Penny Valentine interviewed Paul Buckmaster for Sounds in May 1971.

Every time I discover an old interview with Paul Buckmaster somewhere I'm glad to share it with all the TEB fans because Paul was a clever, smart guy, an extremely talented musician, a genius of creativity... and it always a gift to read his thoughts on paper.

Here we have an interview with Penny Valentine, published in Sounds on 29 May 1971, during a very creative period of his burgeoning career: although he was only 26, he had already produced some of Elton John's albums, arranged the score for Lewis Gilbert's film "Friends" (music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin), arranged two tracks for the Rolling Stones' "Sticky Fingers", arranged David Bowie's masterpiece "Space Oddity" ...

no©2026LucaChinoFerrari (unless you intend to make a profit. In which case, ask first). 

A rare interview with Ursula Smith and Richard Coff in 1970 after their departure from the TEB.

Here is a rare interview with Ursula Smith and Richard Coff conducted by Steve Peacock and published by Sounds on October 17, 1970, just immediately following their departure from the Third Ear Band to form the duo COMIC OVERDOSE (according to other sources, COSMIC OVERDOSE). 

It's an interesting and exclusive overview of the duo's artistic project, which nevertheless failed shortly afterwards due to its naive approach. In fact, as Ursula recalled in the interview she gave me in 2001 (read here), 

"Richard and I did some rehearsing and got some ideas together. Richard rang the "Melody Maker" music paper and got an interview, but we had not got equipment or management or agency.
We were busking near Speaker's Corner Hyde Park when this South African guy came up to chat to us, and said he knew a guy who ran an equipment shop and he could get us some equipment there.
 

"We went to the shop and Richard spoke to the manager who told us that this person was an intelligence agent for the South African government and that we should be very wary of him.
After that Richard rejoined the Third Ear Band and so did Paul Buckmaster. Soon after that the Third Ear Band got signed for doing the music for Polanski’s "Macbeth"...".

Thanks to Italian fan Gianpaolo Banelli for finding the article and to my friend Mirco Delfino (Third Ear Band Facebook page) for bringing it to my attention.

no©2026LucaChinoFerrari (unless you intend to make a profit. In which case, ask first).