The 45s - a recent interview with Heavy Soul Records' latest signings

So when and how did the band form?

Tom, our guitarist came to our school a couple of years ago determined to form an R&B band based around his love of Chess Records, Soul and Blues. His first attempt didn’t work as the other lads just didn’t get into the music. Tom then set about convincing James, Joe and Bailey that R&B was the answer. They responded enthusiastically and soon they were all buying old CDs and vinyl to listen to in Tom’s attic. They were next choosing which songs to form their set.

How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard you before?

It’s ‘50’s Chicago blues and a hint of Memphis soul played with punk attitude.

You talk extensively about your admiration for, and the influence that Dr. Feelgood has had on you, but what other influences would you cite?

Dr Feelgood just brought together several of the different musical strands we wanted to incorporate in our sound and especially that outsider attitude. We’re not from a trendy city and we’ve had to fight to be heard, just like them. At the regional heats of a national music competition a couple of years ago we were told our music had no future in the business. We said “sod that” and just got out and gigged even harder. We don’t think they would be saying the same now.

Does it upset you that it will never be like the '60s again - you know, where everybody loved The Beatles and The Stones?

We would have loved to be playing in that time, playing gigs at the Cavern or Crawdaddy. But we can’t choose when we are here and we will do our best to help create a music scene in Britain that better reflects young people than the manufactured pap served up to them today.

Is it hard to balance being in a growing band and your studies - we mean, the gig offers must be coming in left, right and centre?

Yeah, it isn’t easy but we all got pretty good GCSE results so maybe it’s good for us! Joe (bass) and Tom (guitar) are off to music college so it will be easier for them to get away. We have negotiated some days off for James (lead vocals) and Bailey (drums) but it is a problem.

What’s been your highlight so far?

It’s got to be playing onstage with Wilko. When you listen to someone’s music and really get into it then it really is something special to play that music with the artist who wrote it. The particular circumstances of Wilko’s illness made the whole thing even more emotional for all of us.

It must be quite a big deal receiving Wilko Johnson's Red Icon Telecaster as a present?

Yeah! Fender only made a hundred and they were sold out in hours. Tom felt it important that he had one to play the old Feelgood numbers on as a tribute to Wilko and Lee. He never thought he would be presented with one on stage by Wilko himself!

You’ve covered the likes of Chuck Berry and Wilson Pickett alongside a selection of your own material - how’s that transition been?

We actually wrote our first song nearly two years ago now. Tom and James polished it off in school break time. It took about ten minutes. We now have an album’s worth of our own material and can’t wait to get in the studio and record it so come on over major label A & R people. Actually, we enjoy writing songs, Tom comes up with the tune and sometimes the lyrics and if he is stuck James will write some words and those two will get the bones of the song before bringing it to a band rehearsal. The others are fully involved in developing and fleshing out each song and we keep tweaking away at them, adding a harmony here a rearranged chorus there. We have even taken two different songs and combined them – and no, we are not telling which one that is!

You have your debut single, ‘It Ain’t Over’ and ‘Devil of a Woman’ coming out on 21st October - how’s the recording going and do you have any plans for an EP?

We have just completed recording our double A-side single and are looking forward to hearing mastered versions and getting involved in choosing artwork and all that stuff. We have a twinkle in our eye which is a ‘live’ EP, maybe released as vinyl only to reward fans who come to our gigs. We are getting quite a reputation as a ‘live’ act and it would be great if we could capture that passion and energy on a record. For that we would probably do some covers and maybe one original. We don’t plan on doing many, if any covers on our album. We’ve got too many originals we want to get out there.

And finally, you said recently you don’t need GCSEs to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band - what would you say you do need, in three words?

PASSION, TALENT & COMMITMENT will get you a long way, we hope!