Klaus Voormann : une interview

Nous vous livrons ci-après une interview de Klaus Voormann, donnée au site web « Geosound ». :

Geo: The book Hamburg Days (Genesis Publications) brought you & Astrid

Kirchherr together again. How was it to work with Astrid on this book about

the Beatles early days in Germany?

k.v.: Astrid and I have been in contact all the time. To work with her was

fun as always. We’ve got the same taste and there never was a problem.

Geo: How did you develop the beautiful Photorealistic Illustration artwork for

the Beatles Anthology book & CD cover art?

k.v.: One of my many ideas for the Anthology project was this huge poster wall

with all the Beatle posters being glued one on top of the other. Apple went

for that idea. So we developed the idea from there.

Geo: For the first studio John Lennon Plastic Ono Band LP, did you John &

Ringo cut the basic tracks live? Also, did the three of you feel that you

were creating a record in a different way with this raw & real classic

(Rock-Punk) recording?

k.v.: Yes, the tracks are all live and mostly one or two takes.

I never gave it much thought if what was on the tape was punk or whatever

and I don´t think any body else did, not even Phil Spector. It was a straight

statement and that was it, no f_ _ _ _ ing about.

Geo: Having played on three classic George Harrison records: All Things Must

Pass, Living In The Material World & Concert for Bangladesh, how was it for

you to play at the recent Harrison (Nov. 2002) tribute concert? Did you play

your old Fender bass for this show?

k.v.: Playing on the concert was good and bad. It was bad because George was

missed so badly. It showed so much that there is only one George.

The great thing was being on stage with all my old pals. And I did play my old fiddle.

Geo: What for you were some highlights in your recording career?

k.v.: Plastic Ono Band , recording with George was the nicest atmosphere.

I loved the Ringo stuff because Ringo is so cuddly and everything had to

happen with a little help from his friends. Harry Nilsson was a wonderful

person and we had lots of fun in the studio. A shame he had to leave us so early.

Geo: Looking at your illustration winkel pickers (shoes the Beatles wore) &

the print Bambi Kino , (Astrid’s home w/ she & you dressing up), do you think

that the early Beatles were influenced by the fashion of Astrid, and you & your

German friends?

k.v.: Mentally, yes. Concerning their looks I think they looked awful when they

started of being famous, Beatles For Sale , that´s where the influence

started to tell.