![Imperial Leisure: Interview with Denis [22nd Oct 2008]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F2%2Fil.jpg&h=356&w=595&zc=1&q=70)
"We get pissed and hum tunes at each other in the pub. Then get pissed and jam in the studio, then get pissed and record."
Altsounds: How did the band begin? Was it always going to be a 10 piece band?
Imperial Leisure: Don't really know how the band begun and we never had a plan to fix numbers. Most of us met years ago in Trent Park. Got pissed and played songs all night. Eventually our pissed ramblings and chords turned into Imperial Leisure. Our sound has changed loads over the years although the band name has been the same for quite some time now. If you look hard enough you can find some pretty embracing early I.L. recordings. (please don't look!)
Altsounds: You're well known for your guerilla gigs, explain how this idea came about?
Imperial Leisure: We were inspired by some friends, We had some mates doing something called mobile clubbing, where people turned up to train stations and had a party listening to music on there mp3 players! As well as the astonishing fact that we had a long hot summer a couple years back. Nothing beats playing out in the sunshine man. People really seem to like it when we just turn up and play so we just kept on doing it! Would be great to do it abroad to. Paris here we come!!
Altsounds: Being as there are so many of you, who gets to make the final decision on important band matters?
Imperial Leisure: Me muwahahaha!! For example, we ran out of Rum at the Salisbury gig last week and we were trying to decide whether we should go out and get more. The band looked to their leader [me] for a decision and I am confident to say that I made the right one! Although when vomiting out the van window on the way home I did have a fleeting moment of self doubt.
Altsounds: Your new album, The Art of Saying Nothing, is a giant step for the band, how has it been getting here?
Imperial Leisure: It took fucking ages but it was fun getting here. We actually recorded an album 3 years ago in our own studio with a Producer called Mark O'Grady. But we were afraid of bolting our load too early.
We weren't big enough to self release an album and we could not find a label we liked. In the end we went back into writing and ditched all 17 songs but 2. Then, 18 months ago we started recording "The Art of Saying Nothing" at Eastcote Studios with Junk Scientist (Russ Keffert). We recorded the whole thing live which was dam hard but it meant we got it all down in 9 days!!
Again, we had 17 songs we dropped 5 and mixed the rest with Bob Kashur and that was that. We released the Album off our own company Steamroller, which is part owned by a handful of our fans
Altsounds: What is the best thing about being in Imperial Leisure?
Imperial Leisure: The band has been the most instrumental in preparing the conditions for great sex, great booze, and great parties. BUT BY FAR THE BEST THING ABOUT PLAYING IN IMPERIAL LESIURE [Editor: YES! He spelt his own band name wrong!] IS PLAYING WITH IMPERIAL LEISURE. I WRITE THIS IN UPPERCASE TEXT TO SOME HOW TRY TO CONVEY TO YOU JUST HOW MUCH FUN IT IS TO PLAY A GIG AS A PART OF THIS BAND!!!!!
Altsounds: Who would be on your ultimate tour line up list?
Imperial Leisure: eastie Boys, The Specials, Madness, Rage Against The Machine, Blondie, The Clash, Cypress Hill, The Stranglers, The Cure, Ozomatli, Young Blond Brass Band, Sex Pistols, Nirvana, Roots Manuva, Prodigy, The Charlatans, Stone Roses, Veruca Salt, Kool Keith, George Clinton The Parliament Funkadelic, The Doors, A Tribe Called Quest plus a million others. I got to stop there because I'm getting over excited!!!! I would love to see them all and more happen right now.
Altsounds: Do all the band members have other jobs, and if so what are some of them?
Imperial Leisure: Yes. Denis [ME] - Luxury Pool Cleaner, AJ - Teaches Mandolin, Dan - Stoner, Scott - Has his own sauna Installation company, Ben - Hair dresser, Jel - Surgeon, Rob - English Teacher, Mark - Bottom Model, Billy - Bottom Model Photographer, Stu - Male Escort.
Altsounds: How would you describe yourself as a band and your music to someone who'd never heard your stuff?
Imperial Leisure: A party.
Altsounds: Your sound is quite unique, how does Imperial Leisure begin the writing process?
Imperial Leisure: We get pissed and hum tunes at each other in the pub. Then get pissed and jam in the studio, then get pissed and record.
Altsounds: You have quite a few dates opening for Less Than Jake approaching, how did you manage to score that gig?
Imperial Leisure: Our Manager gives dam good blow jobs
Altsounds: What is Imperial Leisure's next move after the Less Than Jake shows are completed?
Imperial Leisure: Well, Christmas is not far off the end of the tour so I expect we'll retire to the Manor and drink Port whilst noshing on a well greased and oven cooked big bird.
Altsounds: Anything you would like to promote or plug feel free to do so here
Imperial Leisure: Aside from our new album "The Art of Saying Nothing" and the tour we have added a one off date in Brighton on December 6th. Half of the band is single so if any young hotties fancy getting in touch please do so!
Thanks to Imperial Leisure for taking the time to talk with us and good luck with the album boyos.
http://www.myspace.com/imperialleisure
Imperial Leisure: Don't really know how the band begun and we never had a plan to fix numbers. Most of us met years ago in Trent Park. Got pissed and played songs all night. Eventually our pissed ramblings and chords turned into Imperial Leisure. Our sound has changed loads over the years although the band name has been the same for quite some time now. If you look hard enough you can find some pretty embracing early I.L. recordings. (please don't look!)
Altsounds: You're well known for your guerilla gigs, explain how this idea came about?
Imperial Leisure: We were inspired by some friends, We had some mates doing something called mobile clubbing, where people turned up to train stations and had a party listening to music on there mp3 players! As well as the astonishing fact that we had a long hot summer a couple years back. Nothing beats playing out in the sunshine man. People really seem to like it when we just turn up and play so we just kept on doing it! Would be great to do it abroad to. Paris here we come!!
Altsounds: Being as there are so many of you, who gets to make the final decision on important band matters?
Imperial Leisure: Me muwahahaha!! For example, we ran out of Rum at the Salisbury gig last week and we were trying to decide whether we should go out and get more. The band looked to their leader [me] for a decision and I am confident to say that I made the right one! Although when vomiting out the van window on the way home I did have a fleeting moment of self doubt.
Altsounds: Your new album, The Art of Saying Nothing, is a giant step for the band, how has it been getting here?
Imperial Leisure: It took fucking ages but it was fun getting here. We actually recorded an album 3 years ago in our own studio with a Producer called Mark O'Grady. But we were afraid of bolting our load too early.
We weren't big enough to self release an album and we could not find a label we liked. In the end we went back into writing and ditched all 17 songs but 2. Then, 18 months ago we started recording "The Art of Saying Nothing" at Eastcote Studios with Junk Scientist (Russ Keffert). We recorded the whole thing live which was dam hard but it meant we got it all down in 9 days!!
Again, we had 17 songs we dropped 5 and mixed the rest with Bob Kashur and that was that. We released the Album off our own company Steamroller, which is part owned by a handful of our fans
Altsounds: What is the best thing about being in Imperial Leisure?
Imperial Leisure: The band has been the most instrumental in preparing the conditions for great sex, great booze, and great parties. BUT BY FAR THE BEST THING ABOUT PLAYING IN IMPERIAL LESIURE [Editor: YES! He spelt his own band name wrong!] IS PLAYING WITH IMPERIAL LEISURE. I WRITE THIS IN UPPERCASE TEXT TO SOME HOW TRY TO CONVEY TO YOU JUST HOW MUCH FUN IT IS TO PLAY A GIG AS A PART OF THIS BAND!!!!!
Altsounds: Who would be on your ultimate tour line up list?
Imperial Leisure: eastie Boys, The Specials, Madness, Rage Against The Machine, Blondie, The Clash, Cypress Hill, The Stranglers, The Cure, Ozomatli, Young Blond Brass Band, Sex Pistols, Nirvana, Roots Manuva, Prodigy, The Charlatans, Stone Roses, Veruca Salt, Kool Keith, George Clinton The Parliament Funkadelic, The Doors, A Tribe Called Quest plus a million others. I got to stop there because I'm getting over excited!!!! I would love to see them all and more happen right now.
Altsounds: Do all the band members have other jobs, and if so what are some of them?
Imperial Leisure: Yes. Denis [ME] - Luxury Pool Cleaner, AJ - Teaches Mandolin, Dan - Stoner, Scott - Has his own sauna Installation company, Ben - Hair dresser, Jel - Surgeon, Rob - English Teacher, Mark - Bottom Model, Billy - Bottom Model Photographer, Stu - Male Escort.
Altsounds: How would you describe yourself as a band and your music to someone who'd never heard your stuff?
Imperial Leisure: A party.
Altsounds: Your sound is quite unique, how does Imperial Leisure begin the writing process?
Imperial Leisure: We get pissed and hum tunes at each other in the pub. Then get pissed and jam in the studio, then get pissed and record.
Altsounds: You have quite a few dates opening for Less Than Jake approaching, how did you manage to score that gig?
Imperial Leisure: Our Manager gives dam good blow jobs
Altsounds: What is Imperial Leisure's next move after the Less Than Jake shows are completed?
Imperial Leisure: Well, Christmas is not far off the end of the tour so I expect we'll retire to the Manor and drink Port whilst noshing on a well greased and oven cooked big bird.
Altsounds: Anything you would like to promote or plug feel free to do so here
Imperial Leisure: Aside from our new album "The Art of Saying Nothing" and the tour we have added a one off date in Brighton on December 6th. Half of the band is single so if any young hotties fancy getting in touch please do so!
Thanks to Imperial Leisure for taking the time to talk with us and good luck with the album boyos.
http://www.myspace.com/imperialleisure
