FAME

How long?
T = Tony A = Ann

T Where do you live Ann?
A In a house near Brighton.
T How long have you lived there?
A For three years.
T Why did you move?
A The house we had before was too small. We need somewhere bigger.
T What do you do, Ann?
A I work in a bank.
T How long have you worked there?
A For eight years.
T What did you do before that?
A I worked for a travel agent.

Interview with a musician
I = Interviewer P = Paul Carrack

I How long have you been in the music, business, Paul?
P For about twenty years, I guess, I`ve never had another job, er… no, never. I`ve only been a musician.
I And how old were you when you started playing?
P It was when I was just a kid, I`ve… taught myself to play. I tried a few instruments… first the drums � that was when I was only five. After that it was the piano, and then later keyboards.
I Do you play any other instruments?
P Only the guitar. I play the guitar sometimes. That`s all.
I When did you start playing professionally?
P While I was still at school. I left school at sixteen. I was playing in a band, working on Saturday evenings in pubs and clubs. When I left school, my only ambition was to be in a pop group.
I And which group have you played with over the years?
P Let me see � I`ll try and remember. I`ve played with Roxy Music, and The Smiths, er… I`ve given concerts with them. And then I`ve made records with the Pretenders and Madness � and of course Ace, I mustn`t forget Ace.
I Why is Ace so important to you?
P Well, I had my first hit record with Ace, er… that was in 1974. The song was called How long? and it was a big hit all over the world.
I And now you`re with Mike and the Mechanics. How long have you played with them?
P Since 1985. We`ve made a couple of records and we`ve done two tours of America. I`m the singer � the vocalist. Mile plays the guitar.
I Do you travel a lot?
P Well, er… I often think that I`ve traveled all over the world, but I haven`t really. I`ve worked a lot in Europe er… Germany, France, Italy, and then of course in America. I always wanted to work in America. I was really pleased when some of my records were successful there. But… erm… there are lots of places I haven`t been to yet… er… Eastern Europe, Japan, South America… I`d love to play in these places.
I Paul � you`ve obviously made a lot of records. Do you know exactly how many?
P That`s a difficult question, erm..
I Well about how many?
P Oh, I don`t know. Perhaps about twenty… yeah, probably about twenty.
I And have you always worked with groups? Have you ever made a record on your own?
P Yes, last summer. I made in the summer and it came out in October. It`s called Groove Approved.
I And is it doing well?
P Erm… quite well, especially in America. My records are often played on radio there � more than here in Britain. People have heard of me there… erm… I`m not a superstar � of course I`m not � but people know my name and then they buy my albums!
I And so this has been a busy year for you?
P Yes, yes, I`ve had a very busy year. I`ve toured the States twice with Mike and the Mechanics and… I`ve made my own album… and I`ve done a tour of Germany… So yeah, a busy year, but a good one.
I And something you`ve forgotten!
P What`s that?
I You`ve had a number one record. You were top of the pops in February!
P That`s right! It was called The Living Years. It was number one in Britain and in America!