Bill Sharpe interview (podcast version) | Electric Friends Podcast

Here is the audio/podcast version of my interview with #BillSharpe, including music and audio clips not in the video version.

Bill Sharpe is a classically trained pianist and jazz rock musician, who once worked alongside John Peel at the BBC and Trevor Horn in an early band. In 1980, he co-founded the band Shakatak, who scored many big hits around the world with their brand of post-disco jazz-funk.

In 1985, he teamed up with #GaryNuman on what was meant to be a one-off single, but later turned into several songs, and a whole album - with 1989’s Automatic. He is a prolific songwriter and musician, who has collaborated with many other stars over the years, and is still performing with Shakatak today.

In the episode, Bill discusses:

How he came to work with Gary Numan and their writing processes
The unreleased demos he made with Gary after Automatic - could they ever be released?
How Shakatak came about
His friendship with John Peel

Clips used:

Shakatak - Steppin'
Shakatak - Easier Said than Done (TOTP)
Sharpe & Numan - Change Your Mind
Sharpe & Numan - New Thing from London Town
Sharpe & Numan - No More Lies
Shakatak - Nightbirds (TOTP)