Darryl Way – The Rock Artist’s Progress Discussion

1. “The Rock Artist’s Progress” is your new concept; would you like to describe it?

The concept, is a novel about one young man’s experiences of trying to make it as a rock musician in London during the 1960s that has a companion album that goes with it. The album featured in the novel, is an important part of the novel’s plot line.

2. Why did you decide to release it as a bundle with the novel even now that the music business is in crisis?

It just seemed to me such an obvious thing to do, especially with a novel that was about the vibrant music scene in London during the late 60s, it was crying out to have an album connected with it. I am actually surprised that it hasn’t been done before, but I think that I might be one of the first to do it.

3. What is the connection between the album and the novel?

The band featured in the novel get to record an album in 1969 and the album connected with this novel, is a recreation of that album.

4. Who are the other contributing musicians on this album?

Well, it states in the novel that all the original members of the band from 1969 got together to re-record the album and for the sake of the story, that’s all I can say about that.

5. Which is the concept behind the novel, and do you find personal elements in this story?

It’s set against the backdrop of the musical revolution that started with the Beatles and begins in 1968, a year after ‘The Summer of Love’ and follows the story of Daniel Luckham, a young classical pianist studying at the Royal College of Music. Seduced by the rock music scene and vibrant counter culture in London at that time, he contrives to leave college and pursue a career in ‘Rock’. But some bad decisions lead him down a dark and dangerous alley, populated by drug dealers, unscrupulous managers and femme fatales. On his journey to fulfil his dreams, Daniel finds his integrity challenged, and the innocence of youth cruelly stripped away. The author Charles Shorwell has used some of my experiences in rock music, but please be assured, that it is definitely a work of fiction!

6. According to your sayings, the album represents a body of work recorded in the late 1960s. Why did it take you so long to release it?

To let you know the reason for that, would give a major plot line in the novel away and would definitely be a massive spoiler alert.

7. How was the collaboration with Steve Hogarth (Marillion)?

Steve is an old friend of mine, he was actually best man at my wedding and we are both ‘Prog Rockers’ with similar tastes in rock music, so I thought it would be a nice idea for him to guest on the album. By the way, the track he is on, ‘Morpheus’, was released as a single on the 25th of August.

8. The band Curved Air broke up several times; what were the reasons for that?

As with most bands, the reason was different members wanting to go in different musical directions. Francis Monkman, the keyboard player in the band, wanted to take it down a much more experimental route. I was also interested in experimentation, but didn’t want to take it as far as Francis wanted to, as I felt we would probably alienate our fans.

9. What do you remember from your collaboration on Jethro Tull’s 1978 album Heavy Horses?

I remember having to do lots of takes, because Ian Anderson was somewhat of a perfectionist. But it was all very amiable, because we were very good friends at the time.

10. What about your next plans?

Just going to take it easy for a while and see what happens with the novel and the album, before committing to anything else.

To purchase:https://linktr.ee/therockartistsprogress
Also available on Kobo:https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-rock-artist-s-progress

For more information:https://www.darrylway.com/
https://www.charlesshorwell.co.uk