Emma – So I’m here talking to Lee. You’ve been compared a lot to The Enemy in
different things, and most people would see that as a good thing, would you
compare yourselves to them, or to any other artist in particular?
Lee – Um, I think when you’re in a band, obviously you’ve got influences and I don’
t think it’s right if you were to compare yourself to a band. Say like, we’ve all got
different influences, there’s five people in the band. I suppose the only one I kind
of agree with is maybe The Verve because we do get quite psychedelic and stuff
every now and then when we’re doing demos. Yeah like maybe we got compared
to The Enemy because they’ve got this raw rock about them, maybe that’s a good
thing.
Emma – So you’ve said you’re influenced by a lot of different people, what sort of
bands were you influenced by growing up?
Lee – Yeah, yeah, like Black Sabbath was a big one for me, um, Zepplin, U2 was
another big one for me. I grew up listening to The Eagles and U2 thanks to my
Dad. Unfortunately a little bit of disco but hopefully that doesn’t come out in the
music.
Emma – What sort of thing are you into at the minute then?
Lee – Music wise? I like new bands and stuff, like Detroit Social Club, I really like
those guys, Pulled Apart by Horses too. I really love screamo, I went to Download,
I really love screamo and heavy metal that kind of thing but I also like my country
like Ryan Adams and Will Cole and stuff too.
Emma – So a lot of different things then?
Lee – Yeah, basically if it can make you dance and it’s got a groove to it then it’s
good.
different things, and most people would see that as a good thing, would you
compare yourselves to them, or to any other artist in particular?
Lee – Um, I think when you’re in a band, obviously you’ve got influences and I don’
t think it’s right if you were to compare yourself to a band. Say like, we’ve all got
different influences, there’s five people in the band. I suppose the only one I kind
of agree with is maybe The Verve because we do get quite psychedelic and stuff
every now and then when we’re doing demos. Yeah like maybe we got compared
to The Enemy because they’ve got this raw rock about them, maybe that’s a good
thing.
Emma – So you’ve said you’re influenced by a lot of different people, what sort of
bands were you influenced by growing up?
Lee – Yeah, yeah, like Black Sabbath was a big one for me, um, Zepplin, U2 was
another big one for me. I grew up listening to The Eagles and U2 thanks to my
Dad. Unfortunately a little bit of disco but hopefully that doesn’t come out in the
music.
Emma – What sort of thing are you into at the minute then?
Lee – Music wise? I like new bands and stuff, like Detroit Social Club, I really like
those guys, Pulled Apart by Horses too. I really love screamo, I went to Download,
I really love screamo and heavy metal that kind of thing but I also like my country
like Ryan Adams and Will Cole and stuff too.
Emma – So a lot of different things then?
Lee – Yeah, basically if it can make you dance and it’s got a groove to it then it’s
good.
| Scorpio Review's newest Journalist Emma Fryer takes a seat backstage at the Bodega Social in Nottingham to interview with Lee - The guitarist of up-and-coming rock band Sound Of Guns, just 1 day after the band released their debut album: 'What Came From Fire' Interviewer: Emma Fryer Date Of Interview: July 29th 2010 |
Emma – Ah cool. So within the band, who’s the main lyricist?
Lee – Yeah, that’s Andy. Andy predominantly writes the tunes but if one of us had
an idea, you know we all just throw bits in so Si will come in with something, or I’ll
come in with something you know?
Emma – So it’s like a mix of everyone?
Lee – Yeah it’s a mix of everyone but Andy writes the lyrics mainly.
Emma – So you’re on tour at the minute, what’s sort of like you’re favourite part of
touring?
Lee – Favourite part of touring? Probably the – well obviously the being on stage
to hopefully more than 10 people, um, yeah that and probably all the free alcohol,
that’s good too!
Emma – Any bad parts? Maybe the after affects of the free alcohol?
Lee – Yeah probably the affects of the free alcohol and it’s nice when people
come up and get you to sign stuff for them, but drunk people are bad sometimes. I
actually had a fight outside this bar once,
Emma – Really? What happened?
Lee – Well a couple of guys came out of that bar there and thought oh yeah,
some guys with long hair and I ended up having to flip one of them upside-down
which was funny.
Lee – Yeah, that’s Andy. Andy predominantly writes the tunes but if one of us had
an idea, you know we all just throw bits in so Si will come in with something, or I’ll
come in with something you know?
Emma – So it’s like a mix of everyone?
Lee – Yeah it’s a mix of everyone but Andy writes the lyrics mainly.
Emma – So you’re on tour at the minute, what’s sort of like you’re favourite part of
touring?
Lee – Favourite part of touring? Probably the – well obviously the being on stage
to hopefully more than 10 people, um, yeah that and probably all the free alcohol,
that’s good too!
Emma – Any bad parts? Maybe the after affects of the free alcohol?
Lee – Yeah probably the affects of the free alcohol and it’s nice when people
come up and get you to sign stuff for them, but drunk people are bad sometimes. I
actually had a fight outside this bar once,
Emma – Really? What happened?
Lee – Well a couple of guys came out of that bar there and thought oh yeah,
some guys with long hair and I ended up having to flip one of them upside-down
which was funny.
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| Emma Fryer (Interviewer) & Lee (Guitar) |
Emma – Wow that’s cool. So, you’ve been on tour, do you have any random or funny stories that have
happened whilst you’re on tour?
Lee – We found one of the guys naked in the van covered in marshmallows once, that was quite funny.
Emma – Yeah that does sound weird!
Lee – We don’t know where he got the marshmallows from or why he had to get naked but yeah…
Emma – Well I found him (points at my camera man: Dan) at Download having been passed out for
several hours drawn all over, and he didn’t know where the pen came from…so weird things happen.
Lee – Was it a good artist that did it?
Emma – It really wasn’t, he had a giant cock drawn down his back.
Lee – Why is it always a cock? I mean why?
Emma – I know, random. So, You’ve played festivals, and you’ve played small venues, what’s you’re
preference? Festivals or a solo gig?
Lee – Um, sorry I’m being awkward here, I couldn’t give you a preference.
Emma – What’s different about them then?
Lee – Well as festivals you’ve got like a million people there who just love the music, whereas at like, gigs,
unless you’ve got, you know on one side of the spectrum there’s the people who are just there to see your
band, but also the ones who are there to see you, but are stood with their arms by their sides going
“Impress me”. So it’s sometimes like trying to win people over but I suppose there’s that in both. Festivals
are good because you get bigger stages and I get to throw my guitar around.
Emma – Well, I was gonna say, because you’ve done One Big Weekend, so what’s it like comparing that
to like the one in Cockermouth you’re doing in a couple of weeks, so that one’s gonna be quite small, what’
s it gonna be like compared to say Reading and Leeds?
Lee – Yeah, yeah, the boutique festivals are great because, we call them boutique, we decided to call
them that. Yeah they’re great because everyone there’s really into music and they’ll watch you. At the big
festivals, everyone’s that off their face that they might not notice the music.
happened whilst you’re on tour?
Lee – We found one of the guys naked in the van covered in marshmallows once, that was quite funny.
Emma – Yeah that does sound weird!
Lee – We don’t know where he got the marshmallows from or why he had to get naked but yeah…
Emma – Well I found him (points at my camera man: Dan) at Download having been passed out for
several hours drawn all over, and he didn’t know where the pen came from…so weird things happen.
Lee – Was it a good artist that did it?
Emma – It really wasn’t, he had a giant cock drawn down his back.
Lee – Why is it always a cock? I mean why?
Emma – I know, random. So, You’ve played festivals, and you’ve played small venues, what’s you’re
preference? Festivals or a solo gig?
Lee – Um, sorry I’m being awkward here, I couldn’t give you a preference.
Emma – What’s different about them then?
Lee – Well as festivals you’ve got like a million people there who just love the music, whereas at like, gigs,
unless you’ve got, you know on one side of the spectrum there’s the people who are just there to see your
band, but also the ones who are there to see you, but are stood with their arms by their sides going
“Impress me”. So it’s sometimes like trying to win people over but I suppose there’s that in both. Festivals
are good because you get bigger stages and I get to throw my guitar around.
Emma – Well, I was gonna say, because you’ve done One Big Weekend, so what’s it like comparing that
to like the one in Cockermouth you’re doing in a couple of weeks, so that one’s gonna be quite small, what’
s it gonna be like compared to say Reading and Leeds?
Lee – Yeah, yeah, the boutique festivals are great because, we call them boutique, we decided to call
them that. Yeah they’re great because everyone there’s really into music and they’ll watch you. At the big
festivals, everyone’s that off their face that they might not notice the music.
| The debut album from Sound Of Guns - BUY IT, LEE'S MOTHER LIKES IT! - |
Emma – Cool, so, you’re album was released yesterday, you have one minute to convince
people why they should buy it.
Lee – Because it’s the best debut album you’re ever gonna hear, because you’ve got four
guys from England and one guy from Australia who put their hearts and souls into a 40 odd
minute album which we love and hopefully you will too. My Mum likes it too so it’s gotta be
good!
Emma – If Mum’s like it, it must be good! So what does the future hold for Sound of Guns?
Lee – The future holds…many more gigs loads of…like we’ve already started the second
album now, so yeah many more gigs and festivals, like we’re on TV tomorrow night!
Emma – Really? What are you on?
Lee – Channel Five Live it’s on. Yeah we’re doing Reading and Leeds, obviously, so yeah
just loads of stuff, I don’t really know it all.(Laughs) I just turn up and play guitar!
Emma – Well that’s always good! Do you have any advice for people who are like starting
out, like where you were a couple of years ago, that kind of thing?
Lee – Yeah, don’t give up. I mean if you really want to do it just risk everything and do it
because you’ll always look back and wonder what would have happened if you did or didn’t
do this. Like I cashed my ticket in to go back to Australia to join this band and um I’m glad
that I did because I would have looked back and just gone what could have happened?
You know? Just don’t give up and um…save your money!
Emma – Well that’s great. It’s been very nice talking to you, thank you very much.
people why they should buy it.
Lee – Because it’s the best debut album you’re ever gonna hear, because you’ve got four
guys from England and one guy from Australia who put their hearts and souls into a 40 odd
minute album which we love and hopefully you will too. My Mum likes it too so it’s gotta be
good!
Emma – If Mum’s like it, it must be good! So what does the future hold for Sound of Guns?
Lee – The future holds…many more gigs loads of…like we’ve already started the second
album now, so yeah many more gigs and festivals, like we’re on TV tomorrow night!
Emma – Really? What are you on?
Lee – Channel Five Live it’s on. Yeah we’re doing Reading and Leeds, obviously, so yeah
just loads of stuff, I don’t really know it all.(Laughs) I just turn up and play guitar!
Emma – Well that’s always good! Do you have any advice for people who are like starting
out, like where you were a couple of years ago, that kind of thing?
Lee – Yeah, don’t give up. I mean if you really want to do it just risk everything and do it
because you’ll always look back and wonder what would have happened if you did or didn’t
do this. Like I cashed my ticket in to go back to Australia to join this band and um I’m glad
that I did because I would have looked back and just gone what could have happened?
You know? Just don’t give up and um…save your money!
Emma – Well that’s great. It’s been very nice talking to you, thank you very much.
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