sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bryan Adams

V

Mkha^lKamen, who wrote the tune for Bryan Adams' record- breaking single, is one of music's unsung heroes. By Phil McNeill j Georgesays he's Harrison "a Atlanticshoulders" Records. with Otis Redding at ofSong music, is so it's transparent: a promotional it isn't device." a piece |I charmer",Clapton "loves Eric him to observed:Lillian Roxon's "It lakes Rock guts Encyclopedia to open a KamenThe irony had ahere, hand of in course, the most is that | death"," rin reckons producer he's Bob withGreenwich an oboe Village duet... discotheque set successful(Everything cross-promotion I Do) I Do It For of You all time. ;ened-toteofthe composersmost singslike a likedecadent Wilson Roman Pickett emperor." and looks spentnumber a record-busting one and has sold 16 6m weeks copies at Kamenof our age". and Hisif your name's response Michael is "who?", When the group wound up after five worldwide. then join the club. Yet when the phone Sanbornalbums, Kamenand made aEarl solo Slick, LP with then entirelyThe Robin orchestral Hood soundtrack,apart from Adams' Hillrings mansion, in Kamen's chances five-storey are it's Hotting David Misscored En the Vie. first David of nine Bowie ballets, came Rodin to the ahit further and one 2m. other Kamen pop song,is about has to sold sign enlistGilmour his or services. calling to premiere and Kamen was promptly a new publishing contract, his Kamen is the man Kate Bush enlistedDiamond as Dogs musical tour, director taking Slickfor the and lapsed,previous and deal accepts with MCA that thehaving Adams orchestraturned to whento beef she up wantedRunning an Up That SanbornWith such with a him.varied background, morerecord songs gives (it's him virtually "a platform" the first to write conductHill, the Theman Wall Roger in WatersBerlin to asked to Kamen is ideally suited to film single he has written), but you get the celebrate German unity, the man whizz-bangwriting, where thriller he may like be Die scoring Hard onea aggravationmessage that involved. there was a lot of AerosmithDream On forcommissioned MTV's 10th to arrange dayHood and the a next. medieval legend like Robin ago,""I wrote he recounts, that little "for melody nothing 20 inyears hadanniversary a hand in show. history And when this heyear he moviesHe is atcurrently once, the working Michael on two Marianparticular, on screenand when together I saw itRobin just and ofco-wrote all time, one Bryan of the Adams' best-selling (Everything singles Douglas/Melanie Griffith romance popped out. I've rarely been as excited I Do) I Do It For You. Scout,Shining starring Through Bruce and Willis.The Last Boy peopleabout a in theme LA and — playedI actually it down called the stuff'Yet isthe really irony Michael is that thisKamen's "rock whichHis sumptuoushe shares with west English wife, home, phone to them. composehobby. What film scores.he does for a living is (Shasha,Sandra, and 16 is11-year-old at boarding daughter school), actsZoe directorsWhen Hollywood discuss music producers for a new and phoningas his office, down with orders Kamen — often shouting irascibly or onproject, the shortlist. Kamen's His name credits is sure include to be — from his ground-floor studio to his unavailable, so : OfThieves, Lethal personalFrequently assistant to be infound the basement.there, too, is andDavid Jim Kershenbaum Mazza, the MonaWeapon Lisa, I and Someone II, Die ToHard Watch I and Over II, whohis musical vehemently assistant, denies Ed a Shearmur,rumour that Muttproducers, Lange send wanted it to toBryan. use the He song and MunchausenMe, The Krays, and Brazil, more Baron— not to heKamen. writes "My some function of what is is to credited get down to onmiddle-eight his album, and so they a great supplied guitar a solo Darknessmention TV and series The suchManageress. as Edge Of on hispaper Kurzweil what Michael sampler," has he improvised says, andAs the to whyrest isit washistory." such a hit, Kamen worthFortunately, even if the Kamen public knows doesn't. his He own withKamen's unsolicited conversation tributes tois pepperedhis issays that he there's has no a idea. load "Myof rubl be comparedwill tell you with that the he classical has been composer planningfriends. He to andlaunch Dave a classical Stewart labelare charta pretty and melody." this was the only song with Georgeft figure Philip out Telemann when he slept,because either. they —next "and year, if anyone initially can releasing promote just the Bach notAfter surprising the success that Kamenof Robin is Hood, upset it's at six, seven, eight hours of music for Davidmusic ofA JohannStewart," Sebastian says Kamen. Bach it's Forthe lackSaxophone. of response to his Concerto getbig orchestrasfaint when everyI think year," about he it." says. "I readilyKamen's return friends his a tickertape"I didn't expect parade, to bebut greeted I didn't with want writeSomehow classical he pieces has still for found Clapton time and to USpluggercompliments, Jeff with dealit ignored," of my money he says. and "1 Warners'spent a great on saxophonistGuitar Concerto David was Sanborn. premiered The at asPollack to call going him "trulyso far that record." nowClapton's being Albert recorded. Hall shows and is Renaissancea modern Man", Concerto,modelled on is "profound"Brahms' Second classical releasedThe Concerto this year For to Saxophonea resounding was attendinguntil you begin an awards to feel ceremony. like you're whosemusic —Saxophone but saxophonist Concertos John album Harle, - it's hard to find one critic no"Michael boundaries taught to orchestrating me that there are Classics,has just been begs released to differ. by "Kamen's EMI solicitingKamen has interviews. hired a PR and begun music,"Kamen runs is a Stewart's big guy with testimony. an saysmusic Harle, for Robin "but Hood his Concerto is fantastic," For | partWhen in a weRadio met, One he debatehad just which taken evidentlyoutgoing, endearsbear-like him personality to his which bitSaxophone of a pose is an pseudo-classical. experiment in writing It's a u= askedof the ayes.Is Pop Art? — Kamen being one whocollaborators. looks like "WorkingDemis Roussos with someone is very lacksabstract, direction." non-visual music which g-| anathemaBut rock's to uptightKamen self-obsessiona humorous 43- is goodKamen's for the favourite creative director, process,"jokes Terry ClaptonPerhaps will Kamen's be more concerto convincing; for their n year-oldclass Ukrainian New Yorker, Jewish whose parents middle- hung ofGilliam, well-being "because that tricksit provides the brain a sense into agrees,score for was Edge brilliant. Of Darkness, Having Harle loaned Roadhouse,1989; Scores James for Baron Bond: Munchausen, Licence To Kill, out with such folk pioneers as thinking that things are under his talents to other people for 20 years, The Manageress. heLeadbelly started andplaying Pete in Seeger. Sixties Ever jug bands since Kamen is also a great entertainer ownKamen mark evidently by creating wants a kindto make of super- his performance1990: BFI award of Guilar for The Concerto. Krays score. First Schoolwhile studying of Music oboe in New at the York, Juilliard he has areaswhose of conversation music. sprawls over all embracingmusic from Bowie,the many Bond, facets ballet, of a Bach,career Orchestrated and conducted in ashad he his could feet manage. in as many musical camps vehiclesFie derides for promoting the use of records, movies asand BushOne and suspects Brazil. that Kamen's 1991: Concerto For Saxophone. Score for In 1966 he and fellow oboeist Dorian vice versa. "Record companies try to ambitious vision may, like most fusion Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, Co-wrote calledRudnytsky The New started York an Rock R&B And group Roll singlesfill up an as album they can, with and as manyseize on hit any music, produce less than the sum of You,Bryan which Adams' sold (Everything 6m copies. I Do) I Do It For classicalEnsemble, orchestra which played and "rubbed with a excuse" to stick a Therecord Shoop in a Shoopfilm. But with moving pictures, he's MUSIC WEEK 21/28 DECEMBER 1991 13