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MM - Introduce the
band members to us and where do you call home?
Pete Hurley - Vocals & Guitars (role in group - leader)
Davo McConville - Bass (role in group - the drive)
Marcus Ratcliff - Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals (role in group -
creative genius)
Jack Hamson - Drums (role in group - the heart)
MM - When was the band formed and how did you
discover each other's mutual interest in making music?
Pete - We were best friends before we started the band. Jack
played drums and I (Pete) played guitar and we messed around together
for ages. Davo was my best friend so I taught him how to play our songs,
and Marcus was just what we needed. He is obsessed with music and
passionate about it. We asked him to play with us and he was too polite
to say no. It just came together.
Once we had it, it took over our lives. There's not a lot to do in
Stratford, so we became obsessed with getting good and getting out. Then
we did some gigs. Then we got signed to Integrity Records. Then you
asked me to do this interview ... I guess I like it fine ... so far..
MM - Describe how your music sounds and who do
you think would appreciate it?
Pete - Our music is alt-rock with dashes of punk / hiphop /
grunge and pop. I think anyone who likes guitar music will like us.
We're a little bit of everything, we're for everyone. It's for Kerrang,
it's for NME, it's for anyone who likes rock music and hopefully other
too. We've tried to meld Skiffle with happy hardcore as effectively as
possible.
MM - The band have been working hard on their debut single. Can you tell
us a little bit about it? When is it due out, what will it be called,
where did the inspiration for the songs come from?
Pete - It's due out on June 10th and we're touring up until then.
The single is called 'Rolling Stones T-shirt' and is about drinking,
girls, insecurity and wrestling legend Mick Foley. It's about never
being able to have anyone you want and never wanting to learn from that.
It's about being the underdog and never giving in. It's about that
perfect person you are too scared to go up to. It isn't about the
Rolling Stones.
MM -A lot of the bands tour has been arranged
through Drowned in Sound, how did you actually hook up with them in the
first place?
Pete - Our tour isn't really arranged by Drowned in Sound. It's
arranged by Seymour, our good friend and the lead singer of Miss Black
America (www.missblackamerica.net),
who are headlining many of our upcoming dates. Drowned in Sound is a
good webzine, especially as it helps to bring people and bands together.
We hooked up with our friend Rob Dix (head of Dental Records @ www.dentalsounds.co.uk)
who put out a single featuring us and Miss Black America as their first
release. He was a writer for them and he helped get the MBA/Antihero
hype machine whirring. Now we're both signed to the same record label.
Hoorah!
MM - Are there any plans in the pipeline for a
debut album in the near future?
Pete - We certainly hope so, though our record company do not
have exclusive rights to it as yet. The next few months will be spent
promoting our single, which is our debut proper, our first nationwide
release. When we're done releasing a couple of singles and raising our
profile, we'll see if people want an album or whether to go home and
work in McDonalds.
MM - How can people find out about what's going
on with the band and where you'll be appearing?
Pete - Everything is on www.antihero.org.uk
. It has all the information on us and all our gigs and is constantly
updated.
MM - What are your opinions on the current
music scene? Do you feel it's getting worse or better? Will Antihero
change the face of rock?
Pete - I don't think we'll change anything. I just want to be as
good as we can be, make a living and hopefully give lots of people lots
of enjoyment along the way. I like the music scene, though there's no
one I truly love right now, I think it's been a lot worse.
It's got a bit too focused on making money. That's probably the
understatement of the century. Ask me in a years time when I'm no longer
naive and optimistic. I'll probably be living in a dumpster drinking
supermarket beer. Can't wait.
MM - Has anyone in the band appeared in any
other bands prior to Antihero?
Pete - I was in a little known band called 'Spun', but, though I
loved them, they were only a Stratford band. I played bass and I paid
attention. It helped me learn and set the foundations for what Antihero
is today. We're only 19! This is the only band we'll ever be in.
MM - What does the word Antihero actually mean to you and where does it
come from?
Pete - I guess it means being a hero but not for the right
reasons. Standing up for what you believe in and all that jazz.
MM - What influenced you when you were younger and what influences you
now?
Pete - People who give everything for what they believe in.
People who don't fuck around. People who have manners.
MM - Which Antihero song is your personal favourite and why?
Pete - 'To Old Times'. It's the B side of the single. It's very
personal to me and it's kinda a dedication and eulogy to all my friends
so it's very special to me. Can you hear those violins playing gently in
the distance? I better get some tissues ...
MM - What's the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your
own) and why?
Pete - I've seen a lot of good concerts. I loved seeing Henry
Rollins. He gives his all. He's captivating. I saw a very cool, sexy,
droney Dandy Warhols do some cool low key dates in 2000 which I loved. I
saw the Pumpkins on their farewell tour which was very special to me.
The Pumpkins are the sound of our youth! Depressing, self-loathing,
perfect!
MM - What one possession could you not live without right now?
Pete
- My record contract! Ha ha ha!
MM - What's your idea of fun? Are you serious by nature or a bundle of
mischief?
Pete - Mischief. How else are you supposed to survive tours? We
are more serious onstage than off. Being in a band is a fine line
between having fun and being arrested.
MM - Are you superstitious? Is there anything you do before you go into
the rehearsal studio for good luck, or do you believe we make our own
luck in this life?
Pete - I think Antihero have made their own luck. I have to
believe that or I wouldn't be here.
MM -Tell us one thing about yourself that not many people know.
Pete - I love Sheryl Crow.
MM - If you could spend just one day with
anyone in the world (past or present) who would it be and why?
Pete - God - I'd like to shake his hand and kick him in the balls
simultaneously.
Kurt Cobain - It'd be nice to meet him. I owe him a lot.
Aaliyah - I'd love to meet her. She was so nice and sweet and such a
babe.
Neutrino - Could lend me a tenner. Same age as me. How did he do it?
Mick Foley - An inspiration to Antihero.
Richey Edwards - Does he know what he's created? all that eyeliner and
poetry ...
River Phoenix - Cool guy.
Jesus - Good at parties.
Hitler - I could give him a pretty good kicking in 24 hours.
MM - Who do you think influence the world of rock more than any other
person, for better or worse?
Pete - The Beatles. They did everything. They paved the way for
popular music ever since. I love 'em.
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to all your fans
out there?
Pete - Thank you. What else can I say?
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