1 - What is your favourite part about touring? My favourite part about touring is the
insanity of it all. We get to tool around the earth and meet interesting new people and
exchange ideas. Combine that with the fact that we don't have to get down on our knees and
beg to any boss, and we don't have to flip burgers at MacDonalds to get the rent money and
you're onto a winner. 2 - What is the worst part about touring?
There are a couple of negative aspects to this life
style. One is the fact that we never get enough time in any of the places we visit. Yes we
do travel the world but we might only see a cool city for a few hours and miss some of the
cool things to do and see there. The other bad thing is relationships. It's virtually
impossible to hold down a long term relationship when you only go home for one week every
six months. It's quite ironic, really. As we all get closer to a place in our lives where
we are mature enough to hold down a long term relationship... we don't have the time! 3 - What is your favourite city ?
There are so many amazing places around the
world that we've visited. I guess my favourite for living is New York because of the
plethora of things to see and do there. My favourite place to be just just for myself is a
little island off the coast of Puerto Rico calles 'Cluebra'. It's so peaceful there and
you don't see many other people. 4 - Recount a tour story
Take a look at the 'tour diary' page. Every day
is a story and it's all up there. Another story? We were on tour with a certain band( who
shall remain nameless) around Europe. One night we were all playing poker for money.
Everyone was drunk, except for myself and the money was flying. One of the guys from the
other band was dealing and I noticed that he was dealing from the bottom of the deck. The
fucker was cheating! No one noticed because they were all drunk. Here was are taking a
band on tour with us and letting them share our bus and they're ripping us off at cards!
Well I got pissed off. The next day with one of our crew as a point man I snuck into this
fucker's washbag while they were sound checking and found his tooth brush. Then I got one
of our crew to stick the tooth brush up his arse while I took Polaroid's. Then we put the
tooth brush back and carried on the rest of the tour as ususal. That idiot brushed his
teeth everyday for the next month with that brush. Don't fuck with Pitchshifter.
5 - What are some of the other bands/jobs that you've
done?
I've driven the indie band 'Bivouac' and
crewed for them. I've driven a delivery truck, designed LP covers, sold my own paintings,
shovelled gravel, sold insurance policies and lugged PA's. I've been shit at every other
job I've done except the painting and designing. 6 - What would you be doing if you weren't on tour?
I'd be trying to finish this book I've
been writing. I'm at about 50,000 words so far and I need to tie it up. I think I would
like to move into writing after the band is all over.
7 - Favourite book?
That's a very difficult question. There
are so many good books that it's so unfair to ask that! If you pushed me I would have to
say 'Women' or 'Post Office' by Charles Bukowski. His work is so refreshing in the sea of
pretentious bullshit out there.
8 - Favourite record?
Aaarrrggghhhh! another killer question. That's
impossible to truly answer. I think it would have to be something by the Dead Kennedys.
'Fresh fruit for rotting vegetables'. We met Jello Biafra the other day. He's just such an
amazing lyricist. 9 - Favourite film?
My favourite film that I can watch over again
is 'Cool Hand Luke' starring Paul Neuman. But there are a million films I love and you
should check out the 'Pitchshifter Recommended' page on the site to find out which.
10 - Give us your top 5 tour LPs:
1 - The Sex Pistols 'Never mind the bollocks'.
2 - NOFX 'Punk in drublic'.
3 - Everclear 'Sparkle and fade'
4 - The Jam 'Best of the Jam'
5 - Various (my own drum'n'bass compilation).
11 - Favourite Pitchshifter tune?
When we finished recording the LP I was
convinced that 'Disposable' was the best song because it was so different, but now I'm
rolling with 'W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G.' because it sums up best what we aimed to do with combining
the different styles.