1) What sort of bands were you in before Pseudo Echo,and what sort of music did you play.

Conventional ( guitar, bass, drums, vox ) 4 & 5 piece bands, never really had keyboard players ( they didn't exist then ). Played mainly obscure rock, pop, progressing to punk/pop & new wave.

2)Why did you decide to form your own group?

It really just happened that way. I was originally the youngest guy in a band full of all the older cool guys in my area, but they never really got it together. So I guess I just took control and started my own thing with guys more my age.

3) Who came up with the name Pseudo Echo and what does it mean?

Tony Lugton ( original PE keyboard player ) suggested it after referring to a page ( titled "Pseudo Echo" page 56 I think ) in his keyboard ( "Arp Odyssey" ) operators manual !
It was the name of an example sound.

4) Who were your musical influences growing up and at present?
It's an almost infinite list, but here are a couple that come to mind ( in close to chronological order ) : Jose' Feliciano, Jimmy Hendrix, Santana, Beatles, Scorpions, Styx, Jean Michael Jarre, Simple Minds, Ultravox, Human League ... and so on.....

5) Where do you get your inspiration for the lyricsand music. Does it come quickly to you or do you have
to sit and make yourself write a song. Is the process more of a group effort or is it individual?

My lyrics are usually from my life & experiences, and occasionally fantasies.
Once I get an idea for the words & sit down and decide to write a song ( lyrically ), I pretty much finish it that day.
Musically it's a lot more involved, and can take me anywhere from a couple of days to months ! I think even when I collaborate I tend to be more creative on my own. Though it definitely depends on who you are writing with .. I think to 2 co writers in my life that have really clicked with me would be James Leigh ( former PE keyboard player ), & Ben Grayson ( current partner in new project "Origene").

6)Why did you change your music and image of the band for the Race album? Were you in any way inspired by Bon Jovi?

I think it initially came from management, to beef up the sound and image a bit, as musical trends at the time were definitely heading that way.
Then I think we just got overly carried away, and it got out of control ( easy to do when your young without guidance).

7)How long would it take to film a videoclip?

With our budgets, usually one day per location filming, and one day to two days editing.

8)Do you think you'll ever perform a song from Race ever again, because the fans get disappointed when you don't.
Possibly, but not in the near future.

9) What are your fave. song, album and filmclip of PE?

That's a tough call really, but maybe the song "Love An Adventure", the album "Autumnal Park", and the video for "Love An Adventure" or maybe "Listening" ( for sentimental reasons ).

10) How did you come up with the concept for the Teleporter coverand why did you choose that particular one?

I was just playing around with very basic looking object and colours ( or lack of ), and wanted something very minimal, and modern looking. I also wanted some remote connection with the title ( the sphere suggesting a transition from past to present, background & foreground ), and also something easily recognizable.

11) How has the response been towards the album?

Very positive, though ( due to the almost non existent record company ) the general public is pretty much unaware of "Teleporter's" existence !

12) Will you ever release a CD of the B-sides, demos and scrapped material?

That's possible, but probably not really viable from most record company's point of view.

13)Has it been difficult to remember the words and music to the songs after such a long time?

It definitely was ( lyrically ) when we first reformed a few years ago, but now I don't even think about it, they just come out on auto pilot. The music was more etched in.

14)Is it difficult to maintain the sound quality on stage as you do on the records, because not many techno-type artists stay true to thei form when
perfoming live.

I don't find it really that difficult ( but time consuming ), as I am obsessed with it !
I spent a lot of time ( months ) programming the sounds, and creating the effects, and finally mixing it all into proportion to achieve the sound you now hear when we perform live.

15)When you're at a gig and you see the older and younger faces, how does it make you feel knowing you
still attract a wide audince?

Extremely content, and fulfilled... I think I am at my happiest time on stage..

16)Why do you think groups such as Depeche Mode, New Order and Simple Minda have stayed together for so long with minor changes in their lineup and musical style, as not many groups survived the 80's.

Well I don't think they've actually stayed together, but just never split up !
They've probably all had a stack of other projects going on, but just always kept the old faithful on the back burner for a rainy day ( woh, there's few metaphors in there ).

17)How do you rate today's Aussie artists(eg. Madison Avenue, Paul Mac, Powerginger)compared to those you were competing against in the 80's, eg. Real Life the
Models, Eurogliders?

Those you've just mentioned are all quite different from each other really !
Powderfinger, would definitely be the more unchanged from past music, as they are basically a rock band ( and a really good one too ). A lot of other type artist these days, are quite different as they are more studio based, and often the product of a production team's alter ego ( not that there's anything wrong with that ), it's just different.
Most of the bands around in the 80's ( especially those who survived ) were really good live performers, wrote their own songs, and played their own instruments !

18)With technology so more advanced then 15 years ago, do you find it easier to record now than then? Is the
musical quality better or do you feel it has been compromised?

Recording now is an absolute pleasure, and the creative possibilities are virtually limitless compared to how hard it was to do things back then ( pre 80's, 90's ).
Quality and mixing knowledge is now way better too, though that said, there are still plenty of records made decades ago that still stand up today ( "Abbey Road" comes to mind ).

19)What are you listening to at the moment?

Thomas Newman, Boards of Canada, Cafe Del Mar, Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann.

20)Do you still get recognised in the streets?

Yes, occasionally.

21)How have you managed to keep the pitch in your vocie almost the same as when you first started out,
as people like Billy Joel and Elton John can't get the right sound when they perform their classics nowadays?

Don't know, it's just stayed the same, although it's much stronger these days.

22)What are you plans for the future in regards to your music career, and will you be producing any other
bands?

I am managing / co-writing with a new artist "Candice Alley" just signed to Universal Music for the world ( due for release 2002 ), and also have a new project "Origene" ( Trance/Pop ) with Ben Grayson, out on "2Q" ( through Liberation ) also due out 2002.

23) One final question, how did you end up being the producer for Chocolate Starfish and writing jingles?
The guys in starfish ( Dee & Johnny ) grew up with me in the same neighbourhood !