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Interview with The Eruptors
April 2008 by Metal Mark |
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The Eruptors recently released their album
“Bad Time To Be Having A Good Time”. It’s a combination of metal,
punk and more with a huge dash of fun and high octane energy. I
recently got to interview them to find out more about them and their
music.
Tell us who you are a little about the history of your band.
Alex: We are The Eruptors. The story so far: Jeff and I got talking
about music when I saw his Hendrix T-shirt, and we started jamming
and playing locally in various bands.
Jeff: I started playing in another band called 'Neck', where I met
Flaming Gary De Niro, he was the drummer. I was blown away by his
stick spinning skills and also his drumming so quickly managed to
convince him to join up with me and Al.
Alex: So we named ourselves 'The Eruptors'. It was a side-project
for us all at this point, we played some shows and then went on
hiatus for a while. But we continued to record new material when we
found time to get together, and we got some airplay and positive
reviews in the 'underground' rock press, although our music did seem
to polarise opinion. You could say we'd found a niche. Anyway we
decided to record an album for ourselves and for anyone else who
liked the same music as us. A year later, we got a deal to release
it with Maniac Squat Records, an independent label from London. We
chose them because the CEO understands our music and used to be in a
similar band to us back-in-the-day. The album was released in March
2007 as a limited edition CD and as digital download too.
Your new CD is called “Bad Time To Be Having A
Good Time”. How would you describe the music on your album?
Jeff: Garage punk rock. With a sci fi twist.
Alex: We have labelled it '1000% Rock'. Kerrang! Magazine recently
described the album as "a turbo-injected, ozone burning blast of
obnoxious garage-rock". I'd say it was a short sharp shock with a
sci-fi theme. There's old punk and metal influences but at the same
time we get very creative and enjoy adding our own twists and
stamping our authority and originality onto the music we make. It's
a concept album so we had lots of scope to use our imaginations, but
the songs are all short and get straight to the point, so I think we
manage to avoid sounding self-indulgent.
Gary: The music is fast and loud! I love playing this stuff because
we are three equal parts in the band – lead drums, lead, bass, lead
guitar. And, of course, lead vocals. We each have to play more than
we might in a larger group, to fill the sound, and the room, with
our ROCK. The music is fun – enjoy us and put us in the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, but don't take us too seriously!
Alex: It helps that we have complete creative control over our music
with no interference from the record company. They have absolute
faith in us and let us self-produce in the DIY tradition, just like
those great bands from the first wave of punk and the New Wave of
British Heavy Metal way back in the 1970s and early 1980s.
You have some spoken passages on your CD as
well. Who came up with these parts? Did you come up that after the
music or did you come up with it at the same time as the music?
Alex: A lot of the music was written before we had lyrics finished,
or the idea for the album concept…
Jeff: …Then the story kinda came after the songs were first written,
mostly. What we did then was choose the songs that helped tell the
story, some got a little re-written along the way too, with new
lyrics etc.
Gary: As for the spoken passages, haha! All Jeff's fault – we left
him to mix the tracks after we'd gone our separate ways following a
week's recording – he did us proud, taking the concept of the record
the next level! |
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What was the writing and recording process of
your album like?
Alex: Totally fun!
Gary: The writing of the album was pretty much a case of us getting
together in a new studio with some old material, and trying to get
as much of it as possible recorded in the given four days. Drums
first, then guitars and vocals – bass was done later after the
guitarist and drummer had left the countryside of Cork to return to
civilisation and the daily grind of not rocking out all the time.
Alex: We all met up in Ireland and locked ourselves away in the
studio all day every day, then spent our evenings in the pubs,
drinking Irish beer and joining in with the jam sessions. There was
a drought while we were there so the water supply at the studio ran
out about half way through! I remember we got some cool photos of us
standing around a rock drill which arrived one day to dig a well. |
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| Gary: We worked 12-hour days with a toilet that didn't flush and
with awesome views of the Cork hills. We ate burgers, we drank
stout, we rocked hard. We basically jammed each song 'til we were
happy with the parts and with the vibe, then went for a take on
drums (or was it drums and bass – I can't remember!) The one track I
was most proud of didn't come out – so we re-recorded that one a
year later – you'll be hearing it on our second album…
Alex: The creativity flowed so the music all came together very
quickly, there is a great chemistry, musical ability, and
professionalism within this band. We had a lot of fun along the way,
but we worked efficiently to get everything done in time. Despite
some technical problems with guitar amps and recording equipment
things went very smoothly. Some of the songs were quite old and
pretty much written beforehand, others were just riffs which we
developed into songs together. But once we had the songs fully
'written', we recorded almost everything in a couple of takes, with
a few overdubs (guitar solos, vocals, etc) overdubbed later. All the
drums, guitars, backing vocals, percussion, and a lot of the bass
were done over 5 days, then Jeff finished it off in his own time.
Jeff: Fun!!! After the session in Ireland, I worked on it in my
studio, then work-in-progress mixes via the internet or by mail
because we all live so far away from each other. Not the traditional
way of writing a rock and roll record by any means but one of the
advantages of the times we live in.
What has been the response to your album so
far?
Gary: The Queen has asked to knight us all (except Jeff because he's
from the colonies), and heads of government have been using our
music as a rallying cry for the nation and its causes at home and
abroad. And it's not only earth-bound people who have warmed to our
message of love and forgiveness and loud guitar-orientated Rock –
alien life-forms too have emailed us in their thousands to say how
we have touched their hearts and souls with stories of space-wars
and sorrowful, solitary abandonment in outer space; I think many out
there can relate to these themes on a personal level.
Alex: Haha….well the response has been excellent, every one who
has heard it has been positive. We're getting good press from the
big name rock mags such as 'Kerrang!', right through to the
grassroots 'underground' media. My local radio station have been
getting behind it too.
Jeff: Reviews have been good, but first and foremost we make the
music we make because we want to, not for any other reason really.
Well apart from girls and the good times you get from being in a
rock and roll band of course!!!
Alex: Yes, the response from our girls and the good times has been
particularly enjoyable! Haha! So long as we're entertaining
ourselves and people who like the music that we like then it's a job
well done. Bollocks to everyone else, they wouldn't understand!
I believe all of you have played in other band
before. Who have you played with and are any of you currently in any
other projects?
Jeff: Sonic Boom Boys, Neck, Uncle John's Band I've played with in
the past. At the moment most of my involvement with music is as an
engineer.
Gary: I have played in Neck (Irish punk-folkies); with Steve Wheel
(alt. rock – look out for his first CD this year - brilliant music);
the Chavs (filthy-lyric-ed brainchild of our label-boss, Tom); and I
also currently play with Gillian Glover (daughter of Roger Glover of
Deep Purple); and Daniel Spiller, singer-songwriter from London. I
play in a few musical theatre shows each year as well – keeps my
hand in at reading the dots, and currently the bills even better
than being an Eruptor!
Alex – For a while I also used to play bass for a band called
'Stolen Sun'. We did a tour with 'Trash Light Vision' as well as
opening for a whole bunch of old punk and rock bands who came into
town. Our CD was rated 8/10 in 'Classic Rock Magazine' and I got
voted 'Sexiest Man in Rock' by readers of purerawk.co.uk website.
When that band ended I started focussing my efforts back to The
Eruptors and this is my only band right now. Recently, I have also
done some writing for websites and magazines, and worked as rep for
a music promoter too.
The "sounds like" section of your Myspace page
has a very long list of descriptions. I think my favorite part is
this "A high voltage soundtrack to the best Saturday night of your
life".
Jeff: Of course that depends what you like to do on a Saturday
night…
Alex: I think it sums up our vibe although I think that we're
actually the high voltage soundtrack to ANY night of your life! |
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Who did the artwork for your album?
Alex: Andy Tilley at Sump Doggy Designs, he also does our merch too
(which can be purchased from
www.sumpdoggydesigns.co.uk/7.html)
Gary: He's bloody brilliant. He produces these exclusive designs for
us to order, very quickly and promptly, and he's a top bloke all
round.
So what are you doing that sets you apart from
other bands and why should someone buy your CD?
Alex: We have our own sound because we play things in our own way
and we don't hold back with our enthusiasm or our imaginations, so
nothing gets diluted. We don't sound quite like anyone else, even
though we aren't afraid to wear our influences on our sleeves.
Jeff: We're not a trend or a product of a marketing focus group. We
don't have to answer to anyone for what we create so what you hear
is music as |
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pure as we can
make it. That's what we do, if you like that idea, than maybe our
album is for you. Actually, more and more bands and artists are
starting to take this stance and it's a damn good thing. So, like a
number of bands these days, we play music that we believe in first
and foremost. What sets us apart is our style.
Gary: We are not interested in fame or fortune – just in doing what
we do, doing it well and enjoying every minute of the process.
People should buy it because it will determine their happiness and
my future world rock stardom, riches and country mansions. We are
doing this for the sake of the art alone, so come on! Hurry up! Line
my pockets, bitches!!
Alex: The CD has been released at mid-price and we made sure that
the packaging is really cool. It's a limited edition and
collectable. 6 panel digipack with picture CD and the artwork is
brilliant, if you like cartoon sci-fi type imagery. It's the sort of
thing I'd check out instinctively if I saw it in a shop. You can
listen to some of the songs at
www.myspace.com/eruptors
What are your interests outside of music?
Jeff: Walking over mountains. Books, films. Parties.
Alex: My fiancée, my research, soccer, running, and old horror
films. Last year I started studying Mandarin Chinese language and
culture (taking a break now but hope to pick it up again next year
when I'm less busy) and I sometimes write for the website
sleazegrinder.com and bubblegum slut magazine.
Gary: My wife, education, philosophy, eating cakes, politics,
travel, driving.
I take it that you are into science fiction
movies. So what are some of your favorites?
Jeff: Loads. The Ender Saga by Orrson Scott Card. Nearly anything by
Harry Harrison. Space Oddyssey 2010. Really liked his dark materials
trilogy by Philip Pullman although that's not pure sci fi. The man
in the high castle.
Gary: Star Wars (original trilogy).
Alex: 'Leprachaun In Space' is a favourite of mine!!! And I have to
agree with Mr Flamin' Gary de Niro and say the original three Star
Wars movies. In general, I prefer my films pre- digital special
effects, the more modern stuff isn't as cool somehow. I like the
'War of The Worlds' album too. I hope to see the live production
next time it comes round.
Do you have a tour in the works? If so then
when will that start and where will you play?
Alex: Would love to tour this album, we're seeking out gigs and hope
to play shows this summer onwards. Promoters, bands etc get in
contact. Anyone reading this who would like us to come and play
their town, drop us a line and tell your local venues and promoters.
Gary: We hope to get to Spain, Ireland, U.K., anywhere else in
Europe that'll have us, and the USA – find us a promoter who's not
flaky as hell? Cheers!
What should someone who comes to see you live
expect?
Jeff: A good old fashioned balls to the walls rock show. With some
mind control experimentation thrown in.
Gary: The sexiest, hardest-rocking band in the universe. Seriously,
they'll be exhausted watching us at work – we play hard and harder
and harder than anyone else. Expect to be overcome by also by the
sincerity of emotion with which Bishop Jeff inflects every nuance of
his vocals.
Alex: Fast and furious turbo charged rock n roll. Loud low slung
guitars, obnoxious gut-wrenching bass, violent drums and ear
shattering cymbals.
Pick the band from the following pair that
prefer and tell why you choose that band.
The Damned or Ramones
Jeff: The Ramones. Never overstated a point in any song is one way
of saying they kept it to the point!!! Although the Damned rock too…
Alex: And Joey Ramone is the coolest of anyone in either of those
bands. Coincidently, two of my favourite original punk songs are 'Blitzkreig
Bop' by Ramones and 'New Rose' by The Damned.
Gary: Ramones – more fun
Alice Cooper or Deep Purple
Jeff: Tough one!!! Alice by a hair. He was kinda like a heavy metal
Meatloaf in some ways, but without the boring bits.
Gary: Deep Purple – better music, more of a swing, less pretence,
British, I play with one of their daughters.
Alex: Alice is awesome, I've seen his show 3 or 4 times and he's
always brilliant. But on in their heyday (and when they weren't
over-indulging in solos and extended jamming) I'd say Deep Purple,
because not only did they have great songs and could put on a cool
rock show, but they had some of the best musicians from that era.
When they weren't being self-indulgent with the jamming they were
simply awesome. Tough question though, because both Alice Cooper and
Deep Purple have recorded so many classic songs.
AC/DC or Kiss
Jeff: AC/DC. Has anyone ever being more rock???
Alex: AC/DC, but I like some Kiss songs too.
Gary: DC – Kiss are pretty sorry really, doncha think? DC wrote the
book on basic riffage. Listen out for "1000% Rock, Baby" on album
no. 2.
Motorhead or Judas Priest
Jeff: Motorhead. Just cause they sound so freakin nasty all the
time. And Lemmy is a rare talent – possibly my all time favourite
bass player.
Alex: Motorhead. I think that Priest have some good songs like 'Breakin
The Law', but Motorhead have even more good songs and I just prefer
their sound and style. Motorhead have definitely influenced our
sound.
Gary: Obviously Motorhead – Faster, more aggressive, more British,
more raw, and mostly FASTER!
Is there anything else that you would like to
say about your music or your band?
Alex: We have a cool album, and we want to play in your town!
Gary: I am a disciple of Bonham, Paice, Bruford, McBrain and Grohl.
All who hitteth hard reapeth deepeth. Rock on.
Jeff: Everything you need to know is on the record.
Alex: Check us out at
www.myspace.com/eruptors |
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