by Stephen Plum
When Michael and tha Ink Resolution disbanded in early 1999, shockwaves were felt far beyond the confines of the tightly-knit Evans Heights scene which had nurtured them in their early days. Though still unknown by most, with their second album - the aptly titled 'Life's A Party, All Are Welcome' - Michael and that Ink Resolution (referred to as 'InkRes' by diehard fans) stood poised on the verge of becoming a household name. With sales approaching gold, major label interest, and the coveted support slot on Enuff Z'Nuff's European tour, it seemed nothing could stop InkRers' inevitable ascent to superstardom.
And then the unthinkable happened. In March of 1999, while writing material for the never to be released follow-up to their breakthrough smash, tentatively titled 'Enough Talking, Let the Music Do the Talking', tensions reached boiling point and founder, co-songwriter and lead guitarist Derryn Whaley left the band. Within two weeks Michael and that Ink Resolution were no more.
Despite constant and persistent rumours of a reformation, the band's former members remained quiet over the years that followed. Then in November of last year, following his comment to Gloostick that, "I'd love to play with those guys again... I definitely wouldn't rule anything out", lead singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist Michael Tomato joined former bassist Bill Horne and drummer Mean Machine (Bert Mammet to his mother) on stage with their band Rainbow Trout for a rendition of the InkRes favourite 'Support the Troops of our Hearts (In the War on Loneliness)'. Unsurprisingly, Michael was quick to ride the wave of commerical favour which had eluded his 2001 solo effort, 'Lonely in a Crowd', and on the 2nd of January a Michael and tha Ink Resolution reunion was officially announced. Even less surprising perhaps is the absence of amiable Englishman Derryn Whaley, who met with us in a cozy cafe near his castle in Cork, Ireland, to answer the following questions.
G: Well, let's get this out of the way. The qusetion the whole music world is asking
is - why not? Why aren't you interested in being a part of the Inkres reunion?
DW: Simply because, it's now. Now is, I mean. That's when it is. If I want to live in
the past, I'll look at an old photograph, or our fan video, 'One Hot Night: Live In
tokyo', which was in the music VHS charts for almost five weeks. But I live in
the now, and in the future I'll live in the now also, meaning then, and then the
past, even further in the future. You know what I mean?
G: Yes. Buta lot of people - and I'm just playing devil's advocate here - a lot of
people might say, "Who does he think he is? What's he got going that's so much
better than InkRes? He needs to remember where he came from", etc. What would you say to that?
DW: I'd say bugger off! (laughs) No, no, seriously though, I'd say that ?we can't live in
the past, the past is gone, we have to live in the now, and the future is now,
and... that's why I've moved on. The Ink Resolution was great for what it was,
we'll never be forgotten, and I love the fans for that, I really do, but I've got a
new band now and, no bull, on our worst day we rock harder than the Ink
Resolution ever did. We -
G: But some fans -
DW: Wait mate, let me finish. We're called Derryn Whaley and the Love Harpoon,
and, we've just finished a 4 track demo, let me tell you, it's a blast. A deadset
blast... right up your arse! (laughs uproariously)
G: That sounds great. So, when Michael called you about -
DW: Listen. Friend, amigo, compadre. That time in (continued next page)
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