As promised/threatened, here’s the hotly anticipated second part of Classic Rock’s interview with UFO frontman Phil Mogg. Simply click that conveniently placed ‘Read More’ button…

British heavy rock legends UFO release their brand new studio album, The Visitor, on June 2 and head out on a British tour shortly afterward. The dates kick off at Brighton Concorde 2 on June 9 and finish on the 24th at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Get your UFO tickets here. In the second part of an exclusive interview with Classic Rock, frontman Phil Mogg talks about Pete Way’s ongoing trouser problems; the ‘huge crack’ in Way’s arse; the likelihood – or otherwise – of Way returning to his role of bass-player in the band; UFO’s low-key 40th anniversary; and what the set-list is going to be like on the forthcoming tour…

INTERVIEW: GEOFF BARTON

Have you spoken to Pete Way recently?
Not since before Christmas.

We saw Pete at Hard Rock Hell in December, where he played with his band Waysted. Pete was on quite good form, actually, although he couldn’t find his chalet.
Do you know what I don’t like? That huge fucking crack in his arse. Um, I find it a bit disturbing. It’s the biggest crack I’ve ever seen. Have you seen it? His trousers come down and this huge crack appears. You’re going: “Oh my God, something’s going to erupt at any minute.” Sorry, that’s just a personal thing. I wouldn’t want my wife walking around with a big crack down her arse. You have seen it, haven’t you?

At Hard Rock Hell we were thankfully quite a long way away from the stage and it was just a fleeting glimpse.
It’s the biggest arse I’ve ever seen in my life. That’s a big arse.

Well, yes, it is quite a size, actually. Even from the back of the hall, yeah.
When it goes down to being dark brown, too. I mean, that’s like: “Hell-oo-oo!”

So, what’s the skinny with Pete? Will he ever return to UFO?
Oh, I don’t… you know the score about what’s going on. I’ve known Pete for, like… ever. I’d just kind of like him to, um, pull his trousers up. No… [sighs]. I’m going to get into dangerous territory here. I think it’s basically up to Pete. Pete is up to Pete, if you see what I mean. I don’t mean that in any disrespectful manner at all. I’m being serious for a minute. I don’t know… you know the deal.

Just keep your fingers crossed, yeah?
Yeah, um… [sighs again]. No, I ain’t going to pray for him. You know, some people go: “I will pray for you.” And I’m thinking… no, I ain’t praying for you. Sheesh, I’ve been watching too many movies lately. I don’t think too much about it because it kind of disturbs me too much. It worries me. Pete, come on. You can’t show that big fucking crack to everyone. See what you done to me?

Is it a bit frustrating for you that you’ve been unable to celebrate UFO’s 40th anniversary properly? Pete not being available has put a bit of a dampener on it, hasn’t it?
The-20th-what-anniversary, did you say?

The 40th. UFO’s 40th.
Oh, shut up. C’mon, behave. We are not in our 40th anniversary. Status Quo does that. We don’t. No. Do you know what? I don’t look too deep. This is, like, rock. If you start looking too deep then you get carried away with your own stuff. You disappear up your own arse, basically. So I don’t really look too deep at it. It’s a rock group, you know? It’s never that important. Some people find it really important for their own self-importance, if you get what I mean.

So you don’t like it when a rock band sort of becomes an institution?
Oh my God, you should hear some people talk. If you meet up with, and mix with, other bands, it’s like: “I’m God.” Oh, shut up. Some of them are so up their fucking arses. Shut up, just do it. Get up on stage and rock. That’s my theory, anyway. I don’t like bullshit.

What’s your set-list going to be like on the upcoming tour?
We’re doing three new songs. We’re doing Cherry… I’ve got a set list here, actually. We’re doing Saving Me, Long Gone, Ain’t No Baby, Cherry, Mother Mary, Baby Blue, Hell Driver… and then we’ve got to do stuff that people expect us to do. Otherwise we’d be stupid. We’ll play Too Hot To Handle and we’ll kick arse with the rest. Andy [Parker, drums] also thinks it’d be good idea to do The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent. Do you know Andy? He thinks I’ve got a big mouth. He abuses me. I have to keep quiet. I just say: “Okay, fine.” It’s going to rock out, it’ll be great. Sparky [Barry Sparks] is like a cross between John Entwistle. He plays bass like John Entwistle a little bit. He’s real cool. Actually, the last time we did an American tour with him was great. We came off stage… and you know you get ridiculous things? A guy came up to us and said: “Hey, Pete! Glad to see you’ve dyed your hair blond!” Ha-ha! Who knows what’s going on here? Can you imagine that, though? It’s crazy. Yes, you do get lots of funny occasions. Still, that’s what makes it special.

Did you see the big feature we did on UFO in Classic Rock last year [issue No.121]?
Do you know what? I haven’t been anywhere. I haven’t actually done anything.

Pete Way read it. He told us: “It’s a good article on UFO; it’s just a shame the bits about me read like a medical report.”
Hmm-hmm. Hey, our satellite dish went out, right? People, I think, get too used to watching TV. So I pulled out the Scrabble board. I said to [wife] Emma: “Okay, we’re playing Scrabble.” I had this whole plan. But do you know what the worst thing was? I stole the two blanks and the ‘x’, and she still fucking beat me. Can you imagine the indignity of it? No, I’m serious. I’d hidden them under my arse – the two blanks and the ‘x’. I was planning to make ‘taxi’. But she still fucking beat me! So, women, I’d be very careful of.

Well, cheers for the interview, Phil.
It was very nice talking to you. Destroy me now, then, will you?