Back on 1979 I was the first in our area to use backing tracks that I made myself using a half track stereo Revox by 'bouncing' tracks to build up a little band. They consisted of drums, bass and rhythm guitar and I still have the press cuttings from that time chastising me for putting musicians out of work. I persevered and built up a good act as well as a business making backing tracks for a company who were doing karaoke tracks. This allowed me to afford four track and later eight track reel to reel facilities, before eventually going all digital and finally through the PC route via Cubase and eventually to Logic on the Mac. I did OK out of it back in the day, but never , ever lost sight of why I played, which was the love of live music.
The problem was at that time the professional groups were un-affordable and we had to split and make solo careers.
The backing in the majority of clubs was largely poor, you lived and died in the hands of so called musicians to whom you gave your 'dots' and were only ever as good as they were, which having been a member of a very 'tight' band I found unacceptable, which is why I used my recording experience from my time with working with Dave Berry and recording with 10cc and The Hermits over at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, to produce basic backing tracks.
Obviously the more tracks I found at my disposal allowed the addition of strings, horns, backing vocals - you name it and I was selling to everybody and anybody and creating competition for myself in the form of other acts. The trouble with that was, that they began under-cutting price wise and flooded the market with mediocre acts.
I always maintain that live music is best, but in 1979 my backing tracks replaced the acts that were standing up with a guitar and drumbox and proved to be the way forward in every form of performing music. I actually despise backing tracks these days as most people I see using them fail to give a performance, there are exceptions, but few and far between.
I now only do the odd track for myself should I venture out as a rare solo act these days, having suffered the flack back then, being accused of miming - which in itself is flattering. I did it as a means to an end, but these days no longer find that I need to as the band has no problem in working. That said I don't mind the odd one on my own.
