Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm Jeff Stevens. Thanks for listening to my eighties show podcast.
So excited to talk to inexcess bass player Gary Beers
Kiffy you go, mate, Hey Gary, nice to talk to you,
my friend. How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm very good. I'm very good here in sunny California
to join the day.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
All right, very nice. I mean, I'm sure this is
obviously we're going to be talking about this fortieth anniversary
deluxe edition of Listen Like Thieves?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
But is it?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Are you just pinching yourself going where did forty years go?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Pretty much?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Sir?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I mean it is a bit of a shock. I mean,
sometimes it feels like it was yesterday, and sometimes it
feels like it was, you know, a century ago. Yeah,
depends on the memory. I guess right, No, it is.
It is amazing because it was such a huge album
for us, and so.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I guess forty rot So I was in college at
Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and you guys came
and played on our campus when you know, you were
just getting out there. Shabu Shabah was out and we
were watching you on MTV, but you hadn't had that
like big, huge breakthrough hit, and really that's what happened
(01:04):
with Listen like Thieves.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, Chris Thomas decided, the producer, the amazing Christ Thomas
decided that we hadn't didn't have the single, didn't have
the hit single yet, and we thought, you know, we
thought it was a pretty good record, were done, but
He's like, nope. So we went back into the pile
of cassettes on the ground of demos and Tim Farres
grabbed one of Andrews called Funk something or other and
(01:26):
we bashed it out and Michael Welfs and the corn
and wrote the lyrics in the top line and then
we did it that afternoon. So it was written on
the spot and then recorded on the spot as well.
So in a couple of days we had watching the
finished and added to the album.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Wow and how key I mean in excess was a
groove it was. There were so many great choruses and
hooks and clever lyrics. But then you throw in a
good sack solo that that really that really helped that song.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Right, Yeah, yeah it did. And obviously you know later
on with never Serious a Pile, which was the number
one number one song in basically in history, on on
the Triple M network in Australia. Oh Nice Kerk took
up sex when we first started as the Farris Brothers
because it was kind of an extra instrument you might
(02:14):
have needed for certain talks of music, and it ended
up becoming a bit of a master at it. So
heads off to Kirk for for nihiling. What you need
is to really yeah, the sex part is.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So important, absolutely, and you're in your rolling baseline and
and that was the thing that I loved about when
I first saw you guys. Obviously MTV played a big
part in helping to launch your career because the videos
were so you know, so clever and interesting and and
we could talk about you know, maybe the the food
video for the for the One Thing and and how
(02:46):
cool that was. But and and obviously Michael's presence was
just unmatched. Uh but I think where it really clicked
for me. I thought one Thing was the One Thing
was so cool. But then when Don't Change came out,
I was like, well, the song's even better. So by
the time Listen Like Theeves came out in eighty five,
I was I was ready for more in excess, and man,
(03:07):
you guys just took off like a rocket starting in
eighty five and eighty six.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
It's interesting because you know, as you say, shaibushi bar, Yeah,
we had the two top forty hits. Our arrival in
America in eighty three coincided with MTV starting up, and
we had all these videos. Because Australian bands historically were
so far were so isolated and far away, Australian artists
started making videos in many ways before other people did,
(03:36):
because that's the any way to get to be seen. Well,
it was video, so we already had a pretty good
like filmmaking and you know, and the need to make
a video for each for your singles was there already,
so we already had the videos and it just really
coincided with MTV falling in love with them and playing
them to death, which is really big part of our success.
(03:56):
And that first two is looking back, it's interesting because
we did the album The Swing in England, which is
a very English album except for Original Sin with Rogers
and the rest of us, very more English. So America
didn't didn't sort of jump on board that one. And
then we come out with this like Thieves and it's
like all hands on deck again. So it was it
(04:17):
was interesting, interesting little part of our career there.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, that's a good point because yeah, the original sin
is is sandwich between uh in there and and wasn't
was it Darryl Hall that sang on that one?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, Dale Hall and I think of their names with
the two gentlemen that sang with Bowie on Let's Dance
and the Less Dance album. But so yeah, it's it was. Yeah,
it was. That was recorded in the power station in
New York with with Niall and yeah, it was just
it was a very magical. I gotta say, I hate
(04:51):
the work magical, but especially you know, working with a
guy that we idolized because you know, we really grew
up listening to American groove like Motown and p funk
and all these great little feet on those great American
groove bands in group music, and that's really where especially
my influence as a bass player came from and does.
Work in the power station with Noah Rodgers, you know,
(05:14):
was just unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Yeah, that's that's Uh. I was gonna say, you're You're
that's serious legend right there.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Oh yeah yeah, And of course while I'm doing the
base track, but it was from from chic walks in
just down, you know, it comes to say hello. You know,
I'm playing bass perfect The legend walks in while I'm
playing bass, no pressure.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
No pressure whatsoever. Chatting with Gary beers of in Excess
and Gary obviously the world I truly believe has not
been the same since nineteen ninety seven when we lost Michael,
and I know you guys have done some different things
since then, you know, with maybe some various lead singers
coming in. Is there any plan for an access you know,
(06:03):
to to come together and do any kind of tour
or something in the future. Has that been discussed?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
You know, we had a bit of a chat about
it a year or so ago when I was I
was last in Australia and everyone's over to the idea,
but I just I just don't know. I mean, we'd
have to really sit down and have a really good,
heartfelt conversation about who we're seeing, if, if, if it
would be up to our standards, because we you know,
offers have been there, like insane, offers have been there
for us to go out and play or do this,
(06:31):
do that, yeah, and we've always said no because we
always the number one reason we toured was to perform.
You know, we really loved playing well and I know
we often voted the best live band, et cetera in
many polls, and we took playing like we you know,
very our performance very seriously. So to go out now,
you know, I don't know. It takes a lot of
(06:52):
thought and a lot of a lot of discussion, but
at this point I'd.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Say no, okay, sure, yeah, And like you said, it's
you know, Michael is irreplaceable. But obviously finding a person
who could possibly go into that role, I obviously would
not be an easy task. But as an Xcess fan
and for all the Xcess fans listening, if you ever
go out on tour, I promise people are going to
show up to check you out. That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Shows Australia with my new band, Ash and Moons, and
we do a couple of Inexcess songs, the ones that
I wrote or had a hand in, and yeah, it's
it was great to a lot of fans turned up.
So that was that was my little bit of getting
the enjoyment back. So yeah, I know, I know the
feeling would be great at the band went out again,
but I'm just not sure. Yeah, it's really up to
(07:39):
the other guys, and I'm still playing. I love it,
but it's really up to the other guys.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Well. And obviously if the time comes again, the audience
will show up, that's for sure. And props to you
for your part in writing Don't Change. That is literally
one of my all time favorite songs. It's like, if
I'm stuck on a desert island, I need to have
that song on that So Don't Change is just fantastic.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
It is. It's a great song, and it's a great
song to play. I mean it's just a it's just
a latitude and a beautiful, beautiful course.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Oh yeah, it's just so driving. And I saw it.
I've heard it recently and I think it was a
car commercial.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I think so we get we get off, yeah,
for usage of your music and you say yes, so
we say no that one.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah? Very good well Gary, nice chatting with you, man,
And uh, just huge fan of In Excess. The fortieth
anniversary Deluxe edition of Listen Like Thieves. Everybody's going to
go out and get it. I mean it's it's a
three CD or LP twenty twenty five remixes on it
and all kinds of stuff so I as a fan,
I'm sure lots of fans out there are going to
be grabbing this thing up. Gary. Nice to talk to you,
(08:45):
brother
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Thank you, Jeff all of this stay well.
I'm Jeff Stevens. Thanks for listening to my eighties show podcast.
So excited to talk to inexcess bass player Gary Beers
Kiffy you go, mate, Hey Gary, nice to talk to you,
my friend. How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm very good. I'm very good here in sunny California
to join the day.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
All right, very nice. I mean, I'm sure this is
obviously we're going to be talking about this fortieth anniversary
deluxe edition of Listen Like Thieves?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
But is it?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Are you just pinching yourself going where did forty years go?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Pretty much?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Sir?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I mean it is a bit of a shock. I mean,
sometimes it feels like it was yesterday, and sometimes it
feels like it was, you know, a century ago. Yeah,
depends on the memory. I guess right, No, it is.
It is amazing because it was such a huge album
for us, and so.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I guess forty rot So I was in college at
Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and you guys came
and played on our campus when you know, you were
just getting out there. Shabu Shabah was out and we
were watching you on MTV, but you hadn't had that
like big, huge breakthrough hit, and really that's what happened
(01:04):
with Listen like Thieves.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, Chris Thomas decided, the producer, the amazing Christ Thomas
decided that we hadn't didn't have the single, didn't have
the hit single yet, and we thought, you know, we
thought it was a pretty good record, were done, but
He's like, nope. So we went back into the pile
of cassettes on the ground of demos and Tim Farres
grabbed one of Andrews called Funk something or other and
(01:26):
we bashed it out and Michael Welfs and the corn
and wrote the lyrics in the top line and then
we did it that afternoon. So it was written on
the spot and then recorded on the spot as well.
So in a couple of days we had watching the
finished and added to the album.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Wow and how key I mean in excess was a
groove it was. There were so many great choruses and
hooks and clever lyrics. But then you throw in a
good sack solo that that really that really helped that song.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Right, Yeah, yeah it did. And obviously you know later
on with never Serious a Pile, which was the number
one number one song in basically in history, on on
the Triple M network in Australia. Oh Nice Kerk took
up sex when we first started as the Farris Brothers
because it was kind of an extra instrument you might
(02:14):
have needed for certain talks of music, and it ended
up becoming a bit of a master at it. So
heads off to Kirk for for nihiling. What you need
is to really yeah, the sex part is.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So important, absolutely, and you're in your rolling baseline and
and that was the thing that I loved about when
I first saw you guys. Obviously MTV played a big
part in helping to launch your career because the videos
were so you know, so clever and interesting and and
we could talk about you know, maybe the the food
video for the for the One Thing and and how
(02:46):
cool that was. But and and obviously Michael's presence was
just unmatched. Uh but I think where it really clicked
for me. I thought one Thing was the One Thing
was so cool. But then when Don't Change came out,
I was like, well, the song's even better. So by
the time Listen Like Theeves came out in eighty five,
I was I was ready for more in excess, and man,
(03:07):
you guys just took off like a rocket starting in
eighty five and eighty six.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
It's interesting because you know, as you say, shaibushi bar, Yeah,
we had the two top forty hits. Our arrival in
America in eighty three coincided with MTV starting up, and
we had all these videos. Because Australian bands historically were
so far were so isolated and far away, Australian artists
started making videos in many ways before other people did,
(03:36):
because that's the any way to get to be seen. Well,
it was video, so we already had a pretty good
like filmmaking and you know, and the need to make
a video for each for your singles was there already,
so we already had the videos and it just really
coincided with MTV falling in love with them and playing
them to death, which is really big part of our success.
(03:56):
And that first two is looking back, it's interesting because
we did the album The Swing in England, which is
a very English album except for Original Sin with Rogers
and the rest of us, very more English. So America
didn't didn't sort of jump on board that one. And
then we come out with this like Thieves and it's
like all hands on deck again. So it was it
(04:17):
was interesting, interesting little part of our career there.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, that's a good point because yeah, the original sin
is is sandwich between uh in there and and wasn't
was it Darryl Hall that sang on that one?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, Dale Hall and I think of their names with
the two gentlemen that sang with Bowie on Let's Dance
and the Less Dance album. But so yeah, it's it was. Yeah,
it was. That was recorded in the power station in
New York with with Niall and yeah, it was just
it was a very magical. I gotta say, I hate
(04:51):
the work magical, but especially you know, working with a
guy that we idolized because you know, we really grew
up listening to American groove like Motown and p funk
and all these great little feet on those great American
groove bands in group music, and that's really where especially
my influence as a bass player came from and does.
Work in the power station with Noah Rodgers, you know,
(05:14):
was just unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Yeah, that's that's Uh. I was gonna say, you're You're
that's serious legend right there.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Oh yeah yeah, And of course while I'm doing the
base track, but it was from from chic walks in
just down, you know, it comes to say hello. You know,
I'm playing bass perfect The legend walks in while I'm
playing bass, no pressure.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
No pressure whatsoever. Chatting with Gary beers of in Excess
and Gary obviously the world I truly believe has not
been the same since nineteen ninety seven when we lost Michael,
and I know you guys have done some different things
since then, you know, with maybe some various lead singers
coming in. Is there any plan for an access you know,
(06:03):
to to come together and do any kind of tour
or something in the future. Has that been discussed?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
You know, we had a bit of a chat about
it a year or so ago when I was I
was last in Australia and everyone's over to the idea,
but I just I just don't know. I mean, we'd
have to really sit down and have a really good,
heartfelt conversation about who we're seeing, if, if, if it
would be up to our standards, because we you know,
offers have been there, like insane, offers have been there
for us to go out and play or do this,
(06:31):
do that, yeah, and we've always said no because we
always the number one reason we toured was to perform.
You know, we really loved playing well and I know
we often voted the best live band, et cetera in
many polls, and we took playing like we you know,
very our performance very seriously. So to go out now,
you know, I don't know. It takes a lot of
(06:52):
thought and a lot of a lot of discussion, but
at this point I'd.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Say no, okay, sure, yeah, And like you said, it's
you know, Michael is irreplaceable. But obviously finding a person
who could possibly go into that role, I obviously would
not be an easy task. But as an Xcess fan
and for all the Xcess fans listening, if you ever
go out on tour, I promise people are going to
show up to check you out. That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Shows Australia with my new band, Ash and Moons, and
we do a couple of Inexcess songs, the ones that
I wrote or had a hand in, and yeah, it's
it was great to a lot of fans turned up.
So that was that was my little bit of getting
the enjoyment back. So yeah, I know, I know the
feeling would be great at the band went out again,
but I'm just not sure. Yeah, it's really up to
(07:39):
the other guys, and I'm still playing. I love it,
but it's really up to the other guys.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Well. And obviously if the time comes again, the audience
will show up, that's for sure. And props to you
for your part in writing Don't Change. That is literally
one of my all time favorite songs. It's like, if
I'm stuck on a desert island, I need to have
that song on that So Don't Change is just fantastic.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
It is. It's a great song, and it's a great
song to play. I mean it's just a it's just
a latitude and a beautiful, beautiful course.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Oh yeah, it's just so driving. And I saw it.
I've heard it recently and I think it was a
car commercial.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I think so we get we get off, yeah,
for usage of your music and you say yes, so
we say no that one.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah? Very good well Gary, nice chatting with you, man,
And uh, just huge fan of In Excess. The fortieth
anniversary Deluxe edition of Listen Like Thieves. Everybody's going to
go out and get it. I mean it's it's a
three CD or LP twenty twenty five remixes on it
and all kinds of stuff so I as a fan,
I'm sure lots of fans out there are going to
be grabbing this thing up. Gary. Nice to talk to you,
(08:45):
brother
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Thank you, Jeff all of this stay well.
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