Whose idea it was to record old rock oll standards?
Actually mine I think: we were having a lot of problems finding singles, and Virgin, our record company, were starting to lose interest. Our first single for Virgin, “Sleeping On The Job”, had charted around number 33, but the only TV program to go on to promote it was on strike so we never got on TV, and it dropped out due to no airplay. The next single “No Easy Way” did nothing at all. I said about a rock ‘n’ roll cover to Mick [Underwood], he liked it, we both said it to Ian who, being a big Elvis fan, suggested “Trouble”. “New Orleans” happened because at the time McCoy was producing Janick Gers band, and Ian suggested that they do it to get a hit. They turned it down, and we did it instead. – Janick Gers was your replacement in the band. Having seen your photographs with him I guess you’re friends. So was it you who pulled him in? No, it was McCoy, though I still see Janick occasionally, and count him as a friend. – Are you still in touch with Gillan? No, not at present, last time
