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Ten Questions with...

GUY MANNING

Guy Manning is a prolific composer and musician, appears on the superb new album by The Tangent (a prog rock fans dream!) and has his own new solo album out in November. He has worked with a variety of other artists and released five solo albums to date.

1. What are you currently up to?

a) Just finished new CD "The View From MY Window" due out Nov 2003
b) Awaiting this CD along with the new TANGENT CD "The Music That Died Alone" Sept 22 2003
c) Have got a piece to write/record for the COLOSSUS website multi band project CD "The Spaghetti Epic"
This is due to be completed by Dec 2003 [I'm doing this as a 'band' "Un Segmento Della Tangente" with Andy Tillison]
d) Start writing again for 2004 CD! [Does it never stop...]
e) Been offered a place at the UKs CRS main festival in May 2004, so I'm considering this one

2. What has been the highlight(s) and lowpoints(s) of your career to date?

a) Highlights - Getting 5 of my own CDs out [Not including TANGENT & PO90 stuff] b) Low points - Still not really known, Still thought of as ex-po90 (even though I have never been a member) Still called Singer/Songwriter..I mean really..is Roger Waters a Singer/Songwriter?

3. How did you first get into the music business? Who have been your main influences on your career to date?

Loved music from day one! Listened to alot of Tull, Genesis, Yes, Hatfields etc. as I grew up. Put together lots of bands...see my website biography for all the dirty details

4. How did the line-up for the Tangent album come about? Any plans to tour/play a one-off date at all?

Can I direct you to the TANGENT website for this, as Andy has written it all out for you! Live Dates would be difficult with some many disparate forces at work!

5. Could you take us through some personal highlights on the Tangent album please?

a) Listening to the early demos with Andy and watching them evolve
b) Seeing all the famous faces get to join up and contribute
c) Getting the masters back from Sweden and being allowed (finally) to put my parts on it
d) Hearing the final mix!
It Has been a fantastic experience from start to finish!

Guy Manning

6. You have a new solo album, The View From My Window out soon. Could you tell us a little more about this and some personal highlights?

This one has more rocky/heavy tunes on then the last one "The Ragged Curtain" I've also employed a more orchestral backdrop to it (lots of orchestral samples etc.)

Add to that, real percussion, fiddles, whistles etc. along with the excellent contributions from my 'band' (Laura, Gareth, Rick) and help from Andy etc. and you have one fine album!!! It was fun to write and hard to mix!

7. How healthy is the UK progressive rock scene? Has it seen a revival in interest along the lines of mainland Europe or do you still find your biggest markets are overseas?

I still sell more abroad than in the UK..and I am generally unknown! The prog. scene has gone underground again just as it was when it started in the late 60's

It is spread by word of mouth and those faithful fans who will not let it die plus Internet sites (like yours)

Never has a genre of music been so universally sneered at and ridiculed as 'Progressive' Rock

Despite all its' magnificent achievements..you are made to feel like an ancient dinosaur if you even mention you listen to it This very concept forms the backbone to the TANGENT lyrical content and the CD title.

8. Is there anything you would still like to achieve musically?

I'd like to make a CD that gets a wider critical acclaim... I have yet to make my DARK SIDE OF THE MOON!

9. What do you do in your spare time outside of music?

I love listening to music and watching films.

10. Message to your fans...

Don't Panic! Don't give up! Keep listening! Thank You All! Join my Newsgroup! (This can be done from the contacts page on the website www.guymanning.com)

Guy Manning Website

Tangent Website

Album Review - The Tangent


Interview © 2003 Jason Ritchie/
Format and edit: The Music Index.

All rights reserved.

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