Interview with Chris @ 03-12-09

Q.The title of the new CD is Oaken Ground. How did you decide on that title

Chris. Oaken Ground is actually a road in the village. We thought it sounded
cool so that was it.

Q. What are your feelings on the album now that it’s finished?

Chris. Well it’s a moment in time that we’ve captured and I’m pleased to say that it’s come out pretty good.

Q. Oaken Ground was recorded at Arena Sound Studios in Rockwell Green England.
You’re obviously happy with the set up there?

Chris. Yes. Rockwell is the home of the Bunch and all our music comes out of Arena Studios. Hence the Rockwell Connection.

Q. You don’t live in the village?

Chris. No Big Ted does and HT and I are not far away.

Q. Washday in Rockwell is a track on the new CD. A definite nod to BOA on that one
with the washboard.

Chris. Yes it was fun to do and playing the washboard was quite interesting.

Q, Shades of BOA’s“When Electricity Came to Arkansas”.

Chris. Definitely.

Q.What are your favourite tracks on the new CD?

Chris. I like Rock’n’Roll Groupie and the track The Simple Truth. Groupie with the low Zappaesque voice at the beginning and then the build up and The Simple Truth acoustic and no drums. There’re both a bit different for us.

Q. You’ve done a cover of BOA’s Keep the Faith. Tell us about that.

Chris. We mentioned it before but BOA are a major influence and it’s nice to include one of their songs on the album.

Q. What do you think BOA fans make of your cover versions?

Chris. I expect they want to shoot us. Ha ha. No I expect some people like them , some probably hate them but at the end of the day we’re just fans and it’s great to play great songs written by a fantastic band like BOA. I hope people take it in the spirit it ‘s intended.

Q. What Bands do you like?

Chris. Well I like BOA obviously but I listen to stuff like Rose Tattoo , WASP, Sabbath, MC5, some old rock’n’roll Gene Vincent ,Johnny Kid. I quite like Zappa, you know Hot Rats is a favorite and I like Bitches Brew by Miles Davis. Great record and the Weather Report album Heavy Weather I play that a lot too.

Q.The Wild Bunch rehearsal films are up on the net now .Any thoughts on those?

Chris. They were fun to do and at the end of the day to film something that people can watch who may not get to see the band perform is cool.

Q.Would you do it again?

Chris. Yes. There’re plans to film and record a live gig next year in June I think. So that’s going to be fun and a challenge.

Q.Did you overdub any parts of the rehearsal film?

Chris. Yes some of the Ted’s backing vocals because of the mic bleed we had choice. Other than that it’s a hundred percent live.

Q. How did you go about the filming?

Chris. Well we filmed and recorded everything twice took the best take and matched it up to the best bits of film.

Q. Looking back?

Chris. Well it was a rehearsal and things could always be better. HT didn’t know his parts very well and there is the odd error but overall it’s honest and we had a good laugh doing it.

Q.From looking at the film you obviously quite heavily tattooed?

Chris. Hey this is about music not tattoos ha ha. Yes I’ve had tattoos since I was a teenager and back then tattoos were more of an underground thing and some of the stuff I had done was not too good but I’ve got used to it.

Q.Do you still get tattooed?

Chris. Occasionally I’ll have some more work done if I feel like it but it’s no big deal to me. It’s kinda too late to worry about it now.

Q.What advise would you give to people getting a tattoo?

Chris. First of all don’t ask my advise. If you’re not sure don’t do it cos tattoos aren’t fashion there’re permanent and you’ll have to live with it. Secondly no hands or neck stuff cos unless you lead a really alternative lifestyle you’ll regret it.

Q.Obviously the web site is getting more things on it. How do you decide what to put on?

Chris. Big Ted does most of it and we put in as much as we have time to do. It’s much slower than I like but it all takes time. As regards things like pictures I have band stuff on there as well as some pictures of solo shows as well.

Q.On your website there are quite a lot of tracks you can play or download.

Chris. Yes, covers mainly or early versions of things. I think it’s good for people to hear and maybe download something if they want too. It’s not just about money I do this cos I like to do it. Obviously it’s great when someone buys a CD or pays for a download but it does no harm to have a few free things available as well.

Q.Are people who come to your solo shows into the Wild Bunch?

Chris. To a certain extent yes. Playing clubs and bars keeps you out there, I’m proud of that we can’t all be playing the O2 ha ha.

Q.The Wild Bunch is still pretty obscure and low key. Are you still happy with that?

Chris. Yes absolutely, obscurity is the new rock’n’roll with all this modern technology people are just completely sacrificing their privacy. All these people wasting their lives looking at a screen-No it’s not my thing and if obscurityis the price I have to pay for being out of date that’s fine with me.

Q.What do you say to your critics?

Chris. Well some people really worry a whole bunch about what other people are doing moaning and whining you know. I can’t see it myself cos I sure as hell ain’t worrying myself about them.

Q.Has the website been good for the Wild Bunch?

Chris. Of coarse and that is one of the good things about it I suppose.

Q.How is Handsome Tony fitting in?

Chris.Good, I’ve known HT for years and we’ve played together in bands before.

Q.How did you meet him?

Chris. We met on a film set. Dr Who if I recall we were in a thing called Time and the Rani it was a long time ago.

Q.What’s comimg up?

Chris. Well there’s a radio interview in January and some of the Wild Bunch stuff will be played as well, so that’s cool. We’re hoping to put a transcript of the show on the website.

Q. Any new recordings?

Chris. Yes we’re recording three new tracks for an EP to coinside with the radio show.

Q.What are the titles?

Chris. Dealing With the Demon, a studio version of that, a song called Back in the Country. I wrote that sitting in a café inWorcester and a track called On the Side of Right.

Q.What about long term?

Chris. Definitely to keep it going. Obviously the filming and recording of the live gig will be cool and then hopefully we can get our BOA tribute CD out.

Q.To conclude.

Chris. Thanks to all who have shown an interest in the Wild Bunch UK.