Chris REA: I never had an ambition to become a rock star

The famous British rock musician Chris Rea has recently performed in Kyiv (this is the musician’s third visit to our country), and presented for the judgment of the Ukrainian audience his new album Santo Spirito Blues. The popularity did not come easy to him, but his concerts are always successful, whereas his husky baritone can hardly be mixed with anyone else’s voice.

Two inexhaustible sources of life strength, blues and painting, enable Rea to remain Europeans’ favorite and always find a response in the hearts of his thankful audience.

You have been named one of the most popular British singers and rock guitarists of the later 1980s. Do you feel the difference between the levels of popularity now and then? Do you feel melancholic about that time?

“I wish I was young. You know, we keep learning to look for the summer [‘Looking for the summer’ is one of the world hits. – Author]. I have been successful in many countries in different years. This song, for example, was not popular in Great Britain, but it became a hit in other countries. The program we have brought to Ukraine includes many hits, which have become people’s favorites, and several songs from my new album. As a rule, we don’t prepare any fresh material for tours, because it would be wrong not to perform the songs that so many admirers in many countries like. Beside, you should never forget where you come from.”

You used to have your own music studio, but you sold it. Why?

“I bought a new one.”

They say you are fond of motor racing. What else do you like, apart from music?

“I enjoy painting. I began to paint during the recovery. [In 2001 Chris underwent several complicated surgeries connected with pancreatitis. – Author]. But I would not like my paintings to become subject of criticism. I just like to paint. And if I sell my pictures, I do this only for charity.”

Was it that difficult time when you understood that you wanted to come back to blues?

“Blues has always been my first music love. I am attracted to gospel blues, not Chicago blues, and I don’t know myself, why. It produces the same effect as Slavic violin.”

Is it true that the song “Stainsby Girls” from the album Shamrock Diaries was dedicated to your wife Joan, who studied at the Stainsby Secondary Modern School?

“She’s my girl. End of story.”

Do you have any actor’s ambitions?

“No, I don’t. I have never liked show business. I have never had an ambition to become a show business rock star, or anything like that. I simply love music. All the boys I knew wanted to be rock stars. They began playing the guitar at the age of 13-14, whereas I bought my first guitar when I was 22. I think there is an essential difference between the people who do the same that I do and super stars living in a completely different world.”

Do you often write songs?

“Every day. I wake up at 7 a.m., drink a big cup of strong coffee, and at some point between the first and the second cups of coffee, the inspiration comes to me, it can last up to 10-15 minutes. I often catch the ideas, sometimes I forget them. But this is not work for me. And I am really lucky to be doing this, because I like this.”

You express your love for your eternal companion, the guitar, not only in music, but on canvas too. Besides, the concert set design uses the pictures you painted. What guitar firm do you prefer?

“I bought my first guitar in Guitar Club, in Italy. It is made of plastic, but to much extent it sounds like the first Chicago guitars. When I was buying it, I understood that I liked her much. It was cheap, and the guys from the music store were very upset, because this is always a chance to them to sell a guitar that costs 5,000 euros. It cost 300 euros, but I liked it and I bought two guitars like that.”

With which contemporary musician would you like to perform together?

“With Jeff Black. I think he is the best guitarist in the world.”