Intervju - Steve Plunkett, Autograph 1. What are you currently up to? Tell us about all your ongoing projects! The last several years I have been deeply involved in writing and producing songs for TV and movies. I have written for over 40 movies, including "Rock Star" and "Gods and Monsters". I've written several TV theme songs, the most famous being the theme for "7th Heaven" (i Sverige "Sjunde himlen), which I also perform. So, I am always working on some film/TV project. Lately, I have devoted a lot of time to Fender records where I am Head of A&R. Our first release "Powered by Fender: The Players" will be out Jun. 1st, 2003. 2. I´ve heard rumours about a new Autograph album! Any truth in that and what can you tell us about it? Yes, those rumors are true! I got back into '80s melodic rock while I was working on the film "Rock Star", and it was so much fun I started playing around with some new Autograph-style songs. One thing led to another and I decided to make a full-blown CD. This is NOT however the original Autograph from the '80s, it's a whole new band - Autograph version 2.03. In other words, the second version of the band - 2003. It has the basic Autograph sound, but with new players. They are: T.J. Helmerich - guitar, Matt Laug - drums, and Lance Morrison - bass. 3. You´ve written tons of stuff for TV and movies. How did you end up doing that? I first got into TV and film music when I was a staff songwriter with All Nations Music. I spent seven years with that company writing songs for hire and that's when I met people from the film and TV industry. I really enjoy being able to add something to a film that might help the director get his point across. The more I do, the more I enjoy it. See below for list of all artists Steve has worked with as producer* and/or writer and Films/television* that have included Steve´s songs. 4. Autograph´s first big tour was opening up for Van Halen. Please tell us some fun memories from that tour! That was 1984 and Van Halen did us a huge favor. We had no record deal and no album, but based on our demos, they gave us the tour. I just remember it was a blast and scary playing in front of 12 thousand people every night. We had a traveling nightclub that was set up backstage after each show for the party...you can imagine how great those parties were. Ultimately, we wound up playing forty-eight shows on that tour before leaving to go start our first album. We were signed by RCA in the dressing room after our gig at Madison Square Garden! 5. Why hasn´t there been another album since "My attitude" and can we expect a new album in the near future? The record business has really changed since the '80s and so have I. It's great being a recording artist, but it's not really my main focus anymore. I had a great time making "My Attitude", but currently I have no plans to make another solo album. This new Autograph - v2.03 CD will probably be my only release as an artist for while. These days I prefer to concentrate on producing and writing. 6. Tell us about the early days when "Sign in please" came out and you had a huge hit with "Turn up the radio". What was it like? There's nothing like having a hit record - you can get into every party in town! We were really pretty green when that song hit. We thought, that's how it's supposed to work - you put out and album and have a hit single. It wasn't until much later that we realized how difficult doing that really is. The one thing I remember about it is when you have a song climbing the charts, there is a lot to do. The promotion elements never stop and the higher the song gets, the more interviews, photo shoots, videos and a live appearances there are to do. When that single had run its course, we all needed a vacation! 7. Could you tell us some fun memories from the recordings of the following albums: "Sign in please", "That´s the stuff" (How come there was 2 versions?), "Loud and clear" and "My attitude"! This could be a book! First of all "That's the Stuff" had two covers because the company we hired to design the cover basically ripped it out of a Japanese book. When the book publisher became aware, he filed a lawsuit against RCA forcing us to change the cover. Had we known that the first cover was not an original design, we would have never approved it. I'll give some short images that come to mind when I remember making these CDs.... "Sign in Please" Lots of Jack Daniels and fun at the Record Plant, LA. "That's the Stuff" Not really enough time because we were booked on Motley Crue's "Theater of Pain" tour and had to finish the album quickly. "Loud and Clear" We were finally able to work with our close friend Andy Johns who had produced our first demos before we got our deal. Scheduling had kept us from working with him until this CD. "My Attitude" This was the first time I was able to call the shots and didn't have to make musical decisions by committee. So, I did exactly what I wanted and I'm happy with the results. 8. Are you still in touch with the rest of the guys from Autograph and if so, what are they up to? We're not really in touch these days unless it's necessary for business. No weirdness, people just drift apart and move on. I'm not sure how current this information is, but last I heard Randy Rand owned a leather business, Steve Lynch was teaching guitar, Keni Richards was an artist and Steven Isham was doing studio work. 9. Of all the artists you´ve worked with, which ones have been the most fun and why? Some of the artists that standout in my mind as high points are; Graham Nash One of the coolest people I've ever met. I produced Graham doing a song that we wrote together for a movie called "The Wall". I was in awe of his talent. We have since written together for other movie projects. Eartha Kitt She's a living legend and being able to produce her was an honor. She was tough and professional and a total blast! Sic Vikki These guys were real friends and I think the two CDs I produced for them were good. The singer, Rich Cox was extremely talented as both a singer and a writer - fun guys. 10. Of all the songs you´ve written, which do you consider being your top five and how come? That's a really tough question. It's hard to be objective because I tend to forget about songs once I finished them. But I guess #1 has to be "Turn up the Radio" - it's just one of those special songs. I still don't know why but it has that "X-factor". #2. "7th Heaven" theme song - it's a very memorable pop song that lasts a total of 55 seconds. I hear it on TV all the time and it still sounds good! #3. "How Much Love" - this was a hit song for Vixen and I really loved the production. You'd be surprised how many songs come out sounding worse than the original demos. #4. "When The Tables Turn" (from My Attitude) - this was the first acoustic ballad I had ever done and it turned out to have something special. It hit top 40 at AC radio. #5. "Kiss Me in French" - title track to Sic Vikki's 1st CD. The song was never a hit, but I just liked it. Cool lyric and great performance by the band. A message from Steve Plunkett: For all of you out there who are fans of Autograph, as I am, there is finally some new music! The new Autograph (v2.03) CD - "Buzz" - will be available soon on Point records. This is not the Autograph from the '80s, but a whole new version of the band - version 2.03. Which is the 2nd version of Autograph, 2003. I knew I could never revive the original band because everyone is into other things these days. So I started over from scratch with new musicians and new songs. I tried to stay true to the Autograph sound, but in a modern way. The original band was made up of very talented musicians, but so is the new version. I hope all of you will enjoy this as much as I have and have some fun with it. Don't forget to Turn it up! Artists Steve has worked with as producer* and/or writer: Graham Nash* Jon Secada* En Vogue* Marc Anthony* Cyndi Lauper* Loretta Lynn* Kenny Rogers James Ingram* George Clinton* The Go-Go´s Raven Symone* Eartha Kitt* Ruth Brown* Tisha Campbell* Dionne Warwick* Gladys Knight* Edgar Winter* Autograph* Jonathan Pierce Vixen Danny Tate Michael Damian* David Hasselhoff* Films/television* that have included Steve´s songs: Gods and Monsters Shake, Rattle & Roll Baby Dance The Passion of Ayn Rand Twilight of the Golds 7th Heaven* (theme song) Beverly Hills 90210* Melrose Place* Promised Land* Jag* Sex and the City* 2000 Golden Globe Awards* The Norm Show* That´s Life* American Bandstand* Solid Gold* Miami Vice* Secret Admirer Saturday Night Live* Titans* Rock Star The Crew Youngblood Entertainment Tonight* Like Father, Like Son Dream a Little Dream Doogie Howser, M.D.* Freshman Dorm* Ticks Robins Hoods* Amy Fisher Story Mark & Brian TV Show* Acapulco Heat* The Young and the Restless* The Low Life Red Ribbon Blues Stolen Innocence Bobbie's Girl Live Shot* Battlecade* Mrs. Munck Sabrina the Teenage Witch Flipper* Malibu Shores* The Boys in Blue Party Girl* Star Kid Critical Choices Happily Ever After Fairy Tales* Fistfighter Freak City Locked in Silence Thanks of a Grateful Nation Joe Torre Story Face Down The Wall Error in Judgment The Right Connections That's Life* (theme song) In His Father´s Shoes The Fixer More Tales From the City What We Did That Night Flight From Dhahran Persona Non-Grata Mr. Music Guiding Light* The River Rat The Inspectors Sorrow Floats Fright Night Live Through This* At Any Cost* Queen of Swords* (theme song) Cupid* King of the Hill Hendrix Autograph - Unofficial website
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