Frage & Antwort mit TC

09.07.2011 - Heike Stüken / Deutschland, Hamburg
Hallo Tony, gibt's auch mal wieder einen Auftritt in Hamburg oder Umgebung ? LG Heike

03.07.2011 - Klaus Zimmerling / Deutschland, Norderstedt
ein von Herzen kommendes DANKE!!! für wenigstens 3 songs von Dir, die zu "Lebens-Sound-Tracks" geworden sind!Aber dann doch die Frage: Wann BITTE BITTE BITTE irgendwo mal wieder live im Norden ???? liebe Grüße und alles Gute! Klaus Z.

hi. im herbst bin ich im norden... best, TC

01.04.2011 - Thomas / Schweiz
Hi Tony! Ich liebe Deine Musik und bin seit vielen Jahren ein Fan. Nach der Weihnachts-CD und den beiden Stanislaus Kids würde ich gerne mal wieder ein "richtiges" Tony Cary Album mit neuen eigenen Songs hören. Ist da was geplant?
Gruss aus der Schweiz, wo wir Dich hoffentlich bald mal wieder live sehen werden. Thomas

aber sicher!

23.03.2011 - Günter Koepping / Deutschland
Ich möchte von dir wissen ob es dir immer noch Spaß macht auf der Bühne Live aufzutreten? danke für deine Antwort. günter.

hi guenter - live ist alles fuer mich, da tankt mann power fuer die eher langweilige studioarbeit... TC

19.03.2011 - Martina / Deutschland, Bad Schwartau
Hallo Tony Carey, ... eine schöne Erweiterung Ihrer offiziellen Seite!
Doch nun zu meiner Frage: Gab es Momente, in denen Sie Ihre musikalische Genialität als Belastung empfunden haben? Sollte Ihnen diese Frage zu persönlich sein, bitte ich um Entschuldigung.

hi martina. yes, that's pretty personal... but the short answer is: painting a picture, making a movie, writing a book, or making and performing music all have something in common. (unless it's done solely to make money; then it doesn't count). all of these things are about expressing emotion, and creating an emotional response in the viewer/reader/listener. that emotion has to come from somewhere - and it comes at a price, sometimes a hefty price, as does anything worthwhile. that said, it's better than working for a living... :)
I could tell you this in german, but i couldn't write it - sorry about that.  TC

18.03.2011 - Wolfgang Schmidt / Deutschland, Stuttgart
Ich denke immer noch an das Konzert mit Tony Carey im Alten Schützenhaus in Stuttgart-Heslach. Es war einfach super. Es wäre schön wenn Du mal wieder an ein Konzert in Stuttgart geben würdest. Ich denke alle alten Fans würden sich freuen. Schöne Grüße aus Stuttgart.

hi wolfgang. danke fuer die nette woerte! ich hoffe, wir sehen uns wieder... TC

17.03.2011 - Thomas Stuchlik / Deutschland, Wolfsburg
Hi Tony, ich würde es spannend finden, wenn die englisch-sprachigen Versionen des Ina Morgan-Albums veröffentlicht würden Man hört ja schon englische Backing-Vocals (Jeanny Jeanny, Hurricane) heraus. Das war ja sicher als Nachfolge-Album zu "Wilder Westen" auf Englisch geplant.

hi thomas! long time, no see.. hope you're well. 
actually, I don't plan anything, which is a problem i have. i go where the wind takes me, musically. about Ina: i don't own the master, I'm not sure who does. Ina's married and living in america.... so it's not going to happen. neither is a 'pink world' sequel. (unless I change my mind). I've been there and done that already... TC

19.08.2012 - TiffanyUSA
Hey, Tony I was just wondering what Native American tribe you are from?

hi per -
my mother was part algonquin - how much, I'm not sure - I'm from the Baby Boomer Tribe, though. My tribal name is Chief Farting Bear.

13.08.2012 - Per Damsbo / Copenhagen / Denmark
First, is the third cd in the serie; Lets go out dancing out, and where can i buy it? I been looking for that cd plus Lewitown, but cant find them anywere, i have the rest of Planet p`s cd`s and love them so i would realy like to get hold of the last two. Kind regards Per

hi per -
planet p is:
planet p project
pink world
1931
levittown
out in the rain.

you can order from www.tonycarey.com -
best, TC

31.05.2012 - Jeff / United States Phoenix AZ
You got some of the coolest sounds out of the mini- moogs! I wish you would do an instrumental synth album using mini moogs or the 70's style keys. Rick Wakeman did an album not too long ago called "RETRO" using only those instruments, but it was a little ruined by vocals. Aside from "Tontos Expanding Head Band" or Wendy Carlos stuff there isn't that much out there in the way of fiery synth music. Wish you would consider doing something intense and creative that way one day.

hi jeff.
well, you can't go backwards... do you have 'the voyager files'? it's done with a lot of retro sounds and early drum machines, and it's vocal-free... :)
you can get it here at the website. I'm very pleased with it, and unless I run across a cool film job, that'll be my last instrumental record. with the caveat: unless it isn't.
cheers, TC

28.05.2012 - Jim / USA
Hey Tony,
Thanx for the music.
I am a guitar player wannabe Keyboard player. You have been an influence.
How did you get that haunting choir/synth sound on Stargazer?
What keyboard did you use for that recording?

hi jim.
that was a 'polyphonic orchestron', sort of a mellotron that used big floppy discs - i think it had choir, cellos, and flutes. this was doubled with (I think) an ARP string-ensemble, in the old live pics they are both to the left of the hammond. if you take a modern synth, starting with a 'men's choir' preset, you can get that sound - if tou're using a DAW, run it through a cheap guitar amp simulation, too.

25.05.2012 - Alan / USA
there's a lot i would love to sit and talk to you about what music you've written but as this is limited time and space i think the thing that i find unique and powerful is that you are obviously a student of history. the things you refer in music have always blown me away. laika!peenemünde! those are some amazing and thoughtful things to be included in modern music! wtf!? actually thought out content?! what's wrong with you?! :)))

i know you aren't doing any ppp things anymore and as a selfish human always wanting more,i think that sucks but i truly want to thank you for what you have given you're fans. i respect your choice not to put out shit under a known name if you don't feel it anymore just for fame and $$. your albums have never let me down and that means more than anything.

> the one question i have at this time is, in your G.O.D. trilogy, how much of that is autobiographical? regardless of what parts are from your life, it is so well done how you wove major historical events into a generational and personal feeling "book". i believe it would make and excellent epic book/movie of nearly 70 years of the 20th century and into the 21st.

thank you tony for what you have already done and selfishly, i want more, dammit!!! heehee....

I ask myself that same question - WTF - all the time. I'm a storyteller/history buff with some talent for composition - otherwise I'd just write prose.
in the sense that I nearly always try to tell my little stories in the first person, it's ALL autoboigraphical - but the GOD records in particular, even '1931' - I was born 8 years after WW2, and started writing about politics in 1982 - for 'pink world'. 'levittown' is my youth, period. it's also my personal favorite. as far as more records go, we'll see.
we're in a disposable-entertainment hole these days, (not for the first time). when there are no more teen 'Idols' (and hell has frozen over), if I'm still alive I'll document the period.
things are also in such a state of flux - neocons rattling sabers again, lots of WW3 speculation in the media - rich are obscenely rich, while a lot of people 'eat cake' - that I think we're coming to a tipping point, geopolitically. I'll offer a free download of THAT record from my bunker.
thanks for writing - TC

05.03.2012 - Dave / USA/ Detroit
I'm ordering the new cd [rock] but am curious if theres any chance of you recording current tour with band for a future release? Thanks for ALL the great music! DAVE

hey dave. I record LOTS of my shows, and this year won't be any exception.... as far as a release goes? i dunno... nice to hear from you again! TC

01.03.2012 - Kitty Cat / USA/ Detroit
Is it true your wife has a nice body?

which one?

08.01.2012 - Jen / Canada
Hi Tony;)
I just love the On Stage album by Rainbow, and as a keyboardist I would love to know which synthesizer you used to play when you were in the band Rainbow!

hi shaun.
that was a casting-call actor, i never knew his name. same with the little 'artie' in the Pink World video.
in the 'first day of summer' video, the 3rd dancer from the left was called 'betti'; I have an illegitimate son with her.
Just kidding.
stay well, TC

08.01.2012 - Shaun / St.Johns, Newfoundland Canada
Hi TC, sorry if this question has been asked before but.... Was that Hal Linden who portrayed Sonny in the FFD video. If so, how did that come about.

hi jen.
in the mid-70's, there were only a few synths to choose from, all of them monophonic. I used 3 minimoogs with rainbow on stage. mostly, though, I played hammond and clavinet. a clavinet through an amp makes a great 2nd guitar sound...

08.01.2012 -Paul / USA
Hi Tony
Good thing your a musician and not a dancer lol love your music but what would you be doing for a living if not in the music busines.

hi Paul.
I'm a GREAT fucking dancer!
I've never done anything for a living... the good thing about music is, you don't 'work' music, you 'play' music.
seriously, though, I consider myself an author, the music is incidental - I'd probably be writing failed novels or poetry.
Living in a garret in Paris, channeling Hemmingway.
stay well, TC

29.08.2011 - Tony / USA
Just received the cd's "Explorer and Heaven" great sounds! I might sound like a homer, but I haven't found anything that you have recorded that I don't like. I discovered you when MTV was playing the crap out of "Fine, Fine, Day" my daughter who was 2 at the time would sing the chorus, so I bought the album and been a big fan every since. With that said, when can we expect some video of you in concert. I know you have the one DVD, but isn't there any vintage shows you have taped that could be put on DVD for us poor saps who never got to see you live back in the day? Keep up with the protest songs, you can still bring it!

homer, like homer simpson? haven't heard that one, it's good.( my grandfather's name was homer).
no, no live stuff that I'm aware of - they didn't have video cameras back then...
I will be doing a live cd in about a month, in bremen, germany - and there are plans for a live dvd in norway this year.
so what does your daughter sing now? probably lullabies to your grandkids...
stay well!
TC

30.10.2011 - David Miller / US, Hanahan, SC
I hope all is well with your health. Do you have any plans to release "No Human," "Round Up," or "Rewind" on CD? Also, what is the difference between the 1984 and 2010 versions of "T.C.P.". I compared the two, and did not see a difference (except for the outstanding quality of the remaster). Thanks in advance for your reply, and be well.
All the best - Dave

hi dave! nice to hear from you...
there's no difference musically, but vinyl is about 6db quieter than cd's,(that's a LOT) and i wanted to get the levels up to current standards. mastering is a piece o' cake these days, too, so while i was boosting the levels I sprinkled some fairy dust on it to make it punchy, hi-fi, and compact.
glad you like it - there are still vinyl luddites out there that hate anything digital. that's fine, if you have a great turntable, preamp, amp, speakers, and a tuned room, and only listen to music there. In that case, I might even agree that vinyl 'sounds better'. but who cares?
we live in a mobile world - within 3-4 years the cd will be obsolete for music; there might still be a demand for 18gb cd's for business, military, hospital records, but I doubt that. The Cloud lives!.
my health is okay, the cancer's long gone and i won. no other problems in sight. thanks for asking.
I hadn't thought about rewind, roundup or no human on cd. I would need a very clean vinyl-to-digital copy of 'no human' first. I'll ask around, I have spies everywhere...
take care!
TC

29.08.2011 - Tony / USA
Just received the cd's "Explorer and Heaven" great sounds! I might sound like a homer, but I haven't found anything that you have recorded that I don't like. I discovered you when MTV was playing the crap out of "Fine, Fine, Day" my daughter who was 2 at the time would sing the chorus, so I bought the album and been a big fan every since. With that said, when can we expect some video of you in concert. I know you have the one DVD, but isn't there any vintage shows you have taped that could be put on DVD for us poor saps who never got to see you live back in the day? Keep up with the protest songs, you can still bring it!

homer, like homer simpson? haven't heard that one, it's good.( my grandfather's name was homer).
no, no live stuff that I'm aware of - they didn't have video cameras back then...
I will be doing a live cd in about a month, in bremen, germany - and there are plans for a live dvd in norway this year.
so what does your daughter sing now? probably lullabies to your grandkids...
stay well!
TC

15.08.2011 - Tonya / Norway, Skien
Hi there! Just discovered your music from a mutual very hairy friend that I work with.
My question: I'm interested to know if you prefer the digital or analogue sound when recording your albums? Some musicians prefer the convenience of digital while others swear by the warmth & emotional vibe that only analogue can deliver. .

hi tonya. curious about the hairy friend, but I can guess. nice to meet you...
analog recording is over, period, unless you have 2" tape and antique (and well-maintained) machines to record with. some very pricey studios still offer that - most send their signal THROUGH an analog machine, to be then recorded digitally, on protools or logic digital systems. warmth? that's what comes out of your heart/mind/fingers, regardless of the medium you use to capture it... remember, good music is '3 chords and the truth' - (allright, 6-7 chords, but you get my drift). all I'm concerned with is transporting emotion  - and I don't mean love songs - I'm a protest singer who never outgrew the 60's. everything else is secondary, and WAY down the list.
like it or not, digital is here to stay, and keeps getting better-sounding and easier to use, which is never a bad thing. the more music that gets made, the more good vibes enter the world. (as long as it's 3-chords-and-the-truth, we can leave 'idols' and plastic out of the equation). simply put, i don't care overmuch about the sound - it's the emotional impact that counts. I think people with $300,000 setups should go back and listen to 'the basement tapes' (bob and the band), which sounds like shit wherever you play it, but floors you (well, me) with it's content.
TC

08.08.2011 - Dana Sparks / USA, Dallas
Hi Tony! One of my favorite songs of all time is "Fine, Fine Day." Did you write that song and if so, is it based on a true event in your life? Thanks for the great music.

hi, dana, and thanks for the compliment... I plead guilty to writing 'a fine fine day', but it's not autobiographical. I was hanging out with a lot of career criminals (mostly for the free drugs, in hindsight) in the 70's and 80's... it's more of a period piece for me. I have a pretty good idea of exactly which people became the characters in the  song, but they're not important. (plus, they're all dead). I wouldn't write the same song today, it's just not relevant any more. glad it was a hit, though, even if the MTV video was the reason i stayed in europe. I don't like all that attention, and early MTV was playing videos 3-5 times a day when they were hot... with everybody watching. today there would be TMZ goons; back then  it was enough (for me) that strangers would all seem to know who I was. stay well, TC (alias JD salinger).

25.07.2011 - Peter / USA
I hope this isn't a "rough" question but...Is "What I Did" a song about someone? If yes, may I ask who? Looong time fan and hope to one day see you in the New York area! Peter

hi paul. well, sort of. I did have a situation where we had to make the decision to take someone off life-support. having said that, the song is more about drunk drivers and the havoc they can wreak.

25.07.2011 - Steve / Marysville CA USA
Will you ever play the US? I live about 200 miles north of your hometown and would love to see you before we die, (I'm 51) - thanks man, you're the best. steve

thanks, steve. to answer your question: definitely maybe sorta. stay well, TC

20.07.2011 - Thomas Skidmore / USA
When you recorded with Planet P Project, were you strongly influenced by a love of science fiction?

hi thomas
well, science fiction, satire, politics, the jesus myth, a lot of things. a lot of the PPP songs have political messages, but the lyrics are usually tongue-in-cheek. 'power tools', for example, isn't so much about bringing technology to a new planet; it's about the conquistador phenomenon, or the missionaries, bringing something totally unwanted/unasked for to a new environment before you rape that environment. I mean, give the Indians shiny stuff; then give them smallpox; then steal the land. I like to cloak these messages in humor - 'I give 'em gomer pyle on the video, they go crazy' springs to mind.
be well, TC

18.07.2011 - Peter / Augsburg, GER
Hi TC, what about the Zed Yago album "Pirates from Hell"? I wonder if the date of issue will be in sight? regards, Peter

hi peter. jimmy and yvonne and i are still fooling around with the ZY material... might take awhile. best, TC

04.07.2011 - Scott C. / Aurora, USA
This is more than a comment than a question. After discovering you in '83/'84 you are still major influence on my writing and playing. I lot track of your career over I am so happy to know you are still creating great music!
I guess if I had a question , it would are there any U.S. tour dates in the near future?

thanks for writing, and for the kind words - I'm looking at some US dates for next spring... hope to see you.
best, TC

.

20.05.2011 - citygypsy / San Diego, CA, USA
Hello TC, I do not normally choose to do things like this (write strangers), however, in light of recent events (rediscovering Tony Carey), I find myself wanting to ask you questions galore. I had to write them all down and force myself to choose only 3, in the hopes that you would answer them all...or at least 1 (grinning like a cheshire cat).

don't you have anything better to do on the day the world ends than writing to aging protest singers? sheesh, get a life.

before i ask though, i wanted to mention that i feel kind of twilight zone-ish right now...the reason being that i am somehow unwittingly picking up some really strange ethereal messages stemming from some of your songs, which i am only just now getting acquainted with mind you. certain old songs i have never heard before. and now, bearing the above in mind, here are my questions:

well, they're not intentionally 'ethereal', but I look as my records as history-channel scripts that never got filmed.

1. what are your personal thoughts concerning the possibility that the reality on earth will eventually wind up being very much like, or along the same lines as, what we saw in the movie The Matrix? (or, stated another way: technology completely taking over until man is degraded beyond our current comprehension)

that's a LONG answer. the short answer is: if everything that happens is God's will, then that includes technology. and abortion, and cocaine hookers. so let it come. also, the average lifespan of a species on earth is 4 million years. we'll never make that. if we go through a 'matrix' stage, it won't last long. what counts is how we come out of it. the dark ages developing into the renaissance is a good example - but we need an evolution, one that eliminates the violent/agressive/warrior gene - we've outgrown it.

i wonder...will God let this "technology" thing roll all the way out to it's fullest potential....? 

I personally think that the fullest potential contained in technology is a peaceful, caring society. I wouldn't presume to know what His plans are - what I DO know is that every civilization reaches a tipping point where it's 'get real or get gone' - and there have been billions of civilizations throughout the universe, and there will be billions more. we won't ever know what percentage of them shot themselves in the foot after figuring out the (relatively simple) concept of fission, and what percentage matured past the urge to kill the guy next door. there is absolutely no difference between God, Magic, Technology, and Evolution. they are all God's will. even allowing us to conceptualise His will is - wait for it - his will.

2. you mentioned that your mother was part Algonquin. i have seen the faces of many in that tribe and they are all a very extremely handsome people! those cheekbones man...just want to kiss em! ok...so it is obvious to me that you resemble that people big time...but...what about papa? what is the other half of TC's nationality?

well, carey is an irish name, my dad's folks were irish/german immigrants in the 19th century.

3. i got the "impression" from some of your lyrics that you may be, shall we say, "in the know" concerning certain political and geopolitical circumstances that many to most people do not know...and furthermore, do not want to know even if you tried to explain it to them. without going further into detail and feeling that i can probably get away with being somewhat cryptic, my question is, am i treading on something resembling truth here about you?

of course I'm 'in the know'. so is anybody else with one basic skill - PAYING ATTENTION. most people don't WANT to know, they'd rather go shopping.

is this the reason you live in Germany?

I live here cause it's so central - there are 20 cool countries within a short flight or drive - I lived in spain for 6 years in the 00's, so my daughter could grow up multi-culti..

THANK YOU FOR SUCH GREAT, THOUGHTFUL AND INSPIRING MUSIC! You are a trip and a half. Love it!

I might even be 2 trips - the second hit of mescaline is just starting to come on. thanks for writing, TC

24.04.2011 - Zachary Swanson / South Carolina, USA
Hello Mr. Carey! I'm sorry this is my 2nd or 3rd email, but I came up with 2 better questions. And if you haven't read any other of my emails, I'm 10 years old, I love your Pink World & Why Me? albums, and these are my questions:
1: Me and my dad both love your albums and we still couldn't figure out The Stranger song. What does it mean?

hi zach - i thought I'd answered you...
the stranger (who's 'with us again') is a symbol for evil and disruption - which is why I reference the Klan, Jonestown, etc. if you are a christian, think 'antichrist'. periodically, it seems to me that the human gestalt conjurs up a figure (hitler, stalin, satan) to do our collective dirty work... and he collects 'the lucky and the chosen and the perfect men' to get the job done. that's probably an unsatisfactory answer - it's an uncomfortable subject, too.
in 'pink world', the Stranger is a catalyst, the 'perfect storm', who preceeds and hurries the Apocolypse.

2: How do you come up with these amazing ideas? 

I steal them from real writers..... :)
stay well, TC

07.04.2011 - Gwen / Michigan City, Indiana, USA
Tony~ Yes! You're great! Yes! Love your music! and all that... I wanna know something silly. Do you have pets? If yes, what kind (dog, cat, etc) what breed and maybe their names. Congrats on being a cancer survivor! Love your hair - still! **HUG** ~Gwen

finally a sensible question. I have 5 cats and one dog (down from 5, he's a survivor). he's a little nasty pinscher with brain damage. when I was living in spain someone threw a whole litter - 5 dogs - in the trash.( they do that in spain.) we found 'em, bottle fed 'em, and 3 survived. Big Steve the Wonder Dog was on the bottom of the pile and didn't get enough oxygen. he could be ozzy's body-double, he sort of staggers around on 3 legs. he's 10 now, and happy. sleeps in my bed. the cats are just mutts, we also found them all on the side of the road in spain. at one point we had 14 dogs and about 20 cats, my wife was running a shuttle service back and forth to germany, where they don't kill dogs and cats, but find them homes instead. we've also had birds, rabbits, hamsters, etc. and have a hedgehog (Mikey) living in the garden. Mikey has great hair, too. thanks for writing.. TC

02.04.2011 - James Fraser / Scotland/Inverness
I knew you were in Rainbow in your early days. It's just recently that I have started to listen to your music. I can only apologise for not listening earlier. I have lost many years of absorbing just how marvellous you are as a person, musician and songwriter. Listening to you has inspired me to write some of my finest poems. Do you have thoughts about playing Scotland? I end with a massive thank you, your quite a guy....:) smiles

actually, i suck as a person. glad you like the music... keep well! TC

02.04.2011 - Mike C. / USA
Big fan in the US....Saw you play a concert here in Baltimore 25 years ago...Great show. My question is a long time ago I heard in an interview someone asked you about writing the perfect song. I think your response was you still had not written it. If you had to pick what you feel are your best 2-3 songs you have written what would they be?

I haven't even written the top 10 yet. I'm a slow starter. (this ain't sarcasm). the next cool song is always just... over....there....waiting.
but it's like a rainbow, you can follow it all you like, you won't find it. another way to express this thought is 'stay hungry'.

02.04.2011 - Jim / USA
I am wondering about your song I Won't Be Home Tonight. Back in my college days (mid 80's) I remember the song with some banging on keyboard between the lines "I won't be home tonight" and "I get along fine without you". Years later when I saw the album and bought it, there wasn't the keyboard part between those lines. Is there another version of it floating around? Was there another band that played it? Or was I smoking a little too much of something at the time?

that was a tightly-compressed acoustic guitar - (not so different from a piano playing single notes) - but don't worry, I don't remember the 80's either....

02.04.2011 - Bjorn Lundberg / Sweden/Lulea
Hi Tony, I've been a fan of your music ever since the early days of Rainbow, throught the Some Tough City, Blue Highway and later albums. I'd really would have liked to see to you in OTR.
Being also a fellow musician (hobby bases) with a Hammond XK-1 keyboard I'd like to ask you, what is your personal favourite instrument and are you by any chance planning a tour in Sweden soon again? Best regards and, thank you for the music! Bjorn

I'm really 'oldschool'. my favorite instruments are (keyboards) piano, hammond, fender rhodes and clavinet - so the perfect keyboard for me is the Clavia Nord Electro III '73. I use Logic 9 (laptop) for synth solos. I play a strat and a yamaha acoustic. I like a bass gtr. with a 'jazz' neck.

01.04.2011 - PFBFrancois / France
Hi Tony ! When Jon Lord left Deep Purple , did they ask you to replace him ? If not , do you regret it ?
Last question : have you got a facebook page ?
Thanks for your music and hope to see you soon on stage in France !!....

no, and i wouldn't have wanted to play with deep purple... I think they're great, and don is perfect for them, but I like to play original music. playing purple music would just be a job - no thanks.
I don't like social media, so no facebook or anything....

30.03.2011 - PFB / USA/Holbrook MA
Hey there Tony, I've loved your music since the early 80's. I have fond memories of playing your single "First day of Summer" so many times I wore it out (much to the delight of my neighbors, this was before headphones and music players were portable). My question to you is this, you are a very creative and prolific songwriter, how is the creative process for you? Do you ever have to struggle or does writing come naturally? I ask this a budding writer (who struggles daily :) Rock on!

writng music that I like is completely natural and no sweat. writing lyrics can be like pulling teeth. 99% of lyric-writing is finding something new to write about. that's difficult. when the idea is there, though, the lyric takes a half-hour and writes itself. that's just glorified secretarial work. the idea is the tough part. try to write 2 songs a day for 6 months, record them simply, and you'll know where you stand...
there's an old saying - 'writers write'.

28.03.2011 - Leffe / Sweden/Stockholm
Hello Tony hope you are doing fine. I were in Vasteras a couple of years ago when you did the Planet P Project concert there. As i like most of your records and especially the Planet P Project records, I am wonderings two things. One, are you coming back to Sweden soon? Number two. Are you planning to do any Planet P Project conserts? Your music and especially your lyrics Tony is magic to me. You are the best, take are. // Leffe.

I'd love to do both: play sweden and do a 'planet p' show. I'm working on it..

27.03.2011 - Paul / USA NYC
Hi TC-- big big fan since the early '80s...I recently acquired copies of Yellow Power and T.C.P and have been listening to them (by coincidence) alongside some of the good Krautrock stuff like Cluster and Harmonia, and some of the Eno 70s stuff. These two albums really feel like they belong to that school of thought. I'm really interested to hear something about what your inspirations and aspirations were on these two albums, since they were recorded at the same time you were having international chart success as both a solo artist and as Planet P with more radio-friendly tunes, making music videos and doing TV appearances, etc. Were you consciously breaking away from the chart hits and music industry demands (which I'm sure can be exhausting and even boring), were you experimenting with new tools and sounds, a new set of collaborators, etc? Have you ever performed this material in a live setting or were these strictly studio projects for you.
I really wish I had these two albums alongside your other output when I was first a fan in the early 80s, I'm sure I'd have loved these albums--they work well as a "dark side of the moon" to Planet P/Pink World...glad to have them now--hope I can persuade you to say a word or two about these tracks...Be well and here's to many more years of great creative TC projects-- paul

actually, the instrumental records were done before I decided to sing. i had the use of a studio and recorded hundreds of little pieces. later, i sang on some of them... you know the rest. :)

20.03.2011 - Patrick / United States- Cleveland, Ohio
Greetings Tony, I want to start off by saying I am a big fan your yours. It started with Rainbow, and your early MTV days. (1982-1985). Like others I would love more than anything to meet you, and see you perform live in the United States again. Thank you for all the amazing music you have given us over the years, I enjoy all of it.
My question is have you ever considered a studio cd of acoustic versions of some of your songs ? I know you recorded some great stripped down piano/acoustic songs on the Live Sweden cd's but I was thinking more acoustic guitar/ piano studio takes. It would seem fairly simple to do and might allow you to re-interpret some familar songs.
Keep up the wonderful work my friend, and I too am a cancer survivor. At age 44 I can say, it's good to be here today isn't it ? Thanks, Pat

hi pat. yep, that's on my 'to do' list...

20.03.2011 - Zoe / United States, Port St. Lucie, FL
Hello! Just wanted to let you know that I'm a huge fan of your work, especially the Planet P Project albums. It's difficult to find such good music in today's world, and I really appreciate what you're doing. Anyway, my question: is there any chance of you playing a show in the United States at any point in the foreseeable future? I would love to get an opportunity to see you live, but that seems to be an impossibility at this point.

hey zoe, thanks for listening. truth be told, i can't get arrested in america. write your congressman! the world runs on throwaway, soundbite pop culture - I can't imagine calling a 20-something an 'idol' - well, maybe one or two, but you get my drift.
I'm talking to people about some american shows - but don't hold your breath.
still and all, though, (see above answer) - it beats workin'. I make my records for ME and would do it for free - (sometimes i do). it's cool when someone gets it, though. best, TC

21.03.2011 - Kele / (in exile) New Jersey, USA
I've been a huge fan since '83 (that is "huge" in admiration if not in actual size, at least not yet...). I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for the music and lyrics over the years. As a fan, I very much enjoy how you continue to surprise me. So I'm not going to ask what's next or if there'll be sequel to such and such album. I will say, however, please keep making music and I'll keep buying and listening. And if you ever find yourself in New Jersey, the beer's on me.
Thanks and keep on doing what you're doin'.

cool, kele, and as a fellow exile , I hope this answers your question... TC
ps. like, the beer's ON you, literally? or you're paying? 'cause if it was ON you, I'd have to say you have a drinking problem/nervous condition. so get some lessons. (a mirror helps.)

20.03.2011 - Zoe / United States, Port St. Lucie, FL
Hello! Just wanted to let you know that I'm a huge fan of your work, especially the Planet P Project albums. It's difficult to find such good music in today's world, and I really appreciate what you're doing. Anyway, my question: is there any chance of you playing a show in the United States at any point in the foreseeable future? I would love to get an opportunity to see you live, but that seems to be an impossibility at this point.

hey zoe, thanks for listening. truth be told, i can't get arrested in america. write your congressman! the world runs on throwaway, soundbite pop culture - I can't imagine calling a 20-something an 'idol' - well, maybe one or two, but you get my drift.
I'm talking to people about some american shows - but don't hold your breath.
still and all, though, (see above answer) - it beats workin'. I make my records for ME and would do it for free - (sometimes i do). it's cool when someone gets it, though. best, TC

18.03.2011 - David Miller / USA, Hanahan, SC
I've wondered about a couple of your earliest recordings. Who was in the band Blessings with you, and did you ever record anything besides "Devil Rides Out" and "Sky Shining?" What is the story with The Force "Live at the Hollywood Palladium?" I've never found any information about that band or that recording. Finally, will you be putting out another compilation of some of your "lost" songs? I'm thinking of "Fire On The Moon," "90 Miles From Eden," and "The Eagle Flies Alone." Your collections of songs (Roundup, The New Machine, Rewind) are fantastic and deserved to be released. Hopefully you will do a few more?

hi dave. doing well?
blessings was michael mugrage, marc aubin, and myself. we formed in 1971, we were a country-rock trio, later adding bass and drums. we recorded all kinds

of stuff. i don't know where any of it is, this was 40 years ago.... 'the force' was forrest mcdonald's band - early 70's rock - and I guested with them. forrest went on to be a much-respected blues player, with about a dozen records. I produced one of them, 'colorblind', a few years ago. he's actually my oldest friend, we're in touch and talk all the time. I've never heard the recording of the palladium show, but i remember playing it...

I'm releasing 'in the absence of the cat' very shortly. this was my first 'sung' album, done in 1980. it's never been on cd before - it will be available in the very near future here at tonycarey.com.
there are 4 'lost' instrumental records, 'heaven', 'no human', 'explorer' and 'yellow power', that I'm remastering for cd. I'm planning a box set of those 4 plus, maybe, 'tcp'. that will cover all the impossible-to-find stuff that people ask me about. that should be ready sometime this summer - depending on how much touring i do and how much time i have.
as far as the compilations, right now they're just downloads, and one of them (rewind) is free. i might do cd versions of them, but I don't know. i don't see the cd lasting much longer as a viable format - lossless FLAC compression makes it redundant, i think - and i hate cd's anyway. I can never read the liner notes, they're too small - I listen to just about everything in 320kbts mp3 or FLAC.
thanks for listening, dave, and keep your eyes open for new releases.
best, tc

17.03.2011 - Robert Mansour / United States, Los Angeles
I really enjoy your most recent efforts. However, I must say I miss some of the layered vocals. I miss those powerful harmonies and choruses you create. The "stripped down" songs are nice, but I do miss some of those layered vocals. Boystown seemed like a great compromise between the two sounds. I am so happy you continue to make music for us all to enjoy. I've been a huge fan since I heard the first Planet P record. I just miss the massive vocals. Please keep the music coming!!!

Hey rob, hope you're well. you know, you can play in an orchestra, a bigband, a duo, or alone. I made at least 20 records with layered vocals - I'm not as charmed by them as you are. the christmas record, 'out in the rain', and the 2 'stanislaus county kid' records didn't need any backing vocals - I was (still am) really trying to thin out the sound. this probably has a back-to-basics root that's reflective of my mental state after my fight with cancer.
that's history, I won that one.> I never say never, and who knows what's coming. right now I'm making a new rock cd with JR Blackmore - and that's full of choirs. so is 'ebc roxx', google it and pick one up, it'll be right up your alley. (I like it too, a lot). thanks for listening! TC

16.03.2011 - Trond Gulhaugen / Norway, Drammen
hi tony! i read somewhere that you are half native american,just wondering what native nation your family comes from and what part of your family is native american?i have always been interested in native american history and read a lot of history, also listen to native american music since i find it relaxing and very nice.hope that you are well and thank you for your music,looking forward for more to come.

hi trond. my mother was part algonquin - that's an east-coast tribe running up into canada. I'm not sure how much native american blood I have. i DO like to scalp white people, though. TC