A while ago I already posted an in-depth interview with Quartz done by my friend Alexander Zhoglichev, and here we go again talking to the guitarist Mick Hopkins about the band’s fifth full-length album “On the Edge of no Tomorrow” which came out May, 20th, 2022. The album is a true gem as always (it seems the band discovered Midas’ secret how to turn everything they touch to gold) and it’s a real tribute to the late Geoff Nicholls as there are several tracks based on his ideas and included his playing/singing. Mr. Hopkins explains how it all became possible and how they overcame technical difficulties, Covid restrictions and David Garner’s departure in the middle of the process.
When did “On the Edge of no Tomorrow” begin to take its shape? Did you start writing songs right after “Fear No Evil”?
Myself and the band are always
working on new ideas, but things changed sadly when Taffy (2016) and Geoff (2017)
passed away. David Garner left shortly after we began recording and then Covid
arrived and stopped everything for a while.
I heard that Geoff Nicholls had rough
versions for 5 or 6 songs. Did you use them all?
There are nine songs in total
from Geoff on this new album, some were just ideas, some were half finished,
some were complete but needed/required me/us to sort out riffs, lyrics and arrangements.
What is your approach to songwriting? Do
you write constantly or do you need some time to clear your head, so to say,
and enjoy life without touching instruments?
I play guitar every single
day. Sometimes for practice and sometimes i am writing riffs and developing
song ideas. it’s who I am and it’s in my blood and DNA.
By the way, what is a music talent for
you — a gift or a curse? Have you ever experienced a writer’s block when you
wanted to write a riff or a melody and nothing worked out?
As far as I’m concerned it’s a
gift. I’ve been playing guitar for most of my life. I have experienced writer’s
block at various times. In fact I have it at the moment with a new idea I’m
working on!
In the past Geoff Nicholls wrote a lot
of melodies and lyrics. How was it to write songs without him this time? Did
you try to capture his way of writing, or did you write songs regardless of
such things?
For some time now Derek and I
have been song writing. When Geoff left to join Sabbath our creative side was
pushed more to the fore. For the “Stand up and Fight” album (1980) we were
actually writing material in our hotel rooms when on tour with Rush.
How did you manage to use Geoff
Nicholls’ recordings? I guess Tim Perry and Gary Rees, Geoff’s stepson, were
very instrumental in that? 
Geoff Nicholls
Gary had kindly made copies of
Geoff’s hard drives and loaned us his laptops, it was a case of painstakingly
and meticulously going through them and sorting out the wheat from the chaff so
to speak. It was a very time consuming process and quite emotional at the time
for me.
I can only imagine what it was like to
incorporate Geoff’s recordings in the newly recorded parts. Could you tell me
about this process, please?
It took quite a long time, in
fact several months. i had Geoff's vocals and keyboards and he played guitar
solos on “Freak of Nature”. When we put the backing together with Geoff’s
vocals/keys etc., no one was more pleased than me! I added the end sequences to
“Evil Lies”, “World of Illusion”. Derek and David added new lyrics where
required.
Were there some odd songs/parts which
you weren’t happy with and changed/rearranged during the recording process?
Yes I rearranged “Night of the
Living Dead” adding new riffs. As for others, I already mentioned them above.
Could you explain the situation with the
singers, please? Both Geoff Bate and Dave Garner sang on the album, but there
is information that Dave has left Quartz. What happened?
David has his own business and wanted to concentrate on that, also his daughter
Amy is ill, and had to be there for her.
By the way, how did you decide who would
sing what?
Geoff n had already sung three
songs either fully recorded or in demo form, David had recorded three so that left
eight. Derek had written the lyrics to “Keep up the Fight” so he did that one. Malcolm
and I went to see Tony Martin, to ask him about singing on “Evil Lies” that
left six, so we asked Geoff Bate for his help to enable us to complete the
album.
Derek Arnold sang on “Keep up the
Fight”. Did he insist on that or was it a spontaneous idea?
Derek Arnold
It was spontaneous. Although we already did know he had a good voice from
working on side projects with him after the band broke up in 1984. Malc had
contributed drums and I had added guitars to songs Derek had written with his
friend Bob Daffurn.
Tony Martin did such an awesome job on
“Evil Lies”. How did you get the idea to invite him? I guess he nailed his
parts straight away?
Tony recorded the vocal it his
home studio over the backing track we sent him. He did some editing of the
track and also added the choir sequence which he programmed himself. He did a great
job on it don’t you think!? (Yes, I do!)
I guess the idea of using various
singers worked really well. Will you use it again?
It’s a possibility, you never
know! Geoff Bate is back now as a full time member of the band so he will be
singing on the follow up album that we are currently working on (unless
something unforeseen happens).
“Freak of Nature” and “Night of the
Living Dead” are zombie-themed songs. Who in the band has been watching horror
movies, hehe?
Have a guess… Yes it was Geoff
Nicholls of course!
As far as I understand, “Master of the
Rainbow” is your dedication to Ronnie James Dio. How did this come to fruition?
Another one of Geoff’s ideas. Ronnie
was such a great singer and deserves the tribute. Geoff had played with him in
their time in Black Sabbath and became friends. Geoff had a lot of time (and
respect) for Ronnie and that was a mutual feeling too.
There are some songs about burning
topics like “Keep up the Fight”, “Brainwashed”. What are the stories behind
them? What moments and/or/situations influenced you to speak out?
There are so many bad things
happening all around the world today and I thought it was a good idea to write
about them. I often choose things that are topical as ideas for songs. “Brainwashed”
is about the propaganda and manipulation of information and people by
governments, big corporations and the media in today's society around the
world. “Keep up the Fight” is about our politicians and politics in general and
how they do not represent our views even though we elected them on their
manifestos and promises to do that.
If you play the track “Death
or Glory” and listen carefully there’s the line in there “Can we exist on the
edge of no tomorrow? We survive and live with fear!” It was a standout lyric on
the album and comes from there.
Some fans complain when they see albums with more than 10 tracks. What was your reason to put out 14 tracks?
We couldn’t make our minds up
which tracks to use and it was very difficult to leave any out so we decided to
use the fourteen. Plus it’s value for money as it’s an ideal length for the CD
format.
Why did you decide to switch from High
Roller Records to Hear No Evil/Cherry Red Records? Did you feel that HRR
promotional abilities were a bit limited?
HR Records weren’t signing
bands at the time and vinyl pressing plants were shut which has caused a huge
backlog for artists in general. Cherry Red Records had been in talks a few
years ago regarding securing part of our back catalogue, so they were also very
interested in the fact we had a new album to offer too when we told them. They
are a good UK based and well established global label to be with.
The band is booked for the “Keep it True
Rising 2” festival. Where else can fans catch up with the band?
At the moment there are no
gigs planned except for “Keep it True Rising 2” at the beginning of October in Germany,
but there will be soon hopefully. Watch this space please.
Of course, I can’t avoid the question
about the plans and the next album (please, don’t beat me!). So what does the
future hold for Quartz?
Mick Hopkins
I’ve been working on new
ideas/riffs etc, since the Covid lockdown, so far I have about ten. The band
are currently in the recording and rehearsal studio laying down tracks and
getting live set sorted.
A bunch of assorted questions about
different Quartz-related things. How did you get the nickname “Sprike” and what
does it mean?
When I was younger, I used to
be an athlete (sprinter) and a friend of mine decided to put together the first
letters of sprint and the last three letters of my first name Mike to give the
nickname “Spr — ike”.
When NWOBHM appeared you had been playing together for quite some years already. How and why do you think Quartz are considered as a part of NWOBHM, while Judas Priest or Motorhead are not? Did you feel you were part of that movement back then?
I’ve never thought about that,
we play rock music and hope the people like it, that’s the main thing to me to
be honest. Our debut album was released on Friday 20th May 1977 and that’s a
fact. Coincidentally our new album was also released on Friday 20th may 2022!
Tony Iommi was known for his practical
jokes. Did he set some pranks against you on tours or in the studio?
No, it was Ozzy who was the
joker. Cling film on toilets, sweets that turn your mouth purple etc. etc. Tony
was more serious in fact.
Geoff Barton mentioned the story from
1975 when Ozzy left his Rolls-Royce and jumped into your van. What happened
after that?
He decided to stay with us in
the van instead all the way to the gig.
People often mention Black Sabbath
influence on Quartz, but don’t you think that Quartz also made an impact on
Black Sabbath, especially when Geoff Nicholls joined them? 
Malcolm Cope
Yes I believe so, e.g. Geoff co-wrote
“Heaven & Hell”, using the bass line from Quartz “Mainline Rider”. Geoff
was a prolific songwriter too and that is one of the main reasons Tony Iommi
asked him to help out and then join Sabbath.
In the interview with Aleksander
Zhoglichew you briefly answered his question about Don Airey. Could you tell me
more details about Don’s involvement in Quartz? How did you meet him? Was he
just a session member? Why didn’t Geoff record the keyboards on “Devil’s Brew”?
Tony introduced Don Airey to
us and asked him whether he’d like to play on the track and he said OK. In
typical Geoff style Geoff would allow other musicians their own space and
didn’t mind stepping aside. Geoff would always assist and never insist, it was
one of his enduring qualities.
Could you tell me that story when you
were left behind in Denmark by AC/DC management? How did that happen and how
did you survive that week in a foreign country?
There were problems with our work visas so we had to try and survive the week
in a foreign country with lots of beautiful blonde girls everywhere. There were
also some label politics involved and money wasn’t forthcoming. Plus AC/DC
weren’t pulling the crowds in at some of the venues, would you believe?
If you want to say something to the readers of Axe Crazy, the space below is all yours.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you and your readers and for their support of Quartz over the years. It means a lot to us and as they say “We couldn’t have done it without you” and that is so true. I hope you enjoy the new album (and the follow-up album).
Thanks to Tim Perry for making this interview possible!
Visit Quartz on Facebook to purchase their official merch.
Order "On the Edge of No Tomorrow" via Cherry Red Records.
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