Relentlessly forward looking, and with ever-widening musical tastes, his career began a world away from the vinyl suits and hexagonal electric drums he would be associated with at the height of his UK fame. His home ground was in the Christchurch blues scene – and his first break was a call to audition for Wellington jazz influenced pop group The Quincy Conserve.
Abandoning their acoustic Americana in the early 1980s, British band America called in Richard Burgess to help build a new sound that included drum machines and synthesisers for their 12th studio album, Perspective.
Rumour has it that songwriting team Stock Aitken Waterman ripped off Burgess’ bass line from Colonel Abrams’ Trapped, using it for Rick Astley’s 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. Burgess called the similarity, “A huge compliment.”
Interview at electricity-club.co.uk
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RNZ: Richard James Burgess - A Different Kind of Drummer (Part 2)
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