Roxy Music’s biggest hit was their cover of John Lennon’s ‘Jealous Guy’. The song became so big for Roxy Music that some fans think it is a Roxy Music song.
“It was such a big record for us. It was a proper tribute record,” Bryan Ferry tells Noise11.com.
Roxy Music added the song to their European setlist in December 1980 as a tribute to John Lennon, who was murdered in New York on 8 December 1980. “We were due to play a show in Germany at a big arena,’ Bryan said. “We thought we should do something special because we were all John Lennon fans. His version is beautiful, very poignant. Donny Hathaway also did a very good version”.
The first time Roxy Music performed ‘Jealous Guy’ was 20 December 1980 at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany. It became a classic for them. It was then released as a Roxy Music single in February, 1981. “Our version caught the public’s imagination. It was a big record in Europe for us. It has become a standard for me and Roxy Music,” Bryan said.
Bryan Ferry will kick off his Australian and New Zealand tour for A Day On The Green in Perth on 21 February. He says he would like to introduce a new setlist for Australia. “It will be nice to slip into some more of the solo songs in by the time I get to Australia,” he tells Noise11.com. “The thing is to get a balance of songs people know and also somethings they might not be aware of so they think ‘this is great, I haven’t heard that before’. I try and get that sort of balance”.
His band allows for musical variety. “There are enough great players in my band to get the variety I am looking for,” he says. “I have a viola player. She is really good. She brings a different musical sense to the sound. It gives me a gravitas to have that level of quality in the band. My guitar player Chris Spedding is a legend. I have worked with him since the early 70s”.
Variety has been what Bryan Ferry has been all about since the very first record. “The first Roxy Music album illustrates that we were interested in different styles of music. We weren’t interested in one sound. You could hear the quirkiness of the band. Not many bands had an oboe in the line-up. It is a beautiful instrument. It is sensitive and refined”.
Bryan Ferry Australia and New Zealand dates
21 February, Perth, Kings Park & Botanic Garden (A Day On The Green)
23 February, Yarra Valley, Rochford Wines (A Day On The Green)
26 February, Melbourne, Margaret Court Arena
1 March, Sydney, ICC Theatre
3 March, Mount Cotton, Sirromet (A Day On The Green)
5 March, Wellington, TSB Arena
7 March, Auckland, Spark Arena
All event information www.adayonthegreen.com.au
All event information www.frontiertouring.com
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