Fresh
faced and bursting on to the music scene from the chilly North of England
are the fantastic "Chasers".
These guys have just signed up to the Changes One record label and are
about to rock your world!
Their new EP, Onwards & Upwards, is about to be released in the coming
week, so we managed to grab a lively interview with front man and bassist
Danny McCormick and guitarist Neil Chaser. So 'stick around'
MM: Introduce yourselves to our
readers!!
Danny: Well, I am Daniel Stephen McCormack the 3rd and this is 'me mate
Neil'.
Neil: Ellloo!
MM: So who else is in the band?
Danny: Paul Buckingham on the keyboard and Darrel Bath on lead guitar, and
new guy Mark on the drums.
MM: And how did you all meet?
Danny: I haven't got the foggiest!!!!!! It just kind of happened.
Neil: Well, I bumped into Lee then you bumped into Paul and then we all
bumped into each other….hahaaa!
Danny: Seriously, I have known Neil for years, he taught Chris how to play
the guitar.
Neil: Aye, and then he went and forgot everything I taught him and went
and become a rock star.
MM: So have you been in any previous
bands?
Danny: I have!!! (If you didn't know, yes it is Danny from The Wildhearts
and The Yo-Yo's)
Neil: I was in a couple of local bands, The Sunflowers that were kind of
indie type rock with some pop stuff. Then I went from them to a band
called Cloud 10, then I went into a punk band. Then we bumped into each
other and "Bang!!" there you go.
Danny: Paul's been in loads of local bands too and Darrel, well he has just
been in too many to mention (hence why he wasn't at the interview he is at
present, on tour with Dan Baird).
Darrel has been in The Crybaby's, The Dogs D'amour and his own outfit
Sabre Jet, just to name a few.
MM: How would you describe the EP?
Neil: Spot on.
Danny: Round with a hole in the middle…..haaahhhaaa.
Neil: It is brilliant. Loads of good songs on it, 3 spoken word tracks and
the rest is just good rockin, fu*kin fantastic, punk, rock n roll. So go
and buy it!
MM: Who writes the songs?
Danny: We all do, The Chasers do. We have got a couple of special guests
on the EP too.
MM: So, can you say who yet?
Danny: Mark from Terrorvision, plays guitar on 'Stick Around' and Baz who
used to be in the Toy Dolls and is now playing with the Stranglers, is
playing on 'Life Goes That Way' and 'Good Company'.
MM: What are your plans for the future?
Danny: We have about ten songs ready for the album and gigging wise, we
are playing our Show Case gig at the Cellar Club in South Shields on the
27th November, where Jimi Hendrix once played.
And we have a gig in London on 15th December at the Ruskin Arms, East Ham.
MM:
What influenced you when you were younger and what influences you know?
Neil: Punk, NEWCASTLE UNITED and "passion".
Danny: Oh aye, passion. When it is so intense you can feel the hairs go up
on the back of your neck and you can feel the stubble on your freshly
shaved chin standing up on end. Fantastic.
MM: What makes you laugh?
Danny: You. (thanks pet)
Neil: Funny walks. Ministry of Silly Walks. And what's that program that
makes me laugh.
Danny: Eastenders!
Neil: Aye, if there is a death in it.
Danny: Corras!
Neil: If there's a death in it.
Danny: Brookie!!
Neil: If there's a death in it. Really, Tommy Cooper makes me laugh. I
just have to look at him and he has me in fits. (And
Neil does a good impression of him too).
MM: What is your idea of a good night
out?
Danny: Having a laugh, relaxing, having a few beers and something nice to
eat. Being out with my mates. The best nights out are always when you
don't plan them.
Everyone always goes on about what a good night New Years is going to be,
but in reality…
Neil: It's crap!!
Danny: So really the best nights out are when they just happen and you end
up going out on the spur of the moment.
MM: What is your favourite gig that you
have ever played?
Danny: Pistols, or then again AC/DC or then again Finland with the Toy
Dolls. Hard to choose between the three.
MM: So, what is the best gig that you
have ever been to?
Danny: Toy Dolls. London.
Neil: The Pogues. Newcastle Riverside, closely followed by Joe Strummer at
Glasgow.
But definitely The Pogues. That was one of those nights. Not planed, just
magic.
MM: Do you have any hidden talents?
Neil: I used to before my tooth went!! I used to make it click!!!! Danny:
I can cook.
Neil: Now your talking. I can wall paper and do a bit of joinery.
I can tease plants with an ice cube - go on there you think your getting a
drink well your not!!!!! Ha harrr.
MM: What song do you wish you had written and why?
Neil: White Man and Hammersmith Palais buy The Clash, or I fought the Law.
Or White Riot. Or anything by the Clash.
Danny: Any David Bowie.
MM:
When you were younger whose posters did you have on your bedroom wall?
Danny: Pistols, Clash, and Toy Dolls.
Neil: Ehhhh, Sam Fox and Merdock from the A Team. Ehhh, and Kojak!!!!!
MM: Who would you like to have a one to
one with and why?
Neil: Mohammed Ali, I saw him when I was 4 years old, he came around on an
open topped bus and I was sitting on my dad's shoulders, he was waving and
pointing at everyone in the crowd.
So I was waving like mad at him and he saw me and pointed and waved at me,
I'd love to have a one to one with him.
Danny: I thought it would have been Prince Charles.
Neil: I've met him though. He asked me what the Metro was like? (The metro
is a rail service that runs around the North East of England. It's a bit
like the Tube in London).
Danny: And???
Neil: I told him it was warm and yellow!!!!!!!
Danny: Haaaaaaaa, I think I have met all my heroes. All the Toy Dolls,
they would do! Lurrvvve The Toy Dolls, rather partial to them.
MM: If you could banish anything or
anyone to Room 101, who or what would it be?
Neil: Margaret Thatcher
Danny: Has to be Bin Larden at the minute, wouldn't it!
MM: If you weren't doing this job, what
would you be doing?
Neil: Trying to get to Thatcher!
Danny: I'd still be doing this but I wouldn't be getting interviewed!!!!
MM: Finally, do you have any messages
for your fans, friends and family?
Danny: Just go out and buy the EP, peace and love.
The
single is going to be released through Changes One and via the band at
gigs. It will be available through more record shops in the New Year
through a distribution deal set up nationally by Shell Shock.
We are lucky enough to have caught the guys playing a few songs from the
EP, and they were bloody, brilliant. They are all strong willed and
brimming over with excitement and talent.
We can't wait to see them play at the Cellar Club in a couple of week's
time.
If you love The Damned and you mix them with a twist of The Clash and a
pinch of "Fiery Jack". And roll it all together with the talents of Danny,
Darrel, Neil, Paul and Mark then you have a winning team.
Go and see them at a gig near you, because you are definitely in for one
of those magical nights of rock n roll.
