Keeping Score

David A Ellis interviews composer Warren Bennett whose work has been performed on television shows such as London's Burning and New Tricks

- David A Ellis

Musician, songwriter and film composer Warren Bennett followed his father, Brian Bennett, into the world of music. Brian is a film composer and was for many years the drummer with instrumental group the Shadows. Born in 1962, Warren began his musical career in 1977 and has worked on numerous projects, collaborating with his father on the soundtrack for the Dennis Hopper science fiction film The American Way. His television work has included incidental music on shows such as Birds of a Feather and New Tricks, while he composed the title music used for series 11-13 of London's Burning.

At school, he played in various bands and then took up a musical career. He learned to play the drums from an early age and by 12 he took up the piano, followed by guitar.

Warren didn't attend university or music school and is self-taught. He has always written songs, even when composing film scores, and is also an arranger and music producer.

“I've never learned to read music very well. I can look at something and figure it out, but I can't sight read,” he says.

Asked how he relates to production people, for example a director who is not musically knowledgeable, he says: “The main thing to remember is that you are working for him or her. The director will know what is wanted and if it takes a bit of time to find out what that is, so be it. It is a collaboration, and the director/composer friendship is very important. I would also add the editor into that mix.”