Mel Gaynor's Debut Solo Album Features Robert Palmer

Publié le par olivier

Mel Gaynor's Debut Solo Album Features Robert Palmer

Mel Gaynor is best known as the longtime drummer for Simple Minds - he joined the Scottish rock band in 1982 for the commercial breakthrough album New Gold Dream and left it after 35 years - but he is also an in-demand session musician - having worked with the likes of Elton John, Lou Reed, Tina Turner, The Pretenders, Jackson Browne and many others - and a recording artist in his own right.

In 1999, Mel Gaynor toured the US with Robert Palmer which gave him the idea to cover the singer's #1 hit Addicted To Love.

"I didn't get the encouragement (to sing) until I started to play with my dear friend Robert Palmer", said Gaynor in a recent interview. "Robert Palmer took me on tour with him and he said 'Why haven't you got a mic?' I was like: 'I don't need a mic, I'm the drummer.' He said: 'No, but I've heard you sing and you can sing.' I was like: 'Yeah, but come on Robert!' He said: 'No, give that man a mic and you got to do BVs* with me'." 

After the tour, Gaynor sent Palmer a tape of his own take on Addicted To Love and was surprised when Robert asked to sing the second verse. Robert's vocals were recorded at his home studio in Lugano, Switzerland. A  4-track EP was released in 2003. Sadly, it was just after Palmer's passing and the record was dedicated to his memory.

In 2024, Mel Gaynor finally releases his first solo album. Come With Me (Marquee Records) features 10 songs and includes his duet with Robert Palmer as the final track.

(*) BVs: Backing Vocals

Mel Gaynor's Debut Solo Album Featuring Robert Palmer

Come With Me is out on July 12, 2024.

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