Graham Reid | | 3 min read
Known Associates: Mercy
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Warren Cate has released four albums under his own name since the mid Nineties -- bristling with rock'n'roll firepower and great songs -- but for his new venture he and longtime bassist/guitarist Andrew Buckton (also of Delta and owner of Auckland's Studio 203) teamed up with drummer Mike Franklin-Browne (Pluto, Nightchoir, Stereo Bus) and guitarist Grant Wills for regular weekly rehearsals in a private studio every Wednesday night throughout the winter of 2010.
Out of these sessions - "one song per night and we don't stop till we got it" -- came the material for their album under the name Known Associates.
That album, Penny Love, was cut live and direct -- no overdubs and just one vocal added later -- and captures the band at their raw but considered best.
And as they prepare to launch the album Cate takes time out to answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire.
The first piece of music which affected you was . . .
Timberjack – Come to the Sabbat …… on my first ever album, age 12, the 1971 Loxene Golden Disc album.
Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .
David Bowie & Alice Cooper …… alright …. maybe I did like Bachman Turner Overdrive for a wee while ( definitely embarrassing ) .
Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?
Lennon and the Ramones still rule in my world
If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .
A surfer
The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .
Simple Twist of Fate – Bob Dylan; Rock n Roll – Led Zeppelin; Saddle up my Pony – John Campbell
Any interesting , valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?
My three 1960’s USA guitars – two Gibsons and a Gretsch – songwriter's nirvana
The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .
Tom Moon: 1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die. I hope I find the time to hear them all.
If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)
Right now, it would be Wilco and I’d play anything they’d let me .
The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . ..
The Godfather trilogy, Pulp Fiction, Monty Python Life of Brian
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . ..)
Just bought Foo Fighters' Wasting Light on CD ……. downloads suck till they stop compressing down to crappy mp3 quality (come on guys, people are paying for this shit)
One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .
Schools Out – Alice Cooper
The poster, album cover or piece of art you could live with on your bedroom forever would be . . ..
Album Cover – The Clash, London Calling . . . right next to a poster of Yogi Bear
You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . .. .
My Dad
David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . ..?
I’d get my band Known Associates on the road, along with wives , guitars , kids , drums , cats & goldfish. We’d follow the summer round the world along with our biggest fan, a Russian billionaire who just wants to hang out with us and fund the trip – maybe come home for Xmas each year .
And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”
I’m a songwriter - “ the older I get , the better I get” – something to remember in our youth obsessed culture.
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