Page 100 - Classic Rock (January 2020)

Gun

Gun / Dan Reed Network / FM

Three bands who each released a classic album 30 years ago head out on the road
together, sharing headline status as well as stages.

As the bands prepare to celebrate joint 30th affected me deeply. I knew that I wanted to play with which Thatcher introduced the Poll Tax,
anniversaries – of DRN’s Slam, Tough It Out by FM both of these bands. the Hillsbrough disaster took place, and the
and Gun’s debut Taking On The World – with a bunch world’s first commercial dial-up internet
of UK dates, we set up a pow wow between the Will each band play sets of equal length, and became available.
frontmen of each group. take turns to headline? SO: Thanks, you’ve just made me feel really, really
DG: That’s it exactly. And which band goes on last old. But it’s interesting to revisit material you wrote
Whose idea was this tour? won’t be revealed until the day of the show. three decades ago. There are four songs on Tough It
Dante Gizzi (Gun): The proposal was put to us DR: We are taking it in turns for one of the bands to Out that I only ever sang once in my life – when they
by the agent of all three bands, Martin Jarvis, and perform naked – and you don’t know which one it is were recorded.
everybody considered it a stroke of genius. [everybody laughs]. DR: For me, the toughest part is relating to lyrics
Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network): For me it feels SO: Really? that I wrote when I was twenty-six. I would not
like being part of a travelling mini-festival. The DR: Did you not get that memo? I’ve been at the write a song like Tiger In A Dress now.
timing, which allows us to celebrate these three gym for six months getting ready for this. DG: For me it’s harder still because I was the bassist
great records, is very fortuitous. SO: Oh dear, I haven’t. in Gun back then, not the singer.

Given that FM have covered Dan Reed You are mates, but what In 1989 did you expect to
Network’s Long Way To Go, will there be some about the good old spirit be still making a living from
mutual appreciation going on? of competition? music three decades later?
Steve Overland (FM): Without a doubt. When DG: Gun and the Network will be DR: For sure, but I thought I’d be
I went to New York for a meeting with Neil Kernon, sharing a bus, so no, I don’t expect dead by the age of thirty-two.
who produced Tough It Out, Neil took me to the Cat one-upmanship. DG: It’s getting harder and harder
Dan Reed Network
Club, where the Network happened to be playing. SO: We’re a bit long in the tooth now, but that’s why these [multi-
They were just incredible, I was blown away. for that shit. It’s all about putting BACK IN 1989… band] shows are so great. You sell
DG: I believe that the fans will definitely see a link on a great night for the fans. GN’R’s Appetite For Destruction was more tickets, and continue doing
the year’s biggest rock album in the UK.
between all three bands. DR: The other guys will know Whitesnake’s David Coverdale married something that you love.
DR: For each of us, melody is so important. And we what it’s like to have any amazing Tawny Kitaen. SO: Even from a young age I was
stand for positivity, which is cool. support act you’ve never heard of. FM’s current guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick always going to sing, whether
was 10 years old.
It makes you step up to raise your or not I could make a living.
Have you all met socially? game. All three of us are top live I hope to keep on doing this
DG: We bump into each other everywhere. The last bands, so the energy will just get until I keel over; there are no
time with FM was at the Barcelona Rock Festival, higher and higher. plans for retirement. DL
and I’ve met Dan many, many times. GUN: JOHN MCMURTRIE/PRESS
DR: I shared a stage with the current line-up of Gun It’s amazing to consider The first of the trio’s 10 British
in Lisbon around eighteen months ago and they that 1989 was the year in dates is in Bristol on December 9.

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