10 YEARS (AND COUNTING) ON A
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
Paul McCartney sideman
Brian Ray talks about
the decade he’s spent
backing a Beatle—
including his one-song
audition in front of
BY OSCAR JORDAN
Duke Ellington once said that his idea of good luck was “Being at the right place,
at the right time, doing the right things, in
front of the right people.” Luck is also about
preparation and opportunity, and Brian Ray’s
entire life has been an amazing preparation
leading him to the enviable position of being
both guitarist and bassist for Paul McCartney.
During his long and illustrious career,
which has included a 14-year stint as Etta
James’ musical director, Ray has worked
with some of the biggest names in the
music industry. Joe Cocker, Peter Frampton,
Carlos Santana, Keith Richards, and Smokey
Robinson have all benefited from their relationship with Ray, but he’s also a fine songwriter and solo artist in his own right. His
latest solo album, This Way Up, is a rockin’
power-pop opus that weaves a variety of great
guitar tones, old-school textures, evocative
lyrics, and tinges of Beatles-esque psychedelia.
PG caught up with Ray in London, where
he was in rehearsal working up new material
for the next Paul McCartney tour. During a
break, he talked about recording This Way Up
and what it’s like to back a Beatle.
