Interview with Roger Mayer

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Roger Mayer first started making guitar effects in 1964 for his friend Jimmy Page. He met Jimi Hendrix first in 1967 in a club and in two weeks time they were in the studio overdubbing the solo to “Purple Haze” using the Octavia that Roger had invented. His association with Jimi grew and grew at a rapid pace and he spent a lot of time going to gigs and in the studio creating new sounds with him. He designed and built a great deal of the analogue synthesiser that was used by Stevie Wonder on the albums “Music of my Mind” “Talking Book” and “Innervisions” that were all recorded in N.Y. After working with Stevie he met the Isleys and worked on 8 albums with them. 1978 brought him to Jamaica to meet and work with Bob Marley until he so tragically passed on. The first album for Bob was Exodus were you can hear the sound used both by Bob and Junior Marvin clearly. Our magazine contacted Mr Mayer last week. He’s a very kind person; here the interview

Marco Virgona: You met both Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley: are there any similarities between these big artists?:
Roger Mayer: “There are many similarities between them that come to mind. Both were quite shy with great sense of humour and not at all like their on stage personality and were very kind and dedicated musicians who loved to perform and write songs and did this almost every day. They worked very hard on the music and loved to record and play live. They both wrote and played their own songs and were not at all arrogant about their own talent and I think that this humbleness came through in their music and contributed to the magic that they both created. Bob really admired Jimi and his music and although the music could be though of as worlds apart, I believe that both kinds of music were definitely ground breaking and crossed international music barriers in ways nobody could have predicted at the time it first was heard. Both also came from quite poor upbringings and had to try really hard to succeed and the blend of music they both came up with crossed racial barriers and international borders like no other music before.”

MV: Can you tell us how and where you and Bob met first time?
RM: “I first met Bob in Jamaica several days before the “One Love” concert in Kingston April 1978 where he performed with many other reggae artists. Junior Marvin had invited me down at Bob’s request and I was staying with Junior at his flat just above Hope Road where Bob’s house was. I had previously first seen the band at a concert in Central Park, New York and was looking forward to hear the music of Bob and the Wailers on the home ground of Jamaica”

MV: Did you get a chance to talk with him?
RM: “Of course! You don’t get to be invited to Jamaica by Bob without there being a reason and I was very interested in what he now wanted me to do. We first talked about music and he asked me many questions about Jimi and his sound and the approach we had towards recording. We then went on to what I could do to help him and without going into specifics I was asked to help make the band sound as good as possible. We both instantly got on very well together and laughed a lot and Bob was already aware of what I do as both Junior’s and his guitar had already been modified by me and of course Junior used my effects on Exodus as well as on tour and had told Bob about me. In fact Junior and I had just finished an album together In the U.K. the previous year, 1976 before he was asked to join the Wailers in Feb 1977 so it was not really a case of strangers meeting it was like we had always known one another and nice to finally meet in person.”

MV: Which is the memory that you cherish most?
RM: “That is a hard question to answer as there are so many memories that come to mind but if there is one thing I would like to mention is that of the fun loving and kind nature of the man. This is the one quality that always first springs to mind when thinking about Bob is his love of life and of music.

Bob was a definite leader both spiritually and in his music and this honesty comes out both in his lyrics and in his actions. He tried his best to educate the people that violence was not the only way out of the streets where he grew up and his generosity to the local community was extraordinary in the various way he personally took care of the people who came to him with problems. It’s easy to put him into various slots that may suit your point of view but I think he was a man that comes around once in a 100 years and should be an inspiration to anybody that has an interest in the world situation we are experiencing today. His nickname was the “Skipper” and he was the only one who could get all the Wailers together in one place and at one time. This is not an easy task I can tell you but Bob was the only one who could do that. He personally took an interest in the welfare of those around him and did not isolate himself from the band or crew as do so many so called stars. He loved football a lot and played to a high standard and was a very fit man and put on a great show.”

MV: What can you tell us about the relationship between Bob and his band?
RM: “Bob was the “Skipper” or “Captain” of the band and I think that the band all loved and respected Bob and had a great time playing with him as well as hanging out at 56 Hope Rd as the songs came to life in the backyard. The band was not just a business venture to them unlike the manner in which some bands are conducted and I think it is fair to say that the atmosphere was generally very good between them, Probably as good as it gets between musicians. It felt to me that it was more like a crew or team effort with a great leader.”

MV: You work with Bob on his Exodus album (Times Magazine voted Exodus the best album of XX century) were we can hear the sound used both by Bob and Junior Marvin clearly. Can you explain what you made, your contribution for that album?
RM: “Both Junior and Bobs guitars were sent to me for rebuilding and had all the frets and bridge perfectly set up with all the correct fret profiles and alignments to ensure that the guitars now produced the perfect tone with no fret buzz and more sustain. I also supplied Junior with some modified wah pedals and custom effect overdrive and distortion pedals for solo work. I basically gave them guitars with all the mods I did for Jimi on them both mechanical and electrical. I think if you listen carefully you can hear the change in tone of both Bob and Junior’s guitars as compared to the tone used on previous albums. They are in perfect harmony. Nobody else ever modified Bob’s guitars since then and Iater I made the new silver scratchplate and switchplate which looks like an eye where the switch is to give the guitar a more personal touch. Before the “One Love Concert” I worked on all of the band’s guitars including the bass of Family Man to bring everybody into perfect tune and harmony. “Kaya” and the later albums all used my effects and modified guitars and I spent time with them in the studio both in London and Kingston helping with guitar sounds and tones.”

MV: What is the most beautiful thing Marley taught to you and the most beautiful thing you taught to him?
RM: “One Love should never be forgotten. As to the most beautiful I thing I taught him. I can’t answer that but I have been told by Bob and others that my influence and input was very much appreciated and can be heard on some of the most famous recordings ever.

MV: Thank you very much

Please, visit Roger Mayer´s web site at: http://www.roger-mayer.co.uk