Interview with.......... Ross Elder
By The Critic c. 2004
Critic…Well, I’ve finally caught up with you Ross and I must say that it’s an
honour to finally meet you. I just want to say thanks for finally making the
time for me and agreeing to this exclusive interview. I believe ‘Hello’
magazine have been after an interview for some time?
Ross… Yes they have and it’s become so boring having to tell them to “F**K
OFF” all the time! Every time I attend a celebrity function…they’re taking
pictures of me! When I leave my
house…they’re outside the gate firing questions and taking pictures! Honestly.. I can’t go anywhere!
Critic… What do the others in the band think of your celebrity status? Are
they not jealous?
Ross… Of course they are but they refuse to show it in public, however they
do tend to direct very bitchy remarks at me during gigs when they’re sure
no-one can hear them….mind you, it’s impossible to hear anything after one of
our gigs, especially if you’re standing anywhere near Rob! And if you come to
one of our shows, you’ll notice that I have to play at the back! Need I say more?
Critic… I’d like to ask you about how you started and who your earliest
influence was?
Ross… My earliest musical influence was the piano player Russ Conway! When I
was about 4 years old he was every Mum’s favourite. He’d be smiling a cheesy
grin at the camera/audience while tinkering the ivories. Every time he came on
the TV I’d mimic him by pretending to play on the arm of our settee and grin at
anyone who’d be looking!
Critic… Cough!..Very good,but it was actually your drumming influence
that our readers want to hear about!
Ross…Tommy Donnelly….What do you mean you havn’t heard of him!!? When I was 13/14 he was a friend of my Mum’s
who played drums in a local Scottish dance band. He was 45, overweight and had
a receding hairline. I remember thinking “I’d like to be just like him one
day”! Still….. never mind! He actually
lent me his kit to get started, then when he left the band, he got me in to
replace him, so I gained invaluable gigging experience at an early age. Sadly,
he passed away a few years ago but I can feel him with me at every gig. I can
just see him grimacing and shaking his head in disbelief!….By the way Tommy,
it’s your round!!
My other influences were Ian
Paice from Deep Purple, Simon Kirke from Free and simply just about all of the
players who were around at the time. Unlike Rob, even at an early age I had the
ability to open up to and appreciate all music which has resulted in my, again
unlike Rob, ability to play most styles of music.
Critic…When you were being ‘Head Hunted’ for Burn all these years ago, you
went to one of their gigs with their original drummer to check them out. What
did you think?
Ross… My initial opinion was that they had no bollocks. But of course that
was really down to their drummer, Simon, who, by the way has since had a sex
change operation and literally no longer has any bollocks!!
I was asked to stand in as a
one-off, we had a gas, the chemistry was evident and I decided to accept their
invitation. It was downhill from then onwards!!
Critic…Burn were once a 4 piece with Tom Dussek on keyboards. How do you like
being in a trio?
Ross… It’s ok but I’d much prefer to be in a 3 piece!!
Critic… Hmm! I see….. lets try something else! What do you think is the secret of Burn staying together longer than most marriages?
Ross… Blackmail! I’ve tried to leave
on many occasions but the guys always threaten to expose some very
confidential info to the News of The World!
But that’s ok…I’ve got loads on them!
It’ll all come out one day…..I’m just biding my time.
By the way Rob, I said Blackmail,
not Blackmore!
Critic… I believe you teach drums full-time as well as play for Burn. It sounds
like you’re dedicated to your art.
Ross… Pretty much so. I began teaching some time ago and I like to think
that somewhere down the line I’ve been partly responsible for the current
popularity for drumming in schools around my area. What started out as a “Let’s
see how it goes” basis with a battered old kit in the corner has changed to
some of the schools having dedicated drum rooms equipped with either decent
acoustic or electronic kits. The students also take modern exams where they
have to play along with backing tracks which they can adapt for their own particular
style. The pass rate has been phenomenal with most of my students achieving
merits or distinctions, which I’m very proud of. Some of the more advanced ones are already in bands and gigging.
One of my former students is presently part of the way through a Higher Degree
Diploma course at the Academy of Contemporary Music and I’m currently preparing
another for the same course. Basically,
we’re preparing to take over the world!
Critic…I look forward to seeing and, of course, hearing the fruits of your
labour one day!
But finally…do you see
Burn being around in a few years time?
Ross…As long as we change our image and wear one piece stretch suits and
have a Christmas Number 1, we’ll be around forever, but if that doesn’t happen,
then who knows what lies ahead.
I’ll probably end up in the
re-formed Led Zeppelin, Johnny will undoubtedly continue to prostitute his
services with anyone who’ll put up with his rapidly failing memory (he keeps
forgetting to bring slightly important items of equipment to gigs…little things
like PA Amps!), and I predict that Rob
will put together a Ritchie Blackmore tribute band!!
Critic…Well, until that happens, we’re all looking forward to Burn being
around for quite some time. But for now I’d like to thank you again for
granting me this exclusive interview.
Ross…The pleasure was all yours!!
Oh! and by the way, can I just say one more thing?
Critic… No!
