By STEVE MASCORD
UFO BASSIST Rob De Luca has expressed his regret that the legendary band did not get a proper send-off, outlining how he believes they should have finished their touring career.
The influential British outfit had planned to exit with a show in Athens on October 29, 2022 – but frontman Phil Mogg suffered a heart attack in late August, leading to the cancellation of the shows.
UFO have not played since and Mogg, who is now in good health, has rejected overtures for a gala all-star farewell.
“Yeah, I think the way to do it would be three shows in London, one in New York, two in Chicago, two in LA, you know?” said De Luca, speaking to Hot Metal to promote the new album by his other band, Spread Eagle.
“I think that would be the best way to do it, but…”
Asked if there was any prospect of that happening, De Luca answered: “Not that I know of,”
Reflecting on the death of keyboardist Paul Raymond in 2019 after playing in London, De Luca said: “They were great, those two shows.
“Paul was so vibrant and alive and two or three weeks later he was dead. It’s just shocking.
“We were on our break after the London show. We were on our break before the next leg. It was our final tour.”
Asked about his current level of communication with the UFO camp and Mogg, De Luca said: “I reach out to them. He’s accessible.
“Do we talk often? No. I talk to Vinnie (Moore, guitarist) the most.”