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To find a willing
victim for interrogation is not always easy, however today we've managed
to corner Gary the lead singer from the band Stiff Kittens into sharing
some thoughts with us about the band and their music.
MM - Would you like to introduce the band members to us and tell us what
each member's role is in the band.
Steve - Bass, Lisa - Drums, Gary - Guitar and Vocals.
MM - The bands name is quite novel, what was the thinking behind it?
The name came from a book about JOY DIVISION, apparently Ian Curtis was
thinking of using it as his bands name so we nicked it!
MM - Now for a brief history lesson, would you like to tell us when the
band was formed and how did you all meet?
Steve and I (Gary) were in a band a few years ago and when that band
split we decided to form our own band and make music that we wanted to.
We advertised for a drummer in NME and got Lisa. We haven't looked band
since.
MM - How would you best describe your music and who do you think your
songs would most appeal to?
Straight ahead rock and roll that appeals to people who want to jump up
and down like loonies one minute and cry their hearts out the next.
MM - What's the rock scene like in South Wales at the minute? It is a
healthy environment as far as gigs and clubs are concerned? Does it
nurture aspiring bands talents?
The rock scene is South Wales is very poor, bands have to resort to
having children as a cheaper alternative at Christmas.
MM - The bands attitude towards what you do is 'our purpose in life is
not to please you, it is to please ourselves'. Does this mean you don't
give a damn what anybody else thinks about your music?
That was a flippant comment made when we were young and stupid. We care
deeply about our audience and how our music affects them.
MM - How can people find out about the band and where to catch you
performing live?
People can find out about Stiff Kittens by logging on to our wonderful
website and reading the latest news about the band and checking out the
gig guide.
MM - 'The Ivory Trade' is pencilled in to be released in the Autumn. How
does this album compare to your earlier albums and what can your fans
expect from it? Tell us a little bit about some of the songs.
It's a more grown up record and in some ways a little less bombastic
than the last. Since my daughter was born two years ago, it's made me
more reflective about my life and that's rubbed off in the lyrics and
subject matter of some of the songs. There's still anger on the record
and there's still sadness and regret but there's also hope.
MM - The band will shortly be embarking on a tour around the UK to
promote the new album. Can you tell us whether you will be extending
your tour at some point to cover gigs a bit further North?
We'll play wherever there's anyone that wants us and our music. Keep an
eye on that gig guide. We played Barnsley Uni a few months ago and that
was a bloody long drive but nevertheless it was a bloody long drive back
too! No, seriously, we've played in Scotland and also done a mini tour
in France so we know no boundaries when it comes to playing live.
MM - What bands did you grow up with and how have they helped in
creating the style of music you perform now?
The bands I grew up with were The Jam and The Who originally and I
learned a lot about the craft of song writing from them, the whole
dynamic of the 3 minute pop song.
MM - At what age did you decide you wanted to be a musician/performer?
I decided to be a musician when I was 4 years old after hearing 'Billy
don't be a Hero' by PAPER LACE.
MM - How has the music press
responded to the band and it's music so far?
We have had mostly favourable reviews. We have had the odd shitty one
but everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Don't forget 'What's the
story morning glory' only had 2 stars in Q magazine.
MM - What is your favourite Stiff Kittens song so far and why?
My fav is 'A shoulder to cry on'. It has loads of content, everyone
contributed 110% to it and it's the most accomplished thing we have ever
written.
MM - Who writes the songs that you perform? It is the job of just one
person or do you all play a part in the creation of new songs?
Someone comes up with the basic idea, lyric, basic chords or structure
or a drum pattern and we work up a song from it.
MM - Is there one song written by someone else that you love and
wish you'd been the one to write it?
I wish I'd written FAKE PLASTIC TREES by Radiohead. It always gets to
me, such a moving piece of music.
MM - What's been your favourite concert, other than your own, that
you've attended and why?
U2 Joshua Tree Tour Arms Park, July 1987. They were on top of the world;
the biggest band in the world and it was a real rush.
If you could perform/tour with any band/artist, who would you choose and
why? I'd like to play with The Who because they are a huge huge
influence on me.
MM - What do you find the most frustrating about being in a rock band?
Usually playing with other bands who don't bring their own gear and want
to use ours.
MM - What do you think about the current trend where radio/music TV can
make or break a band overnight?
It's demystified the whole essence of rock and roll. What made Led
Zeppelin intriguing was that you never saw them. Not a picture, not an
interview and they didn't release a single so you never saw them on TV.
Now you can see a band formed in front of your very eyes.
You wouldn't get a band like The Beatles any more because all of them
knew each other before they were famous. These days bands get famous,
then learn to sing and then have a number one record, and people STILL
go out and buy it!!
MM - When you're not performing or recording new material, do the band
hang out together outside of the normal band duties? Are you friends as
well as band mates?
We are friends but we don't socialize as much as we used to because
we've all got partners and some of us have families etc but we do hang
together some times for pleasure yes.
MM -If you won the lottery tomorrow, would you leave the music behind or
would you pump some hard cash
into making sure the band had the best shot at success they could ask
for?
To be perfectly honest if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd probably be
dead in a week.
MM - What's the most precious thing in your life right now? Who or what
could you simply not live without?
My wife and my daughter.
MM - In 3 words how would your best friend describe you?
Miserable Cantankerous Bastard.
MM - Lastly, is there anything you
would like to say to all our readers out there?
Go in peace and protective headgear.
Gary - STIFF KITTENS.
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