Interview with Michael Raphael, guitarist of Neve/producer/songwriter

You are in a fantastic band, Neve. Why did you break up, and how did the re-union come about?
Neve broke up because Columbia Records was just making all the wrong decisions and there was a lot of animosity in the band. About 4 years after Neve broke up James Bourne used to always ask me to re-form Neve because he is a major fan. I started thinking about the possibility of a Neve reunion and what that could mean. So I called the lead singer and asked if he would be interested and he said 'Book it' so I booked a date at the famous Whiskey a go go on the sunset trip in Hollywood and it sold out quickly, It was a great night.

A new Neve album is due out next year - what can we expect from it? How different will it be to your self-titled?
I think it will be a bit different because it's like 6 years later. I have been writing a lot of new songs which I think fans in America would really dig.

You have lots of projects going on what with songwriting, producing and playing guitar in Neve - how important is the band to you compared with your other projects?
My number one priority is becoming a major producer, that's where my heart is right now. As a guitarist in Neve I got to live the dream for a while opining for bands like KISS, The Black Crows, Rage Against The Machine and many more. I just feel I can do way more as a producer/songwriter.

When did you start writing songs?
I started writing when I was like 7 years old, Songwriting has always been a big interest in my life.

What/who inspired you to start?
Well I was a kid in the late 70's early 80's admiring bands like KISS (Which I opened for 20 years later) AC/DC, Prince, Aerosmith and The Beatles.

How do you usually go about writing - do you find it easier to write a tune around lyrics, lyrics around a tune, or does it just depend on the song?
It depends, but lately I ask the artist I am working with what type of style they would like and If they have any lyrical concepts and than just sort of take it from there.

How did you meet and end up working with James Bourne?
I met James in L.A. because once again James is a diehard Neve fan. James came over to my studio the first time we met and we wrote a song called 'Can't Break Thru' which I produced and was later remixed by the Busted producer. 'Cant Break Thru' appeared on the Busted 'Present For Everyone' CD.

James has mentioned that his current band, Son Of Dork, have Gil Norton producing their album, but taking a glance at your myspace, you seem to have something to do with it, too. How involved are you with it?
As far my involvement with 'Son of dork' I have two songs going on the cd, which I wrote with James in London. Let me just add the son of dork CD will be the best thing you ever heard come out of London in a long while, it's freakin amazing!

Who else are you working with at the moment?
Lots of Kelly Clarkson type of girls, also I just finished up Jani Lane who was huge in America in a band called 'Warrant'.

Who has been your favourite person to work with?
James Bourne for sure, We're like best friends now.

Interrupt these questions with a random one. Goats or ducks?! (I personally prefer alpacas, myself...)
Neither CATS. :)

..back on track.. what are your aims for the future? Anyone in particular that you'd love to work with?
Just to become a HUGE producer/songwriter.

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That's the main interview, then:-

I also have a question more for myself than for the magazine. When did you write Can't Break Thru and End Up Like This with James? Just to clear up a lot of speculation, particularly over End Up Like This.
Well 'Can't Break Thru' was written before 'End Up Like This', like I said before 'Can't Break Thru' was for the second Busted cd. As far as 'End Up Like This' James and myself were writing that for a different artist and it leaked out through my web site. We wrote that in 2003 and it was never meant to be heard but apparently it testeed very well, Maybe that song will end up somewhere down the road, who knows.