CSI in the News - CSI Today

But the singer is just as witty as he is chatty, as you’ll hopefully glean from this excerpt of our interview withhim:AWE: You’ve had battles with record labels and label-hired producers about what will sell recordsversus what you want to play with the band. Are you enjoying the collapse of the recordingindustry? NOONE: It’s magical for me that they’re all on their way out, that they can’t afford their yachts and theirplans any more. I’ve always said they’d never know what the next big thing is because it’s in a bar inPoughkeepsie right now. And only young people go there. You look at things like YouTube and Facebook,those are better ideas than a giant label with a building in Century City. Four floors of lawyers, two floors ofaccountants — and one floor for artist development.AWE: You’ve had huge Brit invasion hits and more underground recordings. What’s your setup fortouring these days? NOONE: We’re still a bit "Nevermind the Bullocks" you know? We have the simplest setup: two guitarplayers, a bass player, a keyboard player, a drummer and me, the singer. And I play a bit of guitar andsometimes a bit of piano on English tours because I know those songs.AWE: What kind of music resonates with you, as a performer and a listener.NOONE: I’ve always listened to stuff that’s not necessarily right for Herman’s Hermits. I like guitar playerswith licks. What I listen to and what I play are not related at all, though the things that always touch me aresongs with good stories.AWE: I read that you and actor David Hasselhoff were friendly and once planned to work on arecord together. Have you been paying attention to the trouble he’s had in the media recently?NOONE: Oh he’ll be all right, the poor guy. People think that to be in the entertainment business you have tohave some sort of smarts. I think one of the requirements is to be a bit stupid actually. Why would you evenattempt to be in a business where one in a billion make it? Doctors complain that they have to accept $12 apatient for Medicare — I’ve known musicians didn’t make $12 in an entire career. I’m sure if you go to an AAmeeting, 90 percent of the people were once in bands of some sort. That’s where all that begins isn’t it?AWE: Have you struggled with substance abuse in your own life and career?NOONE: I’ve always stayed out of trouble, who always left the building just before it collapsed. I’ve neverbeen afraid to say I’m afraid. When I was young I said "Dad I don’t know what to do, all my friends go onthe rides at the fair but I’m scared to go," and he said "you can’t be afraid to say you’re afraid. In thesecond World War, all the guys who said "I’m afraid" came back.Page 19 of 179