Dave Mattacks on playing with Paul McCartney, Elton John, XTC and Fairport Convention The Strange Brew

New YouTube interview with drummer Dave Mattacks, discussing his extensive career in music, particularly his work with Fairport Convention and various other notable artists. Dave discusses his upcoming Winter 2025 tour with Fairport Convention, his experiences recording with artists like Paul McCartney, Elton John, and XTC. He also recalls working with producers George Martin, Gus Dudgeon and Glyn Johns.

Fairport Convention and Current Tours (0.01 – 9.42)

Dave Mattacks discusses his involvement with Fairport Convention’s Winter 2025 tour. He explains how the band traditionally performs as a four-piece but adds drums for UK winter tours and Cropredy Festival. He mentions the band’s evolution of material over the past 25+ years and describes their rehearsal process. More information: fairportconvention.com

Early Career with Fairport Convention (9.43 – 18.44)

Mattacks reflects on his early days with Fairport Convention, particularly during the ‘Liege & Lief’ period. He describes himself as initially being a ‘deer in the headlights,’ taking about a year to fully understand the band’s aesthetic approach to English traditional music. He recalls working with Ashley Hutchings and learning to simplify his drumming style to better suit the folk-rock genre.

Session Work and Notable Collaborations (18.45 – 47.12)

The discussion covers Mattacks’ extensive session work with artists including Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Elton John, Joan Armatrading and XTC. He shares experiences working with producers George Martin and Glyn Johns, including recording at Abbey Road and Montserrat. Particularly notable is his work on XTC’s ‘Nonsuch’ album, which he helped facilitate by bringing in producer Gus Dudgeon.

Production Work and Modern Recording (47.13 – 56.49)

Mattacks discusses his recent production work, particularly with Debra Cowan. He shares insights about modern recording techniques, comparing them to traditional methods, and emphasizes the importance of decisive decision-making in production. He references working at Dave Grohl’s studio with Mary Timony.