Porcupine Tree / King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison will be heading out on the road with 05Ric Band this June, along with Stickmen featuring Tony Levin. We caught up with the man who is ranked by Rolling Stone as the 3rd best drummer in the last 25 years to see how he’s preparing for the tour…
G&T: What are you up to at this moment?
GH: Myself and 05Ric and the boys have been rehearsing for this upcoming tour. I’ve been making a lot of recording sessions here at my home studio and planning out what we’ll do with Porcupine Tree in the future.
G&T: What can fans expect to experience at one of your shows?
GH: A great night of truly Progressive music between us and Tony Levin’s Stickmen. We’ll be playing some really challenging songs. Some just like the record and some that have been rearranged for extended versions and solo sections.
G&T: What is your favourite song to perform live?
GH: Circles (from our second album) is great fun to play live.
G&T: When you’re not performing what do you do to keep yourself busy when you’re on tour / on the road?
GH: There’s very rarely a time when I’m not busy working on some kind of music project. With my connection to Porcupine Tree, King Crimson projects, OSI and 05Ric – I barely get time to even ride my bike these days. Now that the weather has changed I’d like to get back cycling everyday!
G&T: What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?
GH: Radio City Music Hall in NYC was a very special show for Porcupine Tree back in 2010.
G&T: What was the first gig you ever went to?
GH: One of the earliest I remember was Paul Simon at Hammersmith Odeon in 1981. He bought everyone in the audience a drink in the interval!!! It was the first time I saw my drumming hero Steve Gadd play.
G&T: Which other artists are you listening to at the moment?
GH: Everything Everything (a great band from Manchester) and Dirty Loops (look them up on YouTube).
G&T: Which song do you wish you wrote?
GH: “Waves” by Lewis Taylor. Quite a rare track from Lewis (I worked with him about 10 years ago). He’s written so many beautiful songs – but this one really knocked me out.
G&T: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
GH: Joni Mitchell,
G&T: Plans for the rest of the year?
GH: Hopefully more touring with 05Ric please!!!!!