How are you feeling right now?

Neil Durant: 

Radiant sir, radiant.

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Where is home?

Neil Durant: 

Somewhere not far north of London, England.

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What do you consider your biggest achievement in your career so far?

Neil Durant: 

[I assume you mean music career?]

The release of "Comeuppance" by Sphere³, the writing and recording of which took a really huge amount of work. But if I listen back to it now, I still feel excited by it, and mostly very happy with it even after all the years. It really sounds to my ears like the debut album of a band with some truly new ideas and ways of working. But it would not be regarded as a big achievement in terms of sales or awareness!

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What is your favorite band apart from your own?

Neil Durant: It varies, but today I would say it's the Bill Evans Trio.

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Is there a song that you wish you had written?

Neil Durant: 

Probably something like Close To The Edge by Yes, as a track that to me defines prog, and has always been a yardstick to compare against.

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Can you read music, or have you had any musical training?

Neil Durant:

I can read music, but I'm very rusty as I don't really do it very much. I was self-taught, but I have had some musical training too in my later years, most recently being some jazz piano/technique training.

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What is your favourite food?

Neil Durant: 

Custard Creams. Classic IQ rehearsal food.

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 What would always be on your rider?

Neil Durant: I refer you to my answer to question 7.

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Can you recommend a good book to read?

Neil Durant: 

I enjoyed reading "The Prophet From Silicon Valley: The Complete Story of Sequential Circuits" this year, all about the famous synth company and the birth of one of the most iconic synths, the Prophet 5. A great read for anyone into synths.

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Who is your favourite writer?

Neil Durant: 

Richard Feynman. It's rare to find someone who can write on such deep topics with some clarity. His insights, achievements, and approach to life are an inspiration.

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Do you have any favourite television shows and movies?

Neil Durant: 

Any/all of the Alan Partridge series

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Do you have a favourite musical instrument?

Neil Durant: 

A really good grand piano. Both to listen to, or to play. Such a versatile, timeless, expressive instrument. And no batteries, cables or amplifiers to worry about

 

 

Who would you most like to work with, either living or dead?

Neil Durant: 

John Coltrane. I'm not sure what he'd have thought about the pairing, but I'm certain we'd produce some fascinating fusion of music together, and I'd learn a vast amount in the process.

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What would you be doing if were not a musician?

Neil Durant: 

I'd be doing what I do now when I'm not being a musician, which is developing software for scientific robotics/automation.

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Do you have any plans you can share with us?

Neil Durant: 

All I can say is that now the new IQ album "Resistance" is out, my attention is going to be moving heavily onto new Sphere³ material..

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