Interviews

Despite Themselves, Headswim Created a Lost '90s Gem; Clovis Taylor Revisits a Changing Time.

27/11/2024

A band with a career of two distinct halves Headswim changed everything for their second release 'Despite Yourself'. Released in 1997, the album's melancholic outlook, loops, and electronic samples were perfect for the times, with the four-piece creating one of the most underrated albums of the era. Getting a reissue and its first ever vinyl release via Trapped Animal records in December2024, we caught up with bassist Clovis Taylor to learn of the heartbreak that informed its creation, and the mainstream success that followed. Moving on; Eamon O'Neill.

Scott Gorham Talks the End of Thin Lizzy & His Continuing Journey into Art.

22/11/2024

Celebrating his continuing success in the art world, Scott Gorham has just released a range of t-shirts featuring a brace of his striking designs. Joining us for the second time this year, the Thin Lizzy guitarist is finally settling into life creating in a newer medium; "I'm kind of getting used to it now", he tells us as we sit down for a chat over Zoom; "my confidence is up and running". Discussing 50 years of Thin Lizzy, who his favourite guitar partners were, who he'd like in a 2025 Lizzy, and the final days of Phil Lynott, we caught up with the Glendale Gunslinger. Bad reputation; Eamon O'Neill.

Jesse Hughes Reveals How U2 Helped Eagles of Death Metal to Take Flight once More.

28/10/2024

For a man that has suffered so much trauma, there's fewer with a sunnier disposition than Jesse Hughes. "We just got to do a rock and roll a show, and now we're talking about it; it doesn't get any better than that", he tells us as we sit down for a chat following the band's set at Aftershock, Sacramento. It's a long way from the terror incident that almost led the musician to quit for good; "for all intents and purposes, I had retired", he admits, candidly. Talking his return to music, and how U2 were instrumental in their resurrection, we caught up with Jesse and bandmate Jennie Vee. Peace, love, death metal; Eamon O'Neill.

Photo: Steve Thrasher.

Skillet's John Cooper Reveals How Religion and Rock n' Roll Have Always Gone Together.

25/10/2024

With new album 'Revolution' just around the corner, Skillet main man John Cooper has much to be excited about. Coming on the back of of an exceptionally busy 2024 which has seen the band tour Australia, Japan and other far flung places, as they prepare for their twelfth release, it's all about positivity. "It is very empowering, but empowering in a positive way", he tells us as we sit down for a chat at Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California. Talking all of the above, and how religious beliefs are nothing new in rock and roll, we joined the band leader. Alien youth; Eamon O'Neill.

Photo: Steve Thrasher.

Blues Man Walter Trout On His Resurrection, Determination & Why He Still Wants to Rock!

4/10/2024

Renowned guitarist Walter Trout has been playing the blues for five decades. Living hard and fast, the former Canned Heat man almost paid the ultimate price a decade ago, when complications from a much needed liver transplant left him brain damaged and unable to speak or walk, much less play. Making a miraculous recovery, he returned to the stage in 2015 and has been a mainstay ever since. "It was very emotional, and there was all kinds of weeping and hugging", he tells us on a Zoom call from his home in Denmark. Talking his resurrection, 2024 album 'Broken', and his love for Rory Gallagher, we caught with the bluesman. The outsider; Eamon O'Neill.

Photo: Leland Hayward.

Back at the Speed of Darkness, Jesper Binzer Traces D-A-D's History From Cowpunk to National Phenomenon.

4/10/2024

With album number thirteen, Danish rock royalty D-A-D are a band reborn once more. Featuring more of their signature "dirty rock and roll" sound 'Speed of Darkness' sees the four-piece sticking to what they know best. We sat down with front man Jesper Binzer to talk about the band's evolution from punk to glam rock to chart topping mainstream act in their home country, how they navigated Grunge, and hist favourite D-A-D moments. Monster philosophy; Eamon O'Neill.

The Almighty's Original Line-Up Reflect on the Career Highs & Lows, and the Road to their Reunion.

26/9/2024

The Almighty were one of rocks great hopefuls. Burning brightly from the end of the 1980s until the mid 1990s, the four-piece formed in Glasgow, Scotland released seven albums, scoring a number of top 40 singles along the way. With shifting line ups and changing trends, the band eventually called it a day, however they're back in their original incarnation, and after a series of sell-out gigs in 2023, have more planned for 2024 and 2025. We caught up with Ricky Warwick, Floyd London, Stump Monroe, and Andy 'Tantrum' McCafferty following a special acoustic performance at the Gibson Garage in London, for a chat about their career. All sussed out; Eamon O'Neill.

Photo: Press.

From Elvis to AC/DC via Jimmy Page; Chris Slade Takes Us Through His Timeline.

24/9/2024

Chris Slade, as will transpire, has nothing left to prove. Having played with some of the biggest names in music history, the drummer now spends his time with his own Timeline; a band he loves with the same passion as any of his others. Back with a new album, 'Timescape' has seen him become more involved in the song writing, as well as singing. "It was a revelation to me that that was coming, and it was coming fairly easily", he reveals as we sit down for a chat over Zoom. Talking the new material, his early days of being headhunted by Elvis, to working in the '80s with Paul Rodgers and Jimmy Page, to his stints with AC/DC, we joined Chris for a chat about his storied career. On the razor's edge; Eamon O'Neill.

Metal Queen Doro on Surviving the '80s, Working with KISS & her 40th Anniversary Plans.

10/9/2024

With almost four decades spent fronting both Warlock and her own solo band, Doro is the undisputed metal queen. Making waves in the '80s with the celebrated metal act, Ms Pesch was the fist woman onstage at the Monsters of Rock Festival in the U.K., a fact she still finds hard to believe even today. Taking to the stage at Stonedead Festival, we sat down with Doro for a chat about her current work, plans for the future, the messy court case that ended Warlock, and working with Gene Simmons. Burning the witches; Eamon O'Neill.

Photo: Adrian Hextall Mindhex Media.

Riverdog Rob Lamothe Talks His New Solo Album & Working with a Def Leppard Legend.

15/8/2024

Singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Rob Lamothe rose to fame as the lead vocalist for the Los Angeles rock band Riverdogs. His 1996 soul-stirring debut solo album, 'Gravity' introduced an introspective side to his song writing, exploring the human experience and blending folk, rock, blues, and Americana with deep, reflective lyrics. An award-winning artist, he has shared stages with everyone from Guns' n' Roses to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra & Ron Sexsmith. He continues to create soulful, raw and authentic new sounds for music connoisseurs. We caught up with Rob for a chat about collaborating, working closely with Vivian Campbell, and his current projects. Riverdog; Eamon O'Neill.