"Usually I only get recognized when I'm a mess at a gig or eating a kebab or something"
Do you like being in the spotlight? Or would you prefer to keep yourself to yourself and just make music?
Am I in the spotlight?! I guess to an extent; I'm aware that we have a fair few followers and I feel an obligation to deliver to them somewhat... But, I mean, luckily we're not on telly or anything like that, so I don't get bothered much. Usually I only get recognized when I'm a mess at a gig or eating a kebab or something. We try not to concern ourselves with what people expect of us when we're writing/recording. We're more bothered about impressing each other first, which is probably more daunting, truth be told!
Do you all still bond over "mucky Stella Artois"? - it's a pretty rough drink.
Certainly not. I can't stand that shit anymore. I think of it more as 'training bra' booze - you know the shit you drink because you really don't know any better.
Distortion & Delay, explain what they mean to you...
1. Distortion
Filth. Glory.
2. Delay
Distance. Glory.
Estimate how many gigs you actually played at the Manchester Roadhouse...
Maybe 10 or 11.....? Not sure. It was a long time ago, but we always really got off on playing there. It was a fun time because the guys that work there really took us under their wing; offering us support slots whenever some hot new NME band was in town. That really helped us get a buzz going.
Which has been the "hardest" album for you to write?
The 2nd one, "Everyone Into Position," for sure. A very uncertain time for any band, the dreaded "difficult second album." Such a cliché, but it's a cliché for a reason. It was a hard time because we still didn't know much about what kind of band we were (we still don't, really, but I think these days we care less about identity) and "EIP" was a very scattered album, stylistically (ironically, so is the forthcoming 4th album). It's one of my favourites, for sure, but it's birthing was fraught with bullshit and confusion. That said, some amazing accidents did come from it - 'Ornament / The Last Wrongs' was promoted from an instrumental B-side to the climax of the album. Recording the album in our friend's house was also a little dream come true.
What about the worst gig you have played?
Wow. So many. Special mention must go to some of the support slots we've endured. Fightstar, in Portsmouth and Birmingham. We were just pelted with beer and lit cigarettes from kids with excess pocket money. Sisters Of Mercy in 2003, one of our first supports. Awful. Complete waste of cash. We recently supported Faith No More and, whilst it was a dream come true to play with them, the show itself was very little fun. Support slots at the best of times are an uphill struggle; the people aren't there to see you, but I'll enjoy it if people are willing to give us a go. It's the sight of a long-haired 35 year old man in a backwards baseball cap giving me the finger for 10 minutes solid that makes my blood fucking curdle.
The time signatures in your music is absolutely mental, how do you go about getting these spot on? Is it a case of going over and over each part of the song in different sections?
Well sometimes we don't get them spot on, which can be a total nightmare! It's like tripping up in a 100 meter sprint; or a balancing act; once you fall, you're fucked. But we tend to write things that we like the sound of, and adding/subtracting the odd beat from any given riff usually makes our ears prick up. Since our early days we've loved stacking up different time signatures, so you achieve this kind of cannoning, 3D, chaotic kind of movement. Sometimes it can make a really interesting groove, sometimes it just sounds like a mess.
In 2006 Jon Ellis left, how come this happened? (you don't have to answer if this gets you in trouble!)
Well there's no great story, I'm afraid. People change, people want different things from life, and I think Jon was maybe expecting more from being in a signed band. Around that time, maybe we all were. Jon needed it to work more than us as he'd recently become a parent. It was a period of uncertainty, the end of 2005. We were in Europe, driving alone on a tour supporting Porcupine Tree. It was freezing, we had no light or power in the bus so it was literally pitch black while we were traveling and utterly perishingly cold. The second album didn't hit number one. The vibe was pretty grim, to be honest. Whilst we were all very sad to see him go, I can honestly tell you if he'd stayed we wouldn't be here now.
When your live DVD came out, did you watch it more than 5 times?
By the time it came out, I'd seen it more than enough, thank you. I need never see my own face ever again.
Did you notice any cock-ups when watching the live performance on "Frames" re-release?
Well, I don't know if there's any 'mistakes' as such. Maybe some dodgy singing - I was still a filthy smoker around that time.
So why an EP? Why not a full album?
The record company were maybe a little concerned about the new deadline we'd set for the 4th album, and asked for an EP consisting of 'a couple of lead tracks, then fill it up with whatever the fuck you want'. Music to any band's ears, statements like that! So we thought we'd be able to toss this out in a month or so. We ended up taking it far more seriously.
Explain the title "Home & Minor"...
It's a nostalgic record. About being young. The mystery, the fear, the primal urges, the power of instinct, the hormones, the bad choices... all the shit that shapes you, but sucks at the time. It's kind of celebrating the harsh realities of being an early teen / child, with the benefit of knowledge that those difficulties can only exist in a young mind.
Have you toned it down in this new EP?
Dynamically? Yes. Musically? No.
Did Mike's dad really not like your records?
Probably not.
Is your un-named studio in Manchester un-named for a reason?
We can't agree on a name. Mark wants to call it 'Toilet' as the control room was formally 3 cubicles until we knocked it through. Personally, I think any axe-grinding critic reading our liner notes will have his/her review written for them when they see we made our record in 'The Toilet'. Myself, I prefer to call it 'Egg' cos the glue we used smells all eggy and makes me hungry.
Anything you would like to say....
Thanks?
x
Am I in the spotlight?! I guess to an extent; I'm aware that we have a fair few followers and I feel an obligation to deliver to them somewhat... But, I mean, luckily we're not on telly or anything like that, so I don't get bothered much. Usually I only get recognized when I'm a mess at a gig or eating a kebab or something. We try not to concern ourselves with what people expect of us when we're writing/recording. We're more bothered about impressing each other first, which is probably more daunting, truth be told!
Do you all still bond over "mucky Stella Artois"? - it's a pretty rough drink.
Certainly not. I can't stand that shit anymore. I think of it more as 'training bra' booze - you know the shit you drink because you really don't know any better.
Distortion & Delay, explain what they mean to you...
1. Distortion
Filth. Glory.
2. Delay
Distance. Glory.
Estimate how many gigs you actually played at the Manchester Roadhouse...
Maybe 10 or 11.....? Not sure. It was a long time ago, but we always really got off on playing there. It was a fun time because the guys that work there really took us under their wing; offering us support slots whenever some hot new NME band was in town. That really helped us get a buzz going.
Which has been the "hardest" album for you to write?
The 2nd one, "Everyone Into Position," for sure. A very uncertain time for any band, the dreaded "difficult second album." Such a cliché, but it's a cliché for a reason. It was a hard time because we still didn't know much about what kind of band we were (we still don't, really, but I think these days we care less about identity) and "EIP" was a very scattered album, stylistically (ironically, so is the forthcoming 4th album). It's one of my favourites, for sure, but it's birthing was fraught with bullshit and confusion. That said, some amazing accidents did come from it - 'Ornament / The Last Wrongs' was promoted from an instrumental B-side to the climax of the album. Recording the album in our friend's house was also a little dream come true.
What about the worst gig you have played?
Wow. So many. Special mention must go to some of the support slots we've endured. Fightstar, in Portsmouth and Birmingham. We were just pelted with beer and lit cigarettes from kids with excess pocket money. Sisters Of Mercy in 2003, one of our first supports. Awful. Complete waste of cash. We recently supported Faith No More and, whilst it was a dream come true to play with them, the show itself was very little fun. Support slots at the best of times are an uphill struggle; the people aren't there to see you, but I'll enjoy it if people are willing to give us a go. It's the sight of a long-haired 35 year old man in a backwards baseball cap giving me the finger for 10 minutes solid that makes my blood fucking curdle.
The time signatures in your music is absolutely mental, how do you go about getting these spot on? Is it a case of going over and over each part of the song in different sections?
Well sometimes we don't get them spot on, which can be a total nightmare! It's like tripping up in a 100 meter sprint; or a balancing act; once you fall, you're fucked. But we tend to write things that we like the sound of, and adding/subtracting the odd beat from any given riff usually makes our ears prick up. Since our early days we've loved stacking up different time signatures, so you achieve this kind of cannoning, 3D, chaotic kind of movement. Sometimes it can make a really interesting groove, sometimes it just sounds like a mess.
In 2006 Jon Ellis left, how come this happened? (you don't have to answer if this gets you in trouble!)
Well there's no great story, I'm afraid. People change, people want different things from life, and I think Jon was maybe expecting more from being in a signed band. Around that time, maybe we all were. Jon needed it to work more than us as he'd recently become a parent. It was a period of uncertainty, the end of 2005. We were in Europe, driving alone on a tour supporting Porcupine Tree. It was freezing, we had no light or power in the bus so it was literally pitch black while we were traveling and utterly perishingly cold. The second album didn't hit number one. The vibe was pretty grim, to be honest. Whilst we were all very sad to see him go, I can honestly tell you if he'd stayed we wouldn't be here now.
When your live DVD came out, did you watch it more than 5 times?
By the time it came out, I'd seen it more than enough, thank you. I need never see my own face ever again.
Did you notice any cock-ups when watching the live performance on "Frames" re-release?
Well, I don't know if there's any 'mistakes' as such. Maybe some dodgy singing - I was still a filthy smoker around that time.
So why an EP? Why not a full album?
The record company were maybe a little concerned about the new deadline we'd set for the 4th album, and asked for an EP consisting of 'a couple of lead tracks, then fill it up with whatever the fuck you want'. Music to any band's ears, statements like that! So we thought we'd be able to toss this out in a month or so. We ended up taking it far more seriously.
Explain the title "Home & Minor"...
It's a nostalgic record. About being young. The mystery, the fear, the primal urges, the power of instinct, the hormones, the bad choices... all the shit that shapes you, but sucks at the time. It's kind of celebrating the harsh realities of being an early teen / child, with the benefit of knowledge that those difficulties can only exist in a young mind.
Have you toned it down in this new EP?
Dynamically? Yes. Musically? No.
Did Mike's dad really not like your records?
Probably not.
Is your un-named studio in Manchester un-named for a reason?
We can't agree on a name. Mark wants to call it 'Toilet' as the control room was formally 3 cubicles until we knocked it through. Personally, I think any axe-grinding critic reading our liner notes will have his/her review written for them when they see we made our record in 'The Toilet'. Myself, I prefer to call it 'Egg' cos the glue we used smells all eggy and makes me hungry.
Anything you would like to say....
Thanks?
x
