Spit Like This
Interview
Friday 12th of December 2008
By Talena
Spit like this are a band willing to push boundaries of decency, expectation and good taste, to perfect their brand of goth-rock infused glam metal. We got a few words from the guys before they set off to take to the stage with the likes of Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy for December's Hard Rock Hell.
Are you all geared up for Hard Rock Hell in a couple of weeks?
Absolutely! Last year, we were lucky enough to be the only unsigned band on a main stage. No-one was quite sure of what to expect (from us, and us from HRH) but I think we were both pleasantly surprised! We totally held our own amongst the rock "veterans" (the stage was eventually headlined by Twisted Sister) and the feedback we since received was immense. This year, things are slightly different. For a start, we are the only band that has been asked to return - an honour we very gratefully accepted. Secondly, we are now a signed band, so expectations for us are higher. Thirdly, everyone knows what an AMAZING event the whole Hard Rock Hell festival is now, so this will cause all us bands to raise our game a bit. We are pumped and excited about our set and ready to kick of proceedings on Saturday with a truly killer performance!
Your live show has been described as the "most outrageous, debauched and talked about event on the circuit". What on-stage antics have earnt you that impressive title?
Well, it would be a shame if we told all - we always like to surprise. What has earned us those accolades though have been blistering live shows, up and down this country, in every kind of venue imaginable. Whether it is a tiny pub in the middle of nowhere or a large festival stage, our mission is simple: we have to annihilate. There is a shock and awe thing that happens when SLT play. It is a funny thing to watch, sitting through some dull, shitty bands the locals expect more of the same then we hit the stage and all hell breaks loose! We have some mad, crazy fans that match our mad, crazy live show. My advice to anyone would be to come and see us, raise your expectations, expect better, receive way better, don't stand too close, get involved, don't complain, if it all gets messy go home with a big smile on your face!
After the huge success of your debut album, are you planning to follow it up with bigger and better things any time soon?
Well, the album has only been out a week (as I type), so I think we will ride this wave for a bit longer! The success has taken everyone by surprise though. We hit number 7 on the HMV.com Pre-Order Chart (out of 480 odd) and, when the album came out, it went to number 29 (out of 450 odd) in the New Release section. That is competing against some major players. HMV were totally not expecting what happened and, despite our pre-orders meaning that they put in a decent order with the distributors (Cargo), they sold out on Day 1! Here we are, a week later, and they have just put in their 3rd order. It also seems to be selling out in the shops on the High Street and it's selling well on Play, Amazon etc. Our immediate plans are simple: keep pushing the album and try to sell as many as possible. We have some private goals, sales-wise, and we are looking to beat some named bands. Well, we already have, in fact, but the goalposts keep moving!
Do you have a favourite track from 'We wont hurt you (but we wont go away)'?
Yes. I think my favourite track is 'Pussywhipped'. It was a long time coming, that song. I mean a really long time. I first wrote the main hooks ten years ago but the chorus eluded me. Every now and then I would try and finish it but it never happened. When we were looking at tracks to put on the album, I showed everyone 'Pussywhipped' and they loved what it was so it was time to have one last attempt to write the chorus. I sat down with Cyndi and, after a bit of doodling, he came up with the guitar lick that the chorus was built around. A bit of arrangement tinkering and some seriously hard work in the studio later, we have a song that makes me all goose-bumpy whenever I hear it. It is undeniable.
When you're not touring or recording what do you get up to?
My whole life revolves around SLT, whether we are touring, recording or none of the above. There is so much more to being in a band than that fun stuff. At the moment, we are doing tons of promo for the album - radio, interviews etc. I love all that though - it is still new enough to me for it to be a novelty and I am never happier than when I am letting new people know about this band I love. Beyond that, there are day to day bits and pieces that we are dealing with at the moment (mainly to do with overseas stuff) and that is keeping me busy. Of course, me and Vikki are still running www.smellyourmum.com (the offensive T-shirt line we started way back to feed us and fund our part in SLT) so any time spent away from SLT is spent doing that. It is a really busy time for the T-shirt stuff (Xmas) so there is no such thing as spare time or relaxing but, you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm a total workaholic and everything I do is based around this band and it's global expansion!
How are Spit Like This planning to spend their Christmas?
Bored! OK, I am not going to be all Bah Humbug and pretend I hate Xmas but, once Xmas Day and Boxing Day is over, once the pressies have been opened, I am itching to get back to work. But everyone zones out over Xmas, everyone takes time off. I don't do time off, I don't do holidays so I sit there, going mental, waiting for everyone to get on with their lives so we can start attacking again!
What do you guys have planned for 2009?
2009 is going to be all about SLT abroad. We have several offers in from several different territories and, if you want a bit of a scoop, I will announce here for the first time that it looks very likely that our album will be out in Germany early March, followed by France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal later that month. We also have offers / are hammering out deals for Japan, USA, Benelux, Australia, South America and a couple of others I forget. Each album territory will need us to do some shows to help promo, so we are looking forward to doing that. I will also be kicking our manager's / label's combined arses if we aren't playing most of the Euro festivals in 2009. Of course, this won't be at the expense of our beloved home country, the UK, but we won't be doing any small scale gigs. It will be either one-off appearances at big events or some great support tours. Keep an eye on our website for news and details as they happen.
Is there anything you'd like to tell the readers' of The Mag?
Yes, do 3 things tonight. First of all, visit our main website and have an exploration session, delve deep into our archives and get for yourself a sense of how much of a fight it has been to get from where we were to where we are. If you respect that - and any lover of music would - then get yourself to one of the many online stores that are selling our album. Buy it! It's cheap, has amazing packaging, is packed with 13 great songs and is freakin' awesome! Then buy a copy for someone for Xmas. Once that is done, get over to our merch site, and have a look around at some of the most outrageous tees you ever did see.
In short, get involved. Become one of us.
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