Phil And John: The Derby duo with built in grassroots appeal

Thursday 1st October 1992

Tony Cummings (and others) report on Britain's Christian music institution, PHIL AND JOHN.



Continued from page 1

Do you think the scene suffers because there are only two big players, Word and Kingsway, and no room for indies?

(John) "I think it suffers because the companies, particularly one, don't want to invest in English artists, they just want to take the easy route and get American product and distribute it. British music has had a really big impact on the world, from the Beatles on, and I'm sure that transfers to Christian musicians. There are a lot of talented Christian musicians who never see the light of day because unfortunately it's financially a small pond. There's not much money about to do things properly."

Do you think the attitude of the companies with their concentration on US product will change with new ownership of Word?

(Phil) "Depends who buys them out. There's nothing wrong with it, it just doesn't help English music. Something needs to be done to help Christian music in England. The American gospel market couldn't care less about British music but when the Americans come over here they're treated like gods. It's not fair because it takes four or five years to build up the Christian music scene, then the Americans will start touring and saturate the market and bring it down to rock bottom, then you have to build it up again. Five or six years ago there was a really good scene - Sheila Walsh, Mark Williamson, Norman Barratt. Now there's me and John."

Anyone else?

(Phil) "Well, Bryn; Martyn is doing his secular thing; Eden Burning - very little else. People just can't afford it. It's really sad. Promoters have got to start charging ticket prices, not 50p on the door. You've got to get into the mentality of 'if you want to hear music you've got to pay for it'.

We'd much rather play to 100 people who've paid four or five quid than to 500 who've got in free and the church has subsidised it. If people don't pay you don't get a good show as far as lights or PA goes. You go to a Christian gig and see two bean-tins for lights. Most secular bands use moving lights. Christians have wobbling lights because they're falling off."

Who's responsible for this situation?

(Phil) "We need some record company investment."

What made you set up your own company to record 'Carnival Of Clowns'?

(John) "America wasn't really happening for us in the way we wanted, Word (UK) wanted and Word America wanted. We just felt we ought to be doing something on our own and so it was either a toss up between doing a live album or a studio album. Someone came up with the money and it's just really taken off." (Phil) "We were sitting 'round chatting and just trying to decide what to do for the best and it's been amazing how things have clicked into place - we've ended up with an album which we personally think is by far the best shot we've ever had, musically." (John) "Like Phil said, we've just made an album we're really happy with . . . for the first time in our lives we're happy and content in a way we've never been."

What sort of area would you be intending to push your music into now?

(John) "The Christian thing is still very important to us but we're trying a bit wider than that, I mean, a lot of the time we play in colleges and universities both here and in America, like to non-Christians and stuff, so we'd like to try and get the album into a position where people will actually buy it from a shop and will have heard of us, without having to be in the Christian subculture or whatever you want to call it. So we'll be pushing to try and get independent record deals outside of the Christian thing."

I understand that will involve having a simultaneous release, for the mainstream market, using a different name. And also using that name for secular gigs.

Showing page 2 of 3

1 2 3


Reader Comments

Posted by Calogero in Belgium @ 21:52 on Nov 2 2018

It's very hard to find the lyrics of Phil & John songs or any other material on the net. I wonder why. Still one of their "hit" - don't shoot them down in flames - is part of a Radio Collection CD together with few other songs from Christian artists of the 80's & early 90's. Can anyone send me please the lyrics of that song? Thank you. Calogero (from Belgium)



The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

Add your comment

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.












We are committed to protecting your privacy. By clicking 'Send comment' you consent to Cross Rhythms storing and processing your personal data. For more information about how we care for your data please see our privacy policy.