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Interview by Caroline Rees
Billy Ocean, the singer, on adventure in Ethiopia, romance in Barcelona, and his favourite hotels and airlines.
"I went to Grenada a week or so after Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The weird thing was that though all the churches were ripped apart, the little rum shops were still standing."
How often do you travel?
Since I’ve been back on the road, a lot. The year before last, I did festivals in Jamaica and America. Last year, I went as far afield as Sri Lanka. It was a pleasure to give them a bit of joy after all the disasters they’ve had. I love traveling, and I really like that feeling of being up in the air and in first or business class – you’re up there getting spoil.
Best musical travel experience?
I used to go to a place in New York called SOB’s, which is a South American samba club, and they would pass around instruments for the audience to play. I’d take a tambourine and maracas – something I knew I could excel on, basically. It was an improvised thing, with everybody contributing enthusiastically and you’d go away feeling really good. I also like going to the Notting Hill Carnival. When I’m there I enjoy partaking, playing steel pan. You really get involved spiritually.
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