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Ask any hard rock musician from the 80’s who their influences were and most likely you will hear them mention the British band UFO. Although UFO failed to achieve multi-platinum album sales, their influence and impact on rock music can not be denied.
UFO, who formed in 1970, had (and continue to have) many fascinating chapters in their career. Many talented and rather colorful musicians have passed through the ranks of the band. But one of the most interesting time periods for UFO was between the years 1981-1983. It was during this time that band members Phil Mogg-vocals, Paul Chapman-guitar, Pete Way-bass and Andy Parker-drums, recruited a new, up and coming guitarist/keyboardist/saxophonist Neil Carter to replace the recently departed Paul Raymond. At the time, Carter was a young, rebellious, extremely talented and devoted musician. During his three year stint with UFO, Carter played on three UFO records: “Wild, Willing, Innocent,” “Mechanix” and “Making Contact.” Carter helped bring the band a more commercial sound and really played an active role in songwriting on UFO’s “Mechanix,” and “Making Contact” releases. But even with Carter’s presence and the band’s increasing popularity, some of the members of UFO continued to struggle with their inner-demons, ultimately resulting in the break-up of the band in 1983 after a disastrous European tour. Soon after, Carter hooked up with guitar legend Gary Moore and performed with him until 1989.
What follows is an exclusive interview with Neil Carter. In this discussion we focus on his time with UFO. So sit back and let’s take a look back on UFO- The Carter years.
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You joined the UFO in 1981, during the recording of the “Wild, Willing and Innocent record. How much input did you have on that particular release.
My input was fairly basic as most of the stuff had been recorded. I think it was mainly backing vocals and the sax stuff. We also did a track that never got released with flutes and whispered vocals…I still have it somewhere!
UFO toured with Cheap Trick soon after that release. What was that tour like and what were the high points of it?
That was my first US tour and it was quite magical. We played some huge arenas and there were some wild audiences. Cheap Trick were riding quite high then and I remember playing Radio City Music Hall in New York and it was like ‘Beatlemania’ outside. Somehow we got caught up in it and I recall being mobbed by crazed fans!
In 1982, UFO released Mechanix. You played a big role in the songwriting process for the album. The song “The Writer,” in particular is a great song. Tell us how that song was written.
I had the riff for that and worked with Paul building it into a song if I remember correctly. It is my favorite track on ‘Mechanix’.
Whose idea was it the included the Eddie Cochran classic “Something Else”?
I have a feeling Pete Way suggested that but it didn’t quite turn out how he imagined…there was a bit of friction over Gary Lyons’ treatment of it due to the keyboards and saxes!
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Describe your working relationship Paul Chapman?
Paul is a very down to earth guy and we hit it off from the beginning. I worried the he felt I was a bit pushy in the latter stages of our working time but I put it down to my natural enthusiasm more than anything else! He is a great guy with a big heart and I have nothing but fond memories of working with him.
And Phil Mogg and Pete Way.
Well Pete was always good value and his sense of humor is pretty infectious. He is a great showman and I admire him for keeping ‘at it’ for so long. Phil is also a great front man and, when on form, a good singer with a distinctive voice. I think I appreciate his talents more now than I did back then, mainly because it wasn’t always easy working with him.
In the spring of 1982, UFO was on tour with Ozzy when Randy Rhodes died in the tragic planet crash. How devastating was this tragedy to you and did you have a chance to get to know him and if so what was he like?
Randy was very devoted to his music and a very quiet man. I thought it was a terrible tragedy and very sad at the time. I did used to chat with him quite a lot, mainly about music if I remember correctly.
UFO released some great albums during the early 80’s yet none of them achieved the commercial success that did deserve in America. What do you attribute this to and how frustrating was it to the band?
Well I think they always felt that success was nearly there and God knows we did enough touring. Maybe the songs weren’t commercial enough for the US radio. I don’t feel that the band were an unmitigated failure in the States, just that the rewards were never quite as good as the effort put in!
Bassist Pete Way left the band in late 82, what was his reason for leaving?
He felt the band’s music had strayed away from what he felt was ‘UFO’ and I quite respect that opinion in retrospect. However we felt that the music needed to move with the times and include the emerging technology…rightly or wrongly.
What kind of impact did his departure have on the band?
We were all a bit sad but we also were midway through writing an album and the show had to go on!
The next UFO CD, “Making Contact” had Paul Chapman and yourself taking on the bass duties. What was that time like in the band, and did you sense that it was about to end?
Not really, we had commitments and a tour planned….perhaps we should have called it quits but there was still a lot of life in the group. Or so it seemed!
When the band toured for “Making Contact” bassist Billy Sheehan was brought in for a tour. What was it like playing with him and how did his unorthodox style of playing influence the classic UFO sound? 
Ummm….well I have some tapes of the Billy shows and quite honestly it all sounded a bit messy live. We had been used to quite a ‘simple’ bass player and Billy had been playing in a three piece so had been filling out a lot of the sound in Talas. I don’t feel that it really worked musically but he is a very talented musician and a thoroughly nice man.
It is well publicized that UFO had some real and dangerous issues with drugs. Was this exaggerated at all?
Not for me to comment.
When Billy Sheehan joined the band did he realize what he was getting it to? Did he ever go up to you and voice his concern over the band’s dangerous behavior?
I think Billy found some of it hard to cope with.
What were the final days like in UFO?
All that has been well documented and it was a bit unpleasant but time is a great healer and I only look back on the good bits…the nightmares have stopped now!
Where you ever asked to re-join UFO after the band broke up?
I think it would have been unlikely given the circumstances.
In retrospect, how do you remember your time in UFO? Was it the best days of your life or were you just happy to get out alive?
I had very bad feelings about it for a long time and the time I worked with Gary Moore seemed so different and refreshing but now, some 23 years later, I look on it with bemused affection!
Did you ever consider working again with Paul Chapman? You guys really seemed to have a great chemistry. 
It has been suggested over the years but I am now out of that arena now so it is quite unlikely although Paul currently has a project he has asked me to sing on. Which I will happily do if he wants me to.
What are some of the projects that you are currently working on?
Well I am no longer involved in any rock stuff so have no ‘projects’ as such. I am currently teaching and examining music and am off to Malaysia to work this summer, next year to the USA and New Zealand which will be interesting. And then I hope to retire!
What is the one album that you played on that you are the most proud of?
Actually ‘Making Contact’ is probably the proudest one but my all time favorite is Gary Moore’s ‘Wild Frontier’ album.
Thank you for your time, it was a real honor to interview you.
My pleasure!
www.neilcarter.org
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