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Klaus Voormann

Klaus Voormann was a good friend of The Beatles in the early sixties and shared, with John, the dual skills of artist and musician. Klaus was romantically attached to Astrid Kirchherr during The Beatles early days' residency in Hamburg and was part of the bohemian Beat/art movement there.  Beatle Stu Sutcliffe became Astrid's new 'flame', but Klaus was, by now, an established friend of the group. Klaus moved to England and played with Liverpudlian bands and was very much a part of the Beatles' inner circle. It was Klaus who they commissioned to create the Revolver album cover in 1966 when they wanted something a little different, and Klaus delivered. As his reputation with other musicians as a bass player grew, Klaus went on to join the successful pop band Manfred Mann for three years, replacing Jack Bruce no less. When Manfred Mann's star had waned, and The Beatles had by now disbanded, Klaus went on to record on numerous sessions with George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon and to perform in George's band at the concert for Bangladesh, the precursor to 'Live Aid' and all other future rock charity events. Klaus recorded with the individual Beatles and their friends and contemporaries, such as Eric Clapton and Harry Nillson and the list of people Klaus played with through the 70s is impressive. 

Klaus Voormann

Klaus remained hugely busy and active throughout the 80s and 90s, as an artist, musician and even as an actor in the movie 'Popeye', but most notably perhaps by returning to production of a Beatles album cover with the artwork for the Anthology CD and video/DVD covers. Klaus very kindly agreed to answer some questions, so here is that interview.

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I asked Klaus about his musical background. "I played classical piano from the age of 8 till about 14. I had a good teacher, and I played to lots of people and was pretty good - things like Chopin etudes, Beethoven sonatas, Liszt, Brahms and some modern composers too." Was the story true that Paul McCartney had taught him to play bass guitar? "No, he didn't." confirms Klaus.

Klaus describes his inspiration for the ground-breaking Revolver album cover thus: "Since the Beatles went to the US the hair became a very important part of their identity. So the hair was important and so my suggestions to the boys had mostly got to do with hair. All album covers in those days were full colour, so I suggested black and white. The public wanted to see photos of the band. So I was striving for an illustration combined with lots of little photos. In general, I tried to be as far out as the fans out there could take. It was a fine line and apart from two outrageous photos which I had to replace with something more normal the band, the manager and the record company accepted all of my ideas and let me do the cover the way I wanted."

What did it feel like being the 'new' Beatle. Playing bass to John and George's guitars and Ringo's drums as he did?
"First I was very nervous.- the first song I was supposed to play bass on was Sourmilk Sea for Jacky Lomax. Just before I came into the studio, Jacky, George, Paul, Eric Clapton, Nicky Hopkins and Ringo had put down the track. George asked me to play the bass on the track. Well - I just couldn't do it . Would I have been in the studio together with all these guys I might have done a good job. But now my head was spinning. Great expectations!!! I was useless! in the end, Paul put the bass on the track and he played great. After that things were easy. I never even thought of what Paul would have played. Not on George's, not on John's, not on Ringo's sessions or recordings. I know I play different from Paul and that's okay. It became clear to me why this Beatle band was grooving  - it was so fantastic. To play with Ringo and John in a rhythm section - it was close to heaven. And now looking back on my playing - I don't think I let any of them down."

I explain to Klaus that I really love the song Klaus wrote called 'Salmon Falls.' It has a great bassline - so I ask him about working with Harry as well. "Well thank you very much. I love Harry, but even in those days he was a little far out! For example in the case of this Salmon Falls song. I wrote the music and played it to Harry at the little cottage I was living in on George's Friar Park. He loved the music and on the spot came up with some nice lines he was going to sing over the harmonies in addition to the melody. Another time we met with Perry Botkin, the arranger and friend of Harry's. I played the song to Perry - he liked it and wrote a nice arrangement. Next time we were in the studio, the whole orchestra was there, Perry conducted and Harry - Harry was supposed to sing the song. He had forgotten all the lovely lines and the melody. He was going to sing over my music. He couldn't get it together! So he sang the song over the long long fade out of the song instead. I love the lyrics and I love what Harry did with the song. When he finished recording, he came up to me, took me in his big arms and said: I'm sorry, Klaus. Next to George Harrison, Harry is my favourite person on this globe. I could carry on talking about him all day -he was too much!! And I wish he wouldn't have been such a happy drinker."

 
I ask Klaus was Phil Spector truly mad in his view? - actually, I mean, was he "out-of-it" - during the Rock and Roll sessions? "I can't say what Phil was like on those sessions because I wasn't there. I played on the second stretch of this production, which was recorded in N.Y. I think there are only two songs from the Phil sessions that could be used for the rock LP." We know about the famous, or rather, infamous incident of the discharging of a firearm in the studio. I ask Klaus was John Lennon IN the studio at the time? When did Lennon realize Spector was truly 'bonkers'? Did Lennon lost all respect for Spector after this? "No. John still loved Phil and would have loved to work some more with the man. Phil is a fantastic man and the two got on like a dream. It was the circumstances under which this album had to be done that made Phil mad."

Talking about his days with Manfred Mann, Klaus recalls "We had great times in the studio and on the road. I learned a lot about pop music. I even was encouraged to learn the flute. The nicest moments were when we just were messing around improvising and doing crazy stuff."

Are you more of a musician or an artist these days Klaus?, I enquire. "I would say I'm both but doing more art these days."

I finally ask Klaus: What are your main projects at the moment? What is your biggest achievement so far and what would you still like to achieve? "I don't have the urge to achieve some thing big. Should there be the opportunity to do something great and important like the Bangladesh concert, I'm up for it. At the moment I'm just getting into doing a new bunch of illustrations. I want to get better. My biggest achievement is the Revolver cover."

Klaus Voormann interview.

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