|
MM - I'd like to
start by wishing you all a Happy New Year and to ask you what your New
Years resolutions are for the coming year.
Happy New Year! We're determined to make 2003 our year. Our resolution
is simple: to make more music and fewer apologies.
MM - What was the highlight of 2002 for you as a band, and what was the
funniest?
I think the highlight was a couple of gigs we had in close succession,
one in Cambridge, one in Camden. They were the first time we had really
good crowds, with people singing along at the front and getting in touch
afterwards.
The funniest would almost certainly be one of the many incidents
involving a drunken James [guitar] but there's no way you'd be able to
print it! There was an incident where we tried to turn someone's face
into a ham sandwich.
MM - For any Sufferkiss virgins out there, please introduce the band
members to us and explain what their role is in the band.
Martyn - guitar/vocals.
James - guitar.
Mark - bass.
Kate - drums.
MM - When was the band formed and how did you all discover each other's
mutual taste in making music?
We formed on Valentine's Day 2001 after meeting through various
friendships. Once we played together for the first time we knew we had
something special. We all had the same dreams, with little personal
variations.
MM - Have you found hailing from Nottingham, the home of one of better
known rock clubs in the UK, a help or a hindrance to you as a band?
Nottingham is a hindrance, but not because of Rock City! We love playing
Rock City, but you can only play there so many times. There's no scene
here, and no decent fanzines; Nottingham is trying too fucking hard to
be trendy. There's definitely better places to come from, but that isn't
going to stop us. If you have it too easy you never have enough
ambition.
MM - How would you describe your music and what do you hope people will
take away from your music and your performances?
I hate trying to answer this question! Its rock music! People should
have a good time at our gigs. We want people to get excited and leave on
a high.
MM - What bands did you grow up listening to and how did they help in
creating the style of music you perform today?
Mostly we were hearing bands we didn't like. Like a year or so ago, you
could only hear nu-metal bands or acoustic Coldplay sound-a-likes. We
all grew up listening to different stuff, but there are bands that we
all love. No one from our generation could deny The Pixies and the whole
alt.rock movement as an influence. Add to that Joy Division, dEUS,
Whipping Boy, Six By Seven and you get the idea.
MM -Name an album you've heard recently and liked.
The last album we heard that we really liked was "Source Tags &
Codes" by …Trail of Dead.
MM - What one unique quality do Sufferkiss have to offer that no other
band possess?
Passion and purpose. Take a look around ... are there any passionate
bands left in the world? Is there one band in the top40 that you're
excited about? NME and MTV are filled with bands that make mediocre
music and say nothing. We intend to change all that. We want to make
music that means something, but that rocks hard at the same time!
MM - Who writes the songs that you perform? Is it a solo or joint
effort?
Joint effort! - well, we make the effort, James makes the joints… The
initial idea can come from anywhere, then it gets messed with until it
becomes a song (or we decide it's just crap)!
MM - Which Sufferkiss song is your personal favourite and why? Which one
sends the crowds crazy at your gigs?
At the moment we're really loving "My Disguise"; it's that
shouty bit at the end!
MM - How can people keep up to date with what the band are up to and do
you have any plans to hit to road in the near future and tour?
Join the mailing list by sending an email to signmeup@sufferkiss.co.uk,
or just keep checking the website. We're always doing gigs cos that's
the best part.
MM - Have you started on the new album yet and if so when can we expect
to have a release date?
We haven't begun working on any albums yet. Ask us again next year!
MM - If you had to choose only one of the following options, which one
would you choose?
(a) a short lived career that will earn you fame and fortune
(b) the opportunity to make music for the next 50 years but without any
real recognition.
No question, (a)!! The last thing we wanna do is live forever!
Inspiration doesn't last, sooner or later all bands just start repeating
themselves. We're not the kind of band who're gonna stick around for
long. As soon as we get bored - its over.
MM - Who do you think influenced the world of rock more than any other
person, for better or for worse?
I read somewhere that Chuck Berry invented distortion by playing through
an amp with a busted speaker. Where would rock be without distortion?
MM - How has the music media responded to the band so far and what's
their biggest misconception about you?
That we're some kind of glam outfit, King Adora style, without depth and
meaning.
MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?
Priority number one always has been and always will be to have a good
time. If its no fun - what's the point? At the moment our eyes are set
on getting our first single out, which we will do this year!
MM - How do you feel about the internet and the effect it is having on
bands and independent music?
If it makes it easier for people to hear us - and other small bands -
then that's great. And if it brings down large music corporations,
that's a bonus.
MM - If one of your songs could appear on a soundtrack or any film or
cult TV series, which one would you choose and why?
Wouldn't that be "selling-out" or something? We doubt our
songs would make good background music.
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to all your fans
out there?
A big hello to you both! Turn off MTV2, burn your NME, don't listen to
daytime radio; make your own choices. There's enough great music out
there, you don't need to be told what to like!
|