Harry Saxon - A Rare Gem in an Increasingly Talentless Industry
by Maeve Kovarian for Silence Media
With the neverending tirade of immemorable girls with tiny shorts and characterless voices, and bands who think that onstage banter is a replacement for actual musical content, it is easy to despair about the future of the music industry.
Once in a while, however, there is a beacon of hope, and over the last few years, one of the brightest beacons has been Harry Saxon, returned to us after his departure from the music scene approximately 18 years ago upon the break up of The Renegades.
With his first solo album 'You Are Not Alone' being released in 2015 to great acclaim, Saxon has just released his second album 'Self-Destructive', and is reaching a new level of fame that has his concerts selling out and fans lining up for him to sign a dizzyingly large array of items, merchandise, and body parts.
Saxon takes the attention like one born for it, never lacking in a large smile for his fans, shining all the brighter as the spotlight only grows. He's just as charming one on one, as well, and greets me with a firm handshake, eyes sharp and intelligent.
So, Harry, how does it feel to be back, after so long away, now that you're settled into the fame game once again?
Oh, it's just the best. This was always my thing, you know? The crowds, the lights, the music, all the waving and all that. What can I say? The spotlight loves me.
It certainly does. How is it different, as a solo artist, compared to back in the Renegades days?
Well, I suppose it's simply that I'm not sharing the spotlight. Which for the most part suits me just fine. I do miss those days, though, it was a nice feeling to have that… team feeling. The comradery, all of that.
Your old bandmates, Theodore Smith and Melissa Masters, are now a global success with their new band Event Horizon. How do you feel about that?
Hey, they're doing their own thing, you know? It's not quite up my alley, but it's not like that matters anymore. We've done the stuff we all liked already, with the Renegades. Now we can do the stuff we wanted to do differently, on our own. It works.
We've never gotten much information about why The Renegades decided to part ways. Theodore and Melissa have been seen together occasionally over the years even before their new band, but you've never been in the picture. Theories have been that it was romantic drama, that she left you for him. What's the truth of what happened?
You know, I ask myself that all the time. Why? Why did things fall apart? I still don't really know. Everything was fine, better than fine. They were great, the two best people I knew, the best looking, the most talented, the only people in the universe I actually gave a damn about.
And then, I don't know, one day, it just… it was over. Whatever it was that had kept us together, made us so great… it was gone. And so we went our separate ways. Except we didn't, because they stayed together. [He sighs] So, I dunno, I guess I felt like I'd been abandoned. That's actually what my song 'Left For Dead' is about, you know, the last track on my first album. Because it was jarring, suddenly being alone, after being so close to them for so long.
There's a remarkable lack of anger, for what he's describing, and what there is seems justified, but much more notable is his sadness.
And you don't hold any grudges, in that respect?
Look, it was a long time ago. We're all in different places now. I'm married, and successful, I've got pretty much anything I could possibly want. They're successful and - well, honestly, I've got no idea what's going on with them personally, from what I see in the media. Am I missing something obvious? They're deliberately screwing with everyone, right?
Were they not dating when you were in The Renegades?
Look, if they've not said anything about their relationship, either back then or now, then I'm not going to say anything. It's not anyone else's business unless they say it is.
You married your wife Lucy just before the release of You Are Not Alone, and now you're quite the picturesque couple. What's the love story there? I'm sure everyone wants to know.
Oh, you know. Boy meets girl. Girl is beautiful and man is extremely charismatic and talented, they adore each other, all of that nonsense. The sort of thing people pay to see at the cinema. That's my life now, our life, and it's perfect.
Has she inspired any of your songs?
Oh, loads. 'The Widow's Kiss' was for her. An apology after a mistake I made. She cried when I played it for her, I'll never forget that. Also ones like That Red Dress and Dancing As The World Burns. She's just… an eternal inspiration, really, how could she not be?
But not 'Perfect Ending'?
[He laughs] No.
No, I didn't think so. What did inspire that one?
That one's a little difficult to explain, I'm afraid. I think I'll leave it ambiguous. I need my air of mystery, after all.
You really do have a presence to you, we must get you on Silence's TV Spot sometime.
That would be great, wouldn't it? Well, maybe we could do that sometime.
Well, before we wrap up, I just want to talk a little more about your album. There's been some difficulty among listeners discerning some of the more abstract themes, both across the album and in the songs. Care to enlighten us?
Well, it's… it's extremely personal. Conveys a lot of things I've felt, or think I'm going to feel soon.
It's rather tumultuous. Is that your past, or future, then?
[Grinning] I'm planning on shaking things up a bit. So I suppose you'll see.
That sounds intriguing.
Well, I try.
We part ways with another firm handshake, and he gives me the kind of grin that would have one of his fans weak at the knees.
I have no doubt that we will be seeing great and interesting things from him as the year continues.