http://www.lagazzettadellospetAnt Bee di William James, PR per passione
WILLIAM JAMES' ANT BEE: PR FOR PASSION
His passion for progressive rock and avant garde music, combined with a
strong expertise in the field of public relations in music, makes William James
one of the most creative and original characters from the world stage. With his
company Glass Onyon PR William, a native of Charlotte in North Carolina, has
worked with many famous artists in their careers and even managing to express
himself as a musician thanks to ANT-BEE project, full of different influences
and inspirations.
Currently William, who has also written successful rock biographies, is
currently doing publicity for Jon Anderson, original frontman of Yes, and
recording background vocals for a new cd by Jon called Zamran, a psychedelic new
age music project on which James is especially keen. We interviewed him to learn
more about his music career and his promoter activity ...
Let's start from the name of your musical project: ANT-BEE: What does
exactly mean and when did you get the inspiration?
The name came from 2 different sources – one was from Capt. Beeheart's song
“Ant Man Bee” from the “Trout Mask Replica” album – one of the most innovative
and avant garde albums of all time. Also there was a very popular TV show in the
US from the 1960's called “The Andy Griffith Show” where the story was based in
North Carolina. The show had a matronly auntie called Aunt Bee – I was born in
North Carolina so it's a bit if a play on that.
For your four albums you had very prestigious guests, including Daevid
Allen and Gilli Smith from Gong, members of Mothers of Invention, Jan
Akkerman...What were you able to learn from those musicians?
Most the guest artists that have appeared on my albums through the years
were music heroes of mine when I was growing up and so it has been a great honor
to work/record with them! I've had the tremendous fortune to have such legendary
music artists record on my albums like Deavid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Peter Banks,
Jan Akkerman, Michael Bruce, Neal Smith, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Jimmy Carl
Black, Zoot Horn Rollo, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Moogy Klingman, and others. It
would take a book to discuss all I have learned, but each artist has brought an
exciting and interesting new element to my work. A lot of the material was
written with the guest artist in mind – not just them recording a part on one of
my compositions like a session player. For instance the Daevid Allen and Gilli
Smyth material is very Gong-inspired. With Jan Akkerman's piece “Mannah”, I
tried to keep the flute part (which was actually played on mellotron) similar to
what something Thijs Van Leer would have done on a Focus piece. Peter Banks's
tracks are sort of YES-ish in spirit. Tracks with Don Preston, Bunk Gardner,
Jimmy Carl Black and Motorhead Sherwood are very Mothers-esque... and so
on.
Peter Banks from Yes collaborated with you for the song Endless Journey.
What was your impression of him and did you always like Yes music?
It was a great honor to work and know the late Peter Banks. He was very
suppotive of my music – possibly more than any other well known artist I have
worked with. He sincerely enjoyed my music. So to have him record on 2 tracks on
my last album “Electronic Church Muzik” was fantastic! I also helped him write
his autobiography called “Beyond & Before” (Golden Treasures, USA)
I have been a major YES fan since 1972 when “Fragile” came out. Never in my
wildest dreams did I ever think I would record with Peter Banks, and for that
matter Jon Anderson. I have also been very fortunate to do publicity for many of
the members of YES – Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Tony Kaye, Billy Sherwood,
Geoff Downes, Patrick Moraz and Peter Banks!
One of the greatest honors has been recording some vocals and percussion
for Jon Anderson. It is a dream come true for me – something I would have never
imagined in a million years! I did some background vocals for an epic piece by
Jon called “OPEN” in 2011. Since then I have also recorded some background
vocals and percussion (tablas, african drums etc) on a piece called “Day of
Days” which is unreleased at present. I also contributed background vocals to
another unreleased track called “Spirit Grounding”. I am currently recording
vocals for a large form piece called “Zamran”, which is the follow-up to Jon's
first solo album “Olias of Sunhillow”. Again this is a great honor and truly one
of the the highlights of my music career!
Your most recent cd, Electronic Chruch Muzik, was out in 2011. Do you plan
to make another album soon and which guests would you like to have?
I have some ideas floating around for another album – it could be a
meditational album call “OM” or a jazz-fusion-avant garde album of ANT-BEE
covers of Sun Ra, Coltrane, Miles and Pharoah Sanders tracks – it would feature
Don Preston and Bunk Gardner of the Mothers of Invention. I am putting together
a “Best of” album for release on GONZO Multimedia UK – which will feature
different mixes and edited previously released material – still thinking on a
name.
The style of your music is certainly very bizarre. What is your ideal
audience for it?
I believe that my audience has to have some sort musical education or at
least an open mind about adventurous music. Plus having some appreciation for
the music artists that have influenced me through the years – Frank Zappa, YES,
The Beatles, Beach Boys, ELP, Capt. Beefheart, GONG, Grand Funk, Alice Cooper,
Santana, John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, 10cc, Focus, Sun Ra, Jethro Tull, Pink
Floyd, T. Rex, Bowie, Faust, Can, Popol Vuh, Magma, King Crimson, Le Orme, on
and on and on – all are influences on my music – you can take one or more of
these artists' influences, put them in my musical blender and out comes ANT-BEE
muzik!
You also work as musical writer. Did you ever think to write a novel?
Before I became a musician I always wanted to be a comedy writer for
comedians and movies – but never really pursued it... not sure I would ever
write a novel but you never know if the spirit hits me.
For years you promoted many great artist with your publicity company. Which
one impressed you the most?
It's been an honor to do publicity for many of my childhood musical heroes
through my company Glass Onyon PR. I would say that the two I am most proud of
representing is Jon Anderson of YES and Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer,
who sadly passed away in Dec 2016. Both were my two favorite vocalists when I
was a teen in the early 70's. So working with them was/is a dream come true. I
had worked many years for Greg Lake and he was a really wonderful person and one
of the greatest singers of all time – a true music legend! Greg was always very
appreciative of my work for him – I truly miss him. I have had the great honor
of being Jon Anderson's personal publicist for close to 6 years now. Jon and his
wife Jane are very beautiful and amazing souls! It is always very exciting to
work with Jon... he has so many amazing ideas and constantly pushing the
boundaries of music!
What do you think of the actual music scene? Are there any bands that you
like?
For me there are not many new artists that interest me, but there is so
much music already recorded through the ages that I have a lifetime of music to
research, discover and listen to – every day I discover on YouTube some new
obscured German, Italian or French avant garde/Prog music ensemble from the 70's
which I in turn will explore more deeply etc. That being said I do rep several
new artists that have a lot of interesting releases like Zero Times Everything,
YANG, Ape Shifter, Ben Craven, Leon Alversado, The Raptor's Trail, Stick Men,
and several others.
For more information:
www.ant-bee.com
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
| With My Favourite Vegetables CD - £7.99 |
 | Lunar Musik CD - £7.99 |
 | Pure Electric Honey SCD - £9.99 |
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