MUEN: HOW DID YOU ALL COME TO KNOW EACHOTHER, AND WHAT WERE YOU ALL DOING BEFORE THIS BAND? WE NOTICED GROG DID SOME WORK WITH THE OSBOURNES AND OTHER ARTISTS AS WELL .... HOW DID YOU FIRST MEET THEM?
Grog: We�ve all known each other for a long time. I met Drew while I was at art college in London. He managed my first band for a while, and then I brought him in as guitarist for the next project I did called Feline. Al was playing in a band we saw on the scene at the time, and we had to have him. Drew embarked on a long courtship to woe him away from those alcoholics he was hanging around with. Between the three of us we have a wealth of experience to draw upon which gives the music a colourful language of it�s own. Drew grew up in Jamaica, and then moved here to discover bands like The Cure, catching them live at a very young age, and hanging out with Mick Ronson! Al was also drumming from an early age which saw him jamming with older acid inspired eccentrics and bundled off to Hawkwind gigs and all kinds of wild happenings, he went on to drum with many artists including ska acts such as �The Selecter� and he has a grammy for an album he recorded with Lee Scratch Perry. For my part I �found� my voice with my first band, and it made sense of my life. I�m always driven to make my own music, but friends and contacts have occasionally thrown opportunities my way to play bass and do backing vocals for people such as Melanie C, Kelly Osbourne (and piano in appearances with her dad), Dave Rowntree (from Blur). I don�t need to take up any offers now, ( I recently declined requests from Brian Ferry and Kylie) as DSF is busy and funding itself. It was playing for Melanie that paid for the first album, �Spawn of Dysfunction� to be recorded.
MUEN: WHERE WERE SOME OF YOUR FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCES WITH DIE SO FLUID?
Grog: We played on the top of a double decker bus at the Bulldog Bash! It�s a biker festival in the UK run by Hell�s Angels. They had to man-handle our amps up the stairs for us, but they were very charming about it.
MUEN: IT SEEMS YOU ARE EVERYWHERE IN THE PRESS... ROCKSOUND, ALTERNATIVE MAGAZINE, CLASSIC ROCK... YOU ARE LIKED BY SO MANY!! AND WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT YOU COMING TO THE U.S.! CAN YOU GIVE US ANY INCITE AS TO WHAT THIS TOUR IS GOING TO ENTAIL?
Drew: Well I�ll tell you, we don�t fuck around. We just plug in and rock. Maybe later tours we�ll put on a big production with shark tanks on stage and a massive wire-suspended Kung Fu sequence, but for now, come down, buy a beer and listen.
MUEN: HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT ADDING A SECOND GUITARIST, OR WILL THERE BE ANY MUSICIANS ADDED FOR THE TOUR AT ALL? MAYBE KEYS OR SYNTH?
Drew: What are you after a job or something? People who�ve seen us live generally don�t ask that. Being a raw three piece has a distinct appeal all of it�s own and it�s a fresh flavour when the majority of bands who play our style of music are so multi-layered. We tried out some second guitarists before we recorded �Spawn Of Dysfunction,� but we just were not comfortable inviting any strangers into our little world. We�re a bit Adams Family I�m Afraid.
MUEN: WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR YOUR DEBUT, "SPAWN OF DYSFUNCTION" TO REACH THE U.S. WHEN IT WAS FIRST RELEASED, DID YOU ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES WITH DISTRIBUTION?
Drew: No, there simply weren�t any grand plans for the first album other than to get it on the shelves of our local Woolworth�s. It has just sort of grown globally bit by bit. It�s weird how you can create something like a record, and then it just seems to have a life of it�s own. Mind you, four years to reach the U.S. - Lazy bastard!
MUEN: WHO DID THE ARTWORK FOR "NOT EVERYONE GETS A HAPPY ENDING," AND WHAT ABOUT "SPAWN OF DYSFUNCTION"... WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE COVER, CAN YOU TELL US?
Drew: Vania Zouravliov did both covers. He is a collosal pervert who never does any cleaning. I know this because me and Grog shared a house with him for years. The �Spawn Of Dysfunction� cover is a more literal interpretation of the title track with Grog giving birth alone in the middle of a street. The �Not Everyone Gets A Happy Ending� cover is inspired more by European mythology, which is featured in songs like �Vorvolaka� and the subject of the picture isn�t Grog, but represents the fighter side of her psyche as in the song, �Gang Of One.�
MUEN: GROG, WHEN DID YOU FIRST START USING THE PROMETHEA CHARACTER IN YOUR WRITINGS AND SUCH, AND SINCE THERE ARE CONFLICTING STORIES ON HER CHARACTER... WHO IS SHE TO YOU?
Grog: I am a fan of Alan Moore the graphic novelist, and the story of Promethea strikes a chord with me. My favourite superhero(ine) was Wonderwoman when I was little ( I used to jump off my dad�s ladder pretending to fly wearing a leotard and tall ladies boots I got from a jumble sale,) they have a striking resemblance! The idea in the novel is that anyone with the imagination and enthusiasm for the character can channel and become Promethea , thus keeping her alive. She is a powerful living idea who grew up in the realm where dreams and stories come from, with the ability to wander into the mortal world. The idea of assuming the identity of this mystic warrior inspires me and keeps me strong when the going gets tough! Drew composed the soundtrack to the feature documentary film �The Mindscape of Alan Moore� to which I contributed some spooky vocals. We were both lucky enough to have lunch with Alan where he treated us to his Ali G impersonations.
MUEN: �VORVOLAKA� IS AN AMAZING SONG! WHAT OR WHO IS �VORVOLAKA� AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE ABOUT IT?
Grog: I saw a Boris Karloff film called �Isle of the Dead� where a young girl is accused of being a vorvolaka. A vorvolaka is a type of harmful undead being like a vampire in Greek folklore. It was the idea of your actions being controlled by an outside force that interested me.
DIE SO FLUID - Upcoming U.S. Tour w/ MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE! NEW VIDEO! "Existential Baby"
MUEN: ANOTHER SONG I FOUND VERY INTERESTING IS "THROW YOU AWAY" WHICH ALSO APPEARS ON THE "NOT EVERYONE GETS A HAPPY ENDING" RECORD... CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INSIGHT ABOUT THIS SONG?
Grog: It�s a song about an artist�s struggle to maintain their innocence and optimism despite endless trials, obstacles, rejection and endeavours, only to be ripped off and used along the way, and how that can eventually sully their perception of what they originally loved about the world.
MUEN: DO SONGS USUALLY COME QUICKLY FOR YOU, OR DO YOU WORK ON THEM ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT LONG STRETCHES OF TIME?
Drew: We slowly collect ideas over a long time and then have a sudden burst of gluing them together - usually just before a recording session. Overall, we�re not the fastest it�s fair to say, but that�s generally Al�s fault. He�s the quality controller of the band, but he�s slightly schizo and forgets that he�s vetoed something and then asks why we�ve stopped developing it. So we start playing it again, and then he goes �that�s shit�. He�s a pleasure to be around - really!
MUEN: GROG, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING BASS, AND WAS IT YOUR FIRST INSTRUMENT? DO YOU PLAY OTHERS?
Grog: I�ve been playing bass for about 15 years. Piano was the first instrument I learnt, and also the clarinet.
MUEN: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D DO DIFFERENTLY, IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO DO IT OVER AGAIN?
Drew: That�s a really weird question to answer, because it�s so retrospective. I kind of think I�ve got more to look forward to than regret what I�ve done right now. I think what happens over the next year will really spell out whether I�ve taken the correct fork in the road. I�m relishing the journey regardless.
MUEN: AS A "DIY" BAND, WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVISE FOR TALENTED, SELLABLE BANDS WHO HAVE NO LABEL SUPPORT?
Drew: There�s never been a time where this ethic has been more pertinent than now. As a musician I can, in one afternoon, record and distribute a song worldwide - and all without leaving my house. The problem is, everyone else can do the same thing, so I think the challenge for new bands now, is to stick out from the other suckers and to be present in the world outside of the internet. My advice would be �make friends with MUEN (and perhaps a few hundred other notable publications and radio stations).
MUEN: HAHA! THANK YOU! WHAT TYPE OF THINGS ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN, THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE MUSIC? ALTHOUGH IT MAY INSPIRE IT STILL...
Grog: All the things I�m interested in feed my writing, these include the kitsch and the kooky, making and customising clothes, alternative fashion and style, inspirational film and books, photography, art, horror, going to gigs (oops that�s music), new ideas, talented people, the history of places and people, old buildings and architecture, travel, walking in woods, cemeteries, pirates, cats, tarot, gypsies and shoes.
MUEN: SO TELL US, HOW DID YOUR TRIP AND LIVE PERFORMANCE GO IN PORTUGAL THE OTHER NIGHT?
Grog: We owned it, hehe! It was our first trip to Portugal, and what a beautiful country. The people were very warm and friendly. Honestly I didn't know what to expect, but judging by the encore, the reception and the amount of autographs after the show - I guess we made an impact! We definitely want to go back for some more shows. I've always been drawn to the symbol of the Nando's chicken and now I know why.
MUEN: OK, YOU NOW HAVE 10 SHOWS COMING UP IN OCTOBER WITH MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE... WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
Grog: I absolutely cannot wait!! We were holding out for the right band to tour with for our first extended visit cos the U.S is very important to us. We feel we have a big audience there and we are preparing to work our asses off to find them all and welcome them into our dysfunctional family! When we found out we'd been offered main support to MSI we couldn't believe it, we just said 'yes this is the one'. We're into their music and ethos, I think we have something in common when it comes to our independent approach to business, and our determination to retain our individuality. And maybe our hair =D. We've signed contracts promising not to incite riots so Al might have to keep his shirt on and I'll have to be careful which catsuits I wear, hehe. Anyway, it's the most awesome way we could introduce ourselves to the US and we're excited as hell. Bring it on!
MUEN: DREW, WHAT TYPE OF GEAR DO YOU USE, TO GET YOUR AMBIENT SOUND?
Drew: I don't know what you mean by 'ambient'. My sound is ambivalent - it doesn't know if it's steve jones or john mcgeogh. I use all those line six pedals for flowery stuff but most of the time it's straight into the amp, no fuzz box - smoking guitar.
MUEN: HOW ABOUT YOU AL? I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE INSPIRED BY BONHAM... YOU SORT OF REMIND ME OF A DAVID GROHL A LITTLE AS WELL.. DID YOU LIKE NIRVANA AT ALL?
Al: Dave Grohl is a huge influence, Jimmy Chamberlaine, and Stuart Copeland. Nirvana gave a new take on punk and kicked back against traddy Guns n Roses type rock, it gave us an antidote.
MUEN: GROG, A WOMAN ON BASS GUITAR HAS ALWAYS INTERESTED ME... SEEMS LIKE THE STRINGS WOULD BE TOUGH TO TACKLE.. DO YOU ALWAYS USE A PIC?
Grog: Yeah, I pretty much always use a pic because I prefer the sound it makes. I don�t use the pointed end, I use the opposite corner, perverted I know..I don�t find it limitting, in fact the opposite, but I do have a signature sound and I hit those babies hard!
MUEN: THE LAST VIDEO YOU PUT OUT, "EXISTENTIAL BABY" WAS SPECTACULAR! WHO DID YOU WORK WITH TO PRODUCE THAT, AND ARE THERE ANY MORE COMING UP ON THE HORIZON?
Grog: Cheers! We worked with Paul Harries (reknowned UK Kerang! photographer), and professional movie cameraman Ray Moody, they made a great team and I loved the monochrome look they achieved. We went out to Arizona earlier this year to shoot a live dvd and also some desert footage for a video for the song �Test Confessional� . We�ve also just shot some extra footage here in a London crypt and we�ll be editting that soon. We plan to edit this one ourselves, as we did for the �Happy Hallowe�en� video. We enjoy having a strong hand in our videos because it conveys the character of the band and it�s more personal.
MUEN: WILL YOU BE PERFORMING ANY SONGS THAT DO NOT EXIST ON THE ALBUMS, WHILE YOU ARE ON TOUR?
Grog: We�ve decided to include at least one brand new track which we�ve written for the third album. But don�t worry we�ll be playing all the corkers, and we want you to learn the words!
MUEN: WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BAND "MY RUIN"?
Grog: We toured with them in January in the UK, it was big rock fun and we�re good friends. It�s always a pleasure to go on the road with bands we respect who are friendly and don�t have their heads wedged up their ass!
MUEN: WHAT IS THE MOST DREADED THING ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN GENERAL FOR YOU?
Al: Simon Cowell
MUEN: WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT IT?
Drew: Casey Kasem! Making good music is a reward in itself, sometimes you feel like you�re just the vessel this magic passes through! The connection with the fans is the ultimate reward, in the live scenario but also hearing when our music has helped people get through stuff. I�ve had a girl come up to me and thank me for helping her summon the strength to leave her abusive partner, she was listening to� Kiss The Floor� all through that period of time. It made me want to cry the way she described it.
MUEN: WHAT STYLE BASS DO YOU USE, AND WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC GEAR, AND WHY?
Grog: I play a G&L Tribute 4 string. I hope to get an American G& L one day, but I adore my guitar. We tune to D with a drop C for nearly all our songs so we get that real depth to our sound. We�re endorsed by Hughes and Kettner and I�ve played through their bass base 600 for several years now, it compliments the sound of my bass. Also through the years I�ve tried out and stomped to death a selection of pedals and I swear by my Sansamp now. I use it for distortion and it�s also a DI. Not only do you not loose any bass end, it�s the only metal box that can withstand the heavy impact of my stamping foot of doom-haha.
MUEN: WAS THERE EVER A TIME THAT "DIE SO FLUID" THOUGHT ABOUT BREAKING UP?
Grog: There was a year when we took time out because of serious illness, we had a run of extreme bad luck, I had an adverse reaction to alcohol and nearly died, Drew got M.E., our van was stolen with half my possessions inside it, from outside a police station, and then I took on a lot of session work to pay the bills , but through all this we never considered breaking up. If anything it strengthened our resolve, and the spirit of this went into our debut album.
MUEN: HEALTH FOOD OR JUNK FOOD?
Grog: Both. Why deprive yourself of anything!
MUEN: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DRINK OF CHOICE, WHETHER IT BE ALCOHOL OR A BEVERAGE... WHAT DRINK WOULD YOU ENDORSE?
Al: At last-the perfect question for me! The most accomplished drinker of the band. I like lager. and I�ll have scotch whiskey please!
MUEN: CAN YOU GIVE US A LYRIC LINE FROM A SONG OF YOURS THAT IS NOT ON RECORD YET?
Grog: �In his red courtyard corpses swing to the rhythm of the chaos that he brings�.� And if I hear that on the radio next week I�ll sue!!
MUEN: WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT TOURING THE U.S.? AND WHAT PART OF THE U.S. ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN VISITING WHETHER IT BE MUSIC RELATED OR NOT?
Grog: I�ve been to LA, NY and the East coast but never to any of the places on this tour, so I�m really excited. We�re particularly pleased to be kicking off in Vegas! I suppose as �Limeys� we have a glamorised concept of the US from the movies, so it�ll be a chance to see what each place is really like. But I�ll still be fantasising about Bonny and Clyde, Natural Born Killers, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Wild at Heart��
Al: I like the breakfasts. They�re all good, and I want �Moons over Mi- Hammy� at Denny�s.
Grog: We�ll be in Birmingham on Al�s birthday (hint hint�)
MUEN: WE HEAR YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER ARTISTS TO TOUR WITH IN TH U.S., AFTER THE MSI TOUR, HOW SHOULD THOSE PARTIES INTERESTED GO ABOUT CONTACTING FOR BOOKING?
Grog: Yes, we�re sticking around and we mean business! They should write to us on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/diesofluid
MUEN: ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
Grog: To any fans coming to the Birmingham show-please buy Al some new T shirts for his birthday, he has no clothes cos he takes them off after every gig and always leaves the sweaty trail of sopping carnage behind him =D!
