Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot

Roxy Music guitarist says two of his bandmates won't attend Rock Hall Induction

News 27/03/2019

Guitarist Phil Manzanera says that Roxy Music's two surviving bandmates won't be attending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Original keyboardist, Brian Eno and drummer Paul Thompson won't be participating in the inductions at Brooklyn's Barclays Center this Friday.

Manzanera says that Eno is thrilled over the induction but is halfway through his commitment to not flying for a year over environmental reasons. "[Eno] said he feels bad about it. He's very environmentally aware of his carbon footprint, and he doesn't want to break this pledge, but he's very happy for us," Manzanera says.

"[Thompson] also very happy to be inducted. But unfortunately, he's got arthritis in his hands and neck and can only do very low-key drumming. So he's unable to attend," Manzanera explained. "He's disappointed about that. But we got [keyboardist/violinist] Eddie Jobson, so there will be at least four Roxy people on.”

Jobson replaced Eno right after 1973 'For Your Pleasure' was released and left in 1976, just before Roxy Music decided to take a two-year break. He's also the only member who did not take part on the band's self-titled debut album in 1972.

Thompson returned when the band re-formed in 1978 and remained in the band for another two years. As for bassist Graham Simpson, he left shortly afterwards and passed away in 2012.

When Roxy Music's induction was announced, saxophonist Andy Mackay was "feeling quite optimistic" about a possible reunion performance which would mark their first gig since 2011. However, they have yet to decide on what songs to play at the induction.

“We're going to do a couple of days of rehearsals, which should be exciting," says Manzanera. "And then we'll then decide, depending on how much time we're allowed to have, what songs we can do. So we'll rehearse a whole bunch of songs and then decide when we know a little bit more how much time we got.”