Lee Pomeroy - Bass Guitar

Lee’s Big 2009 Interview -  Part1
Lee’s Big 2009 Interview -  Part2

Itbites.com – "Hi Lee welcome back to It Bites after your time away. "
Lee - "Cheers Richard."


You’ve never done a proper interview here although you did answer some one-liners for you profile when you first joined the band a year ago. Have you enjoyed the past twelve months? 
Yeah it's been great fun, and more to come very soon.


Rewind back to before you joined, I understand you had met Dick Nolan a few years back? 
Yeah, I was introduced to Dick by a mate of mine named Milton Mcdonald ( he plays guitar with Take That and Ray Davies ) at a Take That show in London in 2007. 


So how did you get to join It Bites, did you have to audition? 
Sort of. Bob gave me a call and said I'd been recommended by a few people ( one of them was Dick Nolan ) and would I be up for a play. Being a big It Bites fan I said yes straight away and we got together for a run through of some old tunes.


Which tracks did you have to run though? 
Er..... Old Man, Judas, Heroes and All In Red.... I think ( damn you brain!! )


How familiar were you with the songs at the audition? 
Well I'd been a fan since 1986 so I knew the songs backwards which sounded weird as they only know them forwards.


Did you remember It Bites from the first time around? 
Oh yes. I saw them twice at the Hammersmith Odeon back in the day. I believe John Mitchell was at the same two gigs too.


How did you get into the band’s music? 
I remember my brother Steve telling me he'd videod the Old Grey Whistle Test and there was a band I had to hear. So he put the tape on and that was it, hooked. Bought the album, and all the other albums after that. Then the mania started, singles, 12inch singles, live bootleg tapes.... Sorry chaps, I'll get my coat!!


Why did you choose to play the bass? 
I couldn't be arsed to set up drums!


Which bass players influenced you the most? 
Oh man, too many to mention. I'm still listening now and picking up influences. I guess the main ones are Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, Geddy Lee, Paul McArtney, John Entwhistle, Paul Jackson, Ray Shulman, John Paul Jones, Chris Wood. I've always loved Dick Nolan's playing too, great musician.


Of all the It Bites albums which one appeals to you the most from a bass player’s perspective? 
Hmm... In a way The Tall Ships because it was blank canvas for the live shows. Most of these tunes hadn't been played live before so I could play them in my way but I'll always love the challenge of Once Around the World.


Do you think that ‘Tall Ships’ lacks having a proper bass-player?  Would you have done it differently? 
Not really. I think the parts on there are great both in sound and delivery. I would have done some things differently because I'm a different player to JM and JB but I think it all sounds ace.

How did you feel about Nathan King standing in for you when you were touring with Take That? 
Nathan is a brilliant musician all round so I was really chuffed that he was up for it. It was great to know that it was all in good hands and that he'd play his arse off like I do. So I was very happy. I do still have a gig don't I? In fact there were some other top class bass players who said they'd like to do the tour so that just goes to show you how respected and popular the band is amongst musos.

I understand you texted him just before he was about to go on stage to wish him “bad luck”? 
Haha, yeah bloody predictive texting!! I texted all the guys to wish them best of luck before the Japan gig and before the European tour. Bless em!


You also missed out on playing with Rick Wakeman at Hampton Court Palace? 
I know, don't rub it in. Who are you, my manager ?!


What do the people in Take That think about you playing in It Bites? 
The guys in the band ( backing band that is ) think it's brilliant. Milton McDonald, Take That's guitarist, is a huge fan and we still jam bits of IB and Rush in soundchecks and rehearsals.


How did you get to play in Take That? 
Well I was at the job centre..... It was a recommendation from my dear mate Adam Wakeman. The musical director, Mike Stevens, was after a bassist that could sing and play bass and Adam gave him my number. We had a meeting and he hired me without hearing me play or sing a note. Phew!!


Everytime you appear on tv you always look very happy. Why is this? 
I love playing bass so I'm happy whether I'm on TV, at a gig or in the studio. 


Do you still play with the Sugar Babes? 
No, that was a one off gig that Mike Stevens ( he MD's them too ) asked me to do when there bassist was away. Funnily enough he asked me at the Genesis show in Twickenham in 2007 so there's a prog connection there too. It all comes back to prog you see!


Any other bands? 
Yeah there is my prog metal band Headspace with Adam Wakeman, Damian Wilson, Rich Brook and Pete Rinaldi. Check us out on www.headspaceonline.com 



Interview -  Part2

Thank you Lee Pomeroy.

Lee Pomeroy - Facts

 Date and place of birth:

Your birthday's coming up. So what would you like?

 Having a good day? If not, what's your perfect way to spend the day?

Equipment Used:

What's your favourite/least favourite It Bites track?

As a bassist you have played with lots of artists -

And if you're not playing, which is the best band you've ever seen live? And why?

Any bands/musicians you wished you'd seen live but were too busy, too poor, too young or not even alive at the time?

The gig's over and it's my round, so what are you having?

what are your top 5 TV programmes of all time?

 what are your top 5 Films of all time?

You've all played with some pretty big names in the Music Industry. Any other musicians you'd like to work with?

Do you play any other instruments other than bass?