Glasgow’s Fangs are currently on tour in the UK and next weekend the band will be heading back to Hamburg for two shows in a day. Band members Lloyd Alex, Jojo Doll, Marko Nein and The Queen recently took time to answer the Dear Scotland questions. Interview and show details below:
Dear Scotland: Where are you now and what did you do last night?
[the queen] Looking through my wardrobe picking out a rock frock for a photoshoot in London, last night I bubble bathed and finally watched In The Loop the Armando Ianuicci film, it was divine.
[lloyd alex] A bed full of clothes, an empty bottle of vodka, some fragmented memories and someone is on the floor. We went to see two great bands called My Cousin I Bid You Farewell and A Copenhagen Hope. We shared some drinks and found our way to a party…
[marko nein] On my way to buy some flowers and visit my granny. Last night I stayed up to chat to some friends in America with an 8 hr time difference, was a late one but good one.
[jojo doll] I’ve just woken up and am about to leave, Fangs play a fashion show in Birmingham tommorow, train ahoy.
Cos I Said So
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zerRncZoUQ
DS: Paul McCartney said he got into music to avoid a job – and get lots of girls. What made you get into music?
[jojo doll] Definitely the job thing, I’ve always hated working a normal job so Paul’s bang on with that one. I want to be one of those guys you buy a magazine for just to see what there up to and what they’re wearing.
[marko nein] I guess in Macca’s day the music industry was in its infancy and “musician” wasn’t regarded as a bona fide occupation. Rockstar is a proper job these days, its the job I do. It’s a wonderfully insane, viable career choice for the modern outcast.
[lloyd alex] Video Games, avoiding the real world and of course getting girls, me and Paul would get on great. Oh yeah we are both left handed too so I could play his bass.
[the queen] It was unavoidable honey, I’m from a very big musical family, its in my blood, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. do I get lots of girls? Maybe.
DS: What is your favourite song of yours to play right now?
[lloyd alex] Fangs City Rockerzzzzzzzzzzzz
[marko nein] ‘Starz of the new avant garde’ is a live beast.
[jojo doll] All of our new songs.
[the queen] SICKO has a special place in my heart, It’s our best known song and when we play live everyone participates, its a stadium moment.
SICKO
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXR2iF7-Sr0
DS: You’re touring the UK and Germany in the next few weeks, is there one place on the tour schedule that you are most looking forward to playing?
[the queen] Yes, I’m over the moon about playing the Banqueting House in London, it looks SO glamorous, performing in those surroundings will be an absolute thrill.
[marko nein] There’s a run of 4 gigs in 3 days in 2 countries, I’m morbidly looking forward to testing the fragility of my stamina, is that wrong?
[jojo doll] I’m really looking forward to Hamburg, I’ve never been but Fangs are always treated super nice at German gigs. We are playing an afternoon show then later that night we play at the Hafenklang which the rest of the band tell me is amazing, cant wait!
[lloyd alex] HAFENKLANG!!!! It’s an abandoned shopping mall with limitless booze and dancing……. nuff said.
DS: Do you feel more Scottish when you are abroad, or do you adapt well to new places? Anything you’ll miss about Scotland?
[lloyd alex] The only thing I miss about Scotland is my friends and family and the musical talent in Glasgow, the world is the same to me whereever I go. Though I do feel Scottish everywhere.
[the queen] I feel fangs is tres European. I spent most of my teens in France which makes it easy to adapt wherever I go. I miss my friends, there’s so many places I visit I wish I could share with the people I love.
[jojo doll] – Yes and no, when I’m away from home I adapt just fine, but it’s hard not to accentuate your heritage when your away. People abroad love the Scottish though. The thing I miss most about Scotland are my family, my friends, and the tap water.
[marko nein] I never miss it, but its always with me. I’ve developed my own syndrome of ‘lauderism’ after the late great Harry Lauder. I’m a pretty unpatriotic Scot while at home but the moment I arrive anywhere I become an exaggerated version of Willie from The Simpsons.
Harry Lauder
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-eqF2fUp4U
DS: What will be your first words on stage in Hamburg?
[the queen] It’s good to be back, I’ve missed you. Mwah.
[marko nein] Am I loud enough? Make me louder.
[jojo doll] – Counting in the first song with 1-2-3-4.
[lloyd alex] Oh OH OH OH Wo Wo
DS: Are there any Scottish musicians, past or present, that have influenced you?
[the queen] Annie Lennox, a girl from Aberdeen that made such an impact on style and music, she has a unique and special talent.
[lloyd alex] Far too many to list. When my friend Matt Scott got me into playing music we listened to loads of Scottish bands. There is always an amazing scene in Glasgow, bands like Findo Gask, The King Hats, Errors, My Cousin I Bid You Farewell and A Copenhagen Hope are the tip of the iceberg.
[jojo doll] Franz Ferdinand and Sons And Daughters are great Scottish bands with good hooky songs who I would say have inspired some interesting things. Also Idlewild are a great band with great songs too.
[marko nein] Bay City Rollers, Fran and Anna, Jesus and Mary Chain, The Associates…how long have you got?
The Associates
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewiMdGXs3I0
DS: How do people react when they discover you are Scottish?
[lloyd alex] They usually love it. The world seems to love the Scots. I feel welcomed everywhere.
[jojo doll] Disappointed I’m not Irish.
[the queen] They ask if I can play the bagpipes. I cannot.
[marko nein] Customs officials can see it on my passport, promoters, agents, journos and fans will know the band already and everyone else has been officially briefed, no ones surprised.
DS: What should the Scottish national anthem be?
[the queen] 500 miles by The Proclaimers, it has already knocked Auld Lang Syne off the New Years top spot.
[marko nein] Something very broad and inaccurate, probably penned by an American country singer or English composer, giving us another 100 years of moaning.
[jojo doll] It should definitely be our song S.I.C.K.O., and everyone in Scotland has to wear eye liner and lipstick while singing it. That would be a amazing.
[lloyd alex] The main theme in Streets of Rage 2 and we would just sing along with the synths.
Streets of Rage 2
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0k4uRddNc8
DS: What is the best after-show experience you’ve had?
[the queen] After our Razzmatazz show in Barcelona our 5am stage time meant that we made it back to the hotel in time for breakfast and a champagne party in the Jacuzzi.
[jojo doll] Probably Den Bosch in Holland after playing a fashion show. There was an aftershow party all night at the venue, then after it closed the owners and stylists took us into the city for more drinks, then back to my room for a little party…and more booze. It didn’t feel like the best morning after though.
[lloyd alex] Jamming a sofa against the door of a club so no one could get out and dancing until stupid o’clock in Germany was all fun. The next day however was not so great. We had to find a pram to get one of Fangs to the tour bus and then he was sick over Marko while flying down the autobahn to Berlin. Haha actually that was ok for me.
[marko nein] Driving a car 100 miles an hour through the streets of Milan.
DS: And finally, many many years from now, when you finish your farewell world tour, is there one place to where you would like to retire?
[lloyd alex] My own beach or Tokyo.
[the queen] I’ve spent so many wonderful nights in hotels I would love my own little exclusive retreat for the good the bad and the glamorous.
[jojo doll] The moon would be cool, if it’s possible by then, failing that I hope I’ll still be in Glasgow. I love this city.
[marko nein] Fortress of solitude.
Don’t Call Me Up
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZZ7wqWWiGU
Upcoming shows:
…
Oct 27, Ruby Lounge in Manchester
Oct 30, Stereo in Glasgow
Nov 1, Rockaholic Promo Tour, Hamburg (Ticket details below)
Nov 1, Club XX, Hamburg (Ticket details below)
Nov 3, Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
Nov 4, Town Hall, Manchester
Nov 11, The Passenger Shed, Bristol
Nov 12, The Banqueting House, London
Nov 21, Harley’s, Bathgate
Full details at www.myspace.com/fangsfangsfangs
Photo Credit : Jannica Honey