In short

After playing in different bands back in the 80’s I got tired of the ongoing discussions about how a composition should be structured. This is of course subjective. None of us were wrong in that sense. We just fought for what we thought were the best version of a certain thing.

And I had my ideas of the song, the structure and arrangement. I was not keen on the negotiations that you have in a band because I tend to have a well worked idea.
I don’t really jam to find interesting grooves, song etc. I like working them out in my head.
I developed phonetic tools and sounds, so I can reproduce my thoughts verbally.

So I got this great epiphany. Compose the songs the way I want them, and then hire musicians to play my music. No more discussions, no more compromises. The musicians should be in the band if they liked the songs, and we would work our way to fame. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, I got the musicians and what happens is of course that they grow tired of the rehearsal because they don’t feel engaged enough, and on top of that, they played for free because I didn’t have any money.

So after 7 years struggle with ever-changing members I disbanded the project in the early 90’s.

But I swore that I would get them recorded the way I wanted it, one day. Especially because I didn’t get the versions of them at that time.

And now Im finally here. I have 10 songs and and have 20 to go.

About me

I grew up in a small town in Copenhagen, Denmark in the 70’s. I was born in 1964.
My parents got divorced at the age of 2 or 3, so I’ve been growing up with my mother.
I did maintain a relationship with my dad, but we didn’t have that much touchbase.
My mother was sick and an alcoholic, so yes, I’m from a broken home.
Even though the obvious conclusion to my music background could be escaping, I think it’s also driven by the music itself. I just loved details in the music. I played records at higher speed, so I could hear the bass part clearer.
I’m very rational thinking, and I’m certain that this has helped me survive the everlasting challenges in my childhood. I did not abuse drugs or alcohol and didn’t smoke. But I did party and got drunk and had a good time. Just didn’t understand why anyone would even consider injecting things into their body, that make them lose control of their behavior.
Which rationally comes from seeing my mother get drunk to overcome problems.
I like a clear head and I like being able to remember things.

I was not good at school. I did too much effort trying to hide my broken home and trying to avoid friends getting back to my place.
The tragic thing is that later I found out how many of my classmates that actually had trouble at home. I guess this was just the times in the 70’s.
In the local youth club me and some friends started a band. I was about 16 then.
Now the guy who ran that club was a nice guy, so we could go and rehearse in the weekends. (why can’t it be more like that these days?)
This was so great and we played some local gigs and worked on songs.

I was not approved or recommended for High School. And of course with my background, no parents went and fought for that. So I did some random work and attended different schools. I didn’t want to let go of the music, so I chose to go that way. But without money its difficult.
I got a job in a music store and in the aforementioned youth club teaching music.

Why the name – Never Can Tell

The element of surprise is a delicate one. You can’t surprise people often, without losing the surprise. I don’t insert surprises just for the surprise sake. I just allow myself to do whatever I want with a song. Even tho’ some think it gets ruined.
I follow my gut feeling and what I like. Because I like a lot of different music I want to create different music. I don’t assume I’m a master of all genres. I just do what I like with a song.
So I think that Never Can Tell describes perfectly what you can expect. 🙂

The plans for the project

To be honest, I don’t really know. The idea to get the songs recorded anew, was really just so I could hear them.
It was friends and family that convinced me to go public. And I’m glad they did. Because, what a stupid idea to spent a lot of money just to hear the songs. How irrational 🙂

What will happen with the songs I don’t know. What I do know is that I will not assemble a band to promote the album. I will do a band IF there’s a crowd for it. Otherwise I can’t afford it. A big lesson here from the previous times.

Inspirations

Frank Zappa entered my life late. It was the drummer in the fourth edition of Never Can Tell that told me about him in more details. So he is the topmost influential composer.
Here’s my influencers in no particular order

• Frank Zappa
• Rupert Hine
• It Bites
• Talking Heads
• 10CC
• Stranglers
• Godley & Creme
• Brand X
• Rush
• Mr. Bungle
• Supertramp
• Dream Theater
• Estradashere
• Thomas Dolby
• Steve Vai
• Genesis
• The Residents
• Yes
• U.K.
• Joe Jackson
• King Crimson
• XTC
• Weird Al Yankovich
• Level 42
• Shu-bi-dua (Danish)
• Living Color
• Steely Dan