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invicta401
Martin Craig
NEWS
Martin's solo acoustic CD 'MILE AFTER MILE' is available NOW from CDBaby, Tower, i-Tunes and other outlets. For more information, contact Rainmaker Publicity, Boston, MA (see 'links').
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'Mile After Mile' is a 16-track acoustic solo album of English Road Songs by Martin Craig, whose 1973 single 'Rockin' at the Ace Café' helped to spark interest in the re-opening of the legendary 50s and 60s British biker haunt in North London.
Martin says,
"MILE AFTER MILE is a stripped-down, solo acoustic collection of 16 of my songs. Some of the tracks draw on my experiences of running a 13-year music & songwriting group in a high security prison and leading a long-term community development project in one of the UK's most deprived and high-crime areas."
"During the 14 years I worked with the neighbourhood project, my family and I were on the receiving end of death threats, wrecked cars, ram raids, arson attacks and a burgled home, all carried out by criminals who wanted to take control of the troubled community away from the people who lived there. The area suffered large-scale rioting in the 1990s."
"Writing and playing music has long been my way of dealing with the personal impact of incidents such as these, and my song 'Contract Killer' which opens MILE AFTER MILE is a literal description of real-life situations, sung from the point of view of a local hit-man."
"I am promoting MILE AFTER MILE with live shows, radio performances and interviews. Check my web-site for further details."
Martin says,
"MILE AFTER MILE is a stripped-down, solo acoustic collection of 16 of my songs. Some of the tracks draw on my experiences of running a 13-year music & songwriting group in a high security prison and leading a long-term community development project in one of the UK's most deprived and high-crime areas."
"During the 14 years I worked with the neighbourhood project, my family and I were on the receiving end of death threats, wrecked cars, ram raids, arson attacks and a burgled home, all carried out by criminals who wanted to take control of the troubled community away from the people who lived there. The area suffered large-scale rioting in the 1990s."
"Writing and playing music has long been my way of dealing with the personal impact of incidents such as these, and my song 'Contract Killer' which opens MILE AFTER MILE is a literal description of real-life situations, sung from the point of view of a local hit-man."
"I am promoting MILE AFTER MILE with live shows, radio performances and interviews. Check my web-site for further details."
Why this name?
It's my real name folks - my parents chose it for me!
Do you play live?
Live is best. I play regular venues, but also care homes, a high security prison, outdoor gigs. Been joined on stage by Alan Clarke (The Hollies) and legendary rocker Vince Taylor. Ray Davies, Sting have attended gigs. One special gig in the late 70s was at Acklam Hall in the Westway, a hang out of The Clash. As we were sound checking the place filled up with mean-looking Rastafarians and we thought this white rock'n'roll band was dead meat, but they went wild for the music and we had a great night.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
!. Best example for me is that I have four electric tracks on a Japanese compilation by Revel Yell Music. Over 20 bands from all over the world on one album, all organised over the internet.
2. In the 80s I was at a party given by Harvey Goldsmith for Sting on the Blue Turtles tour. All night, all I could think was "Damn! Why didn't I have a tape with me?" I just got an i-Pod and have loaded years of work onto it - now I can demo anything to anyone at a minutes notice.
2. In the 80s I was at a party given by Harvey Goldsmith for Sting on the Blue Turtles tour. All night, all I could think was "Damn! Why didn't I have a tape with me?" I just got an i-Pod and have loaded years of work onto it - now I can demo anything to anyone at a minutes notice.
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
Mmmmmwwweeelll - a lot of friends got really screwed over this - it would have to be a damn good contract with a company run by musicians, not corporate execs.
Band History:
The songs are drawn from my life in Britain; born in Yorkshire and growing up mainly on Tyneside in the North East of England during the post - WWII era. In my early teens I latched onto the Rocker culture of the late fifties/ early sixties, visited the Ace Cafe in 1961 as an awestruck 15 year old and went on to found, record and gig with bands such as the Hot Rod Gang, the Sabre Jets, Diesel & the Firebirds and the Kindness of Strangers, as well as performing solo and in two duos (including MG & Lynnette) live, on CD and on radio.
Your influences?
Elvis, Scotty and Bill. Lonnie Donegan. The Shadows. Buddy Holly. Leadbelly. John Lee Hooker. Chuck and Bo. The Animals. Dylan. Bert Jansch. Martin Carthy. Lou Reed. Charlie Parker. Miles. Beefheart. Tom Waits. And so on and so on and shooby dooby doo-wah...
Favorite spot?
Ronnie Scott's, London; plus Paris, France; Helmsdale, Scotland and of course my hometown, Newcastle, England.
Equipment used:
Guitars: Taylor 314KCE, 1979 Fender Strat, 1966 Baldwin Vibraslim (from new) Guild F112 12-String, Godin Acousticaster, early Ovation Custom Balladeer. AER Domino acoustic amp and Marshall 30th Anniversary Combo for the electrics. Waiting with bated breath for delivery of a special order Burns Marvin solid, made to commemorate The Shadows final tour in 2004.
Anything else...?
Along with music I love dogs (we have four) bikes and cars. Member of the Ace Cafe Club, London, and H.O.G.