by Martin Simpson

I had Grant’s name on the bass contacts lists for quite a while without ever having spoken to him. I actually couldn’t even remember how I came across his name (although I suspect Peter Hanmer gave it to me) and countless attempts at phoning him didn’t meet with any success either. In July 2006, I decided to e-mail him (can’t think why I hadn’t thought of this before) and lo and behold, I had a reply. We got chatting and evidently Grant is now living overseas. I asked Grant for an Interview and he ‘granted’ me one. This is what he told me in August 2006. 

How long have you been playing Grant?

I have been playing bass since std  9 (1974)  - 16 years old. 

How did you get started?

Our bass player left the band we started in high school and I was forced to switch from rhythm guitar to bass&vocals because we couldn’t find a suitable replacement. My brother (Craig) came in on Rhythm/lead and we had Peter Goodacre (Radio Good Hope) on lead guitar/vocals and Ian Liddle on drums (the band was called ‘Preamble’). We won the Cape Town Schools Battle of the Bands talent contest in 1975 which was a big thrill for my parents, I remember. 

Do you come from a musical family?

Not really. My mother and Father never played any instruments that I can remember, but on my Mother’s side of the family we had a number of guitar players and singers who were local legends in Cape Town in their day. 

What’s your favourite band / solo artist?

I grew up on the Stones, Deep Purple and Uriah Heep and tried to copy Bill Wyman, Roger Glover and Gary Thain. I never got into Jaco Pistorius or Stanley Clark that much. Today my favourite bands are still 80s and early 90s bands like level 42; Bruce Hornsby & the Range and Tears for Fears (among many others) 

What are the amps and instruments you currently use?

I still have an Ibanez Roadster with active electronics which I bought in 1983 in Joburg. I had a Shergold bass which I used in Cape Town for years and still used when I joined BOSS, but after we changed the line-up and our name (to STREETALK) and got our first regular gig at the Castle Inn in Hillbrow,  I was kind of forced by the band to upgrade my gear. I also bought a Peavy Mark 3 130w top with 18 inch BW speaker, plus VMR speaker (a big cabinet!)

Today I have a (HEAVY) Peavy 115W bass amp with integrated 18 inch BW speaker. 

What instruments would you like to have if money were no object?

Probably a good old Fender Jazz bass, or a Mark King special.   

Would you ever go fretless or try out Double Bass?

I tried fretless Ibanez roadster when I bought my guitar years back, but for the type of music we were doing (mainly rock), it wasn’t the right guitar for me. I have never been good enough for real Jazz, but I played a bit of Dixie style songs in my day. Never on a double bass. 

What have you been doing for the last five years or so?

Playing in a cover band in Zurich, doing parties and various other gigs (a lot of charity work) with a bunch of oldies. (average age of the band members is around 45). We had a brass section (tenor and alto sax, plus trumpet), bass, 2 guitars (rhythm and lead), keyboards, drums, lead vocals. Band was called IN Transit which reflected the transient nature of the ex-pat community in Zuerich. I think the line-up changed on a bi-monthly basis, depending on who was being transferred out or newly arrived. 

What’s the music scene like where you’re living now?

In Frankfurt, I have bumped into a Fathers band doing really American based rock from 70s. They are Fathers/family of the students at Frankfurt International School, where my one son and both daughters are going. I think they are looking for a bass player… (watch this space) 

What recordings that you’ve played on would you recommend for listening?

Only recorded back in 1983/4 in Joburg with Streettalk (a single ‘High & Dry’ which I wrote) and a 12 inch mix hi energy song called ‘Fighting for our lives’ which I recorded with my band Shiraz.   

Have you visited our www.bassplayers.co.za website yet?

No , but will do very soon. 

What’s been the low point in your career so far?

Leaving my music circle and gigging buddies in Cape Town in 1982 and then again leaving Johannesburg in 1997 

And what’s been the high point?

Playing 100% original music in a band called BOSS, together with Peter Hanmer, Garth Potterton and Colin Heaney in 1982/3. We cracked it big on some concerts together with Hotline, Evoid, Straycats, Savannah etc. We were regular guest band at Q’s supper club; Xanadu; and  Plumb Crazy in Jeppe street (eating Prompt Corner steak and mushroom burgers at 3am!)

You also played in a band called Tobacco Road down here didn’t you?

Yes, I played in a 3 piece band back in 1986 with drummer Neil ….. and singer/guitarist, …… (my brain is dying!). we gigged for quite a while at a joint called Maxine’s, in a Hotel on the corner of Bok Street at bottom of Hillbrow/Nugget Hill. Also played at the Quirinal Hotel in Hillbrow/Braamfontien. Did a lot of Clapton and Chris Rea etc. 

What do you get up outside of music?

I travel a lot with my job (internationally) and try to jog regularly. I collect wine (mainly red) and being in Europe for the last 10 years has depleted my SA stocks but grown my French and Italian and Spanish collection. I enjoy reading (Robert Ludlum, Dan Brown, Wilbur Smith) when I can, but that often conflicts with the Fatherly duties with my seven year old twin girls who consume huge amounts of my wife, Janet’s and my energy.

We have just moved into a rented accommodation in Bad Homburg, 20km north of Frankfurt, having transferred with the Company from Zuerich, so have spent the last 3 months getting the house sorted - have not had much time to do a lot else! 

What are your goals currently?

To instil in my children (boys aged 18 and 15; twin girls aged 7) a love of music and to teach them to play an instrument.

I am now firmly in the Corporate world and playing regularly in a band has had to take second place to my career responsibilities. I do, however, have many vivid and happy memories of my semi-professional music career in South Africa. 

Are you ever intending on coming back or have you left us for good?

We would like to come back to Cape Town to retire, provided I can stay with my company over here until then. Need to get the kids through school over here first and then see if we can afford to return, what with the housing prices and cost of living in SA. It has gone mad!!

Thanks for the Interview Grant

It was a pleasure to talk with you