Interview Guy Fletcher , Natural Selection

Interview Guy Fletcher new album 2010: Natural Selection

Guy Fletcher Natural Selection Release March 2010 Tracklist : Flame Of Blue / After The Mission / In The Beginning / Natural Selection / Lover's Harmony / Man In Front Of Me / Falling Tide / Little Light / The Forum / Said And Done / Last Farewell

We all know Guy Fletcher (born 1960) as the man who works with Mark Knopfler. He became a member of Dire Straits back in 1985 by turning up at Mark’s house with his DX7 keyboard under his arm a few years earlier. Since then he is involved in almost every project Mark has done . Before Dire Straits he toured with Roxy Music . In 2008 Guy released his first solo cd “ Inamorata” and this year , in 2010 he will release his second full cd called “Natural Selection“ and that's the mean reason for this interview .

Q. Guy , can you tell us where you from ?
A : I live in the UK. West Sussex to be precise.

Q. How did you become interested in music ?
A : My parents were all musical, my mum a singer, dad a guitarist and uncle a songwriter so I was surrounded by the stuff.

Q. Which instrument did you play first?
A : Apart from single-finger piano at age 4, bass guitar at age 12.

Q. Which people or music that you heard on the radio at that time had the most influence on you?
A : The Beatles, Elvis, Kinks, Small Faces etc.

Q. What were the first bands you played in , school bands?
A :Yes, most notably ‘The Flat Earth Society’ LOL.

Q. How did you become involved with Roxy Music?
A : I auditioned for Bryan Ferry after doing a session for an engineer working at the Gallery studios in Chertsey, Surrey which was at the time owned by Phil Manzanera.

Q. After that you turned up on Mark Knopfler’s house with your keyboard . But was it so easy? Didn’t you have an appointment , can you tell us the story behind that ?
A : Yes, we were supposed to meet as he was looking for someone to work with him on the film projects ‘Cal’ and ‘Comfort and Joy’. Needless to say, the meeting went well.

Q. In 1985 you joined Dire Straits , can you tell us how it feels to be part of such a great band?
A : I’ve forgotten.

Q. Did you like the music from Dire Straits before you joined them?
A : I’d never even heard of them!

Q. Since then you always stayed with Mark , can you tell us more about the relationship that you have ?
A : We are friends of course but don’t ‘hang out’ all that much as we’re both quite busy.

Q. How did you become involved to write filmscores like Spirit Trap etc …?
A : Through my agents ‘Air-edel’

Q. How did you decide to make a record from your own ?
A : I got tired of co-producing records where I didn’t have ‘complete’ control over the process. I have always written songs, so the most obvious thing was to use my temporary unemployment during the summer of 2006 to write and put it all together.

Q. Your first solo CD called “ Inamorata” . Can you tell use something more about it?
A : I was quite happy with the results, and very happy with the reaction from fans. Looking forward to getting the new one out.

Q. After that there was the EP called Stone with four remixes and four new songs?
A : Yes, I thought it was a shame to have the ‘spare’ material sitting on the shelf so I thought why not make an EP. I’d already written most of ‘Natural Selection’ by then….which is ALL new songs.

Q. Yes later this year there is the release from your new CD called “Natural Selection“. Can you tell us something more about that?
A : Not too much but it is I suppose an evolution from Inamora. Listen to the previews at www.guyfletcher.co.uk and decide for yourself.

Q . Can you tell us who plays on the new CD with you ?
A : Yes, John McCusker, Danny Cummings, Dudley Phillips, Luke Brighty and Dorie Jackson is singing with me on most of the tracks.

Q. Where do you find the inspiration to write new songs?
A : Everywhere but there is a broad theme to the album…creation, history and discovery in the known world.

Q. Is your site the only place where people can order the song or are there other possibilities?
A : At the moment it is but CD’s are sent out immediately.

Q. How do you build a song up , first melody , first lyrics or . . . ?
A : Different songs evolve in different ways, there’s no set rule for me but usually it’s the music first.

Q. The CD is recorded at your home studio (A-Bay) and British Grove Studio’s . I suppose for an artist it is great to have his own studio at home?
A : It’s essential for me.

Q. Can you tell us why British Grove is such a great studio to record?
A : Because the attention to detail in EVERY aspect of the studio is exceptional and in today’s current financial climate, impossible to achieve without some serious dedication and investment (from Mark) ‘it’s a true gift to the music industry’.

Q. You have a very nice site, built by your brother Dan, where people can order your music and there is a unique forum . What's the reason behind that and how much time do you spend to answer all these questions?
A : I spend a little bit of time each day answering forum questions and the feedback I receive makes it worthwhile for me. I really enjoy the daily diary process and like the fact that I and many others continue to use it as a reference.

Q. I believe Dan was once involved with Dire Straits too ?
A : Not DS but he did a South American promo tour with us for Mark a few years back.

Q. There is also a very nice part on your site with diaries about touring , recording etc…. I think this is very unique , do you have to do many efforts to keep everything up to date?
A : It is not too time consuming but as I said, I enjoy doing it and reading the positive comments and reaction. I think it’s good for fans to have somewhere to let off some steam knowing that one of the band is listening and to be honest, 90% of the posts are sensible and often they’re heartwarming and sincere. Whilst we’re on the road the forum is often discussed in the dressing room.

Q. Will there be again a tour diary for this “Get Lucky” tour ?
A : What do you think?

Q. After all these years touring with Mark , can you tell us what’s your most strange experience on stage and do you have a most favourite concert ?
A : The most memorable concert was ‘Live Aid’ where we played in the afternoon and then grabbed our guitars and walked across the car park to Wembley arena to do one of our shows in the evening. We were there for multiple nights..(18 I believe) There have been many strange experiences on stage but no single gig stands out.

Q. What is your most favourite concert place to play and why ?
A : The RAH is probably the nicest because it’s a good size but the intimacy is there, plus, if the band can offer good dynamics, you are rewarded by the acoustics. An exceptional sound crew is a neccessity!

Q. What is your feeling when you play a whole week at the fabulous “Royal Albert Hall”
A : Oh joy.

Q. You also play Hawiian lap steel guitar , who did you turn into that?
A : Richard Bennett did. I saw his wall of steels at his house and thought I needed to learn.

Q. Can you share a picture with us from your “wall of desire”?
A : I will put one up on my "Studio Page" soon.

Q. How many instruments do you have and what's your favourite?
A : At the moment my favourite is the ragpicker MK Martin acoustic. I wrote the whole of ‘Natural Selection’ on it. I have many guitars but not as many as MK.

Q. Are your sons Max and Leon involved in music and what are they doing?
A : Max (19) is at BIMM university in Brighton (also where Ben Knopfler went) and he has a gigging band ‘The Vaudevilles’. They will have a site soon. Leon (14) is a bit of a genius with a computer and has a music interest too.


Q. Besides touring with Mark , are there other projects coming your way this year ?
A : Just John Illsley’s

Q. Yes, you are also working on a new solo CD for John Illsley . How is that project going?
A : I am mixing John’s new record at British Grove right now. It is sounding great and I think many DS fans will love it.

Q. Which other bands do you like at this point?
A : God, so many but off the top of my head…Iron and Wine, Elbow, Four Tet, Mumford and Sons, Fleet Foxes, Beck (except last 2 albums), Death Cab For Cutie, The Coral..etc. etc

Q. Is there a band (besides Mark’s band ) that you would like to play in?
A : Not really..

Q. Which career would you have, if you would not have been a professional musician?
A : Chef.

Q. What do you like to do the most in your free time?
A : Eat

Q. Besides windsurfing , what are your other hobby’s ?
A : Stand-Up paddleboarding is the new thing. A revelation.



Guy , thank you very much for this interview and I wish you all the best with your new album “Natural Selection” and the upcoming tour with Mark Knopfler. It was a pleasure to talk to you , Henk


Published March 2010

Approved by Guy Fletcher

You can pre order “Natural Selection” (2010) here
You can order “Stone EP” (2009) here
You can order “Inamorata” (2008) here