Eddy Grant is in Dublin following the release of the album 'Going for Broke'.
Eddy Grant came to prominence with 'The Equals' in the 1960s. In the 1970s he embarked on a successful solo career, with hits such as 'Living on the Frontline', 'Walking On Sunshine' and ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’.
Born on the Caribbean island of Guyana, Eddy Grant moved to London with his family as a child and lived there for twenty years. When The Equals disbanded, he moved to the Caribbean and set up his own record label called 'Ice Records'. He approached radio and TV stations to get exposure to his music and has had huge success.
Gay Byrne points out that Eddy Grant is very much a one man operation.
You are your own manager, agent, publisher, arranger, songwriter. You do your own backing band.
Having had success and lost it at the hands of the music industry and business deals, Eddy Grant decided to do everything himself.
Although not a Rastafarian he decided to grow his hair in dreadlocks which took ten years. He has a healthy approach to life, does not drink alcohol, coffee, or tea nor does he smoke or take drugs.
He has ambitions to expand his career and would like to act and record music for more films. He has already composed music for the film 'Water' due out in 1985 produced by HandMade Films, a company founded by George Harrison. 'Water' stars George Harrison, along with Michael Caine and Billy Connolly.
He has an unusual approach to getting paid for performances in some territories and has taken payment in goods rather than cash. The goods have included marble from Brazil and wine from Yugoslavia.
Normally in those places, there are financial problems and so we try to sell our records reasonably to the people and we take what they give us.
Plans to meet fans at the Ilac Centre in Dublin earlier in the day had to be called off due to the size of the crowd. Eddy Grant thanks his fans for showing up and apologises for not being able to meet them.
This episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 1 December 1984. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
