Honourable succession of Gabriel and Collins
Ray Wilson had his first hit with “Inside” and his band “Stiltskin” in 1994 thanks to a Levi’s advert. Then in 1996 he was confronted with the honourable task of becoming Phil Collins’ successor with Genesis. However, his “Genesis” career just lasted for the record “Calling all Stations” and a World Tour. In 1998 his intermezzo with this supergroup finished with their headlining “Rock am Ring” and “Rock im Park” in 1998 with Bob Dylan. After that Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks pursued their tradition of severing the band.
But by today the Scot just has good memories of his time with Genesis. Even if he had had the feeling of having lost his audience – he indeed played in front of 10.000 to 18.000 fans – he took the helm again with his successful pop album “Change” and won a new audience. After having completed his record “The Next Best Thing” he is now working on a new one in Stuttgart, but still spends his weekends in Edinburgh. He will perform at “Rock It” in Aalen on Saturday, February 12, and brings along his songs and yet a bit of Genesis, too.
Your path in the music business didn’t actually go straight
ahead. How would you describe your career?
Fun!!!!!!! I have never been happier than at present and all I had experienced
helped me to form my character. And there is still so much to come forth.
You were so privileged as to play and perform with “Genesis”.
But there are not just good memories you have of that time, are there?
I really enjoyed that time. However, it didn’t finish in a nice way. But
by now I’ve got over it and in looking back, I just have good memories
of it.
What did you learn from your intermezzo with “Genesis”?
I learned that nothing ever changes in the music business – even on the
highest level. I learned to rather concentrate on music and not on the business
around it all. The music industry is just about profit and they don’t
really care about music.
Did you ever regret having audited for “Genesis”
in 1996?
No.
Are you fed up with always being associated with this supergroup?
Absolutely not. Gabriel, Collins, Wilson. That is a real honour.
Your song “The actor” from your 2004 record “The
Next Best Thing” features a very distressing sentence: “I felt like
an actor who had lost his audience”. Did you find a new audience?
Yes. I have got my audience now and I really love it.
Which is your most recent musical project?
At present I am working with a German producer from Stuttgart – his name
is Peter Hoff. We are putting together a new record. It will be much more rocky
and will sound a bit more like “Stiltskin”.
Will you do the Aalen audience
the favour of playing your “Stiltskin” hit “Inside”
from the Levi’s advert?
Of course. Yes.
Besides this, which songs
will the guests at “Rock It” hear, too?
I like to play different musical styles during my acoustic gigs. I will of course
play hits of “Genesis” and my own material. But I also play songs
I grew up with and which formed my musical life such as Bob Dylan, David Bowie
and Bruce Springsteen.
You also worked together
with German band “Scorpions” – what was that about?
You can work brilliantly with them. I very much respect these guys. When I supported
them during their tour in 1999 they couldn’t have been friendlier and
more supportive, which but was very unusual to me, and I therefore estimated
them the more.
How would you describe your
musical style?
Singer / song writer. Rock.
Which CD is in your record
player presently?
RPWL. I have just recorded the song “Roses” with them. It’s
a great song they have written, it is included in their new album. They are
a German band.
Which book is on your bedside
table presently?
“Manifest your Destiny” by Wayne W. Dyer. It is a great book on
believing in oneself and how you can lead a more spiritual life. You should
read it. It has changed my life.
Interviewed by Anja Rettenmacher
(translation ã by
Anne Weber)