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Take a pint of gothic horror, a tablespoon of black eyeliner, a dollop of West End theatre and a pinch of My Chemical Romance and what have you got? Fearless Vampire Killers, that’s what. The ambitious quintet from London have been pillaging this fragile world and sucking us into their own through their staggering concept album, Militia Of The Lost, which was unleashed in May (debuting at a hugely impressive 31 on the UK’s Official Rock Album Chart).
With the album doing astoundingly well, Fearless Vampire Killers' fan base across the globe is growing at a ridiculous pace. And with a successful performance at the legendary Download Festival, a UK tour with William Control (side project of Aiden’s Will Francis) and a nomination for Best British Newcomer at the Kerrang! Awards 2012 under their belts, it’s safe to say life is pretty damn sweet in the Fearless Vampire Killers' camp right now.
I caught up with the dapperly dressed vocalist/guitarist, Laurence Beveridge, for a quick chat about the album, the band's touring preparations and who he’d really like to stake through the heart...Lock up your daughters, the ‘Fearless Vampire Killers' are in town.
AltSounds: So for anyone who’s been in a coffin for the last year, can you explain firstly who Fearless Vampire Killers are?
Laurence: A rock band from the Waveney Valley with a stop at Hemel Hempstead. We look like dead girls with a barbarian.
AltSounds: What an introduction! Your debut album, Militia Of The Lost, has been received amazingly by the fans and the majority of the press. It even sold out completely in some retailers! How long did it take to come up with the whole concept of it?
Laurence: A long time. I started working on a lot of the ideas when I was younger, and Barrone (lead guitarist) has been doing artwork that’s inspired this world since before it was called Grandomina. I think overall the album’s concept is the culmination of about 4 years work.
AltSounds: Your new single, ‘Could We Burn, Darling?’ has just been released and has a great music video that depicts part of the album's grand tale. If you had to pick a favourite music video of all time, what would you choose?
Laurence: Probably 'Tonight, Tonight' by The Smashing Pumpkins. It's so awesome how it’s like this homage to Georges Méliès' films. Which, coincidentally, are featured in that Scorsese film Hugo. I watched it the other day - Was a ball.
Watch 'Tonight, Tonight' by The Smashing Pumpkins:
AltSounds: I haven’t had the pleasure of watching you guys on stage yet. What does your live show involve?
Laurence: Breaking stuff, blood, and sex – in the geekiest way possible. Sometimes we even play some music!
AltSounds: Haha! So who in the band takes the longest to get ready for a show?
Laurence: Barrone. He has the most to do – Goggles, scarf...He’s a bit of a fashionista.
Watch 'Could We Burn, Darling?':
AltSounds: You’ve recently been touring with one Will Francis of Aiden, now known as William Control. Are there plans for a headline tour soon? (And can I come?)
Laurence: Sure you can come! Yeah, there are plans. I think we want to try and fit in some more support slots beforehand, but we’re getting the feeling no one’s gonna offer us any! So we might just take some friends on the road with us and go it alone. If it happens, it’ll be this Autumn.
AltSounds: Great stuff. So after finding out that Militia Of The Lost's artwork and illustrations were all created by Barrone, I was wondering if any of the other band members have another talent besides music?
Laurence: Yeah I suppose. I wrote the comic and our book (Ruple & Evelyn - available HERE). And we all work together in conceiving, directing and editing our videos. Kier’s pretty good at cutting hair, Drew can fence, and Luke’s an expert at making space in an untidy room, without actually removing anything from it.
AltSounds: Right, so if Militia Of The Lost could be made into a Hollywood blockbuster, which actor would you cast to play your character?
Laurence: It would have to be Aaron Johnson from Nowhere Boy and Kick Ass. Or Kit Harington who played Jon Snow in Game of Thrones. I think Barrone would definitely have to be a young Ron Perlman. Luke would be Chris Lilley dressed as Jamie King from Summer Heights High with a fake beard. Drew would be Keith Chegwin and Kier would be Ant, out of Ant and Dec.
Listen to single 'Bow Ties On Dead Guys' from Militia Of The Lost:
http://soundcloud.com/fvk/bow-ties-on-dead-guys
AltSounds: Such precise answers! Ok so I'd now like to know if you could hunt down and kill off any band around today, who would you choose?
Laurence: Everyone deserves to make music, whether it’s (Justin) Bieber or Metallica but saying that, I wouldn’t mind putting a stake through Gary Glitter’s perverted, blackened heart.
AltSounds: Oof! How about if you were invisible for a day - What do you do?
Laurence: Set in motion my plans to take over the world. It involves banks and pass codes. That’s all I can say right now.
AltSounds: Intriguing...Can you please press shuffle on your iPod right now and reveal what the first 3 songs are that pop up?
Laurence: 'Life on Mars?' by David Bowie, 'Act 1, Scene 2: Eating a Book' by He Is Legend and 'The Archers Bows Have Broken' by Brand New.
AltSounds: Hmmm, well you passed that test in my book! And finally, can you tell me and the readers what your plans are for the rest of 2012?
Laurence: Touring, another video, and the sequel to Ruple & Evelyn. We’ve already started writing the next album, so with any luck we’ll be going into the studio near the end of the year.
AltSounds: Can't wait Mr Beveridge. Thank you so much for your time!
You can check out my 90% scored review of Militia Of The Lost and help out the lads by purchasing it from either iTunes or their Official Merch Store.
And if you'd like to witness the madness in person, then you can catch the Fearless Vampire Killers' live at one of the following dates across the UK:
With the album doing astoundingly well, Fearless Vampire Killers' fan base across the globe is growing at a ridiculous pace. And with a successful performance at the legendary Download Festival, a UK tour with William Control (side project of Aiden’s Will Francis) and a nomination for Best British Newcomer at the Kerrang! Awards 2012 under their belts, it’s safe to say life is pretty damn sweet in the Fearless Vampire Killers' camp right now.
I caught up with the dapperly dressed vocalist/guitarist, Laurence Beveridge, for a quick chat about the album, the band's touring preparations and who he’d really like to stake through the heart...Lock up your daughters, the ‘Fearless Vampire Killers' are in town.
Fearless Vampire Killers
AltSounds: So for anyone who’s been in a coffin for the last year, can you explain firstly who Fearless Vampire Killers are?
Laurence: A rock band from the Waveney Valley with a stop at Hemel Hempstead. We look like dead girls with a barbarian.
AltSounds: What an introduction! Your debut album, Militia Of The Lost, has been received amazingly by the fans and the majority of the press. It even sold out completely in some retailers! How long did it take to come up with the whole concept of it?
Laurence: A long time. I started working on a lot of the ideas when I was younger, and Barrone (lead guitarist) has been doing artwork that’s inspired this world since before it was called Grandomina. I think overall the album’s concept is the culmination of about 4 years work.
AltSounds: Your new single, ‘Could We Burn, Darling?’ has just been released and has a great music video that depicts part of the album's grand tale. If you had to pick a favourite music video of all time, what would you choose?
Laurence: Probably 'Tonight, Tonight' by The Smashing Pumpkins. It's so awesome how it’s like this homage to Georges Méliès' films. Which, coincidentally, are featured in that Scorsese film Hugo. I watched it the other day - Was a ball.
Watch 'Tonight, Tonight' by The Smashing Pumpkins:
AltSounds: I haven’t had the pleasure of watching you guys on stage yet. What does your live show involve?
Laurence: Breaking stuff, blood, and sex – in the geekiest way possible. Sometimes we even play some music!
AltSounds: Haha! So who in the band takes the longest to get ready for a show?
Laurence: Barrone. He has the most to do – Goggles, scarf...He’s a bit of a fashionista.
Watch 'Could We Burn, Darling?':
AltSounds: You’ve recently been touring with one Will Francis of Aiden, now known as William Control. Are there plans for a headline tour soon? (And can I come?)
Laurence: Sure you can come! Yeah, there are plans. I think we want to try and fit in some more support slots beforehand, but we’re getting the feeling no one’s gonna offer us any! So we might just take some friends on the road with us and go it alone. If it happens, it’ll be this Autumn.
AltSounds: Great stuff. So after finding out that Militia Of The Lost's artwork and illustrations were all created by Barrone, I was wondering if any of the other band members have another talent besides music?
Laurence: Yeah I suppose. I wrote the comic and our book (Ruple & Evelyn - available HERE). And we all work together in conceiving, directing and editing our videos. Kier’s pretty good at cutting hair, Drew can fence, and Luke’s an expert at making space in an untidy room, without actually removing anything from it.
AltSounds: Right, so if Militia Of The Lost could be made into a Hollywood blockbuster, which actor would you cast to play your character?
Laurence: It would have to be Aaron Johnson from Nowhere Boy and Kick Ass. Or Kit Harington who played Jon Snow in Game of Thrones. I think Barrone would definitely have to be a young Ron Perlman. Luke would be Chris Lilley dressed as Jamie King from Summer Heights High with a fake beard. Drew would be Keith Chegwin and Kier would be Ant, out of Ant and Dec.
Listen to single 'Bow Ties On Dead Guys' from Militia Of The Lost:
http://soundcloud.com/fvk/bow-ties-on-dead-guys
AltSounds: Such precise answers! Ok so I'd now like to know if you could hunt down and kill off any band around today, who would you choose?
Laurence: Everyone deserves to make music, whether it’s (Justin) Bieber or Metallica but saying that, I wouldn’t mind putting a stake through Gary Glitter’s perverted, blackened heart.
AltSounds: Oof! How about if you were invisible for a day - What do you do?
Laurence: Set in motion my plans to take over the world. It involves banks and pass codes. That’s all I can say right now.
AltSounds: Intriguing...Can you please press shuffle on your iPod right now and reveal what the first 3 songs are that pop up?
Laurence: 'Life on Mars?' by David Bowie, 'Act 1, Scene 2: Eating a Book' by He Is Legend and 'The Archers Bows Have Broken' by Brand New.
AltSounds: Hmmm, well you passed that test in my book! And finally, can you tell me and the readers what your plans are for the rest of 2012?
Laurence: Touring, another video, and the sequel to Ruple & Evelyn. We’ve already started writing the next album, so with any luck we’ll be going into the studio near the end of the year.
AltSounds: Can't wait Mr Beveridge. Thank you so much for your time!
You can check out my 90% scored review of Militia Of The Lost and help out the lads by purchasing it from either iTunes or their Official Merch Store.
And if you'd like to witness the madness in person, then you can catch the Fearless Vampire Killers' live at one of the following dates across the UK:
- June 30th, Make A Scene Festival, Teeside University UK
- July 1st, DV8 Festival, York UK
- July 6th, The Mill w/ AshestoAngels (All Ages), Rayleigh UK
- July 7th, On The Rocks (All Ages) w/ AshestoAngels, Bournemouth UK
- July 8th, The Croft w/ AshestoAngels (14+), Bristol UK
- July 15th, Guilfest (Big Chesse Cave), Guildford UK
- July 29th, Bay Days Festival, Chelmsford UK
- August 21st, The Leopard, Doncaster UK
- August 22nd, Fibbers (14+), York UK
- August 23rd, Rock 'N' Roll Damnation Festival @ King Tuts (14+), Glasgow, UK
- September 1st, Moho's (14+), Manchester UK
- September 8th, Open (ALL AGES), Norwich UK
- September 28th, Plantation Cafe (ALL AGES), Guildford UK
- October 31st, KOKO (supporting Wednesday 13), London UK
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