Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty Speak About Their Upcoming “History of Renaissance” Mini US Tour

Symphonic Rock Pioneers Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty will present the “History of Renaissance” for fours shows in November in the U.S. Sharing an intimate discussion and visual presentation of the band’s extraordinary history followed by a Renaissance performance featuring, for the first time, members of both eras of the band performing their classic songs together, Jim and Annie are thrilled, as they tell us, to be playing together again, something they haven’t done since 2019.

The duo’s history stretches back when Jim McCarty and long-time musical partner Keith Relf rose from leaving the ashes of the classic UK band, the Yardbirds. The duo envisioned Renaissance as fusing folk and classical influences with the bluesy rock they’d been playing, giving birth to a new sound and direction for their new band. When Annie Haslam joined the band in 1971 to sing with her ethereal 5-octave voice, the group became more popular, especially with the progressive rock scene. After Jim left, the line up continued notably with Annie, this combined the poetic emotional words of Betty Thatcher and the timeless musical masterpieces that were created by Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp and Terry Sullivan.

Renaissance was reborn in 2009 with Annie and Michael Dunford at the helm, along with keyboard player/musical director Rave Tesar, and a new generation of musicians.

Obviously, there is lots of history here between you, but had you two kept in touch through the years?

ANNIE: Not really. I came to see you in New York City when you played the Iridium a few years back for your birthday, I think, right Jim?

JIM: Yes, that was a few years back, but yes. I mean, we were sort of in each other’s orbits for a while. Initially when I left Renaissance, I was planning on writing songs with their lyricist Becky Thatcher. Then Mickey Dunford developed good talents for writing, he carried on writing with Becky, but we kept in touch across the mid-70s.

And Annie, the way I understand it, this all grew out of you first being approached by a promoter out of the Edwardsville/St Louis are in the U.S, right?

ANNIE: Yes, he wanted to take me down to Edwardsville to do some solo shows, which I knew wasn’t really going to work for me. Then it became me bringing a guitarist and keyboard player, but then I thought of Jim. I contacted him and he was very interested.

JIM: I’m more than excited to be working with Annie again. The last time we stepped on stage together was at the Renaissance 50^th Anniversary in 2019.

There are more and more artists of a, let’s say, more ‘mature’ sensibility, going out touring where they do some talking about their history, maybe read some from a bio they have just written and also play music, a mix of both that make for a good show. So how do you approach this kind of a show where it is both some scripted talk and then some playing?

JIM: Well, yes you do have to have it scripted, work out the timing, especially for the guy who is putting up the back projections to go along with what you are talking about at any given time. When I have gone off a bit at a Yardbird’s show I hear our back projection guy Bennie over the PA, like the voice of God, telling me I have got it wrong. (he laughs)

ANNIE: You know there is a time limit of talking first for half an hour, then you give the rest of the time to a good amount of music. We’ll be doing both Jim’s songs and mine, so you got it get that all in. But I have never done this before, so it will be interesting.

Being a singer and drummer is especially physical taxing, how do you not only get up on stage together after all this time, but still keep it going overall, keep your skills sharp?

ANNIE: Viagra (she laughs). Seriously, it’s a matter of taking care of ourselves and having a love for it, that’s why we are here and we can’t get rid of that, it’s in your blood, isn’t it? A lot of people retire, but that’s not why I’m here.

JIM: Surely, there’s other things we do, but when you get good offers and you can do it, why not? And there’s always been this self-healing in the music, when we play it is very therapeutical. As to the physical side of things, with the Yardbirds for instance, there is another guy on stage who plays drums every so often so I’m not going back and forth behind the kit all night, so that saves me a bit physically.

How about extending the tour, even some new music from you two?

ANNIE: If Jim didn’t have go back to the UK in December, having commitments with the Yardbirds, and there was interest, sure we’d have done more shows. But who knows what will happen. I feel good, and my voice is still brilliant, and I look ok, maybe we will actually do a few more. I’m open to it; it depends on everything else around us.

JIM: Sure, I’d be open to more if it all fits in with scheduling.

And new music?

ANNIE: That would be great.

JIM: It’s always possible, we will surely be close to one another in the next month. And we do have plans to write, so why not another album?

For any of our US-based friends, the dates and locations of Annie and Jim’s mini tour are:

The dates for the shows are:

Friday, Nov. 21 The Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, IL (St. Louis) www.cityofedwardsville.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=672

 Saturday, Nov. 22 The Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, IL (St. Louis) www.cityofedwardsville.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=673

Friday, Nov. 28  The Newton Theatre, Newton, NJ

https://skypac.org/the-history-of-renaissance/

Saturday, Nov. 29 Lansdowne Theatre, Lansdowne, PA http://www.etix.com/ticket/p/81373625/the-history-of-renaissance-featuring-annie-haslam-and-jim-mccarty-lansdowne-lansdowne-theate