8th April 2003
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I just want to ask you if, after all that you have been through for
your
music, it is the sort of thing you would encourage your children
to do when
they are older?
Fay Carnell
Encourage? Defnitely not. This business can really fuck you up. I wouldn't encourage my children to be a part of such a back stabbing, dishonest tradition as the music business, but I wouldn't put them off it either, if it was what they wanted to pursue. At least I could warn them of the danger signs.
How do you write your songs? What advice can you give to a songwriter
wannabe?
Andy
I don't write them - they usually invite themselves around! Find your own style. It may take some time (it did for me), but it will be worth it as it'll never let you down.
How do you rate Ian Winwood as a journalist?
Michael Salmon
I think he's brilliant. The most frank, outspoken, fearless, intelligent and original writer in Rock today. And he likes Elvis Costello.
I've heard about the pyro that you guys have at your gigs. What do
you think of Rammstein's pyro?
Amy
I think Rammstein are fucking amazing! Best live band around at the moment. Pyro heaven!
Any chance of a fan club only type release, a la Fishing For Luckies?
Chris Soden
Yeah, probably. When we have enough time to record extra songs for it!
Me and my lil' brother are having an arguement about the song
Shame On Me. At the beginning there's a little slide and I think
it's on
guitar, but my brother thinks its on bass. So which one is it???
David Lloyd Jones
Your Brother wins, it's Danny's bass.
During the song "Bang" I hear a little piece of "Baba
O'Riley" (a Who song), but only for 3 seconds. Is it true? Is this
a
homage to the Who?
Giorgio Moroso
Yes, it was! Not really a specific song (although I'm sure it's quite similar!) just a "let's throw a bit of WHO in there" kind of thrill.
What do ya prefer - The Godfather or Goodfellas?
Lew
"Godfather" parts 1 and 2. Easily!
What do you love most about music?
Cookie
The fans when they fucking rock!!! They can do anything they want to do, and when they do it makes up for all the two-faced flakes in this business.
I heard you had
trouble releasing the single "Sick of Drugs" because of the free
grass - is
this true? If so, why?
Danny Revell
No, it's not true. We had free 'grass' but it was garden grass. We used it because the title's initials say SOD, and it was supposed to come out on April 1st.
Would you recommend having something that
is quite
large and dominant as your first tattoo or just test the water with
something else first?
Mark and Toria
It's all down to you, I'm afraid. Large tattoos tend to look better by and large. If you feel comfortable going from nothing to BLAMMM!!! then go for it! If you do go large, choose the artist wisely. I started out with quite a few small ones. Then I joined 'em all up to make a big one! Should have just got a bigger design as small tattoos just look like birth marks.
Have you ever written a novel/script/play or anything? Has the idea
ever appealed to you?
Phil
I wrote half of a Wildhearts book once. Didn't like the feel of the dirt under my nails so I'll leave the exposing of others to others, and maybe write an autobiography one day.
I was just wandering if u were at the Sum 41 gig in Cardiff coz
my m8 sed he saw u in the toilets?
Dave Willoughby
No, he most certainly did not! I'm probably too old to be allowed into a Sum 41 gig anyway!
Have you heard the new Strapping Young Lad album yet?
If so, whaddya think?
Vim Fuego
I think it is possibly better than City, which is impossible, I know. My brain is still trying to handle the truth of this statement. "Better than City?" Gibber gibber gibber... nurse.
I'd just like to say a big thank you.
The reason being that my 2 month old daughter has been having trouble
settling at night, that was until I sang the chorus of 'Beautiful
Thing You'
to her and she now goes to sleep straight away!
George Buzzard
Cheers, glad to be of service. Now will you write one that puts mine to sleep? Ta!
I know you said you don't use any effects, can I just ask what settings
your
amps and guitar are usually at? I also wondered if you stay with a particular
tuning or if you mess around with tunings?
Darren Davies
I avoid middle, and turn everything else up. Volume is usually the secret, you can turn your gain down more when it's really loud. I tune one below concert pitch. I don't like any tuning other than regular.
What Ween albums can you recommend?
Christopher Horn
"Chocolate and Cheese", without a doubt... a lot of my friends really like "12 Country Greats". "The Mollusk" is really good too. Fuck it, get 'em all!!!
After the recent Ramones tribute album, whose tribute album would
you
like to play on?
David Nicholas
I'd have loved to play on that one! We've been asked to play on the up n' coming Clash one, so that'll be very cool... I guess I'd love to be on any tribute album for Kiss, Cheap Trick, Jason and the Scorchers or Sparks.
What exactly is the problem with Radio 1 and your good self?
John Whiteford
They would like us more if we were a new, young band on our first album. Being around for a while doesn't go down too well in this business, I'm afraid.
Look at the success Lemmy is having with "White Line Fever" - it
is very
anecdotal, but the book only succeeds due to the hilarity of some
of it's
tales; it is written in a very matter of fact way, which I am sure
you
could better.
Roger Boyd
That book was done as a set of interviews, then transcribed by someone. I wouldn't be able to do a book like that. Although I enjoyed it a lot more than Bez's book (done the same way) it's still not my cup of tea - I like reading. Maybe one day I'll write an autobiography, but first I gotta do something to warrant the existence of such a thing!
What is your favourite venue in Scotland and why?
stu maxwell
Glasgow Barrowlands, because of that 'sprung' dancefloor that acts like a trampoline.
I was just wondering how much the band notice individuals in the
crowds at
gigs. I know people always come away from gigs saying, 'Ginger looked
at
me! I swear he did!' and I just wondered to what extent that's true.
Do
you come to recognise faces or do you just see too many?
Rebecca Rickerby
No, you do get to recognise faces... usually because of them being really pretty, or really ugly!
What do you think of Tenacious D, Queens of the Stone Age and Rammstein?
Ben Jammin' Greener
Tenacious D are funny as fuck and really good. "Fuck Her Gently" is great! Queens Of The Stone Age are amazing, especially live. They have a riff on their new album that is identical to one in our new single. Complete co-incidence as our ditty was written ages ago. Class. Rammstein are the best live band in the World. Truly awe inspiring. I seriously hope the rumours of a split are false.
'Do Anything' is one of my favourite tracks. I just
wanted to ask a question - what
is the instrument at the beginning before the drumbeat comes in?
Alison Ryan
That is my guitar being played and 'turned up' at the same time.
I have noticed that you tune down to E-flat for a
lot of songs. Is this to aid you hitting those high notes?
Taffyboy
It used to be, but now we can sing better we use it for extra heaviness.
On the last "Ask Ginger" you said you love driving... same here!
What car
have you got? Anything fancy?
Gary Herrington
A Mitsibushi Shogun. Shit hot!
Have you ever had any sort of music tuition (classical) when you
were
growing up, and do you come from a musical background?
Maria Bonner
I've had no musical training whatsoever, unless you include growing up in the '70's when the quality of the music paved the way for the future. I have no musical relatives either. I am the only person in my whole family that has the slightest ability to hold even the most flimsy of tunes!
Would you like to work with an orchestra in the future, like Metallica's
S&M?
Maria Bonner
I would like to write music for an orchestra, but having them play along to songs already written sounds a bit like a nightmare.
What's the video for Red Light - Green Light all about?
Sarah Wright
We wanted to make a cheap video, to piss the record company off... so we did it ourselves. It cost us a fiver.
Is 'Tom' from 'Tom Take The Money...' Big Mick?
Scott Hamilton
No, funnily enough it's written about a bloke called Tom.
Who's your favourite music journalist?
Michael Salmon
I would have to say Geoff Barton, the guy that invented ROCK!!!
The 'Just In Lust' b-sides contained extra vocals/guitars from Mark
Keds. I hear that 'Underkill' was recorded in that session. Is Keds on
that song as
well?
Scott Andrews
Yes he is, loud and proud! We did record the song at that session.
Do you have some way of keeping your vocal chords in shape? Cos
I've
just started singing on a regular basis and my throat is fucking
ragged to
fuck.
Ben
I hate to name drop (Keith Richards told me never to do that) but I met Robin Zander of Cheap Trick the other day who is my absolute favorite singer of all time, and I asked him a similar question. And he told me the same as I'm going to tell you.
It gets better!
Many years ago, a friend gave me a copy of Endless, Nameless when
the only
other thing I'd been exposed to was mainstream pop - it was a revelation.
Twisted, ugly and beautiful, it was the first album that made me
sit up and
take notice. Since then, music has become an important part of my
life,
and for that I can't thank you enough.
Andy
WOW!!! Someone actually likes it? We may have to print this letter.
Just read Ginger Says (11th March) and wondered if you have ever
considered
writing a book?
Raz
A book? I get enough shit writing an intro for a web site!
Why do the Wildhearts release exclusive tracks
on
vinyl?
H P
I like having 'collectors items', but I do plan on releasing the best of the 'B-sides' on albums in the future. You'll get to hear 'em if they're good!
Can I buy albums direct from you so you get more of the money?
Timmy Lessels
No, it unfortunately doesn't work like that. Get them all from Ian at ChangesOne and give him the money!
