1. HEY GLEN, YOU ARE IN THE BED RIGHT?
So they tell me, but I won�t believe it �till I see it on the telly
2. HOW DID YOU AND THE OTHER BAND MEMBERS FIRST GET INTO THE BED?
In late �99 me and Chris played this small gig in a London Caf� with a Sony Playstation on the drums. I had it programmed with all these weird gothy sounds and it took like 20 seconds to load each song up from the memory card � which kind of meant we had to fill the gaps with talking shit. We must have been like a cross between a comedy duo and a doomsday goth-indie experiment. That�s when the song �Breasts Are Control Pads� was most resonant �cos it all linked in thematically with the games console operation and effects.
Omar the drummer just happened to be in the audience, and two weeks later he was shopping in Smiths in Ruislip where I was working at the time, and somehow 3 days later we played as a 3-piece. I think he stole some pens too.
3. YOU ARE LONDON BASED. IS THAT A CURSE OR A BLESSING WHEN YOU�RE TRYING AS YOU ARE TO GET NOTICED AND SIGNED?
It�s kind of pretty shit in London for a band like us � It�s just too big and there are so many bands and so many terrible songwriters that most people don�t ever want to take the chance of going to see an unheard of band anymore. Even if word gets around it�s soon swallowed up amongst all the dross. Word has threatened to get out about us, and even managed a smart break for it, but then things die down waiting for another fresh injection which we�re unable to administer to such a large population all at once. Even a large number can be spread so thin. The people know about us, they�re just waiting for the next move �cos they�re lazy �
Recently, however, we�ve been (kindof) accepted (but kept at a distance) into a few local scenes just outside London which seem to be much more conductive to aspiring bands. It seems to me that the majority of people go to venues in London when they want to see their favourite major label bands play, and when they wanna see new or unsigned bands (If ever they do) they avoid London prices and travel problems and keep to the local pub / venues, get pissed and walk home. I mean how many people live in London? Is it over 10million? And then you look at the size of one of London�s premiere venues for unsigned bands (And many signed artists), Barfly, which can hold something like 150 people at a push. I may be wrong here, but I�d estimate that a band in London who could pull 200 people each time they played would be one of the biggest bands in London. Is 200 people that many, in a city of 10million? I don�t think so, but in London that�s almost impossible. At some of our recent local gigs we�ve had 500+ audiences, and though it�s taken us years to figure out, I think it�s best to start outside and work inwards.
We�ve had interest from some small labels, but most of them who want to release us want us to bear almost all of the financial responsibilities which makes me wonder what on earth we get out of the deal. Many bands just want to get signed so they can tell all their friends and have a party about it, but I�d rather put a single out independently than give someone a load of money for not having enough faith in our music to take a risk.
4. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC, AND WHY ARE YOU COMPELLED TO PRODUCE THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT YOU DO?
It�s that weird blend of thoughtful, tuneful but angry dynamic indie distortion-pop with a strong punk ethic that�s had people confused for ages. I guess grunge or emo � but what music isn�t emotional in some way or other? I mean what the hell are The Pixies? Pop or Punk? The two can be very similar when it�s done well, and I guess there�s so much confusion only because it�s only ever rarely done well at all. Pop punk can be eliminated as a genre because it doesn�t make any sense anymore � but that�s just a problem of associations with shit music. I love pop-style songs played with passion + integrity + energy. Good Pop. Punk as in Joy Division were Punk, Pop as in Nirvana were Pop. I don�t know � It�s raw and it�s powerful and it�s good enough to appeal to many people in many ways � That�s what I�m trying to say with the word Pop � Good enough to appeal to many people � not like the shit that generally gets associated with Pop - the music that�s so basic that it appeals to the lowest common denominator. Long live Good Pop! When Pop is done well it�s all about the music. I know this is gonna piss a lot of people off, but the alternative scene is more based around image than the Good Pop scene that I�ve just invented. There is a certain amount of maturity required to appreciate Pop one layer up the spiral. I often have people approach me after shows, conscious of their towny image, wanting to tell me how much they enjoyed the gig but worried that I�m gonna think they�re thick �cos they�re wearing a Ben Sherman shirt or something. These kind of people are the brave ones who�s ears are open to new kinds of music � the individuals - how brave do you have to be to go to a wearing what you feel comfortable in, in a place full of kids competing to stand out? This means more to me than some kid who�s heard nothing but distortion in the music to vent his frustrations on in the mosh pit wearing a Limp Bizkit top. Most people in bands are so fucking �cool� in such a bland shit way and they see�st it not! Ye they feel comfortable wearing all that shit �cos it helps them hide away their boring shit music behind a generic screen that needs no more accepting in a scene that�s a direct money making tool for the people they claim to oppose. It�s not pure anymore � and I don�t know if it ever was. Just �cos Nirvana were so huge, it doesn�t mean that everyone who bought the albums has a clue what it�s actually about � I�m not sure I get all of it � but it�s so good that it goes beyond the intention of the artists because it contains within it that freedom � it gives anyone the permission to enjoy it in whichever way they choose, not only by the ambiguous nature of the music and lyrics, but also because it�s just so good. I�m not saying we�re much like Nirvana, I�m just trying to cite examples of good popular music. Not that we�re that popular either. Having said all that, I don�t know. I write stuff that makes me confused and then we try to make sense of it as a band.
5. DO YOU EVER GET OUT ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED?
I�ve never left TheBed yet but I fear that, whichever way I choose to get out, it�s gonna be a long way down. Sometimes Chris has to play on the left and that can ruin my day. Is this a trick question?
6. WAS THE LAST QUESTION A TRICK QUESTION?
No but this one is
7. HOW DO THE CROWDS REACT TO YOUR GIGS IN AND AROUND LONDON, AND WHAT�S THIS ABOUT A TOUR IN JULY �03?
When we play to a bunch of strangers I generally get the impression that about 50% of them think we�re a pile of shit � either because they think I can�t sing, or they�re very young + disappointed that we don�t sound more like their favourite band. If you wanna see your favourite band, go and see your favourite fucking band, if you want to hear new music go and see a band you�ve never seen before and chances are they�ll probably sound like a poor imitation of your favourite band, but there will be a chance you�ll find something that sounds fresh and new and exciting. Shit I gotta try to be less judgemental, fuck, you�re gonna think I got such a chip on my shoulder about current music! Well I have, so have it! Where was I � ah, yes, of the remaining 50% I imagine 40% find us interesting but don�t really get it, which is cool, 5% love the music and get a lot out of it, and then there�s always a handful of people who wanna know when an album is coming out and can�t believe we�re not bigger than InMe. One good side of this is that we make at least 1 hardcore fan each time we play, which is better than making 100 people think you�re alright for easy listening. One day we�ll have a venue packed full of those 1 in 100 TheBed appreciators and that�s when I�ll know we�ve become a successful band.
Tour in July? Yes, it�s still being sorted, but these are the confirmed ones at the moment -
Fri 11th Barfly at the Monarch
Wed 16th The Old Volunteer, Nottingham
Thu 17th Sheffield Casbah
Sun 20th Manchester, Night & Day
Mon 21st The Magnet, Liverpool
Tue 22nd July TJ�s, Wales
Thu 24th Villa, Bournemouth
Fri 25th Southampton Joiners (Without IRN)
Sun 27th Portsmouth University
Fri 1st August Ruislip Golf Club
Hey Mr. Juxta � Are you gonna sort something round your way for us at this time?!
All dates are with I Remember Nothing unless otherwise stated. There are gonna be plenty more dates, and even these are subject to change, so make a note in your diary to check the website nearer the time!
8. HOW CAN PEOPLE GET A HOLD OF YOUR MUSIC?
The best thing to do is to go to our website at www.thebed.co.uk and find someone on the message board to copy it for you. Anyone can copy the demo�s �till they�re blue in the face, but when the single comes out we�re gonna have to sell every one to get anywhere near our money back�
9. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN YOUR OFFENSE?
22, 44, 38 Hut Hut Hut
THANKS VERY MUCH GLEN.
Thank You!