Downstairs from the flat that me and Ray Zell used to live in in Camden.

Why do hot dog sausages come in tins of ten and hotdog baps in packets of 12?
Chris Picken

Haven't you ever heard of jam baps for dessert?

Are you as much of an arsehole as Paul Stanley?
Jason Knight

Maybe I caught Paul Stanley on a bad day, so yes I am probably as big an arsehole sometimes.

Were going to America, constantly saying how wonderful Cheap Trick are, and ripping off the verse of I Want You in your new song (Sonic Shake) all just weak excuses to get together with them? Has it worked so far?
Jason Knight

Well spotted on the Cheap Trick song... but without Roy Wood there would be no Cheap Trick as we know it, and without The Beatles no Roy Wood, etc, etc. So Cheap Trick are my generation's Beatles. And of course, any method of getting Cheap Trick on my album is a result. I've been extolling the virtues of 'Trick since about 1977, so I consider myself to be a seasoned fan.

I just really wanted to know about the writing / recording of p.h.u.q.. I know there were a lot of tracks missed out on the album (ie, it was meant to be a double CD), but it kind of feels like a massive symphonic work, as opposed to a collection of songs / singles. Did you especially want to have this feeling of the album being one long work that was intended to be listened to as a whole?
Rik Evans

p.h.u.q. was meant to be one big symphonic / electric onslaught, but the record company didn't like the idea that they couldn't pick singles off it (of course they could have, but they would have had to listen to the whole album!). So the only way to realise the dream was to make two albums.

After being turned on to them by your good self, I am now a big fan of the Lee Harvey Oswald Band. Have you heard anything about them recently? How much stuff have they actually released, and did you see 'em live?
David Heulun

The Lee Harvey Oswald Band made two albums (A Taste Of Prison and Blastronaut). One of the guys was the main man in the Didjits, who are very great. He has a new band at the moment called The Gaza Strippers, which are also very great indeed.

How different from The Wildhearts is your new stuff?
Alex Barrett

The main difference between The Wildhearts and my new stuff is that I've removed the angst. Instead of there being an 'us against them' vibe, it's more like 'us and them meeting up for a party'. I've realised that there is no difference between any of us, and as soon as we ignore any differences we can get down to the business of having fun, getting off on music and adopting ultimate party mode. Fuck the millennium, let's rock.

I just wondered whether there was any truth in a rumour that appeared in Kerrang! a few years ago about a backstage ruckus with 'swell-headed indie gits' (as it says in the article), Oasis.
Shteevan

I can't remember there ever being a ruck between us and Oasis. Maybe I forgot, but I'm sure I'd remember!

Where and when is the track If I Had Been You I... gonna be released? Are the tracks that you recorded for your solo album in England the same ones you've been working with now, or are they gonna see daylight as a separate release?
Nick

I think the track you mentioned is If I Were You I'd Kiss Me, and it will be on my new album. I've only recorded demos as yet, and will begin the recording in May / June. The longer it takes to start recording, the more new songs I write, so the new album is going to be a stormer.

One of my fave songs of the moment is Saddened. What inspired you to write and record this beautiful piece of music?
Chris Picken

I think you can probably guess what the inspiration for Saddened was! It's pretty self-explanatory.

Do you think you'll ever work with Ritchie Blackmore? I think the ensuing fight would be rather spectacular, don't you?
Chris Picken

I can't see myself ever doing anything with Ritchie Blackmore.

A big shot in the dark, this one. Can you tell me what drink Danny force-fed me and my mates when we were backstage at the Manchester gig on the last UK tour? I know it tasted vaguely of strawberries and it got me from standstill to shit-faced in ten minutes flat. I then had to go through the indignity of trying to hold a conversation with you, and telling Jef his hair made him look like a My Little Pony (well, it did)!
Chris Picken

The drink in question was probably a strawberry daquiri.

Most of the Wildhearts fans on the Internet will have heard of Snake, Pat and Joolz from the early days, but who are these three men shrouded in mystery and what are they up to now? Also, you were spotted at the Marilyn Manson concert in London last December. Are you a fan of his music, or did you go simply because of the sensationalism surrounding his stage show?
Paul Lever

Pat plays drums with The Hormones and is still the nicest guy in the world. Joolz is busy being a dad and has just completed his dream of recording a punk version of the Beatles album Abbey Road. And no one knows the whereabouts of Snake, but if you do find out gimme a bell... As far as the MM gig is concerned I was definitely not there because I like his music (was anyone?). I must have just got a free ticket from a mate.

Are you going to come over and play Nottingham? 'Cos if you are that would be so cool as I never got the chance to see you in The Wildhearts when you toured.
Vicki

I will most definitely be playing Nottingham Rock City. Are you kidding? It's still one of the best venues in the world and Andy Copping is the coolest madman ever. I don't know the exact date and I don't want to say anything about the rough outline as this confuses people, so I guess I'll be with you one day!

What do you reckon to Willie Dowling's new SugarPlumFairies stuff? Is he secretly a goth in disguise?! Mark Leatham

I haven't heard all of the stuff, but with Willie I sort of don't have to. I love his sense of melody in everything he does. I know it'll be in my CD player for a great while.

A silly question: are you in any way domestic? I mean, do you cook, or do DIY or gardening or anything? If so, what do you enjoy? A sensible question: there aren't many words to Saddened, so would you be very kind and tell me what they are? It's not the same when I can't sing along.
Pat Olver

I can do a little bit of DIY, but I'm no expert and I can't really cook. I'm sure I could learn, but I enjoy eating food by great cooks so much that I never get round to learning. As for Saddened... those words depress me, so I'd rather just pass on that one if you don't mind!

I read in a magazine which came out around about the time p.h.u.q. was first out that you were going to have a new Smileybones guitar made to replace the stolen one. Did you ever get a new one or did I not read it right?
Anon

No, I never did get it replaced. I figured that it was stolen for drug money, so the new one would have been a bad reminder. Anyway they're just pieces of wood.

I was wondering if you will ever come to Australia. You should come down here and tour with Devin. He always seems to be here.
David Woodley

I'd love to tour Australia. All I've ever heard from people is how much of a great time I'd have, and I hate missing out on things.

I saw that you've played with Paul Gilbert. What do you think of his two solo albums? (I think they're great!) I also saw you mention the Hoodoo Gurus in a previous answer. Are you a fan of them? If so, I can get you a copy of a superb three CD set of their farewell tour last year that they put out. It's fantastic.
David Woodley

I've only heard one Paul Gilbert album and it was full of pop so I loved it. Imagine if he did an album with just melodies and no guitar solos... that would be killer. And yes, I love the Hoodoo Gurus... so thanks for the CD!

So Ginge, how many times have you bumped into Axl Rose since relocating to LA? 
Blake Johnston

No one bumps into Axl Rose unless they are round his house. He apparently doesn't go out much. Maybe I'll bump into him on my album.

How come there were no songs from Endless, Nameless on the main CD of Tokyo Suits Me, even though the gig was after its release?
Cheryl

I think I answered this one a few times, but the reason is that Endless, Nameless was released by a different record company to all the other Wildhearts material, and therefore the legal clearance would have been a nightmare. For one song, I'm sure you agree this would have been a bit of an arse-ache.

Does it piss you off that certain songwriters (ie, Noel Gallagher) get so much critical acclaim and achieve so much by writing extremely basic, Beatles-rejected songs that all sound the same?
Dave Rock

No, not really. I wouldn't mind Noel's money, but getting rich quick usually guarantees you will dry up of songs, and the ones you do get together will be crap. I think being spoilt financially removes you from the real world and puts you into a new circle or bracket. And if you are previously from the real world you lose the drive to write about stuff that other people can relate to. I'd rather be remembered for being a writer of millions of great songs than for being rich.

Do you think you've written the definitive song of your career yet?
Dave Rock

Absolutely NOT! I'm always writing my best new song.

What do you reckon about Newcastle United's chances in the FA cup final?
Dave Rock

Guaranteed win.

Top of page
Back to index