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MM - Introduce the
band members to us and where do you call home?
Mel Young - Singer/Guitarist/Song-writer/The Brash One Grew up in South
of France/North of England, now based in North London.
Sally Strange - Lead Guitarist/Backing Vocals/The Strange One North
London born & bred.
Carli Shepherd – Bassist/The Moody One Grew up in the South West, now
based in North London
Mike Wake - Drummer/The Drummer One South London born & bred
MM - When was the band formed and how did
you all meet?
Carli & I met at University in South Wales. Met Sally in a drunken
fight in a nightclub. No one really remembers the details, but
apparently Carli was strangling a girl in a toilet, who was slagging me
off. Sally dragged Carli off, and rock was born!
Mike was in a band that we like to call The Black Rose, due to their
similarity to a well-known Atlanta combo, when we first met. After a
couple of rehearsals with us, he decided he wanted to rock out, and
impressed us, not only by being a shit-hot drummer (and the loudest
we’d ever heard!) but also by managing to out-do our foul gobs.
MM - How would you best describe your music and who do you think it
would most appeal to?
It’s heavy rock with beautiful melodies. It’ll appeal to anyone
who likes to hear a melody very loudly.
MM - Where
did the name 68 Special come from?
That’s from the perfect rock moment that is Elvis’ 68 Comeback
Special. I’m a huge fan and always wanted the band’s name to
reflect that.
It was either that or something Back to The Future related, but I got
out-voted. McFly, it was not to be.
MM - Do you have any plans for a UK tour in the near future?
Tour is probably a grand word for it, but yes, we’ll be doing dates in
the autumn and some kind of tour around the release of the mini-album.
MM - What has been the fans reaction to your EP - 'The Saving
Yourself', and where can people obtain a copy if they wanted to check it
out?
Those were just demos we did for EMI which ended up on the website. If
anyone wants any music from us, all they have to do it email us, (mel@68special.com)
or go to www.peoplesound.com
.
We’ll have an album out in January, so they can wait for that as
it’ll be by far the best thing we’ve done so far.
MM - Which 68 Special song is your personal favourite and why?
It’s always the latest one I’ve written – thankfully. Having said
that, I love ‘I Shot Bob.’ I feel it’s a very layered song,
musically and I love the way the instruments interact. And it’s fun to
sing.
MM - What
goes through your mind when you are playing live onstage? Are you aware
of the fans or are you in a little bubble oblivious to what's going on
around you?
What goes though my head is always the next line. Because years ago, I
forgot the words and tune to a song on-stage, so I’m always paranoid
about it.
Even though I know the songs inside out, I have to be feeling
super-confident and relaxed to allow my mind to wander about things like
the audience. Of course, there are times when you can’t help but
think about them… When we played with Babes In Toyland at the LA2,
there were 1,000 people watching us, but somehow that was the most at
ease I’ve felt on-stage ever.
The more we play, the easier it gets, but there have been times when
I’ve sat backstage before a show and wondered why the hell I do this
to myself.
And the answer is, of course: the feeling you get when you walk
off-stage knowing that you’ve done it to the best of your ability, and
that your music has connected with the crowd.
I don’t want to sound like a twat, but it really is exhilarating, a
great feeling of hope and accomplishment. Especially if you’re
at the bottom trying to climb up.
Being in a band is really hard work and can be incredibly demoralizing.
But for an hour after you come off-stage from a triumphant show, you
forget about all the shit and it all seems worth-while.
MM - Are
you a fan orientated and accessible band? Do you go out and meet your
fans after a gig?
I don’t think we have ‘fans.’ We have people who like our music
who come to see us. Of course we talk to them. I love
talking about the band and how great the band are!
MM - Is there any particular albums you have heard lately and have
really liked?
Difficult. I’m not that easily impressed. I love Queens Of
The Stoneage. Everyone does, and quite rightly so, they’re the
best band I’ve see in years.
I also like anything by the Foo Fighters and Luscious Jackson. I
also like Rival Schools’ album. And I listen to lots of easy-listing
stuff too, like the Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello album.
MM - What bands/artists have influenced you
the most over the years?
Faith No More, The Who, Soundgarden, Kate Bush
MM - Who writes the songs that you perform, is it a joint effort or
more of a solo thing?
I write the bare bones of the song melody, lyrics and guitar, take them
to the rehearsal studio and from then on it’s a joint effort.
We play around with it until we find a structure and feeling we’re all
happy with.
MM - What's the most memorable thing that's
happened to the band so far?
Playing with Babes In Toyland was by far the highlight for me.
MM - How do the band like to chill out when not out on the road or
recording?
I tend to go to quite a few gigs. But just like staying in with my other
half watching our favorite films, playing video games & eating
popcorn.
The others are pretty much out there all the time. It’s pretty
difficult to go out in London rock circles and not bump into one of 68
Special.
MM - Have any of the band members appeared in any other bands prior
to 68 Special?
Mel was in a few bands, nothing serious, nothing that ever made it live.
Mike was in the aforementioned ‘The Black rose’ for years, and was
the percussionist in a big-band orchestra from an early age all the way
through his teens.
MM - What was the first record you ever bought?
Beatles, Abbey Road – I’m not THAT old! I just got into the Beatles
at an early age, after Lennon’s death.
MM - What instruments/equipment do you
use?
DeOrmond guitar, Marshall JCM800 amp, Thunderbird guitar, Fender Twin
amp, Fender Jazz-master, Fender bass amp and a huge fucking kit!
MM - Tell us one thing about yourself that
not many people know.
We exist.
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to all your fans
out there?
Join us!
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