My United: Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin, the award-winning Hollywood film composer and former guitarist in rock band Yes, took time out from promoting his new solo album, Rio, to talk to us from Los Angeles about being punched at Old Trafford, meeting Nelson Mandela and more...
How did the man who composed the music for films like Armageddon, Con Air, Gone In 60 Seconds, National Treasure and Christmas movie Jack Frost become a Manchester United fan?
"I've always been into football. When I was growing up in South Africa, I was playing for junior teams. My future wife's father was a referee and the head of the association there. When I moved to England [in the late 1970s], a friend of mine, Mutt Lange, who’s a record producer [for AC/DC, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams] was a big fan of Ipswich Town and we went to see them play, against United. I remember Mick Mills was in the team for Ipswich and United won. Mutt didn’t speak to me for about a week after that!"
Living in California since the 1980s, have you ever been able to watch United at Old Trafford?
"I've only been to two games at Old Trafford, which is criminal. Although it’s a hell of a journey just for one game! My son Ryan, who’s been a fan from the age of about eight, gets to more games than I do but he's also very busy now as a record producer and drummer. The last time I was at Old Trafford, we watched United play Chelsea, it was some years ago. We didn't have the greatest seats and when United scored, the guy in front of me jumped up to celebrate and hit me in the face, totally by accident! He apologised profusely and said, ‘Can I buy you a beer?’ I said, ‘Thanks but all I need is a Band-Aid [plaster]!’ While it wasn’t pleasant being hit in the face, the camaraderie between us, as fans, was cool. I really want to get back there and sing with everyone."
"I've always been into football. When I was growing up in South Africa, I was playing for junior teams. My future wife's father was a referee and the head of the association there. When I moved to England [in the late 1970s], a friend of mine, Mutt Lange, who’s a record producer [for AC/DC, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams] was a big fan of Ipswich Town and we went to see them play, against United. I remember Mick Mills was in the team for Ipswich and United won. Mutt didn’t speak to me for about a week after that!"
Living in California since the 1980s, have you ever been able to watch United at Old Trafford?
"I've only been to two games at Old Trafford, which is criminal. Although it’s a hell of a journey just for one game! My son Ryan, who’s been a fan from the age of about eight, gets to more games than I do but he's also very busy now as a record producer and drummer. The last time I was at Old Trafford, we watched United play Chelsea, it was some years ago. We didn't have the greatest seats and when United scored, the guy in front of me jumped up to celebrate and hit me in the face, totally by accident! He apologised profusely and said, ‘Can I buy you a beer?’ I said, ‘Thanks but all I need is a Band-Aid [plaster]!’ While it wasn’t pleasant being hit in the face, the camaraderie between us, as fans, was cool. I really want to get back there and sing with everyone."
Trevor Rabin: I'd love to score a United film! Video
Trevor Rabin: I'd love to score a United film!
Film composer and rock guitarist Trevor Rabin explains why he supports the Reds...
How do you follow United from the States – do you watch the games live on TV?
"Yes, I try to watch on TV as often as I can, but I haven't had too much time recently with the schedule promoting my new album, Rio. But yeah, there are two things I'm passionate about in sport. One is Manchester United and the other is basketball. I knew nothing about the game until I was asked to do the television theme for the NBA. After that, I became a big LA Lakers fan, so in my wardrobe, there’s Manchester United and Lakers [shirts]."
Did composing NBA’s TV theme mean you were able to get courtside seats for the Lakers?
"A couple of times, yes. Now I want to do Manchester United’s theme, so I get the best seats [at Old Trafford]. But I haven’t been asked!"
I was going to ask, at least hypothetically. So… if a Hollywood producer decided to make a movie about our club’s incredible history and offered you the chance to compose the film score, would you do it?
"Yes, if I'm asked to do the Manchester United film, if that comes about, I'll do it. I'll do it for nothing if I can have some good seats!"
Do you compose music differently for a sports movie than you do for an action blockbuster?
"Very much so. In sports, you have the winning and the losing, so there’s a lot of inspirational, heartfelt, almost anthemic pieces. I've done quite a number of sports movies, like Remember The Titans, about American football, and I absolutely love it."
"Yes, I try to watch on TV as often as I can, but I haven't had too much time recently with the schedule promoting my new album, Rio. But yeah, there are two things I'm passionate about in sport. One is Manchester United and the other is basketball. I knew nothing about the game until I was asked to do the television theme for the NBA. After that, I became a big LA Lakers fan, so in my wardrobe, there’s Manchester United and Lakers [shirts]."
Did composing NBA’s TV theme mean you were able to get courtside seats for the Lakers?
"A couple of times, yes. Now I want to do Manchester United’s theme, so I get the best seats [at Old Trafford]. But I haven’t been asked!"
I was going to ask, at least hypothetically. So… if a Hollywood producer decided to make a movie about our club’s incredible history and offered you the chance to compose the film score, would you do it?
"Yes, if I'm asked to do the Manchester United film, if that comes about, I'll do it. I'll do it for nothing if I can have some good seats!"
Do you compose music differently for a sports movie than you do for an action blockbuster?
"Very much so. In sports, you have the winning and the losing, so there’s a lot of inspirational, heartfelt, almost anthemic pieces. I've done quite a number of sports movies, like Remember The Titans, about American football, and I absolutely love it."
Watching from afar, what have you made of the current United team, in this second season under Erik ten Hag?
"Personally, I feel patience would be a good thing. I hope everyone else buys into that, and the team becomes what it was when I last saw them live [in 2011]. That was such an exciting time, it was tremendous."
Sir Alex Ferguson was still the manager then, of course. Was he someone you admired?
"Of course. I remember when he came out [of the tunnel], the crowd went nuts. He was one of the stars of the team really and it was a sad day when he left."
We have some great photos of Sir Alex with Nelson Mandela and understand you also met your fellow South African…
"Yes, it was before I performed at The Prince’s Trust concert in South Africa [Johannesburg, November 1997]. One morning, my manager said, ‘There's lunch today at Mandela's residence with Prince Charles and the Spice Girls’ – they were also headlining the show. I was so excited to meet Nelson Mandela. My uncle, Sir Sidney Kentridge, was his lawyer for many years. When I told him Sidney was my uncle, he said, ‘I love that man like a brother. He was the kindest, smartest barrister I've ever dealt with. And he defended me like no-one else could have.’ It was fantastic [to hear Nelson say that]. At lunch, I was sitting next to Prince Charles - we spoke about having sons around the same age. Beforehand, I didn’t know what the decorum was and how I was supposed to greet him. But Scary Spice just came up to him, said, ‘Hello, Charlie, how's your bum?’ and pinched his bottom!"
"Personally, I feel patience would be a good thing. I hope everyone else buys into that, and the team becomes what it was when I last saw them live [in 2011]. That was such an exciting time, it was tremendous."
Sir Alex Ferguson was still the manager then, of course. Was he someone you admired?
"Of course. I remember when he came out [of the tunnel], the crowd went nuts. He was one of the stars of the team really and it was a sad day when he left."
We have some great photos of Sir Alex with Nelson Mandela and understand you also met your fellow South African…
"Yes, it was before I performed at The Prince’s Trust concert in South Africa [Johannesburg, November 1997]. One morning, my manager said, ‘There's lunch today at Mandela's residence with Prince Charles and the Spice Girls’ – they were also headlining the show. I was so excited to meet Nelson Mandela. My uncle, Sir Sidney Kentridge, was his lawyer for many years. When I told him Sidney was my uncle, he said, ‘I love that man like a brother. He was the kindest, smartest barrister I've ever dealt with. And he defended me like no-one else could have.’ It was fantastic [to hear Nelson say that]. At lunch, I was sitting next to Prince Charles - we spoke about having sons around the same age. Beforehand, I didn’t know what the decorum was and how I was supposed to greet him. But Scary Spice just came up to him, said, ‘Hello, Charlie, how's your bum?’ and pinched his bottom!"
Another compatriot of yours, Quinton Fortune, joined United in 1999…
"Yes, that was a very proud moment. And that's arguably the reason my interest [in the club] became quite strong."
A few years ago, you toured in a version of Yes and recorded a DVD, Live At The Apollo, not far from Old Trafford. How much did you enjoy playing in Manchester?
"We had a really good show that night, just down the road from where you are. I’m firm friends with Rick Wakeman, he’s one of the greatest keyboard players – and also a very funny guy. When Yes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, his part of the acceptance speech was so hilarious, I could barely speak! Rick has only one flaw… he’s a Manchester City fan."
"Yes, that was a very proud moment. And that's arguably the reason my interest [in the club] became quite strong."
A few years ago, you toured in a version of Yes and recorded a DVD, Live At The Apollo, not far from Old Trafford. How much did you enjoy playing in Manchester?
"We had a really good show that night, just down the road from where you are. I’m firm friends with Rick Wakeman, he’s one of the greatest keyboard players – and also a very funny guy. When Yes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, his part of the acceptance speech was so hilarious, I could barely speak! Rick has only one flaw… he’s a Manchester City fan."
ABOUT TREVOR RABIN
Born in Johannesburg in 1954, the guitarist was still a teenager when he formed Rabbitt, a chart-topping pop-rock group in South Africa.
Trevor released several solo albums after emigrating to London, before joining Yes and writing the band’s biggest hit, Owner Of A Lonely Heart. A no.1 single in the US in 1983, it’s been streamed more than 230 million times on Spotify.
Born in Johannesburg in 1954, the guitarist was still a teenager when he formed Rabbitt, a chart-topping pop-rock group in South Africa.
Trevor released several solo albums after emigrating to London, before joining Yes and writing the band’s biggest hit, Owner Of A Lonely Heart. A no.1 single in the US in 1983, it’s been streamed more than 230 million times on Spotify.
In the mid-90s, Trevor left Yes and began a new career as a composer, creating the music for over 50 Hollywood films and TV series, including those mentioned above, as well as Deep Blue Sea, Enemy Of The State and Snakes On A Plane.
Named after his granddaughter and the football-mad city where Yes and Queen played to 500,000 fans in 1985, Rio is Trevor’s first rock solo album with vocals for 34 years. It was released on 6 October 2023 through Inside Out Music.
Find out more at trevorrabinmusic.com.
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