Andy Carr

January 2004

Played on:
Tattooed Millionaire album and tour

Name and instrument:
Andy Carr, Bass Guitar
What had you been doing before you started working with Bruce?
I had been playing in various bands and was doing lots of auditions.
How did you come to work with Bruce?
One audition was for a band called 3 rivers. It was a band that Bruce was managing through Sanctuary Group. I got the audition and worked with the band for a year. Bruce's cousin was the drummer. We tried to get a record deal but didn't achieve it. In 1989 Bruce was asked to record a song for the Nightmare on Elm Street 4 sound track. We recorded 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter'. Bruce was very happy with it and decided he wanted to do a solo album using the same band. Myself, Janick Gers and Fabio Del Rio...
Do you remember your first meeting with him?
It was at the 3 rivers audition. I was very surprised to see him there. The last time I had seen him was at Bristol Colston Hall on the Number Of The Beast tour. I reaslised that it was an important meeting and it was certainly the start of an important part of my professional career.
What was the reason for you parting company with him?
When the Tattooed Millionaire tour ended in LA, Bruce and Janick were going back to play with Maiden, so the solo project ended and I went off to work with other artists as a session musician.
What have you been up to since?
I have played, recorded, toured and done TV work with a number of bands including Shakespear's Sister, Tony Hadley, French band Niagara, Toby Bourke (including the duet single with George Michael), as well as Stax soul legend William Bell and a number of American soul acts. I am currently playing with an American band called Deccatree, due to release their debut album in March 2004. The drummer is Dicki Fliszar who played on the Tattooed Millionaire tour.
Do you have any fun Bruce anecdotes to share with us?
I remember one day in America hearing a lot of noise outside my hotel room. I opened my door and found Dicki and Bruce sabre fighting in the corridor... it was a surreal sight... I quickly went back in my room and carried on watching TV!
What do you think of the time you were in Bruce's band?
It was an amazing experience for a young musician. I was propelled from obscurity to playing with a major international artist. I toured the UK, Europe and America and it gave me a taste of what I had always dreamed of doing. On a negative note, I also learned how cut-throat and ruthlesss the business side of music can be, and that was a valuable lesson that has stayed with me through my carreer.
What do you think of his latest albums?
Haven't heard any of Bruce's other solo stuff.