Interview
Andy Bell was interviewed by Kyle Meredith following the release of This Is Not A Safe Place. In the interview he discussed “Repetition” and “R.I.D.E.”, the influence of Basquiat and the late ’80s alternative scene. There's also talk of another new RIDE album. Listen to the interview below via Spotify or YouTube.
This was a Facebook live interview as part of Summer Sonic 2017. The interview was held at at the Tokyo venue on the 19th August. During the interview questions and comments were accepted through Facebook live comments. Interview was originally posted on the Summer Sonic Facebook page.
The August 2017 edition of Oxford United's programme included an big supporter Mark Gardener and there was also a chance to win a copy of the Weather Diaries CD. Magazine can be purchased online at http://www.matchdayfix.com/oufc/
Steve Queralt appeared on Great Northern Radio to select his three favourite tracks released on Creation Records. Listen below.
Erol Alkan of Beyond The Wizards Sleeve/Phantasy Records confirms he is producing a forthcoming fifth album from Ride via Instagram.
KEXP presents Ride performing live in the studio. Recorded November 16, 2015. Songs: Kaleidoscope Polar Bear In a Different Place Decay Dreams Burn Down Seagull Host: Cheryl Waters Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Luke Knecht & Justin Wilmore Editor: Jim Beckmann
Issue 77 of The Big Takeover featured a very lengthy feature on Ride to coincide with their reunion tour. Steve and Mark spoke about the reunion gigs and the intial break-up in the 90s. Thanks to Maragret Fischer for the above scans.
Loz gave an interview to local magazine Outline prior to Ride's Norwich gig. You can read the online interview here.
Between their two recent Irving Plaza New York shows in September, Andy and Loz popped in for a chat with Q104.3 to discuss the last 25 years.
Mark and Andy join Shaun Keaveny where they announce their reunion and future plans with Ride.
Back in 2001 when I was running the Creation Records fansite I interviewed Steve Queralt upon the release of the OX4 Best of_ boxset. Below is the accompanying guide Steve wrote about the Firing Blanks album which has been lost in cyberspace for many years, until now.... What's your favourite track? Tongue Tied or Something's Burning? Something's Burning - During the summer of 1993 we recorded two sessions at Courtyard Studios in Oxford as preparation for "Carnival Of Light". Sadly this song, whilst good enough to have been included was dropped along with various other potential tunes. Just too many songs knocking around at that time. Chelsea Girl (4 track demo) - This is Andy and Me demoing tunes during 1988 in my bedroom. I had a four track machine which we used for all sorts of ideas in the early days before we had a proper band. In later months we managed to demo a lot of early songs squeezing the whole band into bedrooms or living rooms much to the neighbours disgust. Blue & Everybody Knows - Written by Loz, these were originally included in the tracklisting for Going Blank Again. Unfortunately they were dropped along with 'Tongue Tied' on the advice of both record companies who were insisting that the album was way too long. I think they had a point. Dreams Burn Down dub - Again we made Creation very nervous when we played them this saying that we had re-thought the whole concept of the song. Although it would be difficult to top the real version, I think this is a fantastic alternative offering an even darker atmosphere. She's So Fine - It took three years for this song to finally make it on to Tarantula. This is the original version recorded back in 1993, another song left by the wayside in preparation for Going Blank Again. We demoed it again in Cornwall with John Leckie, this time looping a 4 bar sample which never made it to the vocal stage. New Age - The only cover on the CD. Recorded at Abbey Road as a potential b-side for 'How Does It Feel To Feel' but later superseded by some instrumental nonsense from me and Loz in the shape of 'Walkabout'. God knows why! Tongue Tied - This in my opinion is the best unreleased track that we ever recorded. I think this is one of the few occasions where the intensity and beauty of Ride was captured perfectly on tape, everything fits together perfectly. Unfortunately it was dropped as a way of reducing the length of Going Blank Again. Why it never turned up on a b-side I don't know. Dropped and forgotten. I'm Fine Thanks - Another song from the early days. It was originally titled 'Why' and demoed several times on the four track before we took it into our first proper recording session at Union St. Studios in Oxford where we recorded Drive Blind. An early live favourite. Xmas Song - Absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. A sign of cabin fever setting in during the Going Blank Again sessions. King Bullshit - Yet another piece of music that could have been included on Going Blank Again. The full version is over 8 minutes long and was edited down to about 60 seconds to bridge a couple of songs on the album instead. This version uses all the best bits without having to endure the full horror of Me and Loz going on and on and on... Smile (4-track version) - We had to work hard to clean this version up as every other demo fell short of the danger that appears here. Again another song that worked really well live but never sounded right in the studio, hence this hissy mess that captures Andy's speakers giving up half way through the outro. Welcome To Paradise - Recorded and mixed for Tarantula but cut from the final tracklisting. In A Different Place (differently) - This is included as it has something that the Nowhere version failed to capture. Andy's lead guitar is way over the top and the rest of us are playing all sorts of bum notes but for some reason it remains the best take we ever did. BarneyS - This is what happens when you're trying to record an album but your singer is still in bed at 3 in the afternoon. It's a tribute (or blatant rip off) to New order that gradually built throughout the day looping Loz's fills and Andy's riffs onto my backing track. However as soon as Mark arrived with axe in hand, normal Ride business was resumed.
On The Scene was a free fanzine given away at gigs in the London area in the early '90s. I remember being given this copy after a gig at The Venue in New Cross which I frequented regularly back in those days, but don't recall ever seeing it again. This edition features a lengthy interview with Ride as they prepare to record Going Blank Again. Enjoy!
Leave Them All BehindLike A DaydreamDreams Burn DownVapour TrailPerfect TimeChrome WavesTime Of Her TimeNowhereTasteSeagullDrive Blind with Cud, Milltown Brothers, Boo Radleys & Pixies Melody Maker review
Steve and Loz interviewed for TV show Transmission after the release of the Fall EP in 1990.
Deadline was a UK cartoon that ran from 1988 to 1995 featuring Jamie Hewlett amongst it's illustrators. I sadly didn't have the full magazine for this so can't 100% confirm if the date is correct or if this is even Deadline. I've assumed the date and publication given the Tank Girl cartoon and the interview was conducted straight after the success of the Play EP, If anyone recognises this interview and can confirm I have any details incorrect please get in touch. Thanks
Ride's second interview on ITV show Transmission to coincide with the release of the Play EP. Broadcast date unknown.
Interview on late night TV show Transmission recorded January 1990. Broadcast date unknown.
