The Baker's Dozen #32 John Fiddler (Medicine Head)
John Fiddler co-founded Medicine Head back in 1968 and signed to John Peel’s Dandelion label. So that’s a place in rock history right there, but they also had the likes of John Lennon, Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton singing their praises (not a bad list). I could also mention their 1972 album was entitled ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ a year before Waters, Gilmour and co. It’s been a decade since John released an album, but with ‘Warriors of Love’ set for release on September 24th 2021, RGM thought the time was right to catch up with John to find out a little more about what influences the “labour of love” that is Medicine Head, the state of the music business, Bob Dylan and guitars.
1. What is your earliest musical memory?
I was lucky enough to have two older rock n roll crazy sisters who were always listening to rock n roll on radio Luxembourg, singing harmonies, and bopping all around the house. The younger of my sisters, Cynthia has an amazing voice, she went on to have her own band, Cindy Taylor and The Taylormades, and then sang with the Len Geoffs orchestra each weekend at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
2. Do you remember the name of your first band?
Yes, it was called MEDICINE HEAD...
3. Which current artist do you hear and just go Wow?
Howlin’ Wolf! His voice never fails to shake the foundations of life itself, Unbelievable!
I just re-read the question and it says CURRENT artist...that would have to be DEREK TRUCKS...WOW!!!
4. Do you sit down to write songs or do you wait until your mojo comes to get you?
Mostly I’m always available to receive ideas, and that can be with or without a guitar or sitting at the piano. For me it’s never been definable how this magic works. In fact, when asked questions about being a musician, I always say that I’m more of a magician than a musician!
5. Big venue or small venue - what's your favourite to play?
Both have their place in my life, but I think the intimacy of a small venue, all close together is hard to beat.
6. Who is the one artist you wish you could share a stage with (past or present)?
That has to be Bob Dylan. I’ve seen him several times and to see and feel the effect he has on the audience is supernatural, recognised by the whole world, he’s a massive talent, a huge creator.
7. Bowie, Prince, Sinatra, Elvis which departed great means the most to you?
That’s Elvis. He’s closer to the blues and is from the earliest moments of Rock and Roll that I know. I’m not a fan of how he developed into a Vegas star under the Colonel’s control, but the early few years are priceless.
8. The musical landscape could change markedly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. How has the situation affected you and what do you feel will be its impact on the music business/live performance going forward?
I actually had covid very early on and I would not wish that on anyone. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s here to stay, so we have to find a way to live with it by using vaccines etc. to combat it as we do with other contagious diseases. There’s no doubt that we need to work together to contain it, and prevent its spread as much as possible.
Any gigs that I had in the books at that time were all cancelled/postponed, just like everyone else, and my first ones going forward are the 3 days of the Harvest Blues Festival in September in Monaghan, Ireland. As you must know, the live music sector has had little or no support from government, and that negative attitude has had a huge impact on people trying to survive. I am optimistic that the global love of music will give us the strength to rebuild in a new and equally vibrant way as before.
9. Should music be free?
No. Why should music be free? People have a choice to buy something or not. It would be nice if you could get a car for free, or a house, or a meal, or work on your plumbing system for free, but that will never happen. Why music? All of the arts need to be paid, otherwise how do we make a living, survive, and produce more music, and all of the arts?
Streaming services pay writers and performers virtually zero per stream, so that doesn’t work in a sustainable fashion.
10. Can you remember the first record you bought and what have you bought recently?
The first record I bought was PEGGY SUE by BUDDY HOLLY. It was a 78 RPM record for our wind-up gramophone! I just bought JACK NITZSCHE’S soundtrack to “ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST”
11. What was the last song that made you cry actual tears?
I often dig through my vintage vinyl, and the last time, very recently, that I cried listening to a song was THE TIME’S THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ by BOB DYLAN, as relevant today as ever, except even more so! I think I’ll listen to WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW by THE SHIRELLES and cry again!
12. Do you binge watch Netflix / Amazon / DVD box sets (any recommendations)? Do you have a guilty pleasure in Film or TV you’ll admit to watching and loving?
I have never binged-watched a series yet, but maybe if Mr Tarantino wrote and directed a series that would be tempting. Back in the day there was a series called TWIN PEAKS, maybe I should dig that out AND BINGE! I loved BLUE VELVET!
13. What is the most important thing to you that you can see from where you are right now?
Two beautiful guitars, including my early 60s GIBSON ES330, and yes, that’s a hairdryer sitting on top of my 1964 VOX AC30 (all original including the blue celestion speakers!)
Yep....IMPORTANT!
‘Warriors of Love’ is released on September 24th 2021 via Living Room Records.
These days, with a seemingly inexhaustible amount of music available at the click of a mouse, it is easy to miss things in our search for instant gratification. The art of getting to know an album over repeated listens, allowing it to slowly reveal itself, is in danger of being lost. A case in point is the aptly titled ‘Modern Nostalgia’, the latest release from The Last Hurrah (!!), a project helmed by Norwegian musician/producer HP Gundersen. ‘Modern Nostalgia’ blends a distinctly European (Serge Gainsbourg/Marianne Faithfull) approach with the California sound of Gram Parsons and The Byrds, utilising a variety of singers and instrumentation along the way to reveal its charms. With this in mind, we caught up with HP Gundersen to learn more about HP and his collaborators in The Last Hurrah (!!).