Neville Keighley, better known as Belouis Some, recorded three potent new wave albums from 1985-1993, creating memorable dancefloor classics like “Imagination” and “Some People.” He also recorded the hit song “Round, Round” for the Pretty in Pink soundtrack!
Belouis Some last toured the United States in 1988, but the British singer-songwriter hits the roads in America once again starting at City Winery Philadelphia on April 8, opening dates for Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel throughout the month. He then returns for more tourdates with Lost ’80s Live for a lot of shows in July and August!
Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter chatted with Belouis Some about recording albums in the USA, some stories behind songs like “Imagination” and “Round, Round,” and his touring plans!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Mickey McCarter: You’re hitting the road to tour the USA for the first time in a long time! What should we expect?
Belouis Some: You have to understand, I haven’t been on the on tour for 30-odd years. So, I’m very excited, and I remember what it was like last time. But, I’m looking at the lineup and you’ve got three very different acts. They are quality acts; I speak for myself. And it’s value for money. It’s going to be great. [Ed.: Most April shows include Belouis Some, Slim Jim Phantom, and Gene Loves Jezebel.]
MM: I agree with you. How do you feel about it? Are you ready?
BS: As you’ve gathered by now, I backed away from the industry for a while. I did some English summer festivals, which were always great fun. And there was it was — very easy. All I had to do was turn up and everyone was very nice and everyone knew the songs. I got the taste of being on stage again, which is a bit like riding a bicycle, by the way. You walk on the stage, and I had no idea what to expect. And it just came. It just felt good.
So, I put the word out and then COVID came and all that nonsense. I’m so happy to be back on the road again with a great American band. In fact, the last tour I did was with an all-American band as well — Carmine Rojas and Doug Worthington, great American musicians. I like working with American musicians. They’re incredibly professional. I’m a solo artist. I’m bringing I’m the material to the to the show, and I find the American guys always do such a great job of interpreting. They’re old school, and I love them. It should sound great.
MM: I have some questions about the songs we might hear on the tour, and I want to ask you about some of the stories behind those songs. Obviously, the first one that I have to ask about is “Imagination” and its particularly notorious music video. It’s not something you can show in a public forum — even today! How did that come about?
BS: The recording of “Imagination” was very special because I’d recorded my album in London originally, and it wasn’t going well. I was afraid that I’d have to start again. But I’d met Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero in New York. We planned to do some mixes. They remixed “It’s My Life” by Talk Talk, and I was on the same label. They were eager to work with me, and they said they had Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson [of CHIC], and they would love to do something.
And I said, well, here’s my song “Imagination.” I came to New York and recorded “Imagination.” It was a wet afternoon in New York on a Saturday afternoon. I knew I had a hit. The video happened because Storm Thorgerson directed it. He was a real character, a bit crazy. He was doing videos, and someone said, “You should ask Storm to do your video.” Storm was a scary man, actually! He’d turn up, and he had these ideas. And I was not really aware the video would have nudity until the first day! — oh, OK.
And that’s the story of “Imagination,” which worked for me in the clubs. It was great!
MM: What an amazing song, and I cannot believe how that came together.
BS: It was completely out of the blue. These New York legends working with this unknown English singer, who had never done anything really. And it was a simple song all recorded live on a Saturday afternoon.
Watch the official music video (the safe version) for “Imagination” by Belouis Some on YouTube:
MM: I want to ask about another song — “Round, Round.” Many of my Gen X peers love the movies of John Hughes, and you have the song “Round, Round,” which you contributed to the film Pretty in Pink. I’ve hard stories about how Hughes himself would call people and ask them to contribute to a soundtrack.
BS: He did call me up! He called up, and I got the script faxed to me. I had never written to order before, and it was very hard. I remember doing the demo in a little studio, and I remember John being on the phone while I was doing it. The Pretty in Pink soundtrack was a fantastic album. Mine is probably the only song that was written to order on that. Of course, some were remixed and re-recorded. I was quite preoccupied because everything else was moving very quickly for me at the time. Of course, you have to remember that John Hughes in the UK is not like John Hughes in the USA, where the Brat Pack movies are part of the culture. Everyone knows Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club, of course, but it’s not like how it is in the States.
Anyway, I went to Los Angeles, and I did the song very jet-lagged. I thought it was done really badly, and I was never happy with the version that went on the record. I think he used my demo in the movie. It was produced by Bernard Edwards, and Tony Thompson was on drums — what amazing musicians. But I was in the middle of touring. I was not thinking about recording, and my brain wasn’t there. Yet, it came out in the States, and it did really well.
Now, I love it, and I’ve rediscovered the old multi-tracks. My live band have stripped it down, and it sounds amazing. Now, it’s one of my favorite songs in my set. I’m quite happy with it now.
Stream “Round, Round” by Belouis Some on YouTube:
MM: Are you working on any new music?
BS: I have an album’s worth of demos ready to go. But you know what? — and this is me — I’m really reluctant. I’m back now. If touring goes well, and everyone loves it, then great. Then, I’m going to push to record some new stuff. I’m hoping that happens. I’ve got a great band now, and I’m all set up. But it’s emotionally trying to go and record, and so I’m reluctant. You throw everything at 10 songs, and I’ve got to know if something’s going to happen with those songs. I cannot do it for a laugh. It’s not like it was in the old days. I’ve got a family, and I cannot disappear for a month.
MM: Will there be anything new on tour?
BS: It’s going to be stuff from the first two albums. I would be crazy to come back after 30 years and play new songs. But the classics sound great. I’m so proud of how it’s sounding, and I can’t wait.
MM: Well, I’m very excited to see you perform live because Some People always has been one of my favorite albums, and it’s great that you’re back on tour in the United States.
BS: I am excited. I haven’t been to the States in 20 years, but I was there so much before. I made two albums there in New York City. And then my girlfriend, who became my wife, was a model and she was working in New York. I used to come and stay with her. I’d go and see all of the up-and-coming bands at the time. But, you know, it was very frustrating, not doing what you see out to do in life. And my retirement was forced upon me. I didn’t want to stop. So, it’s very good to be back.
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Belouis Some appears on the Hit and Run Tour, opening Gene Loves Jezebel, for dates throughout April. Neville returns in July and August for dates on the touring Lost ’80s Live festival!
Hit and Run Tour
4/8: City Winery, Philadelphia, PA
4/9: Sony Hall, New York City
4/10: Jergels, Pittsburg, PA
4/12: Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
4/13: Magic Bag, Detroit, MI
4/16: Daryl’s House, Pawling, NY
4/17: My Father’s Place, Roslyn, NY
4/20: City Winery, Boston, MA
Lost ’80s Live
7/31: Westville Music, New Haven, CT
8/1: Wang Theatre, Boston, MA
8/2: Rooftop @ Pier 17, New York City
8/3: Koka Booth, Cary, NC
8/6: MGM Northfield, Northfield, OH
8/8: Fallsview Casino, Niagra Falls, Canada
8/9: Elmwood Park, Roanoke, VA
8/10: Atrium Health, Macon, GA
8/12: Duke Energy, Boston, MA
8/14: Saenger Theatre, Petersburg, FL
8/15: Smart Financial, New Orleans, LA
8/16: The Espee, San Antonio, TX
8/17: The Pavilion, Irving, TX
8/20: Arizona Financial, Sugar Land, TX
8/21: Cal Coast, San Diego, CA
8/24: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
8/28: Toyota Arena, Ontario, Canada
8/29: Vina Robles, Pasa Robles, CA
8/30: Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA
8/31: Thunder Valley, Lincoln, CA
Belouis Some
Opening Gene Loves Jezebel
City Winery Philadelphia
Tuesday, April 8
Doors @ 6pm
$28/$30/$32/$38
All ages
