SAGA's IAN CHRICHTON - "The SIX BY SIX Band Is More Rock-Prog-Psychedelic"
by Greg Prato
Six By Six: Ian Crichton, Nigel Glockler and Robert Berry. Courtesy Image
What truly is progressive music? Each month BraveWords will aim to dissect that answer with a thorough overview of the current musical climate that is the prog world. Old and new, borrowed and blue. A musical community without borders. So watch for a steady and spaced-out array of features, current news and a buyer's guide checklist to enhance the forward-thinking musical mind. So, welcome to BraveWords' monthly column appropriately titled, Between A Rock In A Prog Place.
In this month's column, we speak to long-time Saga guitarist Ian Chrichton, who is now also a member of another band, Six by Six (which also includes multi-instrumentalist/singer Robert Berry and long-time Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler). With their self-title debut issued last month, Ian discussed how 6x6 was assembled, touring plans, and of course, Saga.
Six by Six coverart
How did Six By Six come together?
"It was early fall of 2020. I was contacted by Robert Berry's manager, Nick Shilton - he was looking to do something different than keyboards and was looking for guitar, and my name came up. After speaking with Robert, we decided to see if it would work musically. 'Yearning to Fly' was the first song we wrote, and I was sold on working with him. Everything we wrote was no struggle, flowed great."
How would you compare this band to Saga, musically?
"Well, Saga has been considered more of a 'keyboard band' than guitar. Six by Six is guitar-driven with minimal keys. Robert was working with Keith Emerson for years, and plays them well - so can easily cut the beginning of Last words on Earth, etc. The Six by Six band is more rock-prog-psychedelic."
Please discuss the tunes that have been issued as videos thus far, "Save The Night," "China," and "Learning To Fly."
"I thought the record company did the right thing with the order of the 3 videos, worked well with the heavy tune coming last. 'Yearning To Fly' was the first tune we wrote and first video. 'Save The Night' came together quite easily, everything wanted to flow naturally, no writers block - it's great when this happens. You can write things and try and make them fit, but when parts love each other at first sight that's the ticket. 'China,' this songs grooves great, the subject is controversial though - it's really about countries with dictators. You can change China to a list of others, but China sings the best!"
Are there plans for Six By Six to tour?
"I'm working on this now, but the record was just released August 19 - it needs some time to breathe and get around. We're talking 2023 at this point. It will be in Europe at first for sure. There will be some opening for...who knows who, festivals mixed with some of our own shows."
Why do you think Canada has given us so many prog rock bands over the years?
"I'm at a loss with that, I mean there's Rush, Saga...Max Webster (played Canada mainly) can't think of any. Canada has been mainly AOR rock type in the past. Now, it's like everywhere with hip-hop, rap, etc."
Which Saga album are you most proud of and why?
"Tough question, but I would answer Security of Illusion after we re-formed with Steve Negus and Jim Gilmour. I wrote a lot on it, and it's big loud guitars! Which was different for Saga...they let me do it. But there's Generation 13 and Human Condition, also."
What are Saga's future plans?
"Saga is touring now, but its 2-3 weeks at a time, at least three times a year - which gives me a lot of time to organize Six By Six touring. No plans for a new record - we have 23 studio records to draw from."
