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Gregory Webster (Razorcuts/Sportique) After punk and new wave and before ‘alternative’ music was born with MTV’s 120 Minutes, there was a wonderful record label called Creation Records that was owned and ran by Alan McGee. The Razorcuts, was a brilliant pop group that used influences from the 60s, 70s and the 80s. Consisting of Gregory Webster and Tim Vass, The Razorcuts released some singles on Subway Records and even Flying Nun UK but their “Storyteller LP” along with “The World Keeps On Turning” LP on Creation Records made them legends.
While they were not as popular as other Creation bands like Primal Scream, Jesus & Mary Chain, Felt, House Of Love, or Jasmine Minks, many critics loved The Razorcuts. Classic songs like “Sorry To Embarrass You”, “Brighter Now”, “Eight Times Around The World”, “I Won’t Let You Down”, and “I Heard You The First Time” were pop masterpieces.
With Gregory Webster’s soft voice and jangling guitars, Razorcuts were something special. All good things come to and end and Tim Vass and Gregory Webster parted ways. Webster released a solo album on Vinyl Japan called “My Wicked Wicked Ways”. Filled with old Razorcuts songs and some covers, the album was mainly an intimate acoustic affair.
Even though Razorcuts were gone, many still yearned for their music. Television Personalities made a wonderful cover of “Sorry To Embarrass You” on their “Don’t Cry Baby It’s Only A Movie” LP. Webster went on to form Sportique and signed to Matinee Records. Fast-forward to 2003, Sportique released a handful of CDs. Until now, all of those old LPs and songs by Razorcuts were out of print since Creation Records closed up shop. Because Razorcuts were not as popular as Primal Scream, Felt or Momus, some fans thought that those wonderful songs would never be released again. Matinee Records stepped up to the plate and released “R Is For Razorcuts”, a compilation hand picked by Webster that also features old 7” singles that were never released on CD before. To top that, the compilation “Matinee 50!” has The Visitors doing a cover version of "Sad Kaleidoscope". Also, Webster has one solo track on there as well as a Sportique track that covers another Matinee artist. “Everyday is brighter now” for Gregory Webster.
I had an in-depth conversation with Gregory Webster to find out what he's been up to...
PIXELSURGEON: What have you been doing since The Razorcuts ended?
GREGORY WEBSTER: Blimey, that's a pretty far reaching question given we split 13 years ago! To summarize, I've been involved with a number of musical projects, releasing 6 or 7 albums along the way. Most recently, I've been playing in Sportique since around 1997. We've released 3 albums and a bunch of singles to date.
What happened to The Razorcuts? Please tell us in detail.
The split was at my instigation. I felt at the time that Tim Vass, co-founder & my songwriting partner in Razorcuts, probably wanted to develop things in slightly different directions to where I wanted to go. We were always very protective of the integrity of the Razorcuts sound, so it seemed a logical point to stop.
Will Razorcuts ever get back together?
I very much doubt it. Tim and I remain very good friends, and have been threatening to collaborate on some new songs for my next solo LP, but that's as far as it's likely to go.
What is your favorite Razorcuts song?
This changes - today, probably "Eight Times Around The World".
How did the songs come about? Who did what? Who wrote what?
For the large part, I wrote the music and vocal melodies and Tim then wrote the lyrics. The song titles were a mixture of us both.
How did you meet Alan McGee and eventually get signed to Creation?
Tim and I knew Alan before he started Creation, back when he was running The Living Room club in London in the early 80s. We were regulars there, so it was natural for us to elevate towards signing to Creation.
Did you tour with other Creation bands? Which ones? What were they like? Which one was your favorite band to tour with? Your least favorite to tour with?
We didn't do any package tours as such, but we played on Creation bills many times. My personal favorite was probably the first Primal Scream line-up. It's criminal that their early stuff hasn't been made available. I couldn't really offer a least favorite - everyone was great in their own way.
What were some of your favourite Creation bands?
The aforementioned first Primal Scream line-up, The Loft, The Weather Prophets, The Jasmine Minks, Biff Bang Pow. I preferred the first generation of bands.
Did you think it was good of Alan to end Creation?
Yeah, I guess so. Better that it was wound up rather than continuing without his direction. To be honest though, it all became a little mainstream for me to really care by the end.
What do you think of Alan's Poptones label?
I've bought a few bits and pieces. I get the impression that the vision has been compromised by the money men, but I could be wrong.
How did Razorcuts form? How did you meet Tim Vass?
Tim and I went to rival schools in our hometown of Luton. We were both listening to and going to see a lot of punk and post-punk stuff in the late 70s and early 80s. Postcard Records helped point us towards listening to a lot of 60s stuff, and as a new scene developed in the early and mid 80s we were keen to be involved. This kind of led onto the C86 scene that we are often associated with.
Where did you practice?
Initially in London, at Alaska where we recorded the first two singles. It was a bit of a Creation haunt back then. We eventually relocated over to Oxford, though.
Do you have a favorite kind of guitar?
Several. Vox Phantom, Vox Teardrop, Rickenbacker 360 12s, Danelectro 12s.
Starting out in Razorcuts, who were some of your influences?
The Byrds, The Beau Brummels, Buzzcocks, Television Personalities.
These days, who are some of your influences?
Hard to say. In Sportique we tend to play songs in the stylistic clothes that suit them best, rather than being influenced by people to sound a particular way.
Tell us about your solo album "My Wicked Wicked Ways" on Japan Vinyl? What was your intention? Who's on it? Who produced it? Are you happy with it?
It was a rather eclectic collection of songs as it combined a number of Razorcuts songs that never got recorded due to the split, with a couple of numbers I'd written for an un-realized album of children’s songs, plus a couple of covers. It's got a whole bunch of friends helping out from Heavenly, Talulah Gosh, Comet Gain, etc. Peter Momtchiloff was the main collaborator and driving force though. Am I happy with it? I like the material, but it was recorded in a bedroom, and it sounds a like it sometimes. Early low-fi, I suppose.
How and when did you form Sportique?
I formed Sportique with Sir Mark Flunder, who had previously worked with the TV Personalities and McTells amongst others, in 1997. We've added two more people over the years - Rob Pursey & Amelia Fletcher, old friends from Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, and Marine Research. It's more of a social club than a band really.
How is Sportique different from Razorcuts?
Whereas the collision of influences that made Razorcuts interesting was pretty organic, Sportique have a much more knowing approach that no doubt comes with age.
Are you married? Do you have children? How does that affect the music?
No, I'm not married, and have no children that I'm aware of. This means I don't write any songs about how cute babies are.
What LPs or CDs have you been listening to lately?
Grandaddy "Sumday". John Phillips "Wolfking of LA". Oh, and Jeffrey Lewis' new one too.
Where did you grow up? What was it like?
Luton, which is, was a London overspill town, an industrial motor city with a big GM factory before it shut. A UK Flint, Michigan, I guess.
What kind of kid were you? A bad one? A good one?
A dreamer.
What were your favorite subjects in school?
Art, Music.
Did you go to college?
The local one, yes.
Where are you living these days?
Oxford.
What is a typical day like for Gregory Webster?
I try and avoid typical days. We don't get that many of them, so it's a good idea to try and make them as varied as possible.
Will you ever do a solo album again?
Yes, my next album will be solo, with my occasional back-up band, The Shadows of Doubt.
Why did you sign to Matinee records with Sportique?
Jimmy Tassos is an extremely nice person to work with. It's a pleasure to be on the label.
How is Matinee different from Creation?
Jimmy doesn't have any great aspirations to wear leather trousers.
On the Matinee compilation album "Matinee 50", as a solo artist, you cover "Untidy Towns" by The Lucksmiths and as Sportique, you cover "Goldmining" by The Visitors. Why did you choose these songs? How did this happen?
They are both tremendous songs, so I just kind of picked them because of that. No great underlying master-plan I'm afraid.
What do you think of The Visitors' version of "Sad Kaleidoscope" by Razorcuts?
It sounds like how we might have done it if we'd ever got round to wearing leather trousers.
What did you think of Television Personalities' cover version of "Sorry To Embarrass You"?
I think Dan is perhaps one of the greatest talents of my generation, so from that point of view, I was excited that he did one of our songs. It's an interesting take on it.
What music producers would you like to work with in the future? What musicians, singers, or bands would you like to work with in the future?
I don't have any great desire to collaborate with anyone beyond my usual bunch of suspects. I'm hoping that DJ Downfall will be producing something for me soon. That's exciting because he's a really talented guy.
When making music these days, do you write the music first and then the words, or the words before the music? Or, do you it all at the same time?
Music first.
What is the biggest mistake you have made in your career?
I've occasionally made an ill-considered choice of producer.
What are some misconceptions about Gregory Webster?
I'm Dan from The Saturday People's twin brother. The Razorcuts? We were a CIA plot to destabilize the pop scene through gross incompetence.
What is next for Gregory Webster? What should fans look out for?
I think I'll will be playing a few dates in Sweden, Spain & Greece with my "solo" band The Shadows of Doubt.
Do you want to be buried or cremated? If buried, what do you want on your epitaph (your gravestone)?
"I told you I was ill.”
Matinee Records released a new Razorcuts compilation called "R Is For Razorcuts". Did you pick the songs? If so, why did you pick those specific songs?
Yes, Tim and I selected the songs. We didn't want to include every last song, so we included all those that we could both agree best reflected what we were trying to do with the band. Inevitably, there were a couple of fan favorites that missed the cut because we couldn't get consensus on them, but I think most people got what they wanted with "R is for...", certainly in combination with the "A is for…" EP.
Any final words for the people who are reading this?
We are all streams of vibrating energy interlinked with the universal whole. Love you all, brothers and sisters.
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