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Ten Questions with...

RICKY PHILLIPS

Ricky Phillips has played bass with the Babys (who also featured Journey's Jon Cain and John Waite) and Bad English, who had US top 10 singles and two great albums out in the late 80's/early 90's. He has also worked extensively with ex-Toto vocalist Fergie Frederiksen and appeared as session man on many albums (inc. Coverdale/Page).

1. What are you currently up to?

Learning material for a Ronnie Montrose tour in November, finishing mixes, learning keyboards for Creedence shows in New Zealand, writing songs for a couple projects, starting to write the score for a short film and pleading with my dog to stop digging holes.

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

Highpoints? Their are too many to list really. No bullshit... I feel very fortunate to have played and shared musical ideas with so many incredible musicians. All the guys in The Babys, Bad English and sessions with so many others. Playing and Creating music is its own reward and there is a silent brotherhood which comes as a direct result. I enjoyed talking with Jimmy Page about the old Yardbird days and wild adventures with Led Zeplin as much as I enjoyed the months we played music together. There are so many more great things that have happened to and for me as the result of my involvment with music that I am forever indebted. The only lows are when good things come to an end...and they all do.

3. The Babys - how did this band start out? What was the highlight of your time in this band?

Jonathan and I joined the band after they moved to the States from England. That was the first taste of success I had experienced with a recording band. We were constantly working, whether it was in the studio or on the road. We were a very close unit. The highlight was being on stage together. We rocked. .

4. You were a member of the 'supergroup' Bad English, which featured fellow Babys' member John Waite. Why do you think that Bad English had the success that the Babys didn't?

It could have been the record company or management or timing...probably a combination...hard to say. I think The Babys were much hipper than Bad English. Lets face it, although a killer band, Bad English was a flavor of the month band. It fit in with everything going on at the time while The Babys had its own little niche. Which went against the New Wave and Punk music of the time.

5. You did a very good album, that does get sadly overlooked, with ex- Toto singer Fergie Frederiksen. How did this collaboration come about?

I've actually done two albums with Fergie. The first was called Frederiksen/Phillips and the second was Fergie's solo album "Equilibrium" which I produced. Fergie and I had done a few unsigned projects together and enjoyed the camraderie. We were approached by Magnus Soderkvist to do a CD as a duo for Empire Records. We were both in between bands so it sounded like a great idea. I had been writing songs with no home for them and We'd been wanting the opportunity to do a CD together so this seemed perfect.

The Frederiksen/Phillips CD was a studio project for most people but Fergie and I have worked and colaberated together on material for 14 years. We still do. Remember there were some 20 musicians and singers who joined in on that record.

6. Any band you would love to play in? What artists would you like to work with still and who have you enjoyed working with most?

I wish I could have worked with Jimi Hendrix and Phil Lynott. They were very influencial in my twisted development.

7. You are currently producing and working with some new artists. Could you tell us some more about them and your future plans in this area?

I'm always looking for new artists.

8. Outside of business, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Golf has been a constant throughout my life. Walking on green grass and focusing on your game takes the world's troubles away for a few hours

9. The last thing that you read?

The warranty on my new NIKE driver.

10. Message for your fans...

Don't do what I do

Website: http://www.rickyphillips.com


Interview © 2002 Jason Ritchie/
Format and edit: The Music Index.

All rights reserved.

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