John Beaudin – Hi Daryl, nice to talk to you again. With this Genesis reunion keeping you busy, have you had any time to perform your new solo album “Go” live anywhere?

Daryl Stuermer – I haven’t been really able to push go in anyway since I just went out with Genesis as “Go” just came out. The good thing though is “Go” is being sold at Genesis shows so that’s cool.

John – Good for you.

Daryl – It sold fairly well in Europe and I’m hoping for the same thing here in Canada and in the States. Europe usually sells better anyway for me and I don’t really know why. I think maybe it’s because they think progressively and it’s less radio based as far as commercial radio.

John – I think “Go” is the best thing you’ve ever done.

Daryl – Thank you, I think so too. I think this is where I finally found my stride and it’s actually in a way where I first came from. My band Sweetbottom was kind of a Jazz/Rock thing as well. Sweetbottom had a saxophone and maybe that’s what created more of the Jazz feel. Though Sweetbottom is more Rock than a typical Smooth Jazz record, I was always listening to people like John Mahavishnu Orchestra. My last CD also showed that this is where I was going to go. It was a collection of my edgier heavier tunes from my previous CD’s but the older albums all had heavier tunes but never too heavy all the way through.

John – Well, “Green Light” from “Go” is a great kick-ass driving song. What a great drumming song as well! I started drumming for the first time in months to that song.

Daryl – Oh yeah definitely. I really did that feel for this record, really focusing. Actually, the last three songs on the CD called “Meltdown,” “The Archer,” and Omnibus” were actually written back in the seventies and eighties. You know what? “The Archer” was written back in 1974. We did it with my band Sweetbottom but never did a studio recording of it. So I wanted to bring that back because I felt that it never got it’s due. I did the same thing with “Meltdown” which I wrote in 1980 and the same goes for “Omnibus.”

John – Interesting that you should share that because “Meltdown” to me has a real nice seventies vibe to it.

Daryl – Oh great! Thank you. I just thought that these songs should not just sit there and disappear. I think that they fit the other music that I wrote and that’s what I mean when I say that I’m coming back to my roots with this album. I do think it’s my most focused album to date.

John – I just watched the Düsseldorf Genesis show on DVD and I’d forgotten how much instrumental music there is in a Genesis show, which is strange, because that’s why I first started listening to Genesis.

Daryl – You know John, a lot of people have commented on that on how surprised they were on how much instrumental music we play on this Genesis tour and we love it. A lot of people who aren’t musicians commented this way. They say, “I love when you play just music.”(laughing) It’s interesting instead of using the word instrumental they say “just music.”

John – Well, I find it hard to believe a Genesis fan would not love “Go.”

Daryl – I think so. I hope so. It’s rock based and it’s progressive rock but I can’t help that I have my Jazz influence and I have my funk influence. The first song “Striker” is influenced by something maybe Prince would do or a Jeff Beck riff. That’s where I come from, that whole Rock/Jazz/Fusion/Funk thing. Also this is the first album I have ever mixed myself.

John – In your home studio, right?

Daryl – Yeah, basically. I did it in my home studio and the only thing I recorded outside my studio were the drums as I don’t have the facilities to record drums there.

John – When I was looking at the Düsseldorf show I was floored by the new Genesis stage. It’s freakin huge! Can you actually see it on stage? I know that sounds like a weird question but can you see the stage on stage?

Daryl – (laughing) I know what you mean. I’ve only seen it in photos and some people have filmed us live so that’s the only time I’ve seen it. I never do see it. We are so close to it that we actually can’t see it.

John – Yeah, from the angle of you on stage?

Daryl – Yeah. The screen that is right behind us on stage is not a high definition screen so in other words when you sitting at least 20 rows back it actually looks better. Then there are screens that are on each side of the stage that are actually high definition screens like TV screens.

John – In the Düsseldorf show you’re actually walking to the stage beside Chester (Thompson) and Phil, Tony and Mike are walking behind you.

Daryl – Yeah, you saw that too. Where did you get that DVD? It’s rare.

John – A Friend in Europe knew I was talking to you again and thought it would be good interview prop. This was the show that was viewed in the cinemas, right?

Daryl – Yes it was. I have it too but that’s just because the engineer that did the live mixing gave me a copy. It was our second night in Düsseldorf. The first night was all about getting the camera angles correct. And the engineer was just getting a good mix of it so the second night was the actual filming and it was fed out to Sweden, Spain and England. So people just bought tickets to the actual cinemas/Theatres so a lot of folks got a chance to watch it, which was great. Remember Genesis didn’t play Sweden or Spain. We did play England but we only played Manchester and London.

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John – On the Interview portion of the Düsseldorf show Phil does hint on possible more shows in Europe.

Daryl – I think so. I think the tour went so well in Europe that it just made everybody feel so good about being back together again. It’s has been 15 years since Genesis has actually played together. The tour went so well and Phil was really up and happy and they’re already talking about wanting to do more. I can’t say where it’s going to be but they’re already talking about it. Maybe we’ll be doing more things in 2008.

John – There must be talk about Genesis recording more new music?

Daryl – You know I haven’t heard anything about that but I did hear them say.

John – I guess people ask them that all the time?

Daryl – Right. What they have said is you know they would never plan on it but I could imagine at least the three guys getting together and just seeing what happens and if it starts working (laughing) they’ll write songs. My theory is this, if they get together there will be new music because they can’t help it. I think it’s just going to come out. I can’t imagine them saying, “No, it’s not working.” (Laughing)

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