From his early days in the La’s, to forming Cast and then his current acoustic venture, John Power has always been one step ahead...
Last week he was on his way back to Liverpool for a homecoming gig, and he says he’s never been in better form.
His new album, Stormbreaker, is out in January, and he can’t wait to show off his new material.
“I’m dead happy with it, it’s sounding great,” he grins. “Sorry, that’s not very modest is it? I try not to do that. I think it demeans it. I always think if someone needs to talk something up, it’s generally rubbish. But this is good, I’m just too excited about it.”
He played on Friday night at The Zanzibar.
“I’ve always loved the Zanzibar,” says John, 39. “There’s something great about indie venues, and there’s always a great atmosphere in there. I’d rather be in there than in a big, soulless venue any day. It’s got a lot of spirit.
“The band are all from around here too, so they’re looking forward to it. It feels like we’re coming full citcle.”
John says he’s also looking forward to hearing the support bands.
“We’ve been touring so much I haven’t heard many Liverpool bands for ages,” he admits. “You get kind of self-obsessed, so I’m looking forward to seeing some good bands.”
Reds’ fan John grew up in south Liverpool and his family are still there (“Allerton, Penny Lane, all round there – I still have a house here. Liverpool is still home. I’m still very much a Scouser.”)
He’s come a long way since he joined the La’s on bass in 1986, fresh from a city council scheme for aspiring musicians.
Last year he took part in a reunion tour. How did it feel to be back?
“The La’s have never really gone away,” he says. “I’ll never not be in the La’s. I’ll always play the bass for Lee whenever he’s ready.”
With Cast he found fame as a songwriter. Their debut album All Change sold more than a million copies and was the fastest selling debut record ever on Polydor back in 1995.
But he doesn’t miss those days.
“In those days I was always looking for approval. When you come out of it, all you’re left with is yourself, and you either make sense of it or you don’t,” he ponders. “When you’re among the madness of the pop industry, you think that’s going to bring great happiness.
“Now it’s more about doing what I want to do. I feel like I’ve grown up a lot, like I’m in the right bag now.
“I’ve not got a big, corporate band. But then I’m not a big corporate type of person.
“Sometimes I despair at what’s happened to music.
“The music industry used to be a national treasure, but like so many great assets it got privatised. Now it’s about profit making. I don’t want to be part of that. I feel I’m grounded musically, and I don’t want to demean that with money making.”
Thankfully his hippy beliefs no longer extends to his beard, which grew to epic proportions over the Summer. Now it’s short and neatly trimmed.
“It was the feral look, didn’t you like it?” he chuckles. “I was reading The Hobbit to my son and he asked me to grow it so I could be Gandalf and he could be Bilbo. So I didn’t shave for a bit and assumed a character.
“I shaved it off last week. I’ve only got a bit of stubble. Do you want me to shave it all off?”
Yes please.
“Alright, well, we’ll have to see. I might just surprise you.”
John Power played the Zanzibar on Friday night. For more information see www.johnpower.uk.com