Linda Ferreira
07/30/09, 11:25 PM
The following is a mini interview of generic questions that we posed to all bands that wanted to answer:
Atom Gang - (Rory Dunne) from London, England [myspace (http://www.myspace.com/atomgang)]
1. 1. How did you get your band name?
Our equal part dreamer/’ridiculist’ guitarist Justin Clark came up with it while in the van on the way home from a gig. It means nothing and is used because it ‘sounds cool’. To us anyway.
2. How did this band get started?
The band was started in the summer of 1999 by Ellis Slater (vocals/guitar) and Justin (guitar/backing vocals) who bonded throughout school through a mutual love of firstly Green Day and Nirvana, and later Rocket From The Crypt and Bracket. After a couple of months of jamming out Weezer covers and attempting to actually write something, Simon Lawrence (drums) was added to the lineup. Since then a string of bassists have been and gone and I (Rory Dunne) finally joined the group in late 2006.
3. What bands are you influenced by?
All the bands mentioned above are massive influences, along with bands such as The Living End, NoFX, Pixies, Oasis and Foo Fighters. The influence these bands have had on us is as much to do with how they have conducted themselves down the years as much as it is to do with their music. Except maybe Weezer.
4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
The Prodigy, they’d have to headline as no one can follow them. Nine Inch Nails, to learn from. And probably Backstreet Boys. Just to lighten things up after Prodigy and NIN. Might get a bit glum otherwise.
5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
If I was a-furry, I’d have a-shave
6. Why should people listen to your band?
We are a no-bullshit, catchy-as-fuck hit machine.
7. If you were chosen to be in Guitar Hero/Rock Band, what song would you want in the game? How hard do you think it would be to five-star on expert?
I’d pick ‘Culver Road Waltz’. It’s acoustic so it might throw the whole game out of whack and bring the whole network down worldwide for a couple of hours. No such thing as bad publicity…
8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
I would thank the three other guys in the band. We have done everything for ourselves; recorded, produced and mixed our album, toured, promoted, merch. This is between all of us holding down full time, 40 hour a week jobs. So I think we’d deserve ourselves a pat on the back.
9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
After reading AP.net user therookielot’s answer in the original thread ("destroy autotune dead") I would say destroy the gross misconception the music listening public has of autotune. It is an extremely useful tool. Overuse of it is horrible; however the same can be said of compression, one of the most basic production tools, or any other tool or program.
10. Memorable tour experience?
Many of the ‘classic’ moments happened before I was in the band, however I would say Simon standing in the middle of a main road in Manchester with his trousers down at 4am sticks out as memorable. Or not as it were.
11. What does AP.net mean to you?
AP.net: vital music news resource and a place to lurk. I seriously am the worst lurker.
12. What is your favorite song to play?
Of our own: Evil Morgan Le Fey; it has a very cool rhythm section groove. Ever: I like playing Burnout by Green Day, so much fun.
13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
In heaven, everything’s fine… but really I love the south of France.
14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Nevermind, Queen, Duran Duran, Human League, Black Sabbath. That was what my dad was playing in ’91-’92.
15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
I’d have the power to just be Larry David 24-7.
16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
No.
17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
I have terrible dreams in which I am married to Diana Ross and have a lovechild with Wolf from Gladiators.
18. What's your favorite holiday?
I like Christmas if only for the body weight in food consumed daily for a week or so.
19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to read, write and watch Onion News Network videos.
20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
My farts sound like the mating call of a white-naped mangabey monkey.
Atom Gang - (Rory Dunne) from London, England [myspace (http://www.myspace.com/atomgang)]
1. 1. How did you get your band name?
Our equal part dreamer/’ridiculist’ guitarist Justin Clark came up with it while in the van on the way home from a gig. It means nothing and is used because it ‘sounds cool’. To us anyway.
2. How did this band get started?
The band was started in the summer of 1999 by Ellis Slater (vocals/guitar) and Justin (guitar/backing vocals) who bonded throughout school through a mutual love of firstly Green Day and Nirvana, and later Rocket From The Crypt and Bracket. After a couple of months of jamming out Weezer covers and attempting to actually write something, Simon Lawrence (drums) was added to the lineup. Since then a string of bassists have been and gone and I (Rory Dunne) finally joined the group in late 2006.
3. What bands are you influenced by?
All the bands mentioned above are massive influences, along with bands such as The Living End, NoFX, Pixies, Oasis and Foo Fighters. The influence these bands have had on us is as much to do with how they have conducted themselves down the years as much as it is to do with their music. Except maybe Weezer.
4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
The Prodigy, they’d have to headline as no one can follow them. Nine Inch Nails, to learn from. And probably Backstreet Boys. Just to lighten things up after Prodigy and NIN. Might get a bit glum otherwise.
5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
If I was a-furry, I’d have a-shave
6. Why should people listen to your band?
We are a no-bullshit, catchy-as-fuck hit machine.
7. If you were chosen to be in Guitar Hero/Rock Band, what song would you want in the game? How hard do you think it would be to five-star on expert?
I’d pick ‘Culver Road Waltz’. It’s acoustic so it might throw the whole game out of whack and bring the whole network down worldwide for a couple of hours. No such thing as bad publicity…
8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
I would thank the three other guys in the band. We have done everything for ourselves; recorded, produced and mixed our album, toured, promoted, merch. This is between all of us holding down full time, 40 hour a week jobs. So I think we’d deserve ourselves a pat on the back.
9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
After reading AP.net user therookielot’s answer in the original thread ("destroy autotune dead") I would say destroy the gross misconception the music listening public has of autotune. It is an extremely useful tool. Overuse of it is horrible; however the same can be said of compression, one of the most basic production tools, or any other tool or program.
10. Memorable tour experience?
Many of the ‘classic’ moments happened before I was in the band, however I would say Simon standing in the middle of a main road in Manchester with his trousers down at 4am sticks out as memorable. Or not as it were.
11. What does AP.net mean to you?
AP.net: vital music news resource and a place to lurk. I seriously am the worst lurker.
12. What is your favorite song to play?
Of our own: Evil Morgan Le Fey; it has a very cool rhythm section groove. Ever: I like playing Burnout by Green Day, so much fun.
13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
In heaven, everything’s fine… but really I love the south of France.
14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Nevermind, Queen, Duran Duran, Human League, Black Sabbath. That was what my dad was playing in ’91-’92.
15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
I’d have the power to just be Larry David 24-7.
16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
No.
17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
I have terrible dreams in which I am married to Diana Ross and have a lovechild with Wolf from Gladiators.
18. What's your favorite holiday?
I like Christmas if only for the body weight in food consumed daily for a week or so.
19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to read, write and watch Onion News Network videos.
20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
My farts sound like the mating call of a white-naped mangabey monkey.