Last updated August 7, 1998
From Smash Hits, August 18, 1982
Bit of an abrasive character, this Mark Hollis from Talk Talk. Halfway through our chat, I innocently mention that they're often compared to Duran Duran, the band they supported on last year's tour.
"Look, I just want to say two things," he explodes. "First, I don't think it's a fair comparison. People who say that obviously haven't listened to us properly. Duran Duran's overall sound is just bass drum."
"Secondly, we've been compared to 11 different bands! It's got to the stage that I'm really wary of mentioning other bands in case our name gets associated with them."
And then, with disgust in his voice, he begins to list some of those names: Simple Minds, Echo and the Bunnymen, U2, Air Supply, Roxy Music, Original Mirrors, Styx, The Jam ... "and we haven't even got a guitar, you know what I mean?"
All right, all right. Point taken. Back to basics then. Mark left school half way through his A-levels ("I just, like, had a few hassles with things") and for a while did "just factory jobs". He ended up hawking some songs round Island Records, looking for a deal. His brother Ed was at the time doing some production work in Southend with bassist Paul Webb and drummer Lee Harris. He suggested they work with Mark and the three came together. Island were interested and forwarded some money for a publishing deal that financed some demos and rehearsals.
Keyboard player Simon Brenner was enlisted, and Talk Talk was born. They did five gigs in trendy London clubs, had a Kid Jensen session on the radio and - bingo! - a record deal from EMI.
Their first single in February this year, "Mirror Man" went largely unnoticed. Their second "Talk Talk", itself got to number 52. That might not sound so impressive, but at the moment the record is a hit in France, Canada and Portugal, is threatening the charts in Australia and has been well received in the US of A. Talk Talk are doing OK.
So who would Mark Hollis like to be compared with, I wonder, trying to calm him down a little!
"Well, in terms of singers: Otis Redding. He combines real power with tenderness. Songwriters: Bacharach and David. They were so consistent over a long period of time. Arrangements: John Coltrane. As for contemporaries, I can't actually listen to things like the Human League because they've been played to death. But I think they've made really good ground."
" Those are the people I admire."
He cites the Talk Talk philosophy as being "as diverse as possible while retaining an original sound." And the group's ambition as "to be able to feel that we've always got more to do."
Just now, they're about to go off to the USA. Part of the interest in "Talk Talk" is that it's going to be used in Night Shift, a film directed by Alan Ladd Jnr. (husband of Charlie's Angel Cheryl Ladd).
They're also going to support Elvis Costello on his next tour. Does that mean they're going to be compared with Elvis then?
"Yeah," ponders Hollis moodily. "That'll probably be another one for the list. It wouldn't surprise me."
Meanwhile he's happy just working. "It's what I most enjoy. Otherwise I'd be really bored."
Dave Rimmer
Last updated August 7, 1998
