His latest live release "ZDF @ Bauhaus" shows Ray Wilson in an intimate atmosphere at the Bauhaus Dessau. The former singer of Stiltskin and Genesis has adapted to the art-historical environment with his performance on April 17 of this year and presented a straightforward unplugged set. On the occasion of his fiftieth birthday on 8 September, the Scotsman then performed at another unusual location, the neo-Romanesque residence palace of his adopted country of Poznan, where he celebrated with fans from all over the world.
eclipsed: How did the appearance in the context of the event series "zdf @ bauhaus" come about?
Ray Wilson: I was on tour and was asked if I could fill in for another band [My Indigo by Within-Temptation singer Sharon den Adel; Note]. So we literally integrated it into the tour plan at the last minute. Everything happened at the last minute, which was part of the magic.
eclipsed: What was special about this performance?
Ray Wilson: We were actually prepared for an electric set, but when we arrived there, we realized that a more acoustic performance was more appropriate in this ambience. It was then a very intimate show with special unplugged versions in a special place with great sound and great film crew.
eclipsed: As a live artist you present either electric gigs, classic Genesis shows or acoustic evenings with a mixed setlist.
Wilson: Right, these shows are very different from each other. I have sixty pieces as a basis, and some of them are therefore available in three versions: Trio, rock band, classic. When you tour as much as I do, it's nice to be able to change things.
eclipsed: How much have your versions of Genesis songs changed over the years? At the Bauhaus, for example, you played a very nice acoustic version of "Follow You Follow Me" with violin, piano and guitar, or "That's All" with a strong saxophone solo.
Wilson: Yeah, you describe it pretty well. In "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel, for example, we added a flute. But first of all these are obviously - no matter in which interpretation - great songs. But they also fit perfectly to my own pieces.
