MARTIN ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS...

Q & A - DECEMBER 2011:

Question 1:

Bianka – Germany
Hello Martin and ABC, I have really enjoyed the ABC show in Hamburg, a big wish has been forfilled. The only thing I regret is that I have never met you and been able to get your signature. That’s why I am asking through this site. Is it possible to get a signed Photo?

Martin:
No pictures are currently available. Some signed copies of Traffic are available from the website.

Question 2:
Olivier - Switzerland
I’m a fan of ABC from the beginning! I would like to know if there is a chance that the Royal Albert Hall concert with the Symphony Orchestra was released on CD?

Martin:
The BBC recorded the Albert Hall show in it’s entirety. Just audio. Sounds great. One day I’d love to release it. No immediate plans to put it out.

Question 3:
Blake – USA
Is ABC ever going to be in the Chicago area or USA again?

Martin:
Hi Blake. A couple of years back we played the House of Blues in Chicago. We are planning some shows in the USA hopefully for next July. No other news available.

Question 4:
Samantha - ?
I am about thirty, and have a vague memory of seeing a frightening movie that featured When Smokey Sings as the closing credit music. Am I out of my mind? I can't find the information on imdb or other similar sources. Was it Maximum Overdrive? The doo-wop style back-up vocals haunted me for years until I figured out that it was from a real song and not just a strange hallucination. Now I love ABC and the song! 

Martin:
Don’t know the answer to this. No recollection of the movie you describe. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist though.

Question 5:
Bart - ?
Hi! Is there any news on a DVD or Blu-ray of the movie called Mantrap? I have it on VHS, but coming from the 80’s, it is like 30 years old so the quality is really going down. If not, are there any digital copies that are okay? Perhaps I can try to find the LaserDisc version of it.

Martin:
Hi Bart, Laser Disc offers the best option of holiding a digi version of Mantrap. Blu-ray would be nice but I don’t think Mantrap ever made it onto that format.

Question 6:
Sabine – Holland
Hi Martin, what music do you listen to yourself when you have a day off? and which songs do you wish you had
written by yourself? Are you going to do an European tour soon?

Martin:
Would love to do a European tour . Just played some shows in Hamburg and Berlin which were a lot of fun. Not played in Italy or France or Belgium for a long time. Would love to change that soon. Been listening to a lot of Prince tunes recently since I saw a documentary about him on BBC 3. Kasabian. Coldplay . Adele. I really like James Blake. I wish I’d written Just My Imagination by the Temptations. Or The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel.

Question 7:
Gary – Australia
Just got Traffic CD its fantastic ive still got lexicon of love on vinyl what a great album went to c u in cardiff with tony hadley u both were great is there any chance of a signed poster of martin fry as i am living now in australia hope u can help. Many regards from a loyal fan for 27 years and stil lam.

Martin:
Got to get in gear and get some signed posters going. If you supply Mandy with your address I’ll find something and mail it to you.

Question 8:
Scottt – UK
Do you know when the 2005 Alphabet City remaster w/bonus tracks is expected to be released?

Martin:
A remastered Alphabet City as released by Universall back in 2005. Along with all the other ABC albums. It may be unavailable now.

Question 9:
Linda - ?
I have a question for Martin, would you please ask him if I can ge tan autograph. I have been an ABC fa n for many years and as kif he has any ambitions as an actor? Does he like movies? How does het get inspiration for songs?

Martin:
Hi Linda, no real ambitions to be an actor. It was fun throwing in a few ideas around when Hugh Grant made “Music and Lyrics”where he got to act the part of an 80’s inspired songwriter. I’d rather be a Tour de France cyclist. Love Movies. My most recent faves have to be Inception and Shutter Island. I go for Sci Fi stuff. Loved Hangover 1 and Hangover 2. Watchmen was briliant. I’d like to be a director. Inspiration for songs comes from people and conversations.

Question 10:
Kwaku – UK
I am still looking for copies of the A to Z Fanzine but cannot fin dit. Do you know how I can get these?
Which songs have been remixed by Brothers in Rhythm, Frankie Knuckles and Julian Mendehlson?
How many versions of Viva Love are there? Before ABC split up in 1992, were there plans for a new album and was Viva Love part of Abracadabra, a new ABC album in the making or just a non-album single? How many unreleased songs do ABC have? Which modern day artist would Martin Fry want to do a collaboration with? Is it true ABC recorded an album in 1984 that was influenced by the Jazz scene and scrapped it entirely to work on Zillionaire?

Martin:
Melvin Welters devised and created the A to Z fanzine. He may have some copies available.
Brothers in Rhythm mixed 3 extended versions of Viva Love
Frankie Knuckles recorded a couple of tunes that were never released back in 1991, amongst them “ What Colour Is The Wind “ A version of “One Better World “ mixed together with Frankie Knuckles ‘ “Tears’ did the rounds in clubland i the mid 90’s.
Ran into Julian Mendelsohn on a recent visit to Australia where he now lives. He mixed many ABC tracks amongst them “King Without A Crown

Viva Love along with Kiss Me Goodbye , Ten Below Zero , and Snakebite were for a new album that never saw the light of day.

There aren’t that many unrelesaed tracks. The interesting unreleased stuff is from the period before Abracadabra which relate to ABC sessions with Frankie Knuckles and David Morales, Steve Silk Hurley and Derek May .round about 1990

James Blake would be great to collaborate with.

Sadly..........No truth in the rumour of a jazz album in 84

Mandy: Kwaku, I will contact Melvin and see if he has any available – also feel free to leave a message in the forum on the website or on the Facebook page. Maybe someone can help you out..

THANKS EVERYONE FOR SENDING YOUR EMAILS AND MARTIN FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS..

Mandy Taylor – ABC Martin Fry Fansite
December 2011
mandy@abcmartinfryfansite.com
contact@abcmartinfryfansite.com