By Jane Quinn
Sir Tim talks cricket, how to be happy and from here to eternity…
Born in a historic English country house near Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, Sir Timothy Miles Bindon, ‘Tim’ Rice, is an English author and Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award, and Grammy Award-winning lyricist.
After studying for a year in Paris at the Sorbonne, Rice joined EMI Records as a management trainee in 1966. When EMI producer Norrie Paramor left to set up his own organisation in 1968, Rice joined him as an assistant producer, working with, among others, Cliff Richard.
Sir Tim appeared as host of the BBC Radio 2 weekly series Tim Rice’s American Pie, which explored the music and musicians of each state in the USA. He has also worked as a guest presenter for the BBC Radio 2 show Sounds of the ’60s.
Today, he is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita; with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, with whom he wrote Chess; and for his work for Walt Disney Studios with Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, King David), Elton John (The Lion King, Aida, The Road to El Dorado) and Ennio Morricone.
Sir Tim has his cuppa tea and we are ready to find out more about the man, his memories, and his opinions, as he discusses everything from school days to the meaning of life/the universe/and everything.
1) Do you recall your first day at school?
Yes, very well. I was five years of age. I was pathetic. I didn’t want to go. I screamed and yelled.
2) When you were 13 did you rebel?
No, never. I was really quite boring. The real rebels are the ones who are terribly well-behaved. They are the ones who are truly different.
3) Is this it? Life? God? Heaven? Hell? The point?
I haven’t a clue. What’s the point is a very good question. Is there one? The problem is that we don’t know what the point is.
4) What is the perfect day for you?
Sleeping all day would be perfect. No, it depends. I do like playing cricket. Cricket would certainly be an element of my perfect day.
5) What has been your most embarrassing moment?
I’m not telling you! The thing about embarrassing moments is that you try to forget them. Looking back at the fuss I made on my first day of school is embarrassing.
6) What was the first record you ever bought?
The first record I ever bought was Singing the Blues by Tommy Steele.
7) Happiest moment ever?
I’m happy when my children are happy.
8) What do you see when you look into a mirror?
My mum. I also think: “Oh, you’re looking old!”
9) What’s new?
The North American premiere of From Here To Eternity (lyrics by Tim Rice/music by Stuart Brayson) took place in Auburn, New York, on June 29, 2016.
Sir Tim Rice was a lovely member of my wee tea party. It is with every good wish that I bid him fare-thee-well and congratulations on his new daughter, Charlotte Cordelia Violet Christina, born October 12, 2016.
For more about this check out www.timrice.co.uk
© JANE QUINN Mighty Quinn Management www.mightyquinnmanagement.com
(Sir Tim Rice is presenting BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of The Sixties on Saturdays at 8 am, in place of Brian Matthew.)