You guys definitely have a touch of the 80's about you, what is it that's just so damn awesome about that era in rock/metal?
One word: FUN! I loved the fact that it didn't take itself too seriously. You see so many po-faced musicians around, spewing bullshit about their 'art' and being pretentious wankers, it is nice to be an antidote about that. Don't get me wrong, we take what we do very seriously indeed it is our lives but we don't go around pretending that we want to change the world or anything as lofty as that. We're just a bunch of people that make music together that we hope others enjoy. Rock and metal music from the '80's has similar sensibilities. Then Kurt Cobain came along and cocked it all up.
Which bands from that whole scene have most inspired you?
What a horrible question! The problem is, if I answer it honestly, it sounds like such a cliché. Me, personally, I was inspired by the biggest bands of those times Motley Crue, Guns n' Roses but that didnt mean I wanted to re-create those bands. SPiT LiKE THiS is not like either of those bands, but you can see how they inspired me. My biggest inspirations were actually Adam Ant and Queen. And the other 3 band members have completely different influences to me but I think that is why we sound like none of the above.
Why do you think there is such a hunger for goodtime rock n' roll bands like yourselves right now?
Because there is a recession. Whenever there is shit stuff happening in most peoples daily lives, they want an escape from that. They get rid of their pretensions and say "Fuck it, I just want to have fun" and that's where we come in. Come along to a SPiT LiKE THiS concert and, for 45 minutes, you get to forget about your job, your mortgage or anything else that is on your mind. This isn't a new phenomenon whenever there is a recession, good time bands come along to cheer people up.
You were the only band to play both Hard Rock Hell festivals, that must have felt pretty sweet!
It felt incredibly sweet! It was a total honour and quite unexpected. The first year, we were the only unsigned band to play on the main stage. In 2008, we were the only band to be asked back. What can I say, other than we must now be part of Hard Rock Hell tradition! Will we be back for 2009?? Who knows I hope so though!
Why do you think there was such a demand for you to come back?
I think we surprised a LOT of people the first year. Playing on the main stage meant that we got to play for a lot of people that didn't have a clue who we were. There were a lot of 'veteran' bands that followed us, bands people knew and loved. Those were so big bands to open for and that would have intimidated a lesser band. We completely rose to the occasion though and played like we belonged to be there. I don't mean to boast, but we are a really good live band. One of the best so it's not a stretch of the imagination to think that they would ask us back for the second HRH. We were very proud because they asked the audience to rate the bands and we were voted 7th Best Band of the festival (out of 47) and were beaten ONLY by big name main-stage bands. We rock!
Can we expect some festival appearances from you guys this year?
We are in talks. There are thousands of bands going for very few slots so we will just have to wait and see. I hope so but nothing is confirmed just yet we've been very busy sorting out a few messy business things. They are resolved now but it has meant that they have been our priority rather than securing festival appearances. Fingers crossed for HRH3 though!
You're booked to come out on tour with Nemhain, is it safe to assume that such a tour won't be the quietest, most civil music event of the year?
Well, neither of us are the kinds of bands that will have poetry readings mid-set, if that's what you mean! Hey, we are two balls-to-the-wall rock n' roll bands that will put on a blistering performance for all to enjoy. Civility doesn't come into it!
Nemhain are known to like to party, can we expect some drinking-based rivalry on the tour?
No, we'll leave that to them. To be honest, it's not really out style. Drinking has never done me many favours in the past and, in fact, caused me to make a few enemies in high places. That, coupled with some health issues, meant that I quit the booze a couple of years ago. Our drummer had similar problems. Cyndi is the only one in the band that drinks, but not in a big way. Rock n' Roll is about one thing: being yourself, whatever that may be. We may not be booze hounds any more, but we can rock just as hard as anyone else! Without the shitty hangovers the next day!
How are you going to make sure you're the band that people leave remembering?
Simple, just by being the best we can be. I'm not sure if there is supposed to be any rivalry between us and Nemhain, but there certainly isn't. We're obviously similar enough whereby touring together makes sense, but there is enough difference where we don't tread on each other's turf. We hope that people go away remembering BOTH bands which I'm sure they will!
There's obviously a huge love of classic horror running through the band, what are your favourite films?
Well, my favourite films are the Star Wars movies, but I guess that's not the question you're asking, right?! As of right now, I am really in to Planet Terror, Robert Rodriguez's part of the Grindhouse movies. We have a video coming out soon which is quite heavily influenced by that. Out of old horror movies though, it would be the first Omen movie.
What do you think of the current spate of remakes that seem to be clogging up Hollywood horror?
Re-makes are always a shame and should be avoided. Part of what makes things great the first time around are the nuances of an era. Take the first Omen movie, for instance. There was something inherently creepy about the clothes and hair from the 70's which are then totally lost in a re-make. Perhaps instead of remaking stuff, Hollywood should concentrate on developing new ideas or, if they have to go down that road, do films 'inspired' by old classics. But leave the classics where they belong!
Jason Vorhees, Pinhead, Michael Myers, Freddy Kruegar, Leatherface and Leprechaun in a steel cage wrestling match. Who wins and why?
For me, Leatherface was the sickest of the above. There was something too cartoony or other-worldly about the rest. Leatherface though was just nasty to the core. Another classic movie that should have been left alone!
If eGigs wanted to join your band, what nickname could we have?
Who said we have nicknames?!
article by: Merlin Alderslade
published: 23/03/2009 12:44
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.