A chat with the R’n’B and soul legend doesn’t go completely to plan
BY BEN WEST
It’s not conventional, but let’s start with the end of the interview. I often ask interview subjects whether there’s something about them that people may not know anything about, for example the fact that they’re an avid beekeeper or like a spot of basket-weaving or what have you on a Sunday.
Maybe it was the bad telephone line, but somehow this time it came across completely wrong, as if I was asking whether the soul legend who’s enjoyed 14 top 40 hits in the UK alone was a keen hobbyist, whether he liked a bit of knitting or trainspotting or suchlike.
“What? You askin’ whether I got any hobbies, bro?” he boomed, speaking from a car taking him to his next gig. “No I do not! When the day ends I just hit the bed and fall straight asleep.”
With that, the line abruptly went dead. I like to think that the car had gone into a tunnel, but perhaps the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based singer slammed the phone down in disgust at being asked what he saw as a bunch of silly namby-pamby questions.
Originally from Natchez, Mississippi, his was the voice that helped define an era and a sound in the 1980’s and now O’Neal is enjoying a major rejuvenation of his career. He is playing to the biggest crowds he has seen since his time selling out Wembley Arena for six nights in 1990, which remains a record for an R’n’B artist to this day.
He is currently in the UK preparing for a series of concerts that includes Greenwich Music Time at the Old Naval College on July 4. He’ll certainly be performing songs from his 1987 album Hearsay, which went triple platinum, spawned no fewer than seven charting singles including Fake and Never Knew Love Like This, (the latter a duet with Cherelle) and which resided in the UK charts for more than two years.
For a man that enjoyed all the excesses of the rock and roll lifestyle, it is a testament to his stamina, enthusiasm and love of performing that his stage presence and energy have not diminished over the years. During a time in his life when most people would slow down – Alexander is now 63 – he is looking to step it up.
“Recently I’ve seen a lot of the guys that were big at the same time of me, pass away. It’s really sad,” he says. “Prince, George Michael, Whitney Houston, there are just so many. I just thank God each and every morning that I am still around and still above ground. Every day is a blessing from now and I intend to make the most of them, doing the thing that I love.
“Performing live gives you the greatest feeling and experience, and even though I may take my time a little more than I used to now getting up on that stage each night, when the crowd start cheering you just forget about age and any aches or pains, and want to do everything you can to give the very best Alexander O’Neal possible.”
I ask him whether he knows south London at all.
“No, I don’t know south London. I’m an east, west and north London man,” he says. “But I’m really looking forward to Greenwich, it’s going to be a big night of soul – I’m excited to do it.”
Where in the world is his favourite place to tour?
“It’s got to be the UK. My fans have been so loyal, they bring the best out in me.”
Earlier this year his autobiography, All True, Man, was published, a breathtakingly honest account that talks about his early life without a father, racism at the hand of the KKK, and being one of music’s famous faces over the last three decades. In the book Alexander reveals that the death of his father before he was born in a boating accident at his workplace was a real motivation to make the most out of his life.
“It was really tough growing up without a father and it made me grow up very fast,” he says. “I knew what hard work was and I have always kept that with me.”
What advice would he give to someone starting out in the music business today?
“I’d say get your priorities straight. You’ve firstly got to decide whether you’ve got the talent. You’ve got to be very focused on the music if you want to be successful – and there should be a lot of prayer.”
One of his biggest hits was Criticize, and he’s certainly not been immune to a bit of criticism himself at times: indeed, despite his successful music career, to many younger people he will be chiefly remembered for his controversial time on 2015’s Celebrity Big Brother, when he quit the house on day 12 after voicing some very outspoken views and falling out with celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, which caused a tabloid frenzy and subsequent drug allegations. What would he have changed in his career if he’d started out again?
“A good few things happened in my career that were beyond my control,” he says. “A big part of life is trying to be the best person you can be.”
Certainly he has faced many obstacles since starting in the music industry, including a bust up with Prince, who invited him to be in his band before firing him soon after.
“Good things come out of bad situations,” he says. “The most important thing that I learned from that situation, is that if you don’t have anything good to say about someone, then you don’t say anything at all. That’s what I did, I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t go out there complaining and saying ‘poor me, poor Alex’. The band were my friends, so I was quiet and supportive of them making that move. Singers and musicians are different. That was their opportunity to move to another level. It wasn’t an opportunity for me.”
However, he has had many opportunities to work with a whole range of other prominent artists.
“I’ve worked with a lot of people,” he says. “The Whispers, Gladys Knight… But I have enjoyed working with Cherelle the most. Working with her has been the highlight of my career.”
A number of high profile fellow performers have declared themselves fans of the soul legend over the years, including recently Robbie Williams, who has penned a song for Alexander, which may well appear on his new album due for release towards the end of the year. He says that it will have more rock, blues and folk as well as featuring some R’n’B.
“Robbie is a cool cat, he lives life how he wants and I can relate to that and respect it,” says O’Neal. “My manager knows Robbie and they got chatting and it went from there. Hopefully my fans and Robbie’s will get to hear the track soon.
“I really want to put some new music out there for my loyal fans, and hopefully interest some new ones too. The music I am making now is the kind of music I love and am passionate about. It’s raw, funky, gritty, and is very autobiographical. When I look around the venues now I see people from three different generations, so it will be exciting to have some new music that they can all relate to.”
Alexander O’Neal headlines Greenwich Music Time at The Old Royal Naval College on Wednesday July 4th. Other acts that week include The Jacksons, Cliff Richard and Little Mix. Further details: greenwichmusictime.co.uk
This article appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of Black + Green Magazine