Tim Renwick has released “Privateer,” a collection of instrumentals.
The album, available for sale only at Renwick’s Web site, consists of material recorded in Renwick’s home studio in Cornwall for the Audio Network Production Music Library over the past few years.
“Media music represents my main source of income,” Renwick told “Floydian Slip.” “I’m lucky that the guitar is such a versatile instrument that I’ve been asked to produce many styles of music from punk and indie to classical and folk, country, blues and soul.
“I got permission to re-package a selection of tracks, did a bit of extra overdubbing and editing, and remastered the whole thing with the help of my friend Martin Bell of Wonder Stuff, who also helped me put together my Web site,” he explains.
Renwick was a member of Sutherland Bros. & Quiver (SBQ), who had hits with “(I Don’t Want to Love You But) You Got Me Anyway” (1973) and “Arms of Mary” (1976). But he might be best known as a prolific session player, providing guitar work for, among others, David Bowie, Elton John, Andy Gibb, Mike and the Mechanics, Paul Carrack, Joe Cocker, Dionne Warwick, Al Stewart, Kenny Rogers, as well as Floyd and its members.
He toured in 1984 with Roger Waters‘s “Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking” show — a gig that led to work with Eric Clapton, another guitarist on that tour — as well as Floyd’s “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” (1987-89) and “Division Bell” (1994) shows.
In July 2005, he made his 309th and most-recent appearance with Floyd when the band reunited with Waters at the “Live 8” festival. “Very strange having Roger Waters back after 17 years away,” says Renwick. “It was a rather uncomfortable experience.”
“Privateer” is only his second solo album, after his 1980 self-titled album on CBS Records. “As a ‘leaving member’ (of SBQ) the record company have the option to take up your services as solo artist,” he explains.
“I enjoy singing, but, with hindsight, should have featured more guitar playing, really. Glyn Johns was the producer and he insisted on ‘live’ vocal performances as much as possible. This I found quite a challenge!”
“Privateer” includes Guy Pratt on bass and Willie Wilson on percussion. Both musicians have Floyd connections: Pratt has played with post-Waters Floyd, and Wilson’s association with David Gilmour goes back to Gilmour’s early pre-Floyd bands Joker’s Wild and Bullitt.
As for future Floyd-related projects, Renwick is pessimistic. “From what I’ve heard, David enjoyed his recent solo touring so much that I think he would rather do more of the same in future,” he says.
“I know he has turned down a very large sum of money to do more Floyd touring in America. I think he’s in that wonderful position of not needing the money! Just imagine!”
