June 20, 2023 • 9 mins
Whether it be his song “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life In One Day,” “No One Is To Blame,” & “Like To Get To Know You Well,” Howard Jones has been a presence in our lives since he burst onto the music scene in 1983. We ALL have our favorite Howard Jones song and now, he’s back on the road, doing a summer tour with Culture Club and Berlin. Listen as he talks to Carolyn about touring in the 80's vs. now, the meaning behind "No One Is To Blame," and his experience at the Concord Pavilion in the 1980's that he'll never forget! (Recorded 6-2023).
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
This is talk to Me. I'myour host, Carolin McCardell, and this
is a chance for us to spenda few minutes with some of our favorite
celebrities. Whether it be his song, things can only get better life in
(00:28):
one day. No One is toblame and like to get to know you
well. Howard Jones has been apresence in our lives since he burst onto
the music scene in nineteen eighty three. I think it's safe to say we
all have our favorite Howard Jones song. And now he's back on the road
doing a summer tour with Culture Cluband Berlin. Howard Jones, welcome to
(00:50):
talk to me. The last timethat I actually saw you, you came
here to San Francisco and it wastwenty seventeen and you perform formed a few
of your hits on our VIP loungeand I Heart Radio here in San Francisco.
Do you remember that, Yeah,of course, yeah I do.
I do remember it. Yeah,yeah, great, I'm good. It
was incredible. It was incredible.As a matter of fact, you told
(01:11):
me when you were here, andI was going to ask you about it
again. The story about the meaningof no one is to blame. Yeah,
yeah, that's right, Yeah,because I was. It's it's really
sort of links up with San Franciscobecause I was there doing some radio radio
promotion and you know, you know, going out all the radio stations.
It was great, it was great. It was a guy from Electra Records
(01:34):
and we crossed the road and youknow, to go to a new station,
and he said to me, oh, you know, what do you
think all the amazing women here inSan Francisco? And I said, yeah,
you know, like like women allover the world are. They're absolutely
amazing. And you know, I'mvery happy. I got I got my
jan who I've been with for overforty years, and so I'm happy.
And he said to me, youcould look at the menu, but you
(01:56):
don't have to eat. So thatwas trigger for the song. So good.
I love, love, love thatstory. Thank you for sharing that.
Obviously you're doing this North American tour. This Summer Culture Club in Berlin
are joining you the Letting It Gotour, So for all of us die
hard eighties fans, you've got torealize how excited we are for this tour.
How did the three groups come together? Well, I think I think
(02:21):
I think everyone was was was lookingto do a you know, a summer
at all, and you know,I was, I was holding out really
because I I really wanted to goout with you know, with with somebody
like you know, Culture Club headliningand and and to do those great amphathizes
and play you know, venues likeConcord, which which you know, I
(02:43):
haven't played since the eighties, andso so it was a question of me
just holding out. I got lotsof offers. But when I, you
know, heard about this tour,I thought, no, definitely, I
must go for this, because thisis going to be such a great night
for the fans, hearing so manyamazing songs, you know night, it's
going to be brilliant. I can'tbelieve you haven't been to the Conquered Pavilion
(03:04):
since the eighties, Howard. Iseriously cannot believe that. I know,
I know, it's just one ofthose things that I know, I thought,
I've got so many memories of thatshow because at one point during this
so the audience decided to invade thestage, but all at the same time,
and it was literally like the peoplerunning at me, jumping because the
(03:27):
stage was so low at the time. I don't know if it still is
still the same stage buckle in,except you're all in our fifties now.
My security guy ran onto the stageand literally picked me up in the as
really a strong guy and ran andran with me to decide at the stage
(03:49):
it was. It must have beenhilarious to see if you're in the audience,
but a bit of a shock tome that is. I well,
I can I'm going to knock onwood. I can about guarantee that that's
not going to happen again. Yeah, that's hilarious. What has it been
like for you to reconnect with boyGeorge and with Terry Nun You know,
(04:09):
we have we have I mean,I know, I know I know George
quite well because we've we've seen eachother and done shows, done charity shows
and things like that in the past. So and Terry I met as well
on the road somewhere I think,you know, probably in California. So
very much looking forward to working withthem and and you know, seeing their
(04:33):
shows every day. It's gonna begreat. You still have the same feeling
when you step on the stage nowthat you did back in the eighties.
You know, I think, Ithink I actually feel I feel a bit
more comfortable now about about what Ido. I think I was as a
younger person. I was I wasa lot more nervous about going out there
(04:53):
on the stage. But you know, after doing it for forty years,
I feel really, really confident.But there's always like butterflies and the stomach
because you know, you want todo the best for the audience, and
so I never want to become likecomplacent about it. I want to feel
like I'm going to give them theabsolute best show every night. But I
(05:15):
just feel more confident that I cando that. That was the word confidence.
Your confidence is so much bigger nowthan it was. I'm sure when
you were starting out, just naturallyyou know exactly exactly what's behind the title
of Letting It Go. I've actuallygot no idea about that one. I'm
sorry I can't enlighten you on thatone. No, somebody just said,
Howard, it's called the Letting ItGo to or go promote it. Yes,
(05:41):
that's right. Yeah. Are youare you going to be covering anything?
I mean, I know you'll beplaying your hits from the eighties,
which is amazing and awesome, butwill you be playing anything off of your
dialogue? Album from twenty twenty two. You know, you know I will
because I thought, you know,obviously I've got a lot of hits to
play and I've got I've got fiftyminut it. So really it's basically all
well, it's not it's not Ican't even play all of them. But
(06:04):
but I wanted to include one newsong from the Dialog Gun which is Celebrated
Together, which which has been doingreally well on streaming and stuff, because
we had this amazing remix and I'mmost suppose French guy called life Like and
we're going to do the kind ofremix version of it. So I think
(06:26):
it's really important for me to putsomething new in the set as well as
the as the songs. Everyone,you sound incredible still. I mean,
I'm glad you're going to do thatbecause you still got the pipes for sure.
Yeah. Well, you know,I'm really taking a tour seriously.
I'm working out five days a weekand I have my my vocal coach who
lives in London, and we dolike face time lessons, you know,
(06:50):
two twice a week to get toget my voice in the best shape possible.
So I'm taking it really seriously.This one good. Well, we're
as fans, were very glad tohear this. What have you enjoyed?
You know, your career has spannedover forty years. What have you enjoyed
you think the most about your career? Um? You know enough. For
(07:14):
me, it's always been the showsand going out and playing live. That's
that's when I feel, you know, closest, closest to the fans.
I can see them, I cansee the effect that the music has had
on them and is having. AndI get to travel and see see the
country. I get to like takethe temperature of of of of the UK,
(07:36):
of Japan or you know, Australia, you know, the whole of
the US. I get to travelaround, and I just really really enjoy
that. I know some people don'talways enjoy the touring part of their career,
but me, that's that's my lifereally, you know, that's what
I do. I feel that's whatI do best, and so I want
(07:56):
to be out there doing it untilI can't anymore. Yeah, And as
fans, we love hearing this,right, you always want to hear that
your favorite artist actually enjoys touring andreally does want to be there for you.
I mean The fact that you haven'tbeen to the Conquered Pavilion since the
eighties and you still remember the ConqueredPavilion says a lot about how much you
loved a tour. You remember thesevenues, Yes, yes, that's right
(08:18):
they I mean lots of them.Have you know, there's really sun special
nights when something unusual happened. Sousually something probably went wrong or something and
you have to get it put itright. But yeah, it's always it's
always fun. I've got I've gotwell, so many memories of up touring.
Now that's so great, Howard,fantastic talking to you again. We
(08:39):
are so excited for the tour.Thank you for spending a couple of minutes
with me this morning. Now that'sa total pleasure. And you know,
look forward to playing for everyone ata concorde. It's going to be amazing.
And just a reminder for the fans, do not rush the stage.
Howard does not want to be pickedup by as manager again they can be
its okay, go ahead, fans, all right, Howard, have a
(09:03):
great day. Thank you again.Okay, okay. Howard Jones's North American
Summer tour, the Letting It GoShow with Culture Club and Berlin. For
tickets and tour dates, visit livenationdot com or go to Howard Jones dot com
This is talk to Me. I'myour host, Carolin McCardell, and this
is a chance for us to spenda few minutes with some of our favorite
celebrities. Whether it be his song, things can only get better life in
(00:28):
one day. No One is toblame and like to get to know you
well. Howard Jones has been apresence in our lives since he burst onto
the music scene in nineteen eighty three. I think it's safe to say we
all have our favorite Howard Jones song. And now he's back on the road
doing a summer tour with Culture Cluband Berlin. Howard Jones, welcome to
(00:50):
talk to me. The last timethat I actually saw you, you came
here to San Francisco and it wastwenty seventeen and you perform formed a few
of your hits on our VIP loungeand I Heart Radio here in San Francisco.
Do you remember that, Yeah,of course, yeah I do.
I do remember it. Yeah,yeah, great, I'm good. It
was incredible. It was incredible.As a matter of fact, you told
(01:11):
me when you were here, andI was going to ask you about it
again. The story about the meaningof no one is to blame. Yeah,
yeah, that's right, Yeah,because I was. It's it's really
sort of links up with San Franciscobecause I was there doing some radio radio
promotion and you know, you know, going out all the radio stations.
It was great, it was great. It was a guy from Electra Records
(01:34):
and we crossed the road and youknow, to go to a new station,
and he said to me, oh, you know, what do you
think all the amazing women here inSan Francisco? And I said, yeah,
you know, like like women allover the world are. They're absolutely
amazing. And you know, I'mvery happy. I got I got my
jan who I've been with for overforty years, and so I'm happy.
And he said to me, youcould look at the menu, but you
(01:56):
don't have to eat. So thatwas trigger for the song. So good.
I love, love, love thatstory. Thank you for sharing that.
Obviously you're doing this North American tour. This Summer Culture Club in Berlin
are joining you the Letting It Gotour, So for all of us die
hard eighties fans, you've got torealize how excited we are for this tour.
How did the three groups come together? Well, I think I think
(02:21):
I think everyone was was was lookingto do a you know, a summer
at all, and you know,I was, I was holding out really
because I I really wanted to goout with you know, with with somebody
like you know, Culture Club headliningand and and to do those great amphathizes
and play you know, venues likeConcord, which which you know, I
(02:43):
haven't played since the eighties, andso so it was a question of me
just holding out. I got lotsof offers. But when I, you
know, heard about this tour,I thought, no, definitely, I
must go for this, because thisis going to be such a great night
for the fans, hearing so manyamazing songs, you know night, it's
going to be brilliant. I can'tbelieve you haven't been to the Conquered Pavilion
(03:04):
since the eighties, Howard. Iseriously cannot believe that. I know,
I know, it's just one ofthose things that I know, I thought,
I've got so many memories of thatshow because at one point during this
so the audience decided to invade thestage, but all at the same time,
and it was literally like the peoplerunning at me, jumping because the
(03:27):
stage was so low at the time. I don't know if it still is
still the same stage buckle in,except you're all in our fifties now.
My security guy ran onto the stageand literally picked me up in the as
really a strong guy and ran andran with me to decide at the stage
(03:49):
it was. It must have beenhilarious to see if you're in the audience,
but a bit of a shock tome that is. I well,
I can I'm going to knock onwood. I can about guarantee that that's
not going to happen again. Yeah, that's hilarious. What has it been
like for you to reconnect with boyGeorge and with Terry Nun You know,
(04:09):
we have we have I mean,I know, I know I know George
quite well because we've we've seen eachother and done shows, done charity shows
and things like that in the past. So and Terry I met as well
on the road somewhere I think,you know, probably in California. So
very much looking forward to working withthem and and you know, seeing their
(04:33):
shows every day. It's gonna begreat. You still have the same feeling
when you step on the stage nowthat you did back in the eighties.
You know, I think, Ithink I actually feel I feel a bit
more comfortable now about about what Ido. I think I was as a
younger person. I was I wasa lot more nervous about going out there
(04:53):
on the stage. But you know, after doing it for forty years,
I feel really, really confident.But there's always like butterflies and the stomach
because you know, you want todo the best for the audience, and
so I never want to become likecomplacent about it. I want to feel
like I'm going to give them theabsolute best show every night. But I
(05:15):
just feel more confident that I cando that. That was the word confidence.
Your confidence is so much bigger nowthan it was. I'm sure when
you were starting out, just naturallyyou know exactly exactly what's behind the title
of Letting It Go. I've actuallygot no idea about that one. I'm
sorry I can't enlighten you on thatone. No, somebody just said,
Howard, it's called the Letting ItGo to or go promote it. Yes,
(05:41):
that's right. Yeah. Are youare you going to be covering anything?
I mean, I know you'll beplaying your hits from the eighties,
which is amazing and awesome, butwill you be playing anything off of your
dialogue? Album from twenty twenty two. You know, you know I will
because I thought, you know,obviously I've got a lot of hits to
play and I've got I've got fiftyminut it. So really it's basically all
well, it's not it's not Ican't even play all of them. But
(06:04):
but I wanted to include one newsong from the Dialog Gun which is Celebrated
Together, which which has been doingreally well on streaming and stuff, because
we had this amazing remix and I'mmost suppose French guy called life Like and
we're going to do the kind ofremix version of it. So I think
(06:26):
it's really important for me to putsomething new in the set as well as
the as the songs. Everyone,you sound incredible still. I mean,
I'm glad you're going to do thatbecause you still got the pipes for sure.
Yeah. Well, you know,I'm really taking a tour seriously.
I'm working out five days a weekand I have my my vocal coach who
lives in London, and we dolike face time lessons, you know,
(06:50):
two twice a week to get toget my voice in the best shape possible.
So I'm taking it really seriously.This one good. Well, we're
as fans, were very glad tohear this. What have you enjoyed?
You know, your career has spannedover forty years. What have you enjoyed
you think the most about your career? Um? You know enough. For
(07:14):
me, it's always been the showsand going out and playing live. That's
that's when I feel, you know, closest, closest to the fans.
I can see them, I cansee the effect that the music has had
on them and is having. AndI get to travel and see see the
country. I get to like takethe temperature of of of of the UK,
(07:36):
of Japan or you know, Australia, you know, the whole of
the US. I get to travelaround, and I just really really enjoy
that. I know some people don'talways enjoy the touring part of their career,
but me, that's that's my lifereally, you know, that's what
I do. I feel that's whatI do best, and so I want
(07:56):
to be out there doing it untilI can't anymore. Yeah, And as
fans, we love hearing this,right, you always want to hear that
your favorite artist actually enjoys touring andreally does want to be there for you.
I mean The fact that you haven'tbeen to the Conquered Pavilion since the
eighties and you still remember the ConqueredPavilion says a lot about how much you
loved a tour. You remember thesevenues, Yes, yes, that's right
(08:18):
they I mean lots of them.Have you know, there's really sun special
nights when something unusual happened. Sousually something probably went wrong or something and
you have to get it put itright. But yeah, it's always it's
always fun. I've got I've gotwell, so many memories of up touring.
Now that's so great, Howard,fantastic talking to you again. We
(08:39):
are so excited for the tour.Thank you for spending a couple of minutes
with me this morning. Now that'sa total pleasure. And you know,
look forward to playing for everyone ata concorde. It's going to be amazing.
And just a reminder for the fans, do not rush the stage.
Howard does not want to be pickedup by as manager again they can be
its okay, go ahead, fans, all right, Howard, have a
(09:03):
great day. Thank you again.Okay, okay. Howard Jones's North American
Summer tour, the Letting It GoShow with Culture Club and Berlin. For
tickets and tour dates, visit livenationdot com or go to Howard Jones dot com
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