Ian Cattell

Tell me about Brit Floyd.  How did you come together?  You are the only American in the group, so how did you all meet?

All the members of Brit Floyd were in a previous band called “The Australian Pink Floyd Show” which had been around for about seventeen years.  When some of the Australian players didn’t want to play anymore, they called me.  They did the auditioning in the UK and they were having a difficult time finding anyone to do the Roger Waters parts so the expanded the search to the USA and they found me.  They added Bobby Harrison on guitar, Arrun Ahmun on drums and the keyboard players Rick Benbow and Rob Stringer.  Then the people that were touring the US split up and then we became Brit Floyd. 

What were you doing at the time when they called you?

I had played in a band called “Crazy Diamonds” which then became the band “Pulse” which was the Pink Floyd band back in the mid 1990’s.  At the time the call came, I was just a weekend warrior playing gigs all around upstate New York. 

What was some of your previous jobs before turning to music?

I used to work for Apple and I also was a pyrotechnic for Zambelli Fireworks.  I have also had a bunch of non interesting jobs as most musicians have! 

What does it take to bring an act like Brit Floyd on the road?  It is not a small stage show!

Well, we are nothing like the original Pink Floyd which took dozens and dozens of truck on the road, but we have two full tractor trailers full of equipment and we travel with about thirty people when we tour.  There are two tour busses, so, four drivers and there are twenty four people who sleep on the two tour busses.  Eleven of us are musicians and the rest are crew. 

How has the response been to the Brit Floyd show across America?

Well, we don’t usually play stadiums.  We usually play theaters and large venues with 1500 seats to 4000.  We have been enjoying playing in America and the audiences have been enjoying the show.  We have expanded the show this year so we are playing double the shows in America this year compared to last year.  It’s going very well!

Have you met any of the original members of Pink Floyd? 

Our musical director, Damien Darlington, was in a band and was hired for David Gilmour’s 50th birthday party.  He has met everyone except for Roger Waters

How difficult was it to adapt to the theatrics of the show as opposed to the musicianship?

That was quite a challenge.  When we decided to do ‘The Wall’ in its entirety in 2008/2009, It was a big step for me to do the Roger Waters stuff.  We had someone with some theatrical background come with us on the first leg of the tour to give us some guidance and take some notes.  It was difficult to not have a bass guitar on me all the time but I think it turned out quite well. 

When you are participating in the theatrics of the show, who takes over the duties of the bass guitar?

We have a multi-talented instrumentalist in the band.  He is a saxophone player by trade, but he is one of those guys that can do just about anything.  Even on nights when I play bass guitar all night, he takes turns on the drums, keyboards, acoustic guitar and other instruments.  So, when I am out playing the role of Pink, he puts my bass guitar on and does a very good job.  His name is Carl Brunsdon. 

What is your favorite part of the show?

My favorite part of the show is when I see someone in the audience who has that genuine smile on their face that they don’t even realize is there.  It’s just the way they are reacting to the show.  I love the interaction and reaction of the audience to the show. 

Tell me about the Brit Floyd DVD.

Well, it was quite an experience to do.  With having cameras all over the place and trying to not look directly into the camera it was different trying to go about the normal business of doing the show.  I am very proud of the DVD and we have had an outpouring of praise regarding the product.  It has served well for a marketing tool.  We have it for sale at the shows and we received a lot of positive feedback by fans on websites about the DVD.  We are all very proud of it 

What other musical influences or genres do you credit where you are now as a player?

I’ve always been in to the classic rock and prog rock bands…  Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and all the other 1960’s and 1970’s classic rock bands.

USA TOUR DATES

www.britfloyd.com

www.iancattell.com

copyright © 2013 Detroit Music Notes