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Brian Howe

 

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It's not everyone who gets a second chance to make a first impression. But, after more than a decade, Brian Howe is getting that chance. Howe, who cut his teeth as the lead singer in the supergroup Bad Company, is taking full advantage of this opportunity. 'I'm at the point now where I've worked long and hard to get where I can make my debut as a solo artist (and to make) a recording that I would want to buy,' says Howe, who already has a pair of platinum albums under his belt (Bad Company's Dangerous Age and Holy Water). 'I wanted to make more contemporary music.'

Produced by Terry Thomas (Bad Company, Tesla, Richard Marx) and co-produced by Felix Krish, Tangled In Blue is a Touchwood Records release and features drummer Bernard Purdie, and bass player Felix Krish, as well as a cameo by Foreigner's Mick Jones. 'Believe it or not, most of the record was recorded in a bedroom,' Howe beams. 'Most of it was done in Terry Thomas' house in London... I'm using lots of different things on it: strings, lots of synthesizers, lots of effects, lots of just...stuff.' 'Stuff' turns out to be atmosphere, something that gives Howe's voice a more lush, more relaxed setting than in the past.

The results are stunning. Trading in bombast for blue-eyed ballads, Howe has crafted Tangled In Blue more in the vein of Don Henley, Bryan Adams, and Fiona Apple. A much more romantic album that anyone might expect from a veteran arena-rocker, Howe describes it as '..an album about emotion, not just love. It's about loving, losing, missing, and having.' What this singer/songwriter has is a past laden with hits like Bad Company's 'No Smoke Without A Fire,' 'If You Needed Somebody,' and 'How About That'; not to mention auspicious acconplishments like being the voice on Ted Nugent's classic Penetrator album. On this, his first solo record, Howe builds on his past successes and then breaks free.

The album's title song, 'Tangled In Blue,' sets the mood for the record, focusing on the pain that ensues when two people in a relationship are out of synch. In songs like 'I Remember You,' where its gentle pacing mirrors a lover's reflections, Howe combines passion with maturity, giving his work a rarely approached insight. At the same time, Howe's new attitude doesn't stop the surprises of 'Where'd She Come From,' a song with an irresistible beat and saring guitars that create a feeling similar to that of the instant attraction he sings of. 'Touch' is a song of romance and connection, as well. 'It's (about) one of those rare relationships when you meet someone, you're in a bad position in life and this person comes along and changes you and makes you feel everything is okay.'

On Tangled In Blue, Howe romanticizes the feelings of love found and love lost ever present in relationships of the heart. 'To tell you the truth,' Howe admits, 'I think I'm a bit of a softy. I like ballads. I like the songs that can touch you emotionally, more than make you dance. If you have any feelings about love or about breaking up, this record is going to pluck you. If you have any heartstrings at all, this record is going to pluck them.

 

 

(Touchwood)

http://www.westnet.com/consumable/1997/07.24/revhowe.html

Brian Howe, best known as the replacement for Paul Rodgers in supergroup Bad Company, has moved on to a solo career. As lead singer for Bad Company, Howe made a substantial contribution to two of their multiplatinum albums, Dangerous Age and Holy Water. Holy Water was released in 1990, and Howe left the band not long after, so it's taken a while to determine his musical direction.

Instead of fronting a band, Howe has decided to go it alone. Tangled In Blue is his first solo album, and it's a departure from hard rocking Bad Company. This is a lovely 10-track set of blue-eyed ballads. Putting aside the Bad Company influence, Howe's songs are more like those of Don Henley and Bryan Adams. All songs are co-written by Brian Howe, and for a first venture into this genre, the lyrics are mellow, emotional and ring true without being maudlin. The songs are about emotions, mostly love and its problems. There are sure to be at least a couple here that hit home for each listener. The ones that do tend to be painful; Howe understands the meaning of "good lovin' gone bad".

Brian Howe says he wants to move into the adult contemporary arena and stay awhile. To that end he has written "Tangled In Blue" which reflects love's conflicts and pains and sets the tone for the entire album. It's curious that this one is at the middle of the album and not first. Another favorite is "I Remember You", recalling past loves and wondering where they are. With lovely ballads like these, Brian Howe no longer wants to rock you out of the stadium. It seems he wants to ease you into a bedroom - where (honestly) most of the album was recorded. He has the music and the voice. Romantics can use a singer/songwriter like this.

 

 

Brian Howe

http://www.melodicrock.com/brianhowe.html

So Brian, it has been a few years since your departure from Bad Company, what did you spend the time doing?
Since leaving Bad Co. I have literally just taken time off to be with my kids, after having an horrendous divorce. Also the musical climate was changing and I wanted to see it settle a little before I made another record.

How long has it taken to write and record the new solo record?
All in all it took eighteen months to write and record the new record
"Tangled in Blue".

It's great to see you working with producer Terry Thomas, I am also a big fan of his work. You obviously have a good relationship with him?
Terry Thomas and I go back to the dangerous age album and we have remained great friends ever since.

Tell us a few things about the new album. It is a more laid back sound to that of the AOR of the Bad Company records.
With this record I wanted to move away from the A.O.R. area and make a record that I would actually like to hear.
No detriment to BAD CO but I can't keep singing about cars and girls and life on the road forever.

Is there any favourite song off the new record?
My fav song on Tangled in blue is 'I Will Find A Way'. I wrote it
for my children during my divorce and I think it sums up how many fathers feel when the courts favour the mother regarding the children.

How about the band on the album. Who is in it?
The band on the album does not exist, Terry of course played guitars, Felix Krish played bass. Keyboards also by Terry and Felix, and Mick Jones of Foreigner also played on "Don't ask me why".

Are there any touring plans?
There are no touring plans as yet.

I am not sure what really happened, but can you describe the end of your involvement in Bad Company?
Leaving Bad Co. was not a difficult decision, it had got to the point where nobody was contributing anything to songwriting and quite frankly the band was getting very very sloppy live. I quite simply, along with Terry Thomas, got tired of doing all the work and then get nothing but resentment for it from Mick and Simon.

You made four studio and one live album with the band, what were the highlights for you?
The highlight for me in Bad Co. was turning the group around from being almost a bar band (that's how far they had fallen) to selling millions of records again and playing to sold out shows 15,000 / 25,000 people every night.

What was your favourite album to record?
I loved recording all of the Bad Co. studio albums during which time I never saw the other band members !!!!!!!

How about song?
I think my favourite song from those days would have to be "If You Needed Somebody" It still sounds current.

Was it hard to play the original Bad Co. songs live?
Playing BAD CO songs live was no problem as Paul has a lower range than I do it actually gave my voice a rest during what was a very exhausting live show,not many singers would attempt to go where I went range wise and put all those songs in a live set............perhaps only the great John Farnham (my favourite all time
voice).

Yeah, John has probably the best voice ever. I wish he would make a rock record! Thanks for your time Brian, good luck with the album.
Thanks for spreading the word!

 

 

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