this I suppose – I haven’t
been there, I should google… So it will be available in the near
future.
Audience Question:
…that Peter Gabriel will sing overdubs…
Richard: Good joke!
That may be why there is a delay, maybe a bit of tidying up going on,
we all just saw how out of tune he’s capable of singing live
[referring to the Belgium 1972 video that had been played right before]
everyone sings live out of tune, because you can’t hear them.
But obviously a lot of this music [Jackson tape] was recycled and became
parts of other songs. [to Q:] Songs on the Lamb? You were saying
last night? Because I haven’t heard these. When we will get to
hear this music eventually some of the bits will be recognisable.
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Transliteration: Volker Warncke
Photo: Karin Woywod
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