Ask Ginger - November 2003

25th November 2003
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Ginger Q

When you reschedule your acoustic tour, how about adding a date that is a bit further north than Wolverhampton?
Mike Sachs

A

From what I can gather, the further North that our agent tries to book, the less keen the venues are to have me, as opposed to a full blown Wildhearts gig. Go figure!

Q

what was the first record you ever bought and why?
Simon Johnson

A

The first single I bought was either "Welcome Home" by Peters and Lee (still love those close Country harmonies in music, to this day), or David Bowies "Drive In Saturday", and it still gives me goosebumps when I hear it. The first album was Marc Bolan and T Rex "Ride A White Swan" that I got because it seemes the only thing I would like in my Mothers catalogue (I'm from the catalogue generation!). I hated it!

Q

Can you please tell me what Everlone is 'aboot'?
Lord Loki

A

It's 'aboot' people pretending to be miserable in order to seem 'deep', or fit into a current musical trend of cultivating mysery for profit, while some people have legitimate mental health problems, that they would gladly exchange for a normal, happy life.

Q

Has fatherhood changed you in any way at all, or do you still like to do all the things that you used to do when you were single?
Richard Symington

A

I still like to do everything I used to, only in much smaller measures. The main change is the things I do now that I would never have done before, like thinking of someone else (x2) before my own self. My kids have made me a more thoughtful and selfless person, and ensured that I allow far less shit to interfere with my life than I normally would have done. And I also want to stay alive for far longer than I used to!

Q

The tour with Amen might not have been perfectly-timed, but it must have felt good to be back playing halls that size again, no?
EvilRockPosh

A

It felt damn good! As did the reception that greeted Jon Poole. That made me very proud to be in the company of everyone that attended the shows.

Q

Can't help thinking that all this close contact with your fans is a bit of a bad idea?
Tom Wylie

A

Good point, Tom, but I always said I'd stay in contact with them and will promise to do that, unless it becomes too depressing! !

Q

Can't wait to see you tour (again!) so i can see if you can pull off Nexus Icon live!
Mike Pougher

A

Oh, we can! Just wait and see. It takes off like a fucking missile!

Q

Why no acoustic dates in Manchester?
Mike Pougher

A

Dunno, I just play where the agent books me to play.

Q

What happened to the Ginger who told Guitarist Magazine many moons ago that acoustics were for puffs and to get yourself a big sounding electric and turn it up to 10?
Mike Pougher

A

I don't use acoustic guiars at acoustic gigs! I use a Fender Strat!

Q

How many songs do you think you have written? And which to are you most proud of/ least proud of?
John Granneman

A

I have no dea how many I have written, but a lot more than I have recorded! I am always most proud of the ones that have yet to be recorded. I guess that's what keeps me writing them.

Q

i was just wondering what steps my band can take to get a record deal?
Ritch Illidge

A

Firstly, you might want to forget about signing to a major for the time being. Then write an awful lot of songs and find someone that is willing to record them for you, on the cheap. A four or 8 track desk will do. Then, when you can actually hear what you guys sound like, make adjustments and finetune your sound. Then make sure you play as many shitty little gigs as is humanly possible. The more the better. The shittier the better, just get out there and play. Dammit! And always remember not to be boring.

Q

Have you ever considered changing your name by deed poll actually to Ginger Wildheart?
Theo

A

Someone beat me to it... honestly!

Q

I dunno if you get as much response prasing you as the shit you get?
Phillip Edwards

A

I feel quite awkward when praised. I don't want praise and I don't want the band to be written off because of one album. I just want to be able to make the music that I hear in my head.

Q

Just wondered about what your thoughts were on Busted?
Elena Miles

A

I don't really listen to them so I don't mind them. I've often wondered why Kerrang! doesn't feature them as they look like a lot of bands in there, and they sound very similar to 'All American Rejects', who Kerrang! are currently championing.

Q

I'm a struggling guitar player and would love to learn some of your stuff. Most of it sounds pretty daunting to me at my level so I was wondering which of your songs you'd recommend to practice with first?
Steve Quinnell

A

Try 'Top Of The World'. It's only got three chords!

Q

I was just wondering what you were playing (and playing through) to achieve such a nasty bass sound on the new album?
Tom Larney

A

A BC Rich. The absolute kings of dirt. It's a really cheap one given to me by those kind folk at BC Rich, and it is usually used and endorsed by Random Jon Poole. We call it 'the beast', and I fucking love it! It was played through a Peavy and a Marshall amp, with a sans amp, used on pro tools , to get the crunch.

Q

Will there be a new Silver Ginger 5 CD this year?
Steven Blackmore

A

I really, really hope so. I'm dying to work with the guys again.

Q

Here in Argentina you have a lot of fans, are you planning to come here?
Santiago Leguiza

A

I would love to come to Argentina, but first we would have to sell some albums there or get a record company to finance the visit. Neither of which looks certain to happen at this moment. I hope this changes in the near future.

Q

How long have you known the Darkness.... howdy ya meet etc?
Ben

A

We met when they toured with us, a few years ago (back when they used to support!), and we got along great. Then we kept in touch and since then have become good mates.

Q

At the Motorhead gig you recently appeared at the Hammersmith Apollo, we bumped into a band called The GA GA's. They spoke very highly of you, is there a connection there?
Alex Petrovic

A

They're friends of ours, and Toshi, their bass player, stood in for Danny on one of our tours.

Q

I was just wondering, being a local boy n'all, what you thought of Raven and Venom?
Tom Dunican

A

Love them both! Raven were a fantastic live band, and "Don't need Your Money" is an all time classic. And what can you possibly say about Venom? Without them there wouldn't be half the Metal bands that I love, kicking around. They were/are one of the most influential Metal bands of all time.

Q

Do you actually consider the bands that submit their shit to you??
stephen young

A

Of course. I am, however, hard to please as nine times out of ten I would love to see the band in question, in a live setting, but wouldn't necessarily put them in front of our audience. I usually get sent bands that sound like the Wildhearts, which doesn't really impress me. The last thing that's gonna blow me away is someone TRYING to sound like something that WE CAN'T HELP help sounding like!

Q

I was listening to 'The Crow' soundtrack the other day and doesn't the Jesus and Mary Chain song 'Snakedriver' sound a lot like the fabulous 'Pissjoy'? Blatent rip-off or strange coincidence?
Luke Earl

A

Blatant co-incidence!

Q

Will you and Devin Townsend be doing any work in the near-future?
Adam Cropper

A

Not in the near future, but I hope to work with Devin again at some point.

Q

Just a question regarding the excellent idea to release an album of b-sides taken from the recent crop of singles.......is there any hope of doing the same for singles taken from Earth Vs and PHUQ?
Will Storey

A

I really hope so. There are a lot of legal shenanigins that we have to wade through first, but next year is looking good for that kind of action.

Q

So what's up? No New York City dates?
Kristen Spielkamp

A

That'll all change just as soon as we come back here in September. C'mon, I couldn't live without playing NY at least twice a year.

Q

Just wondering if you anticipate working with Tim Smith again, after his excellent work on the SG5 album?
Nexus Icon

A

Would LOVE LOVE LOVE to! I adore the guy.

Q

What is your favourite song of theirs (The Darkness)?
Stephen Morris

A

"Love Is Only A Feeling". I absolutely adore that track.

Q

In the song BANG, what comes after the lines "and then bang like a ??????
Danny Revell

A

"Like a missile nixing my plan, you fixed this son of a bitch. And goddamn, you made me a man, well goddamn, you made me a man"

Q

How many guitars have you got?
Denis Francis

A

I've got about 6, but most of them are fucked!

Q

I was just wondering if a 'good ol pro' like you could tell me what kinda set-up you use in a studio/live situation?
Barra

A

Man, we use whatever is available! Mesa Boogie, Marshall, Laney...whatever. We just turn them up really loud, and hit the guitars like they fucked our girlfriends.

Q

Which is your favorite Frank Zappa record?
Matt Tritico

A

Oh fuck, I'd have to say "You Are What You Is". Even tho' "Joe's Garage" or "Thingfish" should take the crown, I have a real soft spot for the track "Doreen", and a few others on that album.

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