An Evening with Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera: In Conversation with Steve Palec

Phil Manzanera is one of the UK’s best-known musicians and record producers, having shot to prominence in the early ’70s as the lead guitarist with the seminal band, Roxy Music. He is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading guitarists and record producers, combining his live playing with writing and producing new music. He was awarded the OBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list: ‘musician and producer. For services to music.’ In the Autumn of 2022 Roxy Music celebrated its 50th anniversary with a 10 date critically acclaimed tour of the US, followed by three dates in the UK: the triumphant ‘victory’ lap with original members, Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Paul Thompson and Phil, culminated in a sell-out concert at London’s O2 Arena. In 2023 Phil and Andy Mackay released their avant-rock album, AMPM, featuring Paul Thompson, followed by three London gigs in 2024. In September 2025 AMPM SOHO LIVE will be released. In March 2024 Phil self-published ‘Revolución to Roxy’ his compelling memoir and during this year is giving a series of book talks, from Hay Festival, Cartagena to the Cat Club in Pontefract. November 2024 saw the release on Universal Records of ’50 Years of Music’ an 11 CD box-set with a 100 page book. During the global pandemic Phil reconnected with his old friend, New Zealand legend,Tim Finn, and together they wrote and produced two stunning albums, 2021’s ‘Caught by the Heart’ and 2022’s ‘The Ghost of Santiago.’ Manzanera, born to a British father and Colombian mother, has always taken a global approach to his music making, collaborating with musicians from South and Latin America, South Africa, Cuba and continental Europe. In 2018 he was part of South Africa’s The Liberation Project and toured with them in Italy in the Summer of 2019. In 2018, at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Manzanera teamed up with Roxy bandmate, Andy Mackay in a Roxymphony concert: orchestral arrangements of Roxy songs. Over the last four years he has co-produced Pink Floyd’s ‘The Endless River’, which was a global hit, achieving No 1 in over 20 countries, he released, ‘The Sound of Blue’, his own autobiographical album, co-produced David Gilmour’s 2015 album, ‘Rattle That Lock’, which again topped the charts in 12 countries: he toured with Gilmour in the UK, Europe and South America. In 2015 he was Maestro Concertatore of La Notte della Taranta, 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’. Manzanera is now in his fifth decade as a professional musician. He joined Roxy Music in 1972, aged 21, as lead guitarist — the line-up at this time was Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno, Paul Thompson and Andy Mackay. 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. In the summer of 2003 Roxy played 10 dates in the US followed by 13 European gigs in 2004, including performing at Live 8 in Berlin. Summer 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. In 2019 Roxy Music was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performing live at the ceremony. 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