After more than 2 decades without hearing of Dee D.Jackson, here she is in full in this intimate interview where the Diva talks about childhood, emotion, music, fame, future and much more.
Interview by Thander Easton - October 3rd, 2002 - Turin (Italy).
1) How was growing up in Oxford? Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood?
Well I cant really say I had a super happy one! my parents divorced when i was 7 so their were many many problems to cope
with , all of which left me with a huge sense of insecurity which took years to shake off , i dont think
these feelings ever get better i think you just learn to live with them , regarding Oxford well Oxford is one o
f the most beutiful cities in the world so i guess i am lucky to have been born their ,I started appreciating Oxford
around 10 years ago when I went back to live for a few years , i used to go jogging every morning at 7.00 and i
would pass through the city center, with music of the Orb or John martyn full blast in my headphones .
and I was incredible happy breathing in it's history and getting rid of the cobwebs of my past.
2) Why did you decide moving to Germany?
this is really a long story and very private ! lets just say i needed a change because i felt as if i was without my own
personality , very heavely influenced by others (mainly negative ).and after a series of dissapointments and let downs,
I thought if I went away to another country where i knew nothing and nobody I would be able to do some personality
building ,and see if I could create something positive with my life ( IT WORKED !)
3) Can you tell us about your record deal with Jupiter Records in Munich?
I was writing songs with the bass player of boney M ,Gary Unwin , and we came up with a track called "Man of Man
" Gary was one of the top session men in Germany at the time so it wasnt that difficult to get a deal , the only thing is
that Man of a man didnt really sell so well , but we carried on writing and Automatic Lover ,was my second single and I
was extreemly lucky, because it sold alot of copies .
4) How was your life just after the release of Automatic Lover ? Could you walk freely in the streets, shopping...?
Heaven and Hell in equal measure, I am the emblem of freedom , and i thought that being famous would give me the freedom
that for me is impossible to live without .I totally got this one wrong ! I became my own prisoner for years , and in
certain countries I couldnt go out without being recognised , but that is something you learn to live with as long as you
take it for what it is, just a moment of glory . .
5) Everyone knows Automatic Lover sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. What about "Cosmic Curves". Was it a commercial
hit too?
Im not that sure that everyone knows that Automatic lover sold so much !
Im not really sure how many copies Cosmic Curves sold, but i guess we can call it a hit album.
6) Cosmic Curves is the most extraordinary album of 70's. Could you tell us something about "The Making Of" of Cosmic
Curves and Thunder and Lightning?
it's a concept album with a spacy theme to it, all tracks were written by Gary Unwin & Patty Unwin and myself all
musicians featured
on this album were part of the Munich Machine , and individually they all went on to extrodinary solo musical adventures
for example keith Forsey (The Drummer ) wrote tracks like" Flash Dance", and "Eyes without a face" also producing groups
like Simple Minds, Billy Idol , so it was a great pleasure for me to work with them , when you work alongside professionals everything seems so effortless.
Thunder & Lightning was recorded over a longer period of time ,because i was always away on tour ,so I really d
idnt have alot to do with the making of this album.
7) Did you track the sales of your records? If so, in which country have you been more successful?
The 1st single sold almost all over the world with the exception of North America , but I think I have had more success in
the Latin countries over the years.
8) You were ALSO labeled in the 70's music magazines as a disco queen, diva... Have you ever met Donna Summer?
It would have been difficult not to have met her, having the same musicians in common.I think she has an amazing voice.
9) Could you give your thoughts on Kate Bush, Sandra, Barbra Streisand and Sheena Easton?
I really love the lyrics of Kate Bush, in particular Wuthering Heights this was a book that I read at least 7 times (and cried all 7 times) and she captured in one song the whole book!
Babara Streisand is an amazing artist, an untouchable !
10)You were very famous in Brazil. Have you ever heard of Regina Shakti? She used in 1978/79 going to TV programs all over
the country as a real Dee D.Jackson.
Yes i knew about her , the record company in Brazil even sent me pictures of her in a stadium dressed up as me and miming to
Automatic Lover, but this never really bothered me.
11)Why did you move to USA? What were you doing over there?
I went to L.A. to get away from Dee d Jackson ,only to find that i had put her in my suitcase!!
12)You came back to Europe in the 80's and recorded some singles. Why Italy? And why did you release those singles
only in a few countries, not worldwide?
I Love Italy ,I love the Italians, I love their clothes , I love their food, I love their red wine, I love the way they
are family orientated, I also love UK ,I think London is the most exciting city in the world .
as to making making music ,I think music can be made anywhere , maybe the singles were not released in many countries
because i had alot of Record company problems! I prefer not to talk about this ,because it still depresses me.
13)You released another album in 1995 called "Blame It On The Rain".No one has heard of this album.This is a shame because
it is a fantastic and mature album - a masterpiece!
I took it off the market a few days after it's release because I wasnt very happy with the people who were promoting it,
I worked 2 years on this project only to see it fall into the wrong hands what a nightmare! . also this was my first
attempt at producing ,arrangeing etc so it does have its flaws, but their are some good songs on this album ,yes its a
shame.
14)You opened up a music company called DDE. Can you tell us a little bit about this experience ?
I really enjoy having my own record company, I dont know why i didnt move in this direction years ago ! DDE is situated in
the middle of the woods near Turin we have 5 recording studios, and everything that has been released so far has also
been recorded here, we have 3 labels DDE Trance EYS House EXP Experimental hard house , it is really hard work, but
I do enjoy it, also I like giving a hand to talented young singers ,I have a guy at the moment who is only 19 what a voice!
and what lyrics! some people are just born to sing, and he is definatly one of them. also I have some talented Musicians
working for DDE like Andora who had a hit in Spain this summer with a track called "Follow you" what a nice guy, and what
happy uplifting Trance he produces! yeah the DDE Records is probebly one of the best things i have created in years!
15)Where are you based now? Do you come often to England?
when in Italy I live in the woods near Turin (by the Studios ) I am often in Monte-Carlo , and I am in and out of UK
fortnightly.
16)What is the favourite song you have recorded?
MY favourite song is yet to be released.
17)What would you tell us about fame? Was it worth?
I still havent figured that one out , Today I am happy with myself and who I am . but I think i would have arrived at this
spiritual level even without success,
but if it has contributed to making me who i am today then i can say yes it was worth it.......... and anyway my destiny
was definatly written in the stars.
16)What are your plans for the future? Any single or album?
My plans can only be DDE , yes I would like to release something of mine, but I have been promising to do this for along
time now ,I will not say when, but I will never say never.
17) Where can your fans buy your records?
Thander I think you know more about this than I do.for sure if i record in the future it will be on the DDE Records web
site.
18) I want to thank you in my name and in the name of all your fans for sharing with us your talent and emotions. For giving
us Cosmic Curves, Thunder and Lightning and your hard work. We all have grown up listening to your music .You have been
an important part of our lives. We are still with you after all those years. Love xxx
You have just answered question number 17 !...
