This interview was conducted during November 2005 before the band had settled on the name The Keloid Hearts, they've changed a lot since their days as Phydeaux3, a name this 3 piece now really just want to put to rest. So it's out with the old & in with the new and with it comes their own unique brand of Blues inspired Heavy Rock, so read on to see what Bass/Vocalist Steve & Drummer Craig had to say about their new direction.
Hello, I hope alls well, so firstly can you give me a brief history of the band and a run down of your current members?
Steve: Craig 'Dixon Bainbridge, Man of Action' Nellis on drums, ironically while drumming with 'Pity The Small Thumbs' and serving an apprenticeship in the shipyard, Craig lost the end of his thumb in an accident while using cutting apparatus! He also did a stint with 'Magic Toy Shop' who really should have been called Jello Mountain and The Shadows! Mark Rooney, guitar lizard, Mark is a self taught guitarist but as a child was a shit hot Jazz drummer, now a fully grown man he is a shit hot guitarist but exceptionally crap at poker! Then there's myself, Steve Martin on Bass/Vocals, cursed with ginger hair, I'm totally self taught and sometimes I could actually pass off as being human, I've also drummed in a Scottish Pipe Band as well as playing bass in Doomflight along with Guitar & Bass in Dioxin.
And where do you draw your inspiration both musically & lyrically?
Steve: Lyrically, new material has evolved from a long list of non-fiction books, Greg Palast, Noam Chomsky, conspiracy stuff, David Icke, Lavey, different things & ideas from opposite poles as well as fiction from the likes of Mark Manning, Bill Drummond, Irvine Welsh. I go to the library often, so I've read a lot of shit, but it's better than TV! Some are food for thought & some entertainment. Music wise Zappa, The Doors, Cream, Black Sabbath, Early Danzig, Reef, Kyuss etc.
Craig: Quite a mixture of things, I've always been around music as I was brought up listening to everything from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin & anything involving Eric Clapton, but the band that really convinced me that this (being in a band) is what I wanted to do was Queen. Mainly 70's Queen. I'm into late 60's/early 70's stuff lately. That's the period some the best music happened as far as I'm concerned. As for inspirations for this band, I think we all bring in our own influences. We can have quite different tastes in music to each other, but there's a core group of bands that we all like. We're all working towards the same area of music, but coming from at it from three different directions, which we like. If I had to choose an influence on the music, I would say Cream and Mountain. Drumming wise, I've always been a fan of Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, John Bonham, Roger Taylor and even Ringo, God bless him!
You were previously known as Phydeaux3, why the name change?
Steve: We've not settled on a new name at present, (true at the time of writing, but are now known as The Keloid Hearts) but I've a sack full of crazy little reasons for the change, or more specifically dropping the old name. Mainly because I feel we've settled into each other musically. Phydeaux3 was erratic, you know me and Craig had already recorded 'The Lizard King' with our previous guitarist, I've still got the recording along with initial stuff we tried with Matthew Bower (Skullflower, Total, Sunroof! etc etc) and later sessions with a third guitarist, all of which were highly disappointing in the sense that they lost me personally time & money for very little return during & after!
Under the name of Phydeaux3 you released a demo ‘The Lizard King’, will you continue to play songs off this recording?
Steve: Well myself & Craig started this up as Phydeaux3 and had gone through 3 guitarist before finding Mark. During that time I wrote 'The Lizard King', so when Mark joined us, he hadn't had much input other than his guitar leads. The three of us were gigging about a week after Mark came into the fold. It's only been during the last year that the three of us have really gelled and can head into a suitable direction with each of us feeding from one another's input effectively.
Craig: I'm sure we'll always play the odd song off 'The Lizard King', it's always good to re-visit old stuff from time to time.
What about new material? How’s the song writing going at the moment and are there any plans to enter the studio in the near future to lay down a few tracks?
Steve: I've got a book full of lyrics to try ideas with, when we start gigging again, mostly we'll be playing songs yet to get an airing and there's a handful of things we're tinkering with, hopefully we'll be in the studio early next year, although no idea where yet, but it'll more than likely be out of Cumbria.
Craig: The new songs are sounding really good. Quite a good groove going on in some of them. I think a lot of the sound has to do with Mark's input. The majority of the songs on 'The Lizard King' were written before he joined the band, so that already gives the new stuff a different feel. Plus Mark's writing a lot of things now, which is giving us a bit of a different sound. I suppose we're moving closer to the Heavy Rock/Blues thing that we always talked about.
At the moment, your currently a 3 piece, would you ever consider adding a second guitarist or are you more than happy with the current line up?
Steve: No second guitarist, ones more than enough! I would consider a keyboard player, although not through actively advertising or asking for one, just if chance came along, like finding a £20 note on the street, you could happen to have a chance meeting with keyboardist in a pub sorta thing.
Craig: I quite like being a trio and I don't think we really need an second guitarist, but never say never....
Your based in the wastelands of the north west, do you find this a problem getting your music heard further a field?
Steve: No, not really any trouble, although travelling anywhere can be costly, in the new year we'll be playing further away from home than in the past, which in it's self is a consequence of The Lizard Kings travels!
Craig: Thems the breaks when you live at the end of the road like we do. This new fancy internet thingy will probably make things a bit easier.
How do you find your local area for gigs and what is the support like generally?
Steve: We've no problem booking gigs in the local area as the music scene, although very insular, has always been very busy. There is a lot of diversity too, always been good bands to go & listen to. As for our gigs, there generally well supported, although I can think of 3 which weren't, 2 of which were at the same venue so I would put that down to people not wanting to be in the place as the beer is always poor in quality & choice, I wouldn't go again even if it was my mothers wake!
Speaking of gigs, you’ll be playing the Barry Burns memorial in a couple of weeks for the first time under your new incarnation, firstly are you looking forward to this as you’ve not played live for a few months and will you be airing any new material?
Steve: Yeah November 19th for Barry!! The last year seems to have flown past, I think of Barry almost daily and miss him a lot! It will be good to tribute you man with music being aired for the first time among many old friends, a lot of whom would have played music in the past with Barry!
Craig: I'm looking forward to the gig, it's been a long while since we played. It's gonna be a short set but most of it will be new material. It's always good showcasing new songs, especially on such a special night and if people actually like 'em!
Last Words/Final Thoughts?
Steve: Who exactly are shitting video's catering For? We will have a name before this is posted on your site and thanks Lee for the interview! (Woohoo, you have, it's now The Keloid Hearts!)
Craig: Live long and prosper y'all. Cheers!
And check out the latest goings on with The Keloid Hearts at: www.myspace.com/keloidhearts
Interview conducted by Lee during November 2005