Feel free to express yourselves.

I'll pretend I didn't see this

Whilst I suspect that he may be a much valued member of the Stones' touring ensemble, but I wouldn't be able to point him out unless he was on stage with the group.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-07 06:31 by Big Al.

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Big Al
Whilst I suspect that he may be a much valued member of the Stones' touring ensemble, but I wouldn't be able to point him out unless he was on stage with the group.

You should watch 'Being Mick". He's obviously one of Jagger's closest friends. Seems a nice enough fellow although the Stones don't really need more noisemakers on stage, imo.

peace

Thank you Matt for all the work that you do. Getting the choirs and the organization must be a pain in the butt.

Perhaps he is quite pally with Jagger, but Clifford is certainly rather anonymous off-stage; even, surely, to hardcore fans of the Rolling Stones and those who admire his non-Rolling Stones endeavours - whatever they may be.

I Like Matt, doesn't try to be cool, therefore he is cool. Does he play B3 on YCAGWYW or Tim? Whoever that is has a great feel and vibe.

I don't like the touches he brought to the Wheels tour, too instrusive.

Thank God they did go back to a less-is-more feeling on subsequent tours (band set up, with horns and backing vox on some songs). However, Wheels is an era in Stones history when things changed, never again as ragged and raucous as they were through the 70s and early 80s, but they still make a wonderful noise!

Matt Clifford is blamed on this forum for being sole responssible of the direction The Stones played and arranged their material during 1989/90.

He is treated as a scapegoat to loathe the whole eighties-style, with the many keyboards.

It's downright unfair to blame Clifford for anything. It was The Stones themselves, not Clifford who was simply a hired hand, who chose to arrange and transform the songs to a more modern updated sound. If they were unsatisfied with what Clifford contributed, they would have fired him.

Later, some revisionism took place and Keith was of course the first to blame everyone around him for the direction the band took. Of course Keith isn't to blame anything!

True, Matt Clifford represents more pop than rock, but to give him the blame for everything that now sounds outdated, is unfair and childish.

And obviously, he is a big factor in the way the new tours are handled. He is playing french-horn and keyboards and even presents the band. We can thank him for a lot.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-07 14:33 by Blueranger.

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Blueranger
Matt Clifford is blamed on this forum for being sole responssible of the direction The Stones played and arranged their material during 1989/90.

He is treated as a scapegoat to loathe the whole eighties-style, with the many keyboards.

It's downright unfair to blame Clifford for anything. It was The Stones themselves, not Clifford who was simply a hired hand, who chose to arrange and transform the songs to a more modern updated sound. If they were unsatisfied with what Clifford contributed, they would have fired him.

Later, some revisionism took place and Keith was of course the first to blame everyone around him for the direction the band took. Of course Keith isn't to blame anything!

True, Matt Clifford represents more pop than rock, but to give him the blame for everything that now sounds outdated, is unfair and childish.

And obviously, he is a big factor in the way the new tours are handled. He is playing french-horn and keyboards and even presents the band. We can thank him for a lot.

Remember the promo video of making SW/Mixed Emotions?

After Keith did his background vocals, Matt Clifford approaches him and said: "Good! You got the job". Keith's following expression was priceless

He's Mick's man. Many have a problem with that. I haven't.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-07 14:40 by DandelionPowderman.

I appreciate he's a good friend to Mick, apparently.

I also appreciate when he's not around.

The scene in Being Mick where Pete Townshend is laying down his part on Gun and Matt tells him "you got the job" annoys me to no end.

The second keyboard for playing the guitar rhythm section. And maintain the sound
amplitude.

2 keyboards on stage for a rock band is too much for me...

Would like to listen a show without Chuck and Matt. Off course no problem when it's a real piano boogie sound.

He's Jaggers very talented yes man..I reckon Keith lost his veto power over the Life squabble.

I think he is a nice guy.

He was to the far left of stage in Madrid in Premium Pista area 20 minutes before The Stones came on. He was quite happy to chat, even though he was probably paying attention to how the sound was on that side.

Very polite all the time,even when I asked him if he was a Brit or American, which I must have known, but I get forgetful after a few beers.

Quote
powerage78
The second keyboard for playing the guitar rhythm section. And maintain the sound
amplitude.

2 keyboards on stage for a rock band is too much for me...

Would like to listen a show without Chuck and Matt. Off course no problem when it's a real piano boogie sound.

Agreed

Quote
Blueranger
Matt Clifford is blamed on this forum for being sole responssible of the direction The Stones played and arranged their material during 1989/90.

He is treated as a scapegoat to loathe the whole eighties-style, with the many keyboards.

Really? I haven't heard much Matt Clifford discussion here at all actually. I imagine if he were truly that important to Stones music direction style and arrangements, he would have been acknowledged more by the Stones in the band introductions and many interviews they have done. The style was well established by the late 60's and the arrangements are worked out by Chuck according to Mick.

As far as him being a Jagger yes man, it's probably true but I get the feeling everyone is a Jagger yes man these days. Maybe not Charlie or Keith but I get the feeling you don't last long in that organization unless you cater to the wants and needs of the CEO.

His french horn playing is fine and his work with the choirs laudable but besides that and his band introductions I'm not so sure he makes that much of a difference to a modern Stones show.

In general I'd like to hear much less going on during a Stones show, basically allowing the core group to stand out without the fairly obvious level boosting going on frequently by the FOH mixer to make the guitars stand out above all the rest, etc. The simple approach of the 1971 post SF was actually perfect, imo, just the Stones and some infrequent horns for punctuation. Less is more kind of approach where there are actually some spaces for the music to breathe. That seems to be missing these days except for some obvious examples like Moonlight Mile, which coincidentally is my favorite tune from the tour.

peace

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
Blueranger
Matt Clifford is blamed on this forum for being sole responssible of the direction The Stones played and arranged their material during 1989/90.

He is treated as a scapegoat to loathe the whole eighties-style, with the many keyboards.

Really? I haven't heard much Matt Clifford discussion here at all actually. I imagine if he were truly that important to Stones music direction style and arrangements, he would have been acknowledged more by the Stones in the band introductions and many interviews they have done. The style was well established by the late 60's and the arrangements are worked out by Chuck according to Mick.

As far as him being a Jagger yes man, it's probably true but I get the feeling everyone is a Jagger yes man these days. Maybe not Charlie or Keith but I get the feeling you don't last long in that organization unless you cater to the wants and needs of the CEO.

His french horn playing is fine and his work with the choirs laudable but besides that and his band introductions I'm not so sure he makes that much of a difference to a modern Stones show.

In general I'd like to hear much less going on during a Stones show, basically allowing the core group to stand out without the fairly obvious level boosting going on frequently by the FOH mixer to make the guitars stand out above all the rest, etc. The simple approach of the 1971 post SF was actually perfect, imo, just the Stones and some infrequent horns for punctuation. Less is more kind of approach where there are actually some spaces for the music to breathe. That seems to be missing these days except for some obvious examples like Moonlight Mile, which coincidentally is my favorite tune from the tour.

peace

You say their style was worked out by the late 60s and then you say you don't like their current style. Lol. I don't know who is responsible but the "Rolling Stones orchestra" sound is not for me. Two guitars a bass a drum kit a singer a sax and trumpet and someone like Nicky Hopkins on keyboard is all that is needed.

Matt Clifford is adding great keyboard bits to Moonlight Mile. He is also responsible for making You Can't Always Get What You Want work in every city with the local choirs. He is on stage for almost every song now including Keith's set. I think Matt Clifford is a great addition to the band, they sound great with him on stage. Actually it reminds me about the days with "2000 Light Years From Home"...

Bjornulf

Quote
Turner68

You say their style was worked out by the late 60s and then you say you don't like their current style. Lol. I don't know who is responsible but the "Rolling Stones orchestra" sound is not for me. Two guitars a bass a drum kit a singer a sax and trumpet and someone like Nicky Hopkins on keyboard is all that is needed.

Well by "style" I actually meant rock and roll the way the Stones play it as opposed to the more pop approach of earlier days. But in any case, I totally agree with you about how the instrumentation would sound best.

Keith Richards once commented on how the Stones became too influenced or dependent on the side musicians like Billy Preston back in the 70's. They did a pretty good job of paring down to the core band after that and I think in really helped their success during the SG era. Perhaps it's a bit too late for such a move these days, I think their dependence has become somewhat chronic and incurable.

That being said, I agree with bv that Clifford's additions to Moonlight Mile were well done. Now I want to hear what he does with I Got The Blues.

peace

Quote
bv
Matt Clifford is adding great keyboard bits to Moonlight Mile. He is also responsible for making You Can't Always Get What You Want work in every city with the local choirs. He is on stage for almost every song now including Keith's set. I think Matt Clifford is a great addition to the band, they sound great with him on stage. Actually it reminds me about the days with "2000 Light Years From Home"...

Agree terrific musician.. Great stuff on MM.

Didn't he play some retro organ on LSTNT last night, or was that Chuck? It gave me real chills and flashbacks from 1967 even though I was born later on.

The most talented of any Stones hired sideman in history. He is responsible for this brilliant piece of music which enhanced the opening credits of the greatest movie of all time

[www.youtube.com]

They sound great on stage but that has NOTHING to do with Matt Clifford.

You are kidding me, right? Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me? You are talking to me?

So now in 2026 he's finally made it to the list of Mick, Keith and Ronnie "core collaborators" in the official press blurbs with Darryl and Steve !

Anyway I just came across this very interesting 40' interview of Matt Clifford from 2024. I think it's the first time I hear him talk at length of his work and gives interesting insight on recording HD and the challenges they faced [eshop.macsales.com]

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IORR Links : Essential Studio Outtakes CDs : Audio - History of Rarest Outtakes : Audio



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026-05-08 16:29 by gotdablouse.

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gotdablouse
Anyway I just came across this 40' interview of Matt Clifford from 2024. I think it's the first time I hear him talk at length of his work and gives interesting insight on recording HD and the challenges they faced [eshop.macsales.com]

Just heard into the part of the making of Hackney Diamonds. Very interesting interview! Deserves an own thread!

Very interesting, yes, although I don't think any new info came to light. He stopped short of saying he'd contributed to the writing of the songs ("my ideas are there") although it's pretty obvious he does (but the Jagger-Richards "brand" cannot be broken) and I'd wager he gets royalties...

Many insights on his career were new to me, the fact that he wrote the score of a movie at 21 in LA ("The Return of the Living Dead" ?) or that he played with French star Julien Clerc (a Google search showed he even co-wrote songs with him) and that he writes the music for UEFA and FIFA !

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IORR Links : Essential Studio Outtakes CDs : Audio - History of Rarest Outtakes : Audio

Yeah at first i didn't like Matt for reasons i don't understand but I've grown to appreciate his enthusiasm and its always nice to see him enjoying himself up there with the band.

I also think he takes nice pictures of Mick as a tourist in the cities when they are on tour