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It's Sunday 6.10pm on the 13th of June. Here in the centre of idyllic Newbury, where the people are so laid back, they walk almost as if they are extras from a zombie film. We are sat outside The Hatchet Pub, next to the venue where in less than two hours Beverley Craven will perform. She seems unfazed by the whole thing, relaxed even when she is asked for autographs by passers by. At the moment, she doesn't look the part of a pop star, she is dressed so casually, some fans don't even recognise her. I am informed that Mrs Craven would like to do the interview outside, with some of her band in attendance. I am a little nervous, I was expecting a one on one interview, but I try to keep it real and move on in.
| Martin's words in blue |
Beverley's words in green |
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Hi Beverley, how is the tour going?
Really good, we're now on gig number three, and I have some great musicians with me.
How do you feel coming back after such a long break?
It's good really, it's nice to have a long break, cause' it can get to you (pause), but it's all been rather nice actually, cause' (pause) normally it's all hurry up, and get another round in, in this game, but I've been fortunate I think so far.
You've now got a new home studio, does that make life easier for you?
Yeah, It certainly does (smiling), and it's wonderful, trust me
What sort of crowds are you getting on the tour?
All sorts really, all ages it seems to be. (pause) Mainly couples though.
And I left my wife at home
Oh, (laughing) so you can't have a snog with her then during the ballads!
Oh well, I'll just have to make it up to her. What's your fondest memory of touring?
Fondest memory? (Long pause) All my memories of touring really are the bad ones. It's funny how you only remember the bad bits; they are the only bits that stick in your mind. The last tour I did was when I was five and a half months pregnant, and that was dire, I can tell you. In a coach driving around Europe, it's not much fun. So I'm sorry I haven't got a nice one there just, you just remember the bad things really.
Musically, who would you consider to be a rival?
A rival! (sounds surprised)
Tori Amos, Celine Dion? One of the band or press officers: Timmy Mallett
(pause) I don't think there is anyone actually, I don't think there is anyone, cause most of the girls out there have a guitar, and they sing some of, you know, much more aggressive sort of music.
Female artists seem to be filling a lot more space in the charts now, are you pleased about that?
really? (seems confused)
I think so. As I said people like Tori, and Celine
Yeah yeah, (seems a little uncomfortable) oh sorry a lot more women in the charts? (looks like she misread the question) Yes, oh yes definitely.
How do you strike a balance between pop star and mother, is it hard being away from your children, or do you take your children with you?
It's a bit difficult, If I have to spend the night away from home, I'm usually a bit weird the next day as Debra (press officer) will tell you.
And what do your children think of your music, do they like your music?
Well actually, they asked me to get the new album out, well Mollie did, the oldest one, because her friend came around, and her friend knew more about me than she did, and she said, can we hear your album, so I put it on, and half way through the first song they went off and watched T.V. I don't know what that means, they got all dressed up in their spice girls clothes, you know, and thought, okay we're gonna dance now, and the music came on, (pause) and it was umm no, we'll go and watch Cartoon Network (laughs)
Would you have her follow in your footsteps?
(quick repsonse) Well Mollie did say a couple of days ago, that she wanted to be a singer, but I just said, well you're a bit young aren't you, to know what you want to do?
Are you pushing her towards the piano?
No no (stern look), I think she just thinks that when I go and stay in a hotel on promotional stuff, that that is going on holiday, and it must seem really glamorous and fantastic.
Do you ever log on to the Internet?
No, No. ( seesm completely uninterested in this subject)
Have you never seen your fan sites then?
Yep, my husband has just gone on the Internet, and he did show me one the other day.
Who most inspired you as a child?
Inspired me as a child? (long pause) Musically I think it was Kate Bush really (pause), yeah.
Yeah?
yes, when she first came out, I thought she was wonderful, the first three albums were really good.
After such a long time away, do you want to give any messages to your fans?
Errrmmm? Blimey, (pause) well, I kind of feel like I'm starting again in a way, umm. I hope they like this album as much as they like the first one really.
Have you ever received any strange presents from fans?
Errm, no not strange ones, I've had some very nice letters, and people send me very nice things, you know, (pause) like perfume and stuff like that. I haven't had any weird ones.
So no boxer shorts through the post?
No, nothing like that.
What's the best and worst thing about being a pop star?
The best thing, is having food in the fridge, and being able to pay the bills, and I suppose the worst thing.(long pause) What's the worst thing?
(Asks Debra) Debra: Nights away from home probably
Yeah, that could be it.
I've heard that I Miss You is to be the first single from the album, Is that true, and when will it be released?
Yes, the end of July apparently, but there's no release date yet.
How much artistic input, do you have in the making of your videos?
Errm, it depends what video, I've been very involved in some of them, and not so involved in another couple, so it depends on the situation, it depends on the budget, it depends on whether I've got any good ideas or not.
What do you do to relax?
What do I do to relax? (another pause, smiles) I go swimming occasionally, that's quite good.
You've covered The winner takes it all, is there any other song you would like to cover?
(quickly responds as if I should know the answer) I have covered also, I can't make you love me, by what's her name.. Bonnie Raitt, that one yeah, I did that with Pete Cox at the Royal Albert Hall. We did it as a duet.
Any plans for a tour abroad?
Tour abroad? Well erm, not as yet, but the albums only been out for two weeks, so we're still waiting to hear whether there's any European interest.
The guy who runs your fan website asked me to ask you, In 1996 you performed a song called Legendary Love, what happened to the track?
Oh blimey! (sounds as if she is very surprised to be asked this) Well my A&R man at the record company didn't really like it very much, so I put it on the back burner, and I think I'm gonna do it as a duet with someone at some point. I think it works really well as a duet. (pause) It's just finding the right bloke to do it with.
Are you still involved with Wildlife Aid?
Not as much as I used to be, no, cause I called them up and said (motherly tone) ' look I've got three babies now, I'm not doing anything' and although they sent me letters saying would you be involved in this that and the other, I wrote back and said, not at the moment, but I've sent them things in the post that they can raffle or whatever, but I haven't actively been down and been involved in there open days and charity events for, probably four years now. It's a case of what I've got time for now, you know because, any time that I'm not working, I really do want to be with the kids, and they're the priority above everything else.
How does your husband cope with being Mr Beverley Craven?
Oh, he's a songwriter in his own right, oh, he's written a couple of hits recently (again, in a tone as if I should know this) (including Hepburns I Quit I later find out) yeah, he's hot property at the moment as a songwriter.(smiling) He's fine anyway; he had a record deal with the same record company as me, about ten years before I did. He used to be in a band called The Quick (pause, waits for response) and he was the lead singer. He's now just a songwriter, but he's doing very well.
Lastly, is there any one person living or dead, that you would love to have done a duet with?
Well, I've sung with the person I always wanted to sing with, and that's Michael Macdonald, do you know him? (quickly reeled off again as if I should know this)
(Draws a blank) No, afraid not.
The Doobie brothers? (sniggers around the table, puzzled look on BCs face)
That rings a bell.
That's the connection anyway, a wonderful singer, lovely man. I mean a genius singer, you know he's just wonderful.
Well that's about it. Good luck with the concert.
Thanks very much.
With the concert looming, Beverley made her way back to the concert hall, while I was left to roam Newbury in search of my lost friends. Although Beverley could probably tell from very early on, that I was not a big fan, she was very humane, and is generally a very nice down to earth person, not at all what I expected, but then with stars, you never can tell.
Martin McGregor
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