We
caught up with Philip Sayce just before Melissa’s concert at Le Theatre du
Casino du Lac-Leamy, in Gatineau, Quebec, on Friday, October 1, 2004.
This was the band’s second scheduled performance at the casino’s
theatre, and they were to leave right after, travel to Montreal and fly back to
Los Angeles. They would be back on
the road the following weekend, on October 8 in Lowell, Massachusetts, followed
by two concerts in Montreal on October 9 and 10.
On October 7, 2004, Melissa Etheridge announced that she had been
diagnosed with breast cancer and cancelled her remaining tour dates to undergo
treatment. Subsequently, she
announced that her prognosis is excellent.
Philip has the deepest love and respect for Melissa and her family, and
he is looking forward to his dear friend’s complete recovery in the near
future.
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It
was cool and clear – a beautiful day. We
met right in front of the casino as dusk began to fall.
He arrived looking charged and ready to rock!
We sat on the bench, just Philip, Golfie and I, with no recorder.
I had wished at the time that I had one, because my shorthand is awful
and hard to read and in no way would I be able to recall all of Philip’s words
in great detail! But we wanted to
be able to get to know him, so I didn’t even bring it with me.
I hope I can convey the warmth, sincerity and positivity that make Philip
Sayce who he is! He has great
charisma, both with and without a guitar!
[e]
First, thank you so much for doing this interview with us! We are so happy to be able to post some updated information
about you and your future plans. Okay,
Philip! When is your birthday?
[P]
June 3.
[e]
You have a brother, right?
[P]
I have a brother, and he is also a musician.
He plays bass
in a band [Tangiers] playing in Toronto. His
band is doing really great!
[e]
You seem pretty intimate with your guitars!
Do you have names for them?
[P]
Laughing.
Well, there’s “Number One.” But
it’s called that mostly because it’s the one I use the most, and the guitar
techs have it labelled that way. I
have others! I also have another guitar I call “Old Yeller!”
[e]
When you play your guitars, you play them like they are a part of you,
with such an amazing connection. When
did that happen?
[P]
I guess I just grew up with my guitar in my hands, and I pretty much
taught myself how to play it. It’s
just something that evolved. I
started playing in a band in high school, and then I met my best friend, Cassius
Pereira,
who played drums. We played
together in a lot of bands in those days, and we used
to hold band practices in our parents’ basements.
Cassius is still my best buddy, and I always look forward to going to
Toronto to jam with him!
[e]
What kind of influence did growing up in Toronto have on your music?
[P]
Toronto is a great place to grow up, and it’s a great place to play
music! Cassius and I began playing
in Toronto clubs as soon as we were old enough.
One of the clubs we played at
was Grossman's Tavern in Toronto! I
had a weekly Tuesday night gig at Grossman’s, and it was wild!
People would come from all over to jam with us!
I could play whatever I wanted, all night long!
[e]
How do you feel about your growing fan base?
You have a Yahoo Group of your fans, and there is the M.E.I.N.
thread, and there were a lot of your Toronto fans in the audience two nights
ago in Toronto!
[P]
You are great! All of you
guys! I know there are some people
who have followed me since high school and the clubs in Toronto.
I am really honoured! You
all are awesome! Thank you so much!
[e]
You have been touring with Melissa
Etheridge since February. What
is the most important thing you have learned from working with her?
[P]
Love. She is all about love.
She is the most loving person I have ever met in my life.
She’s real people, and she loves music like I do.
She is so giving. And she is
so gifted. Melissa is like my
sister. It has been such a perfect
experience, and I am very grateful to work with her.
I am learning so much from her. Kenny
and Mark are like family too. All
the people I have worked with on this tour have been incredible.
[e]
The Lucky tour will be over at the end of this month. What will you be doing next?
[P]
Well, I would love to play for Melissa on her next tour! I have been working on some new material, and I will let you
know when it’s going to be released. I
hope you guys will like it. I have
been writing songs, and I have some other new projects in the works.
[e]
Do you have any plans for acting?
[P]
Well, you know about Cockroach Blue, a Canadian short film I did in 2002.
It was written and directed by Robert Crossman, and it was shown
at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2003. I
also did the music for the film. I
am a musician, but I am open if something really interesting comes along.
[e]
What do you like to do in your “down time”?
[P]
I love to write songs. I
love to go to movies! I also love
watching concert bootlegs! Oh…and
I love funky clothes – I love to shop!
[e]
Tell us about the people who have supported you in your life and in your
career.
[P]
My family. They have been my biggest supporters, standing behind me all
the way. I really couldn’t have
come this far without their unconditional support.
I can’t thank them enough for all they have done for me.
My fiancée, Kelly. She is so important in my life.
We met in high school and have been together since.
She is incredible! I have some really great friends too! And I love working with Melissa!
She has been teaching me a lot! And
it was great that I met John Shanks! How cool was that? The
musicians I have played with, the people that have followed me – everyone has
been really supportive. Thank you
so much!
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As
part of this interview, I was fortunate to contact Cassius here in Toronto!
He graciously offered these words about his first meeting and subsequent
friendship with Philip:
[Cassius]
Philip has been my best friend since high school, and we are so proud of
him. I talked to Philip [recently],
and he said that we might try and do a few of his own shows before the year
ends. I will keep you posted - it really is a lot of fun.
[Cassius]
I can tell you how Phil and myself first met, if you want to put that on
the website. We met in high school,
and the first couple of years, we weren't really close - just said
"hi" in the hallways. Philip was always the nicest guy even back then.
He used to talk with everybody - never sort of belonged to any particular
group. One day, my sister was
visiting home from university, and she brought a Stevie Ray Vaughan CD - Soul to
Soul - with her. I was totally mesmerized by it.
I couldn't stop listening to it. We
were having elections in our school and one of the candidates arranged a
lunchtime concert in the cafeteria. I
remember walking in, and the band onstage was playing Paradise City by Guns and
Roses, but what really stuck out was the lead guitar player - Philip.
It was like hearing Stevie Ray doing Guns and Roses.
He was remarkable, everybody in the caf was just watching him, teachers
and all.
[Cassius]
The next day, I had a class with Philip, and I said to him he reminded me
of SRV, and he was so excited that I knew who SRV was.
It was at that moment that we became best of friends.
He asked if I played any instruments; I said drums.
He came over that weekend, and we jammed on SRV tunes for hours, and that
was how it started. We've been like
brothers ever since.
Cassius
Pereira
plays at Grossman’s on Tuesday nights.
For more information, phone (416) 977-7000.
Grossman’s Tavern, 379 Spadina Avenue, Toronto.
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