Davide: Hi Nic and thanks for this short interview. First of all, I'd like to talk about the begining...

Nic: My first instrument was duble bass, it was borrowed from my school. I played for a bit in the school orchestra and learnt how to read music. I had a few basic lessons and  then I borrowed a Hofner bass guitar. I taught myself  by playing along with records (like Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, early Led Zep etc.).
The great late guitarist Paul Kossoff was in my class so he introduced me to the blues and we played together sometimes. I left school early age 15, worked as a self-employed carpenter for a while. I saved up to buy my first pro bass - a Gibson EB0.

D: So it was time for your first band...

Nic: I auditioned for a band: The Misunderstood. Guy Evans was there too, the first time we met.
We both got the job. It was a wild time, we toured quite a lot, and recorded. It finished after about 6 months: a great experience for me, I learned a lot. It was about 1968-69.

D: ...and for your first LP

Nic:  My first LP was with Vand der Graaf Generator: The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other. I was still playing the Gibson EB0 at that time. It was amazing and groundbreaking music, very original and unique. I was a full and equal contracted member of VdGG . It was a great experience.
After that (in the 1970's) I played and recorded with some great musicians including Chuck Berry, Paul Kossof, Rare Bird, Jeff Beck, Beach Boys members in Holland, Magna Carta and contributed to several Peter Hammill albums (and did some interesting concerts with him too).
This period was a massive and valuable learning curve for me that took my musicality and capabilities to a different level.

D:  After this was the time for the reunion with VdGG...

Nic:  In 1976 I rejoined/reformed Van der Graaf Generator with Peter, Guy and Graham Smith.
By this time I was a much more experienced musician with many good ideas, and contributed a lot more musically, particularly on 'The Quiet Zone' ( although frankly this isn't reflected in the credits!).

D: ...always on tour ! 

Nic: I love touring. Some of the best touring I have done was with the ' K-Group ' in the 1980's (Peter Hammill, Guy Evans,John Ellis and myself). To me it was like the 'rock' version of VdGG in some ways. It was a 'success story', and was great while it lasted.

D: Before, you have mentioned the Gibson Bass EB0. But I know that you play others instruments...

Nic: Yes. Now I have 3 bass guitars - all Fender precisions. A vintage '52 (s.n. 0254), a mint condition custom colour 65, and a standard model. I also have several great keyboards and modules, mostly Roland and Korg, and a lot of vintage analogue effects etc (Electro Harmonix etc.-too many to mention!).

D: And with these last instruments you began to work on your first solo record.

Nic: Yes. Mountain Music, in 1983, was my first solo album. It has some good ideas and tunes, an early effort. It's ok but I think my later solo work is better, others might disagree!
 
D: In my opinion it's a good first solo work...a different project than your last work,  "Live in Italy"...

Nic: 'Live in Italy' is the biggest project I have ever undertaken, it's also been the most fun and one of the most exciting. I was determined for it to work, despite the crazy logistics of forming a band in Italy while living in the UK! It's been an incredible life-changing adventure and 'Live in Italy' will always remind me of the fantastic friendships I formed there with band-members and others, and the great times we had. I'm very happy that it's all worked out so well after all the hard work that went into the project.
I plan to do more concerts with the same line-up in the future.

D: Thanks Nic and have a nice work for the next record !