Howard Jones, the pioneer who helped define the sound of the 1980s by proving synthesizers could be expressive and emotionally resonant, recently sat down on the Rock & Roll High School podcast. Hosted by two-time Grammy Award–winning producer and music executive Pete Ganbarg, the episode allows the icon to tell the story of his contemporary music journey in his own words, reflecting on a career that blended classical piano training with synth-pop success.
During the insightful interview, the electronic music legend detailed the high-stakes drama surrounding the start of his career and how he initially struggled to convince industry executives. Recalling the moment he was discovered, he revealed that the label representatives initially passed on him completely: "On their way back to London from my show (the Stiff Records guys) said ‘oh no this guy is not for us, we don’t get it.’" Fortunately, manager Paul Conroy fought fiercely for him, telling his colleagues, "‘if you’re gonna pass on this guy you better let me out of the car now because we missed out on Depeche Mode we’re not gonna miss out on Howard Jones.’" As Jones summarizes, "Paul stuck his neck out for me," ultimately leaving Stiff and securing him a deal at Warner.
The gamble paid off, catapulting the artist behind "New Song" and "What Is Love?" onto global stages, including the historic 1985 Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium. Backstage at the event, the synthesizer innovator received a shocking validation from one of his personal heroes. On performing at Live Aid and David Bowie complimenting him backstage on his success, Jones admitted, "That was a wonderful moment for me because he was a huge influence on me as a musician, songwriter and as a person. So for him to recognize me and know what I was doing blew me away."
The legendary day also brought another surreal encounter with rock royalty, captured beautifully on film. On spending time and being photographed with Paul McCartney by Linda McCartney at Live Aid, Jones shared, "It’s one of my most treasured possessions that photo that she took of me and Paul…we chatted for a half an hour… it was amazing, it was fantastic. I’m so fortunate to have had that." Four decades later, his enduring curiosity, optimism, and Buddhist philosophy continue to stand the test of time.
