Runt
Ronnie McLean, the band's
drummer, was kind enough to answer our questions about Runt and their aims.
If you want to find out what this band is all about, then I'd advise you
to read the interview below, since I find myself unable to describe their
music properly and give you a clear hint of their musical identity...
1. HELLO! “THE ATTIC SESSIONS” IS YOUR FIRST
ALBUM AND IT HAS GOT A DURATION OF OVER ONE HOUR. MOST BANDS WOULD LEAVE
SOME OF THE SONGS OUT FOR THEIR SECOND WORK, SO WHAT MADE YOU RELEASE A
SUCH A LONG DURATION ALBUM?
Hi! It may seem long for a first release but
it’s a group of sessions recorded over a couple of years. A kind of recorded
history of Runt so far you could say, therefore a fair representation.
We continue to write so presently we have more than half an album’s worth
of songs ready to record and pleasingly, we feel the next phase should
be the expected step forward.
2. AREN’T YOU AFRAID THAT DUE TO THE ALBUM’S DURATION
YOU MIGHT HAVE REPEATED SOME IDEAS AND THUS YOU MIGHT TIRE THE LISTENERS?
Maybe, but that would be down to the individual.
We don’t feel there are any “fillers” on there. If people like the music
enough I think they will take the time to listen to it all and hopefully
feel it’s a good package.
3. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPLETE THE ALBUM?
WHERE HAVE YOU RECORDED IT AND WHO IS THE PRODUCER? WHICH IS THE BIGGEST
PROBLEM THAT YOU HAD BEEN CONFRONTED WITH WHILE YOU WERE RECORDING THIS
ALBUM?
Over the period of a couple of years, we recorded
with Dave Hill at his studio in Chester-Le street which is local for us.
The third session was recorded at a different studio, but was mixed with
Dave Hill also. No problems recording because we all have lots of experience,
however the third session probably took the longest just because it took
longer to get a good sound. All worked out fine in the end.
4. BEFORE RELEASING THIS NEW WORK OF YOURS, YOU
HAVE ALSO RELEASED A DEMO. DID YOU INCLUDE ANY OF THE SONGS FROM YOUR DEMO
ON YOUR DEBUT ALBUM? HAVE YOU RE-ARRANGED THE SONGS IN ANY WAY?
No, we just put out some of the earlier sessions
which have been properly mastered. Once we are happy with a song we don’t
tend to go back and change things.
5. I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT RUNT IS YOUR FIRST BAND!!!
CAN YOU SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOURSELVES AND TELL US IN WHICH BANDS YOU
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST? HAVE YOU RELEASED ANYTHING WITH THEM?
No we’ve all done lots in the past. Nick and
Gav were members of “The Almighty” just before Runt. Nick also recorded
and toured with “Whatever” and “Hellbastard”. Gav probably has been in
the most bands in the last few years including “Tigers Of Pan Tang” and
“Blitzkrieg”. My last band was a metal outfit “Reign” that recorded 3 albums
and toured Europe several times.
6. YOU HAVE DIVIDED YOUR ALBUM IN CHAPTERS… WHY
YOU DID THAT? HAS IT GOT TO DO WITH THE LYRICS OR WITH THE MUSIC?
The “chapters” to which you refer are the
different sessions. You can see the order the songs were written as it
reflects the periods of writing.
7. NOW LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LYRICS.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM? WHAT KIND OF THINGS INSPIRE YOU TO TALK ABOUT?
CAN WE SAY THAT RUNT IS A BAND THAT LIKES TO SING ABOUT POLITICAL/SOCIAL
PROBLEMS?
Nick writes all the lyrics. There is no theme.
Anybody can interpret the lyrics as they find them. If you want to believe
something you probably will, but there is no message or agenda that Runt
want to project. I think Nick just writes what he feels and of course others
may read them differently – that’s the case with all music, so subject
matter is often irrelevant although I think I know where he is coming from.
8. I HAVE DONE SO MANY INTERVIEWS WITH OTHER ROCK/METAL
BANDS THAT CLAIM THAT ARE NOT INTERESTED IN POLITICS. HOWEVER WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE HUMAN SOCIETY, THERE IS NO CHANCE THAT YOU
WON’T GET POLITICAL. DON’T YOU THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND
WHAT EXACTLY MEANS TO BE A POLITICAL PERSON NOWADAYS?
Yes, but I feel using lyrics in this type
of music is not the place for preaching opinion or trying to influence
people if all you want to do is make a statement. There are probably better
ways to do that. Also you are alienating a percentage of your potential
audience. I don’t know Nick and Gav’s political views. And you know what?
I don’t care. It’s not what this band is about.
9. WHEN I WAS REVIEWING YOUR ALBUM I REALLY HAD
A HARD TIME DESCRIBING YOUR MUSIC, CAUSE IT SIMPLY RANGES FROM ROCK ‘N’
ROLL TO NU-METAL. SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT? DO YOU AGREE THAT MUSICALLY
YOU ARE CLOSE WITH BANDS LIKE FAITH NO MORE AND RED HOT CHILLY PEPPERS?
I think it’s good that it’s not too easy to
describe. I can’t really describe it either. Faith No More and Red Hot
Chilli Peppers are two names I have never heard Runt compared to,
but I have no problem with that.
10. YOUR ALBUM ALSO INCLUDES A PROGRAM THAT YOU
CAN RUN ON YOUR PC, BUT DUE TO SOME PROBLEMS, I COULDN’T SEE IT. CAN YOU
GIVE ME SOME INFO ABOUT IT?
It’s the video for the song “Oversize”. I
believe you need “Windows Media” for that, but what would I know – I am
the drummer.
11. YOU HAVE SIGNED TO A NEW LABEL, FURY 76. SO,
WHICH WERE THE REASONS THAT LED YOU TOWARD THAT DECISION? WILL YOUR ALBUM
HAVE A GOOD DISTRIBUTION THROUGH THIS LABEL? IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BUY YOUR
ALBUM, WHERE HE/SHE CAN FIND IT?
Quite simply “Scruff” at Fury76 has been totally
into the band for a while. We have all known him for years and his energy
and enthusiasm for Runt” is endless. He wanted to be involved and we all
saw that as a positive move. Distribution is being sorted out.
12. THE COVER ARTWORK OF YOUR ALBUM IS VERY GOOD
AND REMINDED ME OF 70’S HORROR/MYSTERY MOVIES. WHO IS THE ARTIST THAT MADE
IT? DID YOU GIVE HIM/HER TO LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC IN ORDER TO MAKE THE COVER?
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE FINAL RESULT?
Yeah, it has a bit of a “Psycho” look and
the title “The Attic sessions” sits well with the house in the background
with the upstairs light on. Scruff came up with that, I believe. I think
all the artwork ties in with the overall vibe.
13. YOU HAD A TRAGIC INCIDENT QUITE RECENTLY IN
ENGLAND. I MEAN THE TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE BUSES AND THE UNDERGROUND.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? ARE THE PEOPLE THERE AFRAID? THE THING IS THAT
ALTHOUGH BLUR AND HIS GOVERNMENT HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INCIDENT,
PEOPLE IN BRITAIN SEEM TO SUPPORT HIM. HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
Yeah it was tragic! Absolutely. However, terrorist
attacks are nothing new in this country. It’s completely unacceptable,
but British people, generally, react remarkably well to these things. Maybe
that’s because it’s not a new thing here, like say, in America where I
think the shock hit them more in 9/11 because it was a concept they had
never experienced before. London has been victim of terrorist attacks all
my lifetime. However, it does not make it any less of a tragic incident.
It’s hard to answer questions on our government with people from other
countries, because I don’t know the picture you see of Britain.
14. WILL YOU DO ANY LIVE SHOWS? WILL YOU PLAY
ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF ENGLAND?
Yeah, hopefully. I know we would all like
to get out there and particularly play outside England. We have all done
this before with other bands and I think the live show is really the way
to get the full effect of this band. If the right opportunity is there,
then obviously we will be looking to do that. We are presently looking
into a trip to America next year, so it’s just a question of doing the
right thing and hopefully we will get it out there!
15. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! GOOD LUCK
WITH YOUR NEW ALBUM, WHICH I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT, IS VERY GOOD!!! NOW YOU
HAVE THE DIFFICULT TASK TO CLOSE THIS CHAT WE HAD IN ANY WAY YOU WANT…
No worries. Thanks and hopefully we will see
you somewhere down the line. Cheers!
Ronnie McLean
Nick “William_Kidd”
Parastatidis
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