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THE BiTS INTERVIEW: James Oliver

James Oliver has already rubbed shoulders with many of the greats of the guitar
firmament: Albert Lee, Bill Kirchen, Greg Koch to name a few Now, having recorded three
vital, very contemporary albums with his old band, he is preparing to write a new chapter
of not only his career but also Welsh music history.
As music business veterans will tell you, success is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per
cent perspiration. As he enters the next stage of his career, James Oliver has a track
record that shows he will not allow an ounce of his talents to be wasted.

Ian McKenzie spoke to him on the telephone at his home in Wales.

JO: Hello.

BiTS: James, is that you?

JO: Yes, I'm fine. I just can't hear you very good, that's all.

BiTS: Oh, okay. But let's make a start then, anyway. Tell me
something about how you became a musician in the first
place. Was there a lot of music when you were a kid?

JO: Well, my parents like music, but nobody in my family
plays. I started playing at
13 and I'm 30 now, so I've
b e e n
playing the
guitar for 17
years now.

BiTS: And what was your interest
in music when you first started?

JO: Well, my father liked Rory Gallagher and
people like Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac and all
that. That's the first stuff I started listening to,
which I really got into, you know.

BiTS: You've clearly become a rock and roller, though, a
rock and roll enthusiast.

JO: Yes, definitely a rock and roll enthusiast, yes.

BiTS: But before you made this latest record, I got a record of your band called Glas. Is that still
going?

JO: No, that’s long gone. I don't like talking about that, to be honest with you.

BiTS: [Chuckles] That sounds like a story.

JO: I'd rather not talk about that band, if that's okay?

BiTS: Okay, that's fine. Let's move on then and tell me something about the new record. Why did
you make it?