What’s your role in Pyroclast?
Vocals, roadie.
Where you from, man?
Paisley, known to those within a one-million-mile radius as “the Hellmouth”.
When did you join the band, and what brought you to this wonderful group of awesome people?
I’d quit music for something like 25 years and then ended up recording an album in the December of 2020, which I released in the January. Then another in April… then another in July… and then I was told about this band who were looking for a singer and I thought “Hey, I just sang on three albums… I’ll see what this is about” and auditioned remotely since it was the tail-end of COVID. Thought about leaving MANY times… and then Baz joined, so I stayed.
What drew you to your instrument originally?
Vocals? Necessity, really. I needed vocals on my album and there was nobody I could call on, so I did it myself. I never planned on being a singer, though. I do enjoy being the vocalist in this band, though; I get to do a lot with my range, which is nice.
Who would you say were your greatest influences? Not necessarily for your own instrument, just in terms of writing, performing, and style?
I took up guitar because of Jake E Lee. Had I not watched that Bark At The Moon Live VHS, I’d likely have continued being a keyboard player (yes… I was a keyboard and synth player before I got a guitar when I was 16). Vocally, my influences are Michael Kiske, Roy Khan, Bruce Dickinson, and the absolute legend that is Ronnie James Dio. I still think he’s the greatest metal singer who ever lived. It’s not about the range; it’s about the intent.
When you want to chill the fuck out, who would be the first three bands you’d likely want to listen to?
Rush, who I was stupid enough to avoid until March 2018. I know. Most Dream Theater (I do dislike several of their albums, though), and Page-era Barenaked Ladies. But it depends on the mood. You can swap out Kansas, Conception, and Helloween for any of those three above.
Who are your past bands and/or projects?
I’ve only been in one band before – the band I started with my buddy Graham back in 1991 called FURY. Did a lot of gigging, wrote so many songs, but I got sick of doing all the writing and organising so I quit the band and music around 1998.
List your main gear (e.g., guitars, amps, drum kit, pedals), etc.
I use a Shure Beta 58a mic
TC Helicon Voicetone T1 compressor/de-esser pedal
TC Helicon Voicetone E1 delay pedal
LD Systems U508 IEM in-ear monitoring system
A lot of Duracell Optimum batteries.
What’s one piece of gear you’d never give up?
My ‘expanded upon’ Roland TD20 electronic drum kit. It now has three hanging toms, two floor toms, a splash, a kang, three crashes, the ride, a china, plus the hats, snare, and kick, obviously. I own more guitars, but I rarely touch them unless I’m writing, whereas I’ll have a play around on the kit just to chill out.
What’s one piece of gear you don’t have but would sell your granny for?
A full EF-Note PRO 707 kit, but I’d likely expand it by adding a few extra toms and cymbals too. I’d have to sell someone else’s granny, though.
Are you a tone-chaser, fannying around with your gear all the time, or do you plug and play?
Bit of both, really. If it sounds shit, I don’t want it sounding shit. But I wouldn’t consider stopping a rehearsal to piss around for 40 minutes trying to stop a bit of bass flutter that nobody else can hear. That sort of crap is irritating.
What song are you most proud of and why?
For this band, I’d have to say it’s a close call between Deepest Line from the No Place for the Damned album, and a new track I’ve written called Brought By a Flame. Both are very different from what we’d usually do, but I just love the vibe that each of them brings. The non-me song I’m most proud of is Pit and the Pendulum, as I can’t get enough of that. Sure, I wrote SOME of it, but it’s essentially always going to be Baz’s song as it was built on what he brought to us. I’m also incredibly proud of my 24-minute concept song from my solo stuff.
What’s the weirdest/funniest thing that’s happened on stage?
I was playing Oscar’s in Livingston with FURY back in something like 1994. We were headlining, as usual, and it was a raucous night, as usual, with folk bouncing all over the place. We had a song called Shameful Dissent that has this insane build up from almost walking pace to running pace before the song really kicks in, so the crowd would always be jumping all over the place, going wild. The lighting rig would always be wobbling away, the amps would be shaking. I was the guitarist (I was only ever the live singer for FURY once), so I was standing over on my side of the stage, watching them all crash into each other, throwing each other around, jumping up and down… and then it happened… the lighting rig came down on my head. Amazing.
What do you do when you’re not making music?
I’m either writing new stuff or working on other band-related jobs. When I’m not doing that, which does actually take up most of my time, I’m listening to music while I game or watch TV. I’m a huge fan of the Borderlands, Fallout, and Sniper Elite games.
Guilty pleasure artist or song?
This is going to sound do damned conceited, but I mostly listen to the band. If I’m not listening to the band, I’m listening to my solo stuff or covers that I’ve recorded with the members of the band but we haven’t released them yet. It’s really not anything to do with conceit, though; it’s just that I love our music that much.
What’s your ultimate one-day festival lineup? Doesn’t matter if they’re not around anymore.
Wow. In no particular order:
Rush
Helloween
Conception
Kansas
Spock’s Beard (with Neal)
Sabbath with Dio
Thin Lizzy
Pyroclast
What’s the best gig you’ve been to? Ever. Hands down.
November 6th, 1988… Helloween at Edinburgh Playhouse. Nothing has come close to it. Every second was incredible. Kai’s guitar solo… ugh… I hate guitar solos, but his was soulful and deliberate. It really was amazing.
What would you like to see from Pyroclast over the next three years?
I’d love for this current lineup to go the distance, and to see us head over to Europe as I think that’s really where our audience lies. I’d also like to put out at least one album of new material (perhaps even a double album), and a live album. I love how we sound live, and we have so many folk who love our stuff but who can never get over to the UK to see us.
Who would you like to see shot with a ball of their own shite?
If flies fly, do bears bear?