Chris de Burgh raves about his daughter Rosanna Davison: “I admire her for her courage and her strength!”
At the beginning of September this year, “The Legend Of Robin Hood” was released, the 27th studio album by Chris de Burgh (73, “The Lady in Red”). In 2022 the Irishman wants to celebrate the world premiere of his musical “Robin Hood” in Fulda, Hesse, and finally present old and new songs in front of a live audience again. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, he explains how much the long break caused by the corona is troubling him and why he admires his daughter Rosanna Davison (37, “When Dreams Come True”). De Burgh, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary in the music business in 2024, also reveals whether he has ever thought of quitting and which performance has stuck in his mind to this day.
We originally wanted to talk about your tour planned for November and December, which has now been postponed to summer 2022 due to Corona. How bad is the pandemic for you as an artist?
Chris de Burgh: It’s still not easy, not only for me, but also for so many other people who work in the live segment. My last concert was actually on December 4th, 2019, when I played with my band in Antwerp, Belgium, it was the last of 68 concerts in twelve countries. But I used the long time creatively and produced my new album “The Legend Of Robin Hood” and worked on the musical of the same name.
Many people have struggled with mental health problems since the beginning of the pandemic. Have you ever suffered from depression or the like?
De Burgh: I didn’t, but I know people who did. One of the hardest things people have to get used to is disappointment. You are confronted with it so often. During the pandemic, you couldn’t see your relatives, go to funerals, or get married. I think this will have a lasting effect. Planning ahead is a thing of the past.
Childhood also often plays a role.
De Burgh: It has an impact on how you behave today. You’re right. Growing up was bizarre to say the least. I lived in Argentina, Africa and Ireland, went to tough boarding school and was separated from my mother and father for months. It definitely gave me an inner strength that I need in my business. I am probably emotionally damaged. When composing and writing, however, I was able to process a lot of things.
How and where have you spent the last year and a half?
De Burgh: Well, Ireland had a very tough lockdown and of course they stuck to the measures. I live in the country outside of Dublin. Lockdown there was definitely easier than in town. The time was by no means easy. But I am mostly a positive and joyful person and was able to maintain this quality despite the many restrictions. When the range of motion within which one was allowed to move outside of his house was extended to ten kilometers, I was finally able to visit my daughter, who had just given birth to a little girl named Sophia at the time.
The little one calls her “Bam Bam”.
De Burgh: Yes, exactly. It’s so cute. She couldn’t say Grandpa, so she calls me Bam Bam. It is a wonderful feeling when you have grandchildren.
It was not easy for your daughter to have children.
De Burgh: No, she had a number of miscarriages, 15 in number. I don’t know how she dealt with it. But I admire them for their courage and strength! As if by a miracle, she and her husband have now had two cute boys named Oscar and Hugo.
To put it with the title of your current song “Legacy”: Like Sophia, you are now part of your family “legacy”.
De Burgh: Yes – and they came absolutely out of nowhere.
Your musical “Robin Hood” will celebrate its world premiere in Fulda in 2022. As you said, it was created during the corona lockdown.
Chris de Burgh: Yes. I spent a lot of time writing. The musical will take the audience into the world of the Middle Ages. With “Robin Hood” we couldn’t refer to any plot, so we created a new and independent interpretation of the legend Robin Hood based on the main characters – Robin, Lady Marian, the Sheriff of Nottingham. A gripping story about the struggle for freedom and justice. I’m really looking forward to the premiere on June 3rd.
Which came first, your album “The Legend of Robin Hood” or the musical?
De Burgh: Well, to expand the plot of the album, I first wrote a short story (published as an audio book called “The Legend of Robin Hood: A Short Story”). I also act as the narrator and have spoken some of the voices. If you listen to both (audio book and music album) together, everything comes to life – like a movie.
And from that came the musical. Have you ever done something like this before?
De Burgh: No. I’ve never written a musical or a book. But I love challenges.
“The Legend of Robin Hood” is your 27th studio album. Has the way you record records changed a lot in the past few decades?
De Burgh: We used to work on a huge mixer that cost around half a million. It was like being on a space station. Today you can do anything with a laptop. That offers great convenience. Much has changed. How I write an album has stayed the same.
Some of your older songs, like “Borderline” or “I’m Counting on You”, have stood the test of time. Many people believe that they carry a political message.
De Burgh: When it came to borderline, many people in Northern Ireland thought for a long time that it was about the conflict there. But this is not the case. I am very careful not to make political statements, but I am aware of political issues. For example, it makes me angry when I see what is currently happening in many countries with women’s rights. Years ago I wrote a title called “Keeper of the Keys” which is about something similar: Men must not have the right to tell women what to wear or what to do with their lives. A woman should have the same rights, but also the same opportunities to live and shape her life.
Is music a tool for you to positively influence people’s actions?
De Burgh: Not really. I don’t want to change people’s minds, but I think it’s worth thinking about.
As a musician, you work in a tough industry – and have been for over 40 years. Have you ever thought of quitting?
De Burgh: Yes, a very long time ago in Seattle. I was on tour as the opening act and since the main artist started at 8 p.m., we had to go on stage at 7:30 p.m. with full lighting. People were just coming in. That alone is difficult, but about ten people threw bottles or something similar onto the stage. I was so angry and wanted to go home.
Bad reviews probably hurt every time.
De Burgh: Criticism is rather irrelevant to me. The reason you succeed is because people buy the records and come to the concerts.
Today you can look back on an incomparable career. In 2024 you will celebrate your 50th anniversary. Which performance do you particularly remember?
De Burgh: I played (in ancient) Ephesus in Turkey. In an arena that was built 300 years before the birth of Christ. Next to her there is a village that is almost completely intact. I stood there on stage under a million stars and in front of 20,000 people and got goose bumps.