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MM - How
does it feel to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band?
Good. I feel very proud. Also, I honestly feel as
full of energy and excitement as when we first started.
MM
- You had a few teething problems getting the new album 'Eight' widely
available, what was the main reason for this?
As far as I know, no more
trouble than with other releases. But generally speaking, I don't
concern myself very much with the business side of things; you'd best
ask our manager.
MM - Let's go back to the dawn of
time, when was the band formed and how did you all meet?
I met Stuart Morrow (the
original bassist) in Bradford in the late 70s. We began playing together
just for the love of playing and started NMA as a Punk and Northern
Soul-influenced 3-piece in 1980. A lot of different people have been in
NMA at different times - strange chance meetings in low-down nightclubs.
MM - After 20 very successful years
in the business what would you put your success down to?
We never compromised.
MM - Is there anything in the last 20
years you wish you had done differently?
Loads of things. I sometimes
think we made every mistake a band can make in terms of business and
making the world understand what we were about.
But creatively, we were always honest and always original, so really the
other thing doesn't matter in the end.
MM - How influential do you think
your music is to your fans?
This is a question for them,
not us.
MM - Where do the band call home?
Bradford is very much our
home. It has coloured much of our music and attitudes. We have a
rehearsal and studio set-up there. Of the current line-up, three of us
live in Bradford/Leeds. Nelson lives in Colchester and Dave in Devon.
MM - The band will be touring
shortly, which countries will you be visiting?
We toured the
"Eight" album earlier this year through 12 countries. This
autumn were just doing a few special shows in Britain and Germany.
MM - Describe the new album and who
would it appeal to?
It would appeal to anyone who loves music - its fresh, poetic, intense
and visceral.
MM - If you weren't in a rock band,
what job would you most likely be doing right now?
I cannot imagine. This is my
life.
MM - What do you think about
the Napster controversy?
Everything changes, nothing stays still - that's in the nature of all
things. I'm not sure yet how much and in what way the Napster ruling
will effect what really matters - the creative side of music. So,
although I'm asked this question a lot, I haven't yet come to a firm
opinion.
MM - After a gig what do you like to
do?
Watch the dawn come up through the bus windows.
MM - Do you think it is easier or harder for new bands to get a break
these days?
Harder probably. All aspects of all businesses are far more ruthless and
money obsessed than they once were. Despite the current mythology, even
Napster are in it for the money.
MM - If you could give one piece of
advice to someone trying to start-up a band what would it be?
Do it for its own sake, because you love music, for the joy of
creativity.
If these things are your motivation, you have nothing to lose and
nothing to fear. If you're in it just to be discovered, to become rich
and famous, forget it. Failure and success are both equally cruel
masters.
MM - What short phrase best describes
the band?
Powerful, affecting, intense,
passionate, true.
MM - What's the most important thing for the band right now?
Writing great songs, playing
Official New Model Army site: http://www.newmodelarmy.org
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