1. Steve, you've spoken in the past of almost casually going along to the audition that got you on the road to success with The Love Affair. Did you have any desire to be a singer in a band before this event took place?
No originally after watching all the old B/W T.V shows of the time (early sixties) with people like Gene Vincent Billy Fury, Bill Hayley & Elvis Presley etc; I wanted to be a drummer. I was about 12 or 13 & together with a couple of brothers (McCarthy brothers) from the local boxing club & school formed a band called The Clifton Bystanders. My drum kit comprised of some large biscuit tins & Mrs McCarthy let us rehearse in her front room bless her.The brothers Tony & Pete had KAY catalogue guitars, I could not afford a drum kit so I pleaded with my dad, but he was not having any of it & so I was duly sacked as it were because of this. Some years later my pal Nigel from the gang I was in used to play guitar around our house & I used to sing along. The next thing I know he dragged me of to an audition in Tottenham after seeing an advert in the Melody Maker .To our amazement I got the gig.
2. When 'Everlasting Love' hit the top of the charts, did ordinary life feel like it was starting to accelerate out of control like some wild fairground ride or did you have time to to take in and enjoy what was happening to you?
It was mental we had been together as the "Soul Survivors" for a couple of years playing anywhere we could & when we got better we played the London Clubs like the Flamingo etc; & got a residency at The Marquee in Wardour Street & so forth we were 16. A year or so later, we had the first hit & it just went off we were like kids in a candy store. We lived for the day & had the time of our lives, but we were ill prepared for fame as such & because we had such a big success we sort of lived in a bubble. We just could not go out or do anything normal kids our age would do so we grew up on the road & generally caused havoc & mayhem. Because we were kids we got away with it, but we had some great times. We were worked like dogs & after a couple of years we grew up a bit & sort of grew apart. Also, the music became inaudible because we were branded Teenybopper along with Amen Corner Small Faces The Herd & several other bands that were big at that time.
3. As with The Small Faces, your success brought the attendant screaming girls at gigs, was the attention welcomed in the initial stages and did it get you down as time went on?
When your sixteen/seventeen you think it is brilliant, but as I said the music suffered & that was why we got into it in the first place. So initially it was very novel then after a time it became one of the reasons we eventually broke up. Maybe if we had not spent so much time on the road & maybe recorded a proper "Love Affair" album we might have stayed together longer who knows.
4. When you decided to leave the band and start a solo career, did you embark on it confidently and was CBS providing all the backup you needed or did it feel like a leap into the unknown?
The first thing I did was record a couple of singles with Chas Chandler managing & producing me, he had managed Jimi Hendrix, but I felt a bit lost without a band. This was why I asked Zoot Money, if he fancied getting a band together with me. I drafted in some mates & we called ourselves "Kin" & Roger Daltrey who is probably my oldest pal produced us.C.B.S. signed us, but insisted we call the band "Ellis" we made two albums & toured endlessly, great band but C.B.S. asked me to drop the band & wanted to keep me on. I was never happy about this, but the band were all great pals & they just said I should do it. The record company pressure split the band sadly but Zoot & I are still best pals, he is seriously talented & should have been more successful himself in my opinion.
5. Once you had moved back into a band situation with 'Ellis' did it feel good to have a regular team around you again and do you prefer being in a band?
Absolutely.See above.
6. When you moved on to Widowmaker, which had a harder rockier sound, did you look at it as a logical progression or was there any feeling of obligation to move in this direction as the music scene of the time evolved?
I was at a loose end I had a visit from Roger Chapman & Bobby Tench from "Streetwalkers" & they said Luther Grosvenor from "Spooky Tooth" wanted me to join his new band, so we met up & got on famously but THE BAND was Luther & a drummer. I drafted in my pal Huw Lloyd Langton from "Hawkwind" & a bass player was found by Luther that I really did not want in the band. That band seriously rocked & I thought I would give it a go. It was however, a disaster as on stage we rocked but off stage it was a bloody nightmare, bad chemistry. Also the notorious Don Ardon managed us & so as I have said before it was an accident waiting to happen. Luther & I although pals now had a terrible fight in New York whilst on tour & I hurt him pretty badly & I am not proud of it, but he kept winding me up. Life on the road is tough it really helps if you all get along. It wasn`t just Luther, we were all crazy & a 3 1/2 month tour of America will test any bands resolve I am sure.
7. Once you'd quit Widowmaker and you decided to also quit the industry, did you stay out of music completely or were there still offers coming in that you gave consideration to and might have been tempted by?
After "Widowmaker" I did a solo album with David Courtney producing called "The Last Angry Man" (currently available on Angel Air Records). WE hand picked the players I wanted people like Henry McCulloch, Henry Spinetti, Brian Oadges, Brian Robertson,Barry Morgan & Roger Chapman did back up vocals loads of great musicians, but it got shelved again due to record company politics. It was a good album & expectations were high I tried for a year to get it released, but with no success. I had a young family you can`t feed them on fresh air & I felt I needed a break & to clear my head & get fit again.
8. You had offers to front some really well known bands, but turned them down. Did you do so, because you wanted to do your own thing or were there other reasons?
I got some offers from seriously great & well known bands the trouble was the singers were blissfully unaware that I was being offered there jobs. I just thought it was to low & frankly it is not in my nature. Two of the singers were good pals of mine no way would I do that especially to a mate.
9. When you were out of action for all those years after your accident, did you ever consider it possible that you might be able to one day get back on the stage and perform again?
It never entered my head life was too bloody hard at that time. I was told I would not walk properly again. I took up Martial Arts some years later, it became a passion & frankly restored my mobility to some degree I recommend it to anybody.
10. When you did finally get back to music actively, there seemed to be a return your roots, more or less. Is soul and R&B always at the core of your musicality? What others music genres are dear to your heart?
I started out in a 60`s Mod band we were into Soul R&B & Ska & blues, so it was my musical apprenticeship & education so definitely. I love most music as long as it has passion & soul.
11. You've been performing recently with The New Amen Corner, but now the new album 'Best Of Days' is out on release, does that mean that you'll be taking a band of your own out on the road in support of it?
In an ideal world yes, but "Amen" asked me if I would like to sing with them & they are great guys & players, so I am enjoying myself after a three year absence due to my son being taken gravely ill. The album has had great reviews & I am delighted, but the industry has changed dramatically during my enforced lay off. I am just happy to be singing again & I think the next album will be much better than "Best of Days", but that is going to be in maybe a years time at most. Meanwhile if a tour proposal pops up happy days.
12. Finally, do you have any musical master plan for the future?
yeah world domination! No seriously, as I said a new album next year & a tour to back it up, it is all about timing. The new album "Best of Days" is a foot back in the door & as I said the reviews are mostly very good indeed & I am grateful for peoples continued support & kindness.
For More Information go to www.steveellis.co.uk
Thanks for the Interview Kev.
