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Vini Reilly: Reluctantly a star
by Conrad Astley4/ 8/2005
SIPPING a coffee in the Northern Quarter's Oklahoma café, Vini
Reilly chuckles at the idea of being an "axe hero".
Despite having dedicated the last quarter of a century to making
music, he seems refreshingly uncomfortable about the idea of being
recognised for his contribution.
He said he was "freaked out" to hear his own music played by a
neighbour in his block of flats and didn't know how to take a
comment made by Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, who
recently described him as the best guitarist in the world.
Vini, who has also received similar attention from U2's The Edge,
Bono and producer Brian Eno, said: "It's very flattering, but it
doesn't mean anything. If I get a good review in a magazine it's as
meaningless as a bad review because the only opinion that matters
about the music is my own.
"I know what I was trying to get to do with the songs, so I know
how far short I've fallen of what I was trying to do."
And Vini seems a particularly harsh critic.
Although he is happy with his latest work - provisionally entitled
Keep Breathing and expected to be released through Warner Bros - he
doesn't seem as enthusiastic about his extensive back-catalogue,
weighing in at over 25 albums.
He said: "This album is quite something, I'm quite amazed by it,
but it's the first good album I've ever done.
"I can't bear any of them, they're all dismal failures, I'd never
consider picking them up and listening to them. This one's got a
bit more weight than the previous stuff - it might even make me
famous."
Unsurprisingly, PR isn't Vini's forte - and he doesn't mind
admitting it.
The guitarist says he never gets involved with the merry-go-round
of promoting new albums because, by the time he has completed one,
he is bored of it and wants to move on.
He says he gets depressed when watching young bands on TV promoting
new albums, saying they "look like a bunch of salesmen."
And his left-field approach also means, despite developing a
reputation for electric live performances, his band never rehearse
for gigs - not even before last year's Bridgewater Hall concert -
preferring a more spontaneous approach.
Vini's highly individualistic attitude was perfect for Tony
Wilson's Factory Records.
After a short spell in punk band Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds,
Wilson invited him to join a group called The Durutti Column -
named after a Spanish Civil War activist - before the others
suddenly left, leaving him as sole member.
His debut album, a collection of atmospheric instrumentals called
The Return of The Durutti Column was released through Factory in
1980, and many of his subsequent albums were also released by
Wilson.
He said: "Everyone accuses him of arrogance, but I think he's one
of the most humble people I've ever met.
"When he released my first album there was no-one else around that
would think about putting it out - it gave me my career.
"He's like an old fashioned patron of the arts, he tries to give
people a platform."
He thinks Wilson's ability to spot talent hasn't left, and is a fan
of the label owner's latest signing - Longsight rappers Raw
T.
The band have been produced by Ben Roberts, responsible for The
Durutti Column's latest album, and their record's front cover was
photographed by Vini's girlfriend Rachel McFarlane - who he met
through close friend, Ian Curtis' daughter Natalie.
He said: "They're cool guys, and very, very bright. They're a
serious act.
"There's that Morrissey quote about music saying nothing to me
about my life. I feel that way about US rap - it's not describing
British life. But they're doing for rap what punk did for rock
music. They're talking about life in Britain."
Vini is now preparing to play this weekend's free Dpercussion
festival alongside other Manchester acts like Alfie, Nine Black
Alps and My Computer.
Although he is looking forward to the concert, he thinks it will be
a far cry from his last big performance, at Barcelona's Sonar
Festival where extra security had to be called to deal with the
number of people who gathered outside the venue.
He said: "They completely underestimated the number of people that
would turn up. It got quite tense for a while.
"Audiences in Britain tend to be very laid back, people just turn
up and say `that's alright' but in other countries they tend to be
a bit fanatical and strange.
"Japan's the worst - they have these huge crazy festivals and you
need a bodyguard. It's nice to come back to Manchester where people
completely ignore me and I can get my feet back on the
ground."
Vini Reilly plays at the Dpercussion festival tomorrow
(Saturday).
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