Phil Manzanera is one of the UK’s best-known musicians and record producers, having shot to prominence in the early ‘70’s as the lead guitarist with the seminal band, Roxy Music. He is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading guitarists and remains in huge demand. 

Roxy Music were inducted into  the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and recently Phil was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to music.

He was born to a British father and Colombian mother and has collaborated with musicians from South and Latin America, South Africa, Cuba and continental Europe.

His recent album releases  include The Liberation Project: Songs That Made us Free,  Corroncho 2 and Live in Japan as well as The Ghost from Santiago that he did with Split Enz's Tim Finn.

In recent years Phil has co-produced Pink Floyd’s ‘The Endless River’. He released, ‘The Sound of Blue’, his own autobiographical album, co-produced David Gilmour’s new album, ‘Rattle That Lock’, toured with Gilmour in the UK, Europe and South America.   In 2015 he was Maestro Concertatore at Italy’s largest free festival. He also took part in ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ a tribute concert to his friend, Jack Bruce.

Phil’s musical influence stretches far and wide, but even he was taken by surprise when his guitar riff from 1978’s K-Scope was sampled by Jay Z and Kanye West and became the Grammy winning smash hit ‘No Church in the Wild’ the first track on their multi-million selling album, ‘Watch The Throne’.

At 73, Phil is now in his fourth decade as a professional musician.  He joined Roxy Music in 1972, aged 21,  as lead guitarist. Roxy’s rise was meteoric, with the band being hailed as the stylistic influence of the early 1970’s. During the next 12 years, until 1983 when the band members went on a ‘long break’, Roxy Music released a series of international best selling albums, achieving ten UK top ten albums and touring extensively throughout the world. The 18 year hiatus ended in 2001 with a critically acclaimed, sellout 52-date world tour featuring Bryan Ferry, Andy MacKay and Paul Thompson. The world rediscovered Roxy Music.

In the summer of 2003 Roxy again played in the US and Europe. 2010 saw Roxy Music thrilling fans at Festivals in the UK, Europe and Japan, which was followed by a Winter UK tour, and dates in Australia and New Zealand. 

As a writer, producer and solo artist, Phil Manzanera has worked with many of the luminaries of modern music, such as Steve Winwood, David Gilmour, John Cale, Godley and Creme, Nico (Velvet Underground) and John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia). He has co-written material with many artists, including Brian Eno, Tim Finn and David Gilmour.

Phil co-wrote Pink Floyd’s single ‘One Slip’from their 1988 ‘Momentary Lapse of Reason’ album.

He has recently been awarded an OBE.

Phil joins us this week to share his amazing story.

For more information about Phil and his music head to his website: https://manzanera.com/new/

If you have a request for a '60s '70s or '80s musician contact me through my website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au