GRAHAM PARKER: Discovering Élan
LONDON—Graham Parker’s now 28, he’s barely begun his career in rock (less than four years ago, he was serving in a gas station), and he’s already been called “one of the decade’s great white R&B artists.” In recent months, nevertheless, much has been made of the fact that Parker has still not achieved the kind of record sales critics expect of a man of his caliber/reputation; much has also been made of Parker’s return on Squeezing Out Sparks to the horn-less simplicity of Howlin' Wind.
"When we first started, I felt that I was the only person doing this."
GRAHAM PARKER: Discovering Élan
Features
by
Nigel Burnham
LONDON—Graham Parker’s now 28, he’s barely begun his career in rock (less than four years ago, he was serving in a gas station), and he’s already been called “one of the decade’s great white R&B artists.” In recent months, nevertheless, much has been made of the fact that Parker has still not achieved the kind of record sales critics expect of a man of his caliber/reputation; much has also been made of Parker’s return on Squeezing Out Sparks to the horn-less simplicity of Howlin' Wind. After his Australian tour, changes (it is predicted) are inevitable in the Parker camp’s policy.
By now, however, Geep is plowing through his month-long Antipodean tour, and, recollecting the fervor with which his first one was received, he’s looking forward to it.
Why are you going to Australia and New Zealand, and to nowhere else? Wouldn't it be more logical to do it as part of a world tour, or at least to throw in Japan?