Interview - Dead 60s

Written by Jake Hewlett-Case | Thursday, December 29, 2005 |

Jake Hewlett-Case catches up with Dead 60s

How’s the tour going?
That’s been really good, yeah, it’s the biggest one we’ve done. We’ve been in America a while so it’s nice to come back. How was America? That was really good we were there for like seven weeks but we’ve been over a lot this year.

What sort of reaction did you get in America?
It was really good, especially along the west coast. Its kind of like a different crowd like a ska/punk thing over there, like all the American punk bands. Which we don’t really like like but they seem to like us, so hey!

What would you say has been your best tour date?
Leeds and reading festivals were good this year, again we’d come back from America and there were these really big gigs so yeah, that was fun. Anything happen? Eer, no, we just got pissed.

How many times have you had to ask ‘pass the marmalade’ on this tour?
I haven’t said it once actually, unfortunately. I don’t really like marmalade very much.

What’s been your scariest moment so far?
Well, it was not actually onstage, but um, when we were supposed to do Glastonbury we were supposed to open this year on the Other Stage but there was the storm and about two tonnes of water on the roof of the stage then when were supposed to be on the stage got struck by lightening. So that was scary.
 
Have you ever held up a petrol station?
Eerm no we haven’t. We almost got arrested in Georgia though! We were setting off fireworks in like a service area. That was our brush with the law. That’s just about as far as things have got to becoming illegal? But it was actually illegal! In Georgia, but they let us off with a warning because we told them it was bonfire night in England. English traditions and all that kinda stuff. Tt worked.

Do you want every audience to have the same reaction to your live shows?
We make it a bit different. Every time we come back we try and do different things. We like to jam onstage as well. That ends up being a bit more spontaneous. It keeps interesting for us as well.

You have lots of different sounds on the album. Did you find it difficult to combine them?
Eer yeah that was one of the main things about it really cos we wanted to get all the things we’re into to sound like one band on the album; One complete thing with quite a spectrum on it. Did you have to compromise? No, we wrote a lot when we were in there and like took it into different areas so it was all kinda exciting really.

What was your general reaction to the album?
We were really pleased with it. It felt like the first one, y’know learning as we went along, it was the first time in the studio for any period of time. Did it take long to record? It must have been a few months. But we’ve kinda been in and out of touring and the studio so it’s just kinda like, tweaking it. It wasn’t too bad.

When I was trying to describe to my dad what you sound like I said ‘well, kinda Clashy’. He laughed and said that everyone sounds ‘Kinda Clashy’. So how would you describe yourselves?
Kinda Clashy! I suppose it’s got quite a dub influence, kinda punk and reggae really. Just kinda grooves.

How do you keep the same energy onstage?
I don’t know. We’ve always just thought that if you get into it then other people will too so if you go out with the attitude that you wanna enjoy it then it’ll be better for everyone!

Do have days where you just can’t get into it?
We’ve had some weird gigs, especially when we were starting out. We played some that were just like one man a dog and a pile of puke in Hull! But that’s the way you should always start out.

NME question…How do you rate 2005 as a year for new music?
Yeah it’s been good. We’ve just kinda been busy all year but there seems to have been a lot of stuff coming out.

Has it been easy for you personally to get out into the industry?
You don’t really realise it ‘cos you’re always focused on what you’re doing you don’t really think much about the future and then it happens and you just got to enjoy it when it does. We’ve just been touring and touring and touring and then you come back and you’re bigger than you were before and we got to do loads of cool stuff like top of the pops and things like that. So yeah, it’s been a laugh.

What’s the difference between a Satsuma and a Tangerine?
One of them’s bigger isn’t it? Maybe one of them’s got more segments?

If you had to lose an arm or a leg what would it be?
Probably be a leg, cos I could just get a wheel instead.

Are the 60’s really dead?
Well. They don’t exist any more. Maybe they’re still alive in some form.

Your music tends to be quite angry. How do you keep that anger?
I think we’re always finding things to get angry about. What angered you last? I don’t know, I couldn’t say. I’m very nice really - after some thought - I was a bit angry this morning cos I had to take two suitcases out of a hotel and there was a million and one doors to get out of. By the time I got to the entrance I was pretty angry. Angry and upset!

Any hotel room trashing?
Eer not on this tour no. but er, yeah. Normally accidents happen, occasional like fixtures get pulled off the walls and stuff like that…it’s all part of the fun…

Best thing in your fridge?
At the moment; Ribena. It’s making a comeback.

What’s on your rider?
Socks, a mixture of spirits and beer, sandwich stuff.

Have you ever had the urge to kidnap anybody?
Not kidnap no.

How many times have you soiled yourself on this tour?
I haven’t soiled myself once. I don’t think I’ve soiled myself for quite a few years now. But we went for a curry last night and I think Keith our tour manager might have soiled himself this morning. He’s lovely, but he smells a bit.

Have you ever broken your toes?
No, I’ve never broken a bone in my body.

If you weren’t in a band what would you be doing?
I’d probably run a sandwich shop. That’s always been an ambition of mine. I do enjoy making sandwiches. I’d make up the flavours and just employ someone to do it. It’s what I’d like to do when the band’s finally over. It’d be called ‘Charlies Gaff’ – we’ll look out for that- It’ll probably start in Liverpool before it goes national. - Favourite sandwich? - I like BLT’s but I do quite like prawn cocktails.

Ham or bacon?
um, ham.

Tea or coffee?
Tea

How do you make the perfect cup of tea?
Well you got to use a pot for starters then you got to warm the pot before you do it and you put two tea bags in. Then you got to pour them equally so you start at one end, fill it up half way and then work your way back to get equal measures in all the cups. That’s the most important trick I think. Oh and add the milk first.

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