Q – I’m a huge admirer of Ike’s, and an LC devotee since ’84, and fascinated by the points of similarity in feel that exist between Ike’s dizzy peaks, and lots of your stuff – are YOU a fan, too?
I saw you a few years ago in a small club here in Exeter. Before you appeared, “Hot Buttered Soul” warmed us all up – unusual, perfect. Could it’ve been your doing?
A- I love Ike, especially this record. Before the Commotions became the Commotions as we know them it was my idea to do a Scritti Politti, Style Council white boy soul thing and that was mostly thanks to Ike, Funkadelic and Chic. But, thankfully, I guess, I didn’t write the right kinds of songs and after a while I stopped trying to sing like Aretha. I suppose I can also blame Ike for some of my less successful songs – like the ones on Bad Vibes where I’m trying to sing low and sexy… ouch!
Publication date: 09/11/2010