Stewart / Gaskin FAQ & links
Korean fans dance to one of Dave's '70s compositions.
FAQ
Q: Are you Dave Stewart from Eurythmics?
A: No - this Dave Stewart is the UK keyboardist / composer who has worked in a duo with singer Barbara Gaskin since 1981. Before that, Dave was as a member of the bands Uriel, Egg, Hatfield and the North, National Health and Bruford, and Barbara was singer in the UK band Spirogyra.
Q: Why do you guys always play live in Japan but not in my country / town / postal district?
A: Because we're an independent band and don't play live regularly, we tend not to get offers from promoters. Japan (where we have a dedicated following) is the exception. In recent years we've begun to promote our own UK concerts, which for practical and economic reasons have to be in London - it has the greatest density of listeners and is the best transport hub for those travelling from overseas (our last London gig was attended by people from 16 different countries). We would love to play in other countries and towns, but unless we get a feasible offer from a promoter or venue it's unfortunately not possible.
Q: Will you be touring in the USA?
A: Unlikely. The travel costs are high, and US work permits for English musicians are now very expensive - a band we know recently paid $6,000 for theirs, and had to jump through all sorts of bureaucratic hoops to get them. (Interestingly, American musicians touring the UK can get a work permit for around $20 with minimal fuss - something not quite right there!)
Q: What was the name of the track featured on a Keyboard magazine giveaway flexidisc in the '80s and can I get a copy?
A: The track was an extended version of 'Henry & James' we created specially for Keyboard magazine. A lot of people asked about it so we included it on our 2009 five-track EP 'Hour Moon', available from our online store.
Q: Why don't you release a live album or DVD?
A: We don't record or film our live gigs, we feel they work best as purely live events where people can see, hear and smell us perform.
Q: How would you describe your music?
A: We usually say "intelligent pop music - like Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush and Bjork".
Q: How do you choose your cover versions?
A: They're songs that have strong emotional resonance for us that we feel we can add something new to - a fresh take on a familiar subject.
Q: Why did it take eighteen years to finish Green and Blue?
DS: Several factors: lack of industry support, the increasing difficulty of working in our small London studio and frustration with the limitations of our pre-computer era equipment. With hindsight, I needed to take a break (though didn't realise it) after working non-stop in the studio all through the '80s. In the end, embracing computer technology, moving out of London to a house with good work space and the approaching deadline of concerts in March 2009 created the right combination of positive energy and urgency required to blast away the cobwebs. Thanks again to all of you for bearing with us during that time.
Q: Can I add a link to your site on my blog or web page?
A: Of course, please feel free! You're also welcome to join us on Facebook.
Q: Is there some way of finding scores of Dave's '70s bands' music?
DS: At the moment no. The original scores are intact and if I ever get round to digitising them they will be made available; however, the incentive to do so has been greatly reduced by internet file sharing.
Q: Why did Dave change his musical style in 1981?
DS: After 12 years of playing in bands I reached a point where I wanted to try making music on my own, purely following my own instincts. What emerged was an entirely new musical direction which enabled me to get back to my pop and rock roots while opening up entirely new areas of expression and experimentation (songwriting, production, arrangements beyond the scope of a live band, synth & rhythm programming, etc.) I was excited by the results and though I enjoy playing with other musicians from time to time, I've never wanted to go back to being a band member.
Q: I have a question about one of your old bands.
DS: If I meet you at a gig or bump into you in the street I'd be happy to answer it, but much as I appreciate the interest in my past work, it takes too much time to sit down and type answers. There are archive CDs of my '70s bands
Uriel,
Egg and
Hatfield and the North which contain a lot of first-hand information, plus a companion booket
Copious Notes which goes into huge detail about the Uriel / Egg era - there's a good chance you'll find an answer in there.
Links
Dave's memories of Phil Miller (2017)
Dave's memories of Pip Pyle (2006)
Egg, Uriel & Arzachel CDs
Hatfield and the North CDs
Dave's comment on Bill Bruford's autobiography
Comments are welcomed in the Visitors' Book
Go back to Dave Stewart &
Barbara Gaskin's home page.
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