Classic Albums Live: An Interview with Craig Martin

BFounded in 2003 by Craig Martin, Classic Albums Live is a concert series where a set of musicians perform a classic rock album in its entirety aiming to recreate every sound of the original album. The musicians follow an all black dress code and no not speak to the audience between each track to keep the original listening experience as if you were hearing the album at home or in the car. Band founder Craig Martin talks to Graham Clark…

How did you get the idea of performing the Classic albums?
I’ve always been a musician and ended up being in a covers band, I got fed up of the music being desecrated; they would spend more time on their costumes and wigs rather than learn to play the songs properly. Whilst driving back from a concert it led me to think that wouldn’t it be great to hear albums performed entirely in the way they were recorded, like how an orchestra would perform them. By the time I had driven from Montreal to my home town on Toronto I had conceived the idea – within two months we had out first show up and running and had sold out a theatre show in Toronto. I couldn’t believe it!

Do you have regular musicians performing the albums on each tour?
I find the right musicians for each album – that I think is my secret weapon. The Beatles’ White Album, which we are currently doing, has musicians who have been touring with me for a long time. It is not just note for note but it is tone for tone; you will hear that when you come to see the show.

Do you perform any more music besides the album in the show?
We play some extra music besides all of the album, our audiences always leave the theatre smiling and with a spring in their step.

Do you have a favourite album?
At the moment it is The White Album which is quite a diverse album. Side four has some deep tracks in there such as ‘Revolution Number Nine’ which basically is seven minutes of sound effects and a collage of noise – when we play the track on this tour the British audiences seem quite astonished how we manage to pull it off successfully. The White Album to me is the sound of four young men becoming aware of their place in culture and exploring that. Can you imagine a band today taking an album as diverse and complex as this to a record company today – they would be thrown out of the door.

The Beatles performed at was The Gaumont in Bradford, now reborn as Bradford Live where you are performing The White Album.
I actually visited Bradford Live a few months ago when I was looking at venues for our band to play in the UK and was very impressed with the refurbishment. For us to play there will be a very historic occasion- this concert will be extra special I am sure.

What will be the next classic album you will perform live?
Led Zeppelin II is going to be the next one that we look to tour in the UK. Many of the band have British passports so when they leave Canada to come here it feels like a homecoming.

What do you think defines a classic album?
I think it is an album that bears a cultural significance and connects with an audience on a spiritual level and continues to do so even if it might be fifty years since the album was originally released.

More more info on Classic Albums Live visit classicalbumslive.com