Talking With Andy Scott of Sweet

Sweet released their latest album ‘Isolation Boulevard’ last year. What made the band want to release a new record and how did you want to approach it?

Back in 2020 during the lockdown in the U.K., we had made a start on a new studio album but that had to be shelved due to logistics. But….we still wanted to do something as we had a new vocalist in the band, Paul Manzi, and I felt his voice needed to be heard on record. The shows we were doing in 2019, including the U.K. tour, were so good that it seemed that reworking of the “known” Sweet songs from the live show would be a good place to start. Then we had a stroke of luck – in Sept/Oct the rules were relaxed and with a mix of recordings done remotely and in my studio “Isolation Boulevard” was born. The title became obvious when I looked at the track list as it reflected our 1975 album •Desolation Boulevard” perfectly.

Do you have any favoured stage guitars?

My go-to guitar in the 70s was my Gibson 335. It is heard on most of the hits from that era. It now sits in the British Music Experience museum in Liverpool.

My other go-to guitar since the mid-80s is my Fiesta Red Strat. Fenders don’t break too easily and flying around the world with a few Strats is now the way for me. All my stage guitars are customised today – they stay in tune and always sound great.

You have a UK tour lined up for November/December this year. How does it feel being able to perform live after the enforced restrictions on live entertainment?

The 2021 tour last year in the U.K. was under pretty strict Covid rules and thankfully the audiences were great and appreciated the safety-first measures. It was the only way to get through 16 shows after so many tours fell by the wayside due to infection within the band/crew bubbles. That said we are now able to go into the “Unlock the Rock” 2022 U.K. tour with eyes open and hopefully a brand new album to promote.

Given the longevity of Sweet with so many songs to pick from how difficult is it to pick a setlist?

I think you said it all. Our usual sets are 90 – 100 minutes so picking songs can be testing especially as certain fans want heavier songs and others want hits. It gets more difficult when we are working alongside other bands on shows and sets are cut down to 60 – 70 mins. At festivals, we mainly play hits. The crowds at open-air festivals just want to sing along so save new material for the other tours.

Are there any plans to release more music this year?

Yes, there will be s new Sweet album. We are picking up the threads of what we started in 2019 and have already released a couple of singles in 2021 which did well in various heritage charts. By Sept we should be ready to go.

You recruited Paul Manzi as lead vocalist for the band and I wondered how did the pair of you meet?

Paul almost joined Sweet back in 2005 but the timing wasn’t right. He then helped us out as a replacement for our 2nd Guitarist/Keyboard/vocalist on a tour of Australia. As soon as the opportunity arose and there was a vacancy we joined forces. Best decision ever. We also have a brew Bassist/vocalist Lee Small whose voice fits perfectly too. All good for the future of Sweet.

Are there any career highlights for yourself that you are particularly proud of?

So many. 1973 – No.1 at Top of the Pops with Blockbuster. 1975 – “Fox on the Run” Our first big worldwide hit written by the band and produced by me. We also won the ASCAP Award in the USA. 1978 – “Love is like Oxygen” written and produced by me and an Ivor Novello nomination for Best Song. Many gigs come to mind but performing to over a million people on the streets of Berlin just before midnight on New Years’ Eve in 2015 will take some beating.

I remember going with my dad to see you perform at 02 Arena in London about five years ago with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow. What are your memories of that night?

It almost didn’t happen. I was due some RT treatment for my Prostate Cancer which had been detected and the dates coincided with that week leading up to the London O2 gig with Rainbow. I made the decision to just get on with it. It was fine up to Thursday night then I was in some pain. Morphine sorted it and by Saturday I was feeling OK! I was told by my agent of 40+ years that the show was one of the best he had ever seen. We repeated it the following week at the NEC in Birmingham.

Could you tell me the story behind including ‘New York Groove’ on the album?

We released a covers album – New York Connection in 2012. I had always felt that “Groove” would have made a great Sweet single so we set about an arrangement. At the time music was going through a mash-up stage and by accident, we hit upon the New York, Empire State track and fused them together. Worked brilliantly. I met Russ Ballard the writer of Groove at the O2 when we played with Rainbow. He told me he’d heard our version and thought it was just about the best cover out there. This was praise indeed from a great songwriter.

With your music being included in soundtracks for television shows such as Life On Mars and films like Guardians of The Galaxy Volume 2 amongst others have you noticed whole families attending your gigs and what’s that like having a new generation exploring your material?

It seems like Sweet’s cult status is bubbling under again. It all helps and I think our Official YouTube Channel has been a factor. All our video footage is held there – from the beginning in 1970 through to today 2022 – a new single and video will be released in April. Watch this space!

Do you have any plans to write an autobiography at all?

Not at the moment though there will be an online tone about our US Tours soon.

What makes Andy Scott happy and what makes him unhappy?

The old Andy used to run a bit hotter and colder but I learned a few years ago that blowing up solves nothing in the end. So I would say that I delegate a lot more and everything can be worked out over a beer!

The Sweet embark on their “Unlock The Rock UK Tour” from November 24 to December 18, 2022. Tickets – https://www.thegigcartel.com/Artists-profiles/The-Sweet.htm