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Ian Prowse, a Liverpool Legend stands out from the crowd of Liverpool stars. Over the past Two decades, Ian has peaked in not one but two bands (Amsterdam and Pele). From being played on Radio one too playing along side living legends such as Elvis Costello. Ian Prowse is an inspiration.  Here I am with the legend himself, in an ironically themed cafe, ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ in the heart of the Liverpool Music Scene, Carvern Walks.

Although now Amsterdam performs both Pele and Amsterdam songs, Ian’s“impulse of first doing Amsterdam was to do something different to Pele”.  Amsterdam at the moment has seven members, “there’s seven people in the band, so alota musicians, we just make a great big racket”. The band itself was influenced via alot of new wave bands such as, ‘The Clash and The Wranglers’ and “there was always abit of Spingsteen in there too”.  Whereas, Pele was more influenced by ‘The Waterboys’. However during the first five years of Amsterdam, they were a “very guitar based pop band”. Not the band has many Celtic influences via fiddles etc...

Ian Prowse himself comes across as a very well rounded guy, with a good insight to the music world and business.  His main influence being Bruce Springsteen describing him as “the guiding light” and his “hero”.  His admiration for Springsteen comes from the heart due too, him not just admiring him as a musician but as a man due his more ‘adult songs’ and problem tackling via music.  In describing Springsteen’s influence on his music, he was inspired, “to always be honest when writing ‘his’ music”.

Prowse has played alongside many very famous stars such as The Pouges, Del Amitri and Elvis Costello. He describes the day that Elvis Costello “phoned” him up and asked Amsterdam to play alongside him on, ‘Jonathon Ross Show’ as a day he “will never forget”.  “He’s been brilliant for us”. Ian Prowse believes he has learnt a lot via performing with other artists. Prowse rarely gets star struck via the professionalism of playing alongside famous stars. However he describes his meeting with Clash singer, Joe Strummer, due to him describing the Clash as a “profoundly influential band of my time”.  “Me bottle went”. He was that ‘profoundly influential’ that it lead to Prowse being inspired to write a song named, ‘Joes Kiss’.

Being influenced in his song writing via rock and roll and pop, Amsterdam’s musical sounds comes across as very celtic sound.  He does what he loves, Amsterdam bring the classic to the classic “Three minute song”.

Prowse describes his greatest success with Amsterdam as playing Glastonbury 2008, “the most fun I’ve ever had”.  He feels in musical success, ‘Does this Train stop in Merseyside’ was his greatest musical success with the band due that song being the song he and Amsterdam are most associated with. Although his first band Pele were also a very successful band, gaining a number one in South Africa and Radio One play. Yet Prowse describes his greatest success with the band as the amount of shows, “One hundred and One gigs” and followers gained, “those fans are still with me today”. Yet his highlight of Pele was playing the Liverpool Royal Court and headlining, “I’d always wanted to play there as a kid”.  Ian comes across as if he takes nothing for granted.

Prowse reflects modesty in being played on Radio stations such as Radio One regardless to X factor and American Idol winners becoming much more relevant on the Radio.  “Its changed alot, but it was very difficult in Pele days but I mean they played us but our music is poppy very accessible, the songs that I write, Thankfully the radio picked up omit”. However he reflects on the difficulty of gaining a record deal with Amsterdam due to when Amsterdam formed it being the beginning of the talent show phenomenon. “The music industry decided for about four years if you were over twenty five you were too old to be in the industry”. Yet “all these avenues for serious music came along” in his description of what these avenues are, he names Radio Two, Jools Holland etc... The difference between the two sets of music choice are much defined.

Recently Amsterdam have been featured on the EMI album of Liverpool alongside some amazing acts, such as Paul McCartney, he describes the feeling as “amazing”.

Ian Prowse clearly takes nothing for granted. He obviously understands the music industry. Overall he came across as a very down to earth guy who treasures his Liverpool background and enjoys being a part of the Liverpool world.