Legionnaire: Harry Lyon

Rip It Up, Issue 61, 1 August 1982, Page 14

Legionnaire: Harry Lyon

Ann Louise Martin

Harry Lyon has been playing professionally in bands for eight years. When he moved in with Hello Sailor in 1975 he had no idea of how long it would last. From the pieces he emerged with Coup D'Etat, now he's back in league with Graham Brazier. The Legionnaires are currently doing one of Harry's songs, 'You Bring Out the Worst in Me'. But his future contributions to the band's repertoire are likely to be collaborative efforts. "The thing about the Legionnaires, or any band which has a focal point like Graham, is that it

has to be his output otherwise it's awkward for him to stand there and play tambourine while someone else sings. "You Bring Out the Worst In Me' is carefully arranged so it's more of a duet as far as delivery is concerned. "Graham needs to sing his own lyrics, unless the song is a chosen cover. That's why I'd rather cowrite with him, even if there is some lyrical input from me, the outcome is a joint thing, it's his expression as well." Harry claims to feel creatively satisfied. "I'm quite happy at the moment playing guitar after being with Coup D'Etat and being singer as well and limited in guitar playing because of it." Where is the real Harry Lyon, in the pop of Coup D'Etat, or the heavier guitar of the Legionnaires? "In both I suppose. I don't think about it too much. The lyrical content of my songs makes them lighter. I don't think I've got the

angst of Graham, and you know that by talking to either of us. It's why it's satisfying to write with him, because I can write little things around horrible guitar lines, but I don't think I'd come up with the lyrics to match on my own." The Legionnaires' future? "A band with no future," Harry says, "although that possibly isn't true, it's just always had that sort of feeling about it. I take it as it comes. We can barely move out of Auckland let alone New Zealand so there's really no point in thinking about a long term future until next year, when Graham gets through his P.D. and next case." In between gigs Harry takes care of the band's business, he doesn't trust anyone else. If the band goes off the road for a while he's hoping they'll be prepared for it with a little money set aside. If not he'll scratch around, pick up session work, something always comes up. He's keen to write more songs, he always does when he has

time to himself therapy." Did he want to work with Graham again after the demise of Sailor? "It was by accident really. I happened to be around where he was one night and Mark Manning said they had the town hall thing to do and asked if I knew any guitarists who might want to do it. I said I'd do it, and I enjoyed it. Dave McArtney actually came along to the gig and suggested getting Graham together, getting a band together and doing some work, because we'd clean up. There was nothing around." What is it like working with Graham again? "It's fun. Never a dull moment. I find he's much more mature an entertainer, more consistent than the Sailor days. I think he was a little unsure for the first few gigs, but once he realized people were enjoying it he settled in."