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Always a sucker for
a sexy Scotsman, today we catch up with lead singer Ross McNeil to find
out just what makes A Close Last tick. All the way from sunny
Glasgow this bright young rock star shares his dreams and darkest
secrets with us.
MM - Would you like to introduce the band members to us and where
do you call home?
RM -
I'm
Ross McNeil, lead singer (aged 18). The other members are: Joe Lee -
bassist (aged 18) Gerry Lee (brothers) - guitarist (aged 20) Dave Mackie
- guitarist (23 today!) and lastly Adrian Blair - drummer (aged 21) We
all would call the city of Glasgow home, or more particularly the
Crystal Palace pub! This is except Adrian, who hails from the fair town
of Ballycastle, Northern Ireland.
MM - When was the band formed and how did you discover each others
mutual taste in making music?
RM - The band's current set-up started in September 2001. Although
we all have different tastes in music, we all had the same love for punk
music, but always with a strong melody on top. Adrian and I joined the
band through an advert, so we knew what was needed before we joined!
Gerry and Joe are brothers so have grown up listening to the same music.
MM - The
band have been described as a cross between Blink 182 and Spunge. Would
you say this was a fair description of what your music sounds like?
RM - No, that's complete bullshit! The Blink comparison is very
obvious, but we have a different sound, with the double-layered guitars
and some mental bass! I've only heard a couple of [spunge] songs, but
they're ska, and we are definitely not a ska band! We're frequently
described in the Metro as "rapid emo pop-punk", so make of
that what you will! We keep getting compared to a band called
Whippersnapper, but I've never heard of them, so I can't comment.
MM - Are there any
plans in the pipeline for a debut album in the near future?
RM - Not really. We've already got 5 studio tracks, and possibly
we'll get a few more done, but it's a bit early in the day to think
about an album!
MM - How can people find
out about what's going on with the band and where you'll be appearing?
RM - Check out the website www.acloselast.co.uk and you can
contact us there, and get all the latest ACL gossip. Also, if you want
more info, email us at acloselast@hotmail.com and we'll let you know
whatever you want to know! The next gig is on 18th August 2002 at the
Glasgow Cathouse supporting The Relatives, but any Glasgow pub is a good
bet to bump into us!.
MM - What age groups
do you have appearing at your shows?
RM - All
ages, but it kinda looks like the 16 - 24 age group we appeal to most of
all, which is fair enough because that's what age group our sound will
probably come over best to.
MM - What are your opinions
on the current music scene? Do you feel it's getting better or worse?
Will A Close Last change the world of rock?
RM - I don't know really. Rap-metal appears to be dying out
(good), but garage rock n' roll is on the rise big time (bad). It just
seems so lazy. Everyone just reads the NME and believes whatever they
say is good. The Vines? Come on! Everyone just seems to be happy with
quick-fix trends in music, one trend remains fresh for a year, and then
becomes crap. Garage rock has been around for 6 months and I hate it
already! Punk is really the only genre still fresh, as it keeps
evolving. Will A Close Last change the world of rock? Maybe, who knows!
MM - Has anyone in the band
appeared in any other bands prior to A Close Last?
RM - Not
any good ones! *smiles*
MM - What does the bands
name signify? Why 'A Close Last'?, why not 'A Close First'?
RM - I don't know why really - I suppose ACF sounds a bit
pretentious, but the ACL name is more powerful, really gives the
impression that no matter what, you won't knock us down to the bottom.
But the truth is I don't have a clue about the name! You'll have to ask
the others about that.
MM - What bands/artists
have influenced you over the years and which bands are you listening to
at the moment?
RM - My old favourites are old Manic Street Preachers, Green Day,
Guns n' Roses and Nirvana, so a bit of everything really. At the moment,
it's the new Idlewind album (ace, go buy!) and probably Slipknot - great
drums and doing something a bit different at the mo.
MM - Which A Close Last
song is your personal favourite and why?
RM - I don't have a favourite. I hate all our songs!
MM - What's the most
memorable concert you've been to (other than your own) and why?
RM - I'm going to cheat and say 3. Manic Street Preachers - March
2001. My fave band and didn't let me down. I waited 7 years to see them!
Green Day - December 200 - best live band ever, they've got a good stage
presence, and a trumpet player in a bumblebee outfit! System of a Down -
March 2002. Excellent songs, and having postponed they didn't let me
down, powerful players.
MM - What one possession could you not live without right now?
RM - My wallet. I'd be a bit fucked without that!
MM - What
instruments/equipment do you use?
RM
- Well, we tend to use other bands/venues equipment, but Joe plays a
Squier Bass, Gerry uses a Fender Strat and Dave uses a Epiphone Les Paul
Studio. We prefer to put guitars through a Marshall JCM2000 stack, and
live, Gerry plays through a Zoom 505ll effects board (A2 and A3).
MM - What's your idea of
fun? Are you serious by nature or a bundle of mischief?
RM - Bundle of fun definitely! If you can't have fun playing music,
then you fuck off and let someone else who is do it! The day I'm bored
with it I'll quit.
MM - Tell us one thing about yourself that not many people know.
RM - I suffer from OCD. I tend to switch lights on and off about 30
times.
MM - If you could spend just one day with anyone in the world
(past or present) who would it be and why?
RM - My gran. I didn't talk to her for about 7 years before she
died, so I'd just like to say goodbye.
MM - Who do you think influenced the world or rock more than any other
person, for better or for worse?
RM - Good question. Probably at the moment I would say the Sex
Pistols in a punk context, because they made you know it was OK to be
crap players, horrific singers, to only know 3 chords and to still sound
good and be successful!
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to all your
fans out there?
RM -
Cheers, mine's a pint ya
stingy bastard!
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