The Adventures (Credit: Ryan Carlin)
The Adventures forged their own path in the 1980s, too sophisticated for post-punk, too ambitious for chart fodder, culminating in their biggest hit, ‘Broken Land’. Now, four decades on, songwriter and guitarist Pat Gribben, alongside Terry Sharpe and Eileen Gribben, returns with Once More With Feeling, an album Pat calls their best yet, as he reflects in this career-spanning interview.
How does it feel to release new material after more than 30 years? Is this a comeback, a continuation, or something altogether different?
It feels good to have completed and recorded a new bunch of songs that we’re very proud of regardless of the time lapse. The Adventures were dormant as an entity for a while although we have performed together from time to time over the last 10 years or so.
What makes ‘Once More With Feeling’ the best Adventures record? Is it craft, perspective, or something intangible?
I always felt we had unfinished business as far as making records was concerned. I knew there was much more to come from us and these are the best bunch of songs I’ve ever written. Covid and the subsequent lock down gave me a concentrated time space to immerse in the writing in a way I hadn’t for many years. First thing to do is satisfy yourself then hope others are as into it. Happily when i played the stuff I had to Eileen and Terry they were enthused. So now we await the wider reaction.
‘My Imaginary Girlfriend’ has a classic upbeat 80s pop sound. What was the inspiration behind it, and what made it the right choice as the lead single for ‘Once More With Feeling’?
I had a song “Lonely World” on the go and during the process of writing it I watched a docu/film about the Norwegian band Aha. I thought it would be good to add a strong synth hook ala ‘Take On Me’ to my song and that’s exactly what I did. Then around the same time Eileen said to me what about ‘My Imaginary Girlfriend’ as a song title?
This was approppo of nothing in particular. She didn’t know about the song i was working on. I knew immediately it was the perfect title for ‘Lonely World’. A much more intriguing title for sure and it fitted perfectly with the isolation subject matter I had in mind. So I rearranged and rewrote the lyric accordingly and the song was now complete. It also has danceability. Not a common trait usually in Adventures records.
‘L.U.C.Y.’ has a deeply personal backstory and an unexpected origin with Cathy Dennis. How did that collaboration evolve?
Well I’d known Cathy for a while as she and I were both managed by Simon Fuller. Simon put us together to write a single for S Club 7 who were a big deal at the time. We did write a song for the S Club project but it wasn’t that good to be honest. However on the selfsame writing session we wrote ‘L. U. C. Y.’ a song I really liked. Many years later at the funeral service for our niece Lucy McIllhatton who was tragically taken at just 24 years Eileen sang the chorus of ‘L. U. C. Y.’ Terry was in attendance at the service and was very moved by Eileen’s performance. Afterwards he said that if we were ever to make another Adventures record we should include the song. That’s how it came to be.
Eileen takes her first lead vocal on that track. Was this a long-overdue moment, or did the song simply demand it?
Eileen singing lead on an Adventures album track was definitely long overdue and this song has very strong meaning for her and all our family .
Songwriting is, as you put it, about “running the rusty water out until the clear stuff flows.” What were the breakthroughs that signalled this album was the real deal?
I think I’m a late developer when it comes to songwriting. In the formative years of the Adventures I regarded myself as a guitar player that happened to also write some songs. Nowadays I see myself much more as a songwriter who plays guitar.
Can you tell us about your time in music pre-Adventures?
I reinvented myself mainly as a guitarist many times. Rory Gallagher, Peter Green, John Mclaughlin, James Honeyman Scott were all influential but my first love always was and remains classic pop/rock. Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Kinks, Motown. The list is endless.
When you formed The Adventures in 1984, did you have a clear idea of the sound you wanted to create, or did it evolve naturally?
It was simply Terry, Eileen and myself trying out a few things in our wee house in North London. The Starjets were defunct and Terry and I weren’t ready to give up just yet. I think Terry and Eileen’s blend of vocal harmony along with my very 60’s influenced guitar style are the mainstays of the Adventures sound. It comes natural to us.
You’ve made this album largely in your home studio. How has that shift changed the way you create since the 1980s?
Well, I can indulge myself endlessly without incurring the huge costs of recording as we once did. The discipline of the big studio was a great learning experience but I honestly prefer my home studio creative environment.
You wrote a musical about George Best. Do you see songwriting differently when it’s for the stage versus the studio?
It’s a totally different discipline. You have to constantly be moving the narrative forward in a stage production. I’d like another opportunity sometime.
What’s been the most magical live setting for The Adventures?
Our first proper reunion gig at the Empire here in Belfast about 6 years ago was magical . We were made to feel so welcome by the audience. I will always be grateful.
How has the Belfast’s music scene changed since your early days, and where do you see it heading?
There were countless gigs to be had in and around Belfast back in the day in which to learn your trade. I honestly don’t know how young up and coming musicians can make a break through. I don’t envy them and I wish them well.
Do you feel like The Adventures were ahead of their time, behind it, or just outside of it?
We were never fashionable. Never NME darlings or anything like that. Could never play that game. Hopefully it’s not an issue any more.
‘Broken Land’ remains your signature song, but if one track from Once More With Feeling were to define this new chapter, which would it be and why?
‘With the Cats’ is the song I would choose. Particularly from the break down section to the key changes and harmonies that end the song. That minute or so encapsulates everything good we have been trying to achieve all this time in my opinion. I’m very proud of it. Gets me every time haha. Love Pat x
Further information
The Adventures – Once More With Feeling is released on 28 March 2025
