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Dennis StrattonLast Modified On 21 Mar 2009Here is a conversation I had with Dennis Stratton at Markus Studios, London. It took place on 10 March 98 during the third and final week of mixing of the new album "Forever In Time". 
JH - What musicians would you use to make an All-Star Band? DS - Named musicians? JH - Yes DS - My idol was Steve Lukather. I used to listen to him on various albums from the pops stuff and all the Quincy Jones stuff you know. He's my idol. I would love to… I have toured with David Coverdale and he still is one of my favourite vocalists. JH - When did you do that? DS - With Lionheart in 1982. JH - Oh you mean as support? DS - Yes. He's always been a favourite vocalist of mine. You know basically the majority of the musicians would be from the old school. You know what I mean like with Lukather for guitarist and Coverdale singing. I don't know regarding .. There are so many good drummer and bass players out there. It's hard to put your finger on a sort of super-group. Geoff Whitehorn is a good friend of mine and plays for Paul Rodgers at the moment. He's a great guitarist. But there is some many to choose from. But regarding singers and guitarists they are my two favourites. I am bit of a stick in the mud, I don't sort of go looking for loads of different players. There is probably thousands and thousands of better people. I like Steve Perry and things like that but then again he's from the old school. I don't listen to a lot of new bands because there is not a lot of new bands that are that good, you know. JH - How much writing do you do with Mantis? DS - Between the three of us we are always writing and we are always writing individually and then we get together the three of us and sort of kick the ideas about but I find it is very hard when it comes down to writing the song because.. For instance say the person can get an idea for a song but it is not completely finished and then you all get together and work on it JH - You arrange it DS - Yeah but it still really goes to down to the person that came up with the idea. So a lot of work goes on behind the scenes but the individual doesn't benefit from it but it is all part of working for the band. You know what I mean? JH - Is that what Bruce (Bisland) does as well? DS - Not really no he does little bits JH - So it is mainly you three? DS - Yeah and now Tony's here it is the four of us. It's hard because it's like there is a song on this album … we had so many songs. I wrote 3 or 4. Chris wrote the majority of them. Tino wrote a couple. But when it comes down to deciding on the final ten tracks some get left out. Now there is a song "Best Years of your Life" on this album which I wrote. But there is one that did not get finished that did not get on the album that I think is better than the one that is on the album. So it is also a problem with time. If you haven't got time … If you have got time to finish the pre-production of a song it gets left off so your f*****d. You know what I mean? The song that was left off, which will be on the next album, I think is far better but the one that is on there was finished and pre-produced. (This interview was down in a crowded room with lots of other chat going on so there ends my chat with Denis.) |
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