I'm a rockstar on hiatus - Ask Me (Almost) Anything

[SweetnSaltyPopcornPlease]

I'm a semi-successful musician in a rock band. It's my only occupation, has been for some years. I've been a lot of places, seen a lot of stuff and met a lot of people. Ask me anything. I can't answer everything for various reasons but let's see how it goes...

Thought of another one that meets the criteria. Not very "PC" though... ?

Boo hiss, I hope the OP comes back. What does it matter which band they're in?

I am also interested in the press question - has anything preposterous been reported, that is. Also: is there a person you've encountered that we would all know whose public persona is wildly different from what they're like in real life??? That we'd be shocked by.

I have two DCs each play two instruments - one is a music scholar. I feel like if anyone would know people who would start a band, we would. When I was growing up it seemed like I knew dozens of people who started bands, played gigs albeit as 'non professionals'. My kids don't know ANYONE doing that. Most of these kids were boys, to be fair.

I am wondering if online gaming has replaced some of this for entertainment???? Where are the guitarists???

It could also be that rap music, which I am less in tune to, is driving youth creativity in this area.

Very curious if the OP thinks the bench is thin in terms of new bands coming through.

Yes please gossip about the X-Factor. It's fucking appalling.

Oh, and stay off X-Factor. (Don't get me started).

Diatribes about this (and other tv 'talent' shows) are a regular occurrence in this house

I'll be back 😎

Have you ever met Art Garfunkle? I have, and he's a total diva.

You are making this up

@Sa218

How important is doing interviews etc? Are you obliged to do a certain number?

For our band, interviews are how the music media know we have music out and how we stay relevant. We are not obligated to do anything, that's the beauty of being signed to an Independent label. (Majors can make you do stuff as they have shareholders and whatnot.) I have previously had 4 hours of interviews back to back. There was an operator and every 15 minutes I was given a break. That's 16 interviews(!!!!!) it was late too, I had to accommodate Australian time zones. I must have done hundreds and hundreds. I'm a good to interview - never grumpy, always try to give an interesting answer, always genuine.

@tomdillimore

I love interesting names; people, place names, band names etc.

I really wanted to call our 2nd child lmnop (like you’re reading the alphabet) but it was (sensibly) overruled 😂 Possibly Better than Moon Unit though imho...

Westward Ho! Is the only place name in the UK with an ‘!’ In it!!

There are so many amazing band names, most with great stories behind them.

Having played in bands etc the process of coming up with the name is always fraught and interesting.

Without revealing too much can you tell us a bit about that process for you and your team, and maybe some of the names that ended up on the cutting room floor?

Love your music btw x

Because of the way the band was formed, there was only ever one choice of name. It does have an interesting meaning but it's old news now.

Thanks for answering all my questions too, OP. Still enjoying this thread. Listen to 6Music but still no idea which band. Have you written any books yet? Big demand for spill the beans books at the moment, and I read a lot of these. Potential?

.

Why did you not do this as an official webchat by contacting MNHQ? Given Covid and less to promote, they would have grabbed it with both hands, I imagine. You could have promoted your Summer single (iirc you said you had one out soon?) and your album for next year.
People who have never heard of you (possibly me) might have looked you up like I did another band and bought some of your back catalogue off the back of a decent webchat, music taste pending.
Why the covert nature of this - do you have a disguise?

The questions are prob more interesting like this TBF.

As for all the people saying ooh you liar. Why? Does it matter? It's a fun thread! And why wouldn't it be real? People in bands are parents/ get bored too

The questions are prob more interesting like this TBF
I guess - in terms of quantity and no PR breathing down your neck but OP said indie label anyway and hasn't really spilt any tea thus far

@Brendabigbaps

Have you done reality tv?

Noop. But a musician from our band's 'generation' has and it was bloody weird to see him scrubbed up and teeth whitened and whatnot. He's done well out of it though, so good for him.

I remember meeting Amy Whitehouse at The Priory back in May 2011. She was surrounded by bodyguards & just looked so frail - had problems walking down a short flight of stairs.
My Dad had come to visit me & he was appalled at how ill she looked. He couldn't believe she could be treated as an outpatient to continue touring when she clearly needed a lot of time to sort herself out - not just rehab but to relax & get away from her life.
When she died he called me in tears because he recognised her. He completely blamed 'her people' for what happened to her. As a father he was furious on her behalf.

@evilharpy

Have you ever read anything preposterous about yourself in the press?

Not really, but we once had a feature in NME and the journalist wanted to interview us separately. When it was published we found they had pitted us against each other and made out we were enemies and twisted our words. Bastard.

Ooooh have you been on never mind the buzzcocks?

Did the people guessing get it right? I've not heard of your band but will listen to one of your songs if anyone can recommend a good one?

Who is the most obnoxious musician you have ever met?

Do you think it's true that we should never meet our Heroes? Have you met your Musical heroes and who are your biggest influences?

Trying to figure out who you are has become my new hobby op. I'm doing a terrible job of it so far.

Ultimate Smash Hits magazine question coming up...
What is your favourite colour?

Blue

Is that a clue?

Do you know Simon Cowell? What's he like?

Hi, I'm quite interested in this thread as I love indie rock and spent my younger years (and all my money ha!) going to numerous festivals and gigs. I've managed to blah my way backstage a few times and met lots of cool people- my best was probably meeting Damon Albarn- my biggest ever crush 🤭 I still love indie rock and go to Britpop nights when I get a rare night out- my fave bands were Blur, Pulp, Supergrass, Dodgy, Ocean Colour Scene, Bluetones etc but I also love heavier stuff like Foo Fighters and System of a Down.
My question- when you were a teenager did you ever imagine you'd make it? Were you confident back then?

Thanks for starting this thread op I've found it really interesting.

My question is what do you think of the socially distanced gigs that are coming up? I'm missing seeing live music a lot and The Libertines are playing one near me soon. I'm very tempted to go but I have a feeling something might be a bit lost.

@MountIronSolo01

Does it matter to you if lyrics don’t make sense? I love listening to lyrics and wondering what’s behind them. When they’re contradictory or don’t make sense I wonder why they were written like that. I like a lyrical story. Have you met Dave Grohl, is he really the nicest man in rock?

Ha, great question. Lyrics are a funny one with our band. Lyrically we are quite poetic, vague, and playful. Less linear, of the storytelling style and doesn't immediately make sense. But there is sense behind the music. So yes the lyrics matter, but in pop or dance for example, they need to be more simplistic. In rock or rap there is more scope to be creative.

@thelikelylass

Thanks for answering all my questions too, OP. Still enjoying this thread. Listen to 6Music but still no idea which band. Have you written any books yet? Big demand for spill the beans books at the moment, and I read a lot of these. Potential?

6 Music have always been really supportive of us, so you have definitely heard us morning to afternoon on a weekday.

I am working on a book not related to music. But I don't think there are enough 'loose legs' and 'bleeding nostrils' in our band to warrant spilling any beans anyway. Ha!