Interview with..........        Rob Sas

By The Critic c. 2003                                                                                                      Back

 

Critic:    So Rob, Nice to meet you and have the opportunity for a quick chat….

Rob S:     No problem…

Critic:    My first question is…what started you off playing guitar and what drives you now?

Rob S:     My first “Rock” album was Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix which is a stunning album I still listen to now and again. That album turned me onto Rock music. I remember when I bought it aged 13 and not knowing it was covered in pictures of naked women..The embarrassment!! Very funny looking back! I then heard a track from Led Zeppelin II; It was Moby Dick which got me into the whole album. At about that same time, I’d heard Deep Purple In Rock …which I hated! Somehow after that and partly because of the Fireball single, I suddenly had two Deep Purple albums..In Rock and Fireball. I then went to see the band live in September 1972 and that gig changed my perception of them and my taste in music forever. The rest is history. It wasn’t so easy to get guitar lessons in those days. No teaching vids and the like plus I was at boarding school so I started later aged 18 and really wanted to be able to play. I had a teacher for a few years and picked up things from other guys, worked hard at it, as you do. I’ve even learnt a lot from Johnny and Ross. Blackmore of course is a big influence in my guitar playing.

 What drives me? The love of playing, a good gig, a chance to think about my shopping list! Like anything in life you do a lot, it’s hate-able at times but 90% of the time it’s great! I’m lucky enough to have played with many known rock musicians over the years and with Burn and SRB I’m working with my two of my best friends I love very much…Ross and Johnny – they’re great. Ross got me started into guitar teaching many years ago. Thanks mate!

Critic:    So Blackmore is God. Any other players you admire?

Rob S:     Indeed. Hendrix, the man that started it all. Eddie Van Halen, Satriani and latterly, Yngwie Malmsteen, although I have to qualify that… he’s very proficient and I like some of his stuff but he’s just comically over fast too much of the time. Ricardo Blackers once said about him that he’ll be great when he calms down. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to have happened. I may have 2 volumes… on and off but Yngwie has two speeds…super-fast or not at all! Johnny and I have great mirth about this guy often.

Critic: You have a bit of a reputation for being….er… “Blinkered” with music and what you listen to… What’s your response to that?

Rob S:    Fuckem!

Critic:    I see….And what about Johnny and Ross’s comments that you are an incredibly loud guitarist?

Rob S:   Fuckem, too! Seriously, I have my views on the subject which are well known to the guys…Suffice to say that we agree to disagree sometimes, that I’m never wrong on this subject and I will get heard! Yes, we are a loud band but we take our volume levels from Ross mostly. He plays an acoustic instrument…Therefore he hits the drums and that’s his volume. I have no problem with that and as long as I can hear myself clearly, that’s fine. The bass….I’ve never seen a need for that instrument and we really should fire Johnny immediately!!! For a three piece band, we do make a racket but we are a rock band, after all.

Critic:    You and Johnny seem to be always bitching at each other.

Rob S:    Yeah…its good fun and we all know it! It’s part of what makes us good friends. That’s not say we’ve not argued. We all have our moments but if you can’t wind up your mate and call him an obscene unmentionable word, there’s something wrong! Besides, the boys, in particular Johnny, need reminding on a regular basis.

Critic:    Simon, the original drummer in Burn….What’s the story with him?

Rob S:    When the band started, he was the only half decent guy available quickly plus he was reliable. Ross was originally asked to join but declined…So its Ross’s fault we ended up with Simone for a while!! Anyhow, after 6 rehearsals we were up and gigging. He had to be ousted in the end but only Johnny knows the real answer as to his sexual leanings, having shared a room with him! It might have been the shock of getting axed from the band that led Simon to become Simone. That reminds me, have I told you of the time Johnny and I roomed together in Switzerland and what happened there??!! Oh, and what about when we..…..Perhaps another time.

Critic:    Yes, Rob... Another time. You know I can’t print that stuff! So you’ve had a good laugh then?

Rob S:    Oh, yes. More laughs onstage with Burn than anywhere. Off stage some very huge laughs too with a lot of funny memories. You don’t go through ten years or more together without many stories and lots of ammunition for future use! That’s not to say the guys don’t have plenty on me! Bastards!

Critic:    Where do you see yourself in say, ten years time?

Rob S:    Interesting question… Difficult to say…times are changing. I want to still be playing but would like to live in Spain eventually, even if for only part of the year…but nothing is certain. It would be great if I could do that and be with Burn and SRB, however either way, I’ll still be playing somewhere and hope it’s with the guys. We’ll see…life changes all the time. So, plans you make now, can change as your life evolves; you never can tell. There endeth my sermon for the day.

Critic:    What is your ambition for the future?

Rob S:    Quite simple, that one….To hit Johnny and Ross with as many farts full in the face as possible as they’re bending over/setting up…Whenever the height is right, I’ll do my best! We do it too each other whenever possible, it’s the band’s sport! In fact Johnny caught me with a direct hit just last night! Respect…and revenge due.

Critic:    Nice…thanks for that, Rob… A little too much information! Who’d want to be in a band?

Rob S:    Well don’t ask then! Seriously…Just to try to improve as a player and keep going as long as possible. I have other business interests now and hope that does good things for me. As long as I’m moving forward again, I’ll be happy.

Critic:    Thanks for your time Rob and catch you again soon..

Rob S:    It’s been a pleasure, no problem. Thank you. ….Now, switch off your machine and let me tell you about the time we……… (Critic note: Time to switch off the tape!)

*****

Many thanks to Rob for doing this interview. Now read JOHNNY HEYWOOD and ROSS ELDER in conversation with The Critic.

Also, try playing                                   Click here!!