It was about 1993 and we were doing a session for a client at our old studio. He had hired this guy to play guitar. In walked Peter Northcote, played some fantastic guitar, and brought the track to life. That's his job. It took me a few days to get Glenn's jaw off the floor. Even now he's still asking Pete how he does some of the things he does with a guitar (and without!)
We've used Peter ever since that day. He's Sydney's busiest session player and has played just about any style you can think of on just about any kind of project you can think of. Let's find out about the man...
Geoff:
Where did your love of guitar start? Particular bands/players?
Peter: I think it all became apparent when I heard bands like
Deep Purple, Zeppelin, Credence Clearwater Revival, YES, John Mclaclan,
Genesis and GONG. I realized that you had to practice to become good at
it. Before that I was just taking lessons, loving it (more than sport)
but I was a kid and nothing was that serious.
Geoff: What was your first guitar and at what age?
Peter: I was 9 when our parents bought us a
$20 Riviera acoustic for Christmas. We took 6 months of lessons from a
guy up the road. He was like a club player. In those days there were
plenty of gigs but as most guys do, he taught. I remember him being a
good teacher but I don't recall being knocked out by his playing. My
brother and I were also taking tennis lessons and after the 6 months we
had to chose one or the other. I chose guitar, Tony took tennis.
Geoff: Were there players you tried to emulate early on?
Peter: Its interesting. I've never been a good
emulator of one particular player. I have learnt lots of bits or licks
from different players, but I've never studied a guitarist per say. I've
had reviews written about me saying I do the 'Steve Vai' thing well. I
wish. I love Vai, but I find him way too difficult to sit down and
study. I have learnt a few licks. Eddie van Halen is another one. I used
to just play along with the albums and learn the rhythm parts, but do my
own solos. I do love the Via JEMs (guitar) and have about 8 of them. I
think that’s where the confusion is.
Geoff: You were in Jamie Redfern's band. Was that a good break?
Peter: Oh absolutely. I was about 15 and
playing with 20 and 30 yr olds. They were great musicians and I got to
travel in the back of a van on top of all the equipment. You gotta do it
once. Not to mention we had dancers on the road with us.
Geoff: When did you seriously consider being a session guitarist
and what was it that made you feel you could cut it?
Peter: I was doing cover bands and working in
a band with Clive Harrison who was doing a lot of sessions at the time.
That was about 1985. He was recommending me for sessions with Les Gock
who I still work with today. I also went to a session with Jim Kelly
once and he was recording with a full orchestra. A great experience. I
guess I loved the fact that I was playing guitar in the daytime and
making money. So it just became word of mouth from then.
Geoff: What was the first gig like?
Peter: Scary! My first session was a 10am start. I got up at 6am
and did a few hours practice before I got there.
Geoff:
How many guitars do you have now and are there any favorites?
Peter: Geez. About 40 I think. Including ukes,
mandolins and banjos. My favorites are the JEMs. But I love them all for
different things. I have a beautiful SRV Strat, a killer TELE, a very
heavy les paul and a white custom SG that shouldn't be used without
adult supervision.
Geoff: What style do you like to play most of all?
Peter: I love it all but I grew up as a rock guitarist and I think that will always be the big one.
Geoff: What are the important points to being a successful session guitarist?
Peter: Understanding harmony, time, sound and people. I could talk forever on these things. But they are obvious to me. You can try to pretend, but it wont last. If you cant hear what chords you're playing over, how can you create? By guessing? Sure, but you'll soon run out of ideas....and employers..ha! Playing in time is different in the studio. You really have to watch yourself that you don't play too in front of the beat. Our natural instinct is to be in front or play faster. Like when you go to a gig and the band get the audience to clap. What do they do? Speed up! I know some great live players that sound like they are trying to finish 1st in the studio. I've had 20 yrs of playing to click tracks and all kinds of drummers. Its almost like you have to play slower than you think. You also have to adapt to different situations/drummers.
You need to understand sonics and what frequencies,
guitars, amps, effects work best in a track. You also almost have to
have a degree in human behavior. The ego is a fragile thing and
insecurities run rampant in the studio. Being a good guitarist is one
thing but you have be accommodating, compassionate, and still be on top
of every situation so that you are respected when you walk out of the
studio. It really helps if you can relate to people and take a genuine
interest in them and they're lives and work. I'll stop now. But I could
do a whole article on that one question.
Geoff: How do you approach a job? Does the first listen give you
all the clues?
Peter: Mostly, yes.
But I ask the producer what he/she has in mind. We usually find a common
ground. Most people book me because I'm a guitarist and I know what to
do. They trust me and leave a lot of decisions up to me. I like to
involve them though and give lots of options.
Geoff:
What's the best part of your job. The playing, relationships, free time?
Peter: Free time? I wish. When I started doing
sessions in the 80's, all the players back then would tell me you get 2
to 4 good years out of playing sessions. I'm busier now than ever. Its
like every year gets busier. But really, I love the challenge everyday.
I love the fact that I play guitar everyday and get to work with great
producers and musicians. I'm just very lucky I have this job and I
acknowledge it everyday.
Geoff: Do you continue to learn to this day? What have you learnt
recently?
Peter: Of course. I'm
relearning some of the songs and solo's I've done on my own recordings.
That's about the most challenging thing for me today. Learning something
that came off the top of my head. I also did Van Halen's "Hot for
Teacher" the other day. Just for fun.
Geoff: How many other serious session guitarists are there in
Sydney?
Peter: Oh, there are a few.
But I think I'm the busiest person I know . Ha!
Geoff: What's the market like? Where's most of your work; ads,
albums, live?
Peter: Honestly...?
...everything.
Geoff: Do you promote to find new clients? Obviously older
producers move on. How do you get a relationship with new, young
producers/writers?
Peter: I don't
promote. It all seems to be word of mouth. I get new clients all the
time. Budgets keep shrinking so some new guys try to cut costs and I end
up fixing a lot of crap....which ends up costing them a lot more. It
doesn't matter what area of business you're in, you get what you pay
for.
Geoff: Which guitarists do you admire today?
Peter: All the Steve's. Lukather, vai, howe,
hacket, etc. Landau, hendrix of course. Ohh shit I love them all.
Everyone unique and different.
Geoff: How has guitar technology affected your job/playing? Good
& bad.
Peter: I don't use a 'real'
amp much anymore. I use a Laptop with amp simulator plug-ins because
people don't have live rooms anymore and it is sometimes easier. But
give me red hot valves any day. I never use simulators on my own tracks.
Geoff: What do you make of these recent music composition tools
for non-musicians? eg Garage band, Hip Hop etc.
Peter: Well, I have no problems with them. As
a matter of fact, bring it on. The more music the better. However. There
seems to be more 'kids with computers' these days and less music
producers, which takes me back to my harmony discussion.
Geoff: What do think of virtual guitarist? (A computer plug-in
allowing samples of guitar playing)
Peter: Ha. Its funny. I only ever seem to replace it! Its given me a
lot of work.
Geoff: Any particular moment playing a session where you thought
it was just sensational, felt great?
Peter: I did Channel #5 mini movie with Baz Lurman that starred
Nicole Kidman a few years back. I cant explain exactly why, but the
experience was amazing. He sat in the live room with me with headphones
on and I really only had a 10 second part. But we spent the best part of
2 hours on it and it was a spiritual experience. We worked together and
there was total respect. I'd do that job again any day.
Geoff: Any moments you'd rather forget?
Peter: Yes. Sitting in for Gary Vicory to do
"CATS". It was painful and one of the hardest things I'd ever attempted.
Geoff:
Any great live moments? You've worked with some classics like The
Angels, Richard Clapton etc....
Peter:
You mean lunacy don't you? (I assume this is a family show?)
Geoff: Who are some of your favourite people you've worked with?
Any you'd like to work with?
Peter:
I'm Not a good name dropper. I’ve worked with Hi5. They're a big name. I
once had a jam with Tuvok (the Vulcan) from star trek voyager. That was
a hoot. I’m a bit of a Trekkie. I’d like to work with animals. Animals
that play a musical instrument.
Geoff: What local players do you really enjoy playing with?
Peter: Dieter Klieman is my hero as is Rex Goh
as is Barry Leef. The best rhythm guitarist ever. As for other players I
love Dario Bortolin, Leon Gaer, Victor Rounds, Kere Buchanan, Lloyd G,
Gordon Rytmeister, Andre Kaman, Natasha Stuart...ohh the list is huge.
Geoff: Any newcomers on the scene biting at your heals?
Peter: I’m sure there is. I haven’t met any yet. It's a different world. And I’ve been fortunate enough to have grown up in a time where technology was changing and recording was peaking. I’ve been through tape, ADAT, back to tape and onto computers. I’ve played with and learnt from the best there is, so anyone biting at my heels needs to find something less smelly to chomp on.
Geoff: Glenn has some new chops he thinks you'll find hard to keep up with. Are you ready for that level?
Peter: Silence.
Geoff: Well, when you're doing a session and the producer asks you to
play something that you know is wrong, do you play it if he insists?
Peter: Sure, of course, but I will always let
them know what I think is best. And really, with music, there is no
wrong or right. Sometimes people know the (harmonic) rules and break
them on purpose. Sometimes people don’t know the rules and luck out.
That is a rare occurrence but a worthy one just the same. I like to
think that producers book me not just because I can be a robot, but for
my input as well. Over the years I’ve been doing a lot of co-writes with
a number of producers and that is a total respect thing.
Geoff: Did you ever want to be in a famous band rather than do
what you're doing?
Peter: The fame never really interested me. I have a great time
doing what I’m doing and would hate it if I couldn't go down to the
shops, or pick my nose in public. (and I do that a lot) I just want to
play music. And I know I get more out of doing a 3 hour gig at a pub
than a 75 minute set of the same songs every night.
Geoff: Some of the best moments of your career have been working on our stuff at Hullabaloo. Any others come close?
Peter: Silence.
Geoff: Any words of wisdom for us?
Peter: I know I say this a lot and it might be getting boring to some, but....love what you're doing till what you love to do comes to you. In other words, focus 100% on this moment. As musicians that's what we deal with best.
Geoff: So when are Glenn & I joining the band with you and hitting the road?
Peter: Silence
I'd like to thank Peter heaps for taking the time to answer too many questions! You can learn more about the man at peternorthcote.com