You were a band member with some rockin' outfits prior to your time with Torment. Tell us a little bit more about these bands and projects.
I met Daren Fox in 1983 and later met
Simon Brand after responding to an ad for a
singer in a Rockabilly band. So me and Simon
started the Jumpin Jacks
in 1984 and asked Daren to join us as
bass player. So it was Simon on lead
guitar/vocals, me on stand up snare/vocals and
Daren on bass. Simon decided
to leave the band without giving us any notice
so we had to fold the band.
I then joined the Firebirds,
who Simon had also played for. I played
with them while their regular drummer was in the
USA for 6 months. Later that year 84/85 I met
Kevin (Haynes) and joined the
Joint Jumpers, a
Bristol-based 5 piece Rockabilly band. Kev was
on rhythm guitar and I was on bass.
When and how was Torment formed?
We did practice in my garage for a few weeks. And Kev used my drum kit until he got himself one. Then we started to practice in a studio in Redland Bristol every Saturday morning for 4 hours.
The first gigs were held in December 1985. Any memories left?
I have never followed the band's progress and do not own or ever will own any album by the band. I think part of the reason I was kicked out was I would of not let the band go down the route it took musically. And secondly I think Simon didn't like the fact I was center of attention. Everyone seemed to want to talk to me. If you notice in the promo photos I'm always in the middle and we all know that bass players are gods.
You're co-credited on Psyclops Carnival album for song-writing on 'Death Trail'. Please tell us the story of the song. Did you ever get any royalty cheques?
As for the music, I did write Death Trail, but its nothing like the sh*t version on the album. I also came up with the bass line that formed the music for The Source as well, which I am not credited for on the album. I did get some royalty cheques now and then.
How was it like to deal with Simon as a person and as an artist respectively?
When and how was Torment formed?
Kev then asked me if we
should start our own band. So in
the summer of 85 I went to see
Simon to see if he
would be interested in joining
our new band. I took Simon
to see the Blubbery
Hellbellies at the
Theckla in Bristol so he could
meet Kevin. And that is
how Torment
started.
Is it true that the band
used your garage as a practise room in the early
days? We did practice in my garage for a few weeks. And Kev used my drum kit until he got himself one. Then we started to practice in a studio in Redland Bristol every Saturday morning for 4 hours.
The first gigs were held in December 1985. Any memories left?
The first gig we did was in
December 85 in Brighton with the
Long Tall Texans. Then we did a
gig in Bristol on x-mas eve with
the Swamp Toads and maybe the
Coffin Nails, not to sure about
them. I have got memories of the
gigs. The main one was kissing
Kevin's girlfriend. There was a
lot of sexual tension between
us. I don't think Kev knows
about that. And the other thing
was my bass amp being stolen
after that gig.
When and why did your involvement with Torment come to an end?
My involvement came to an end about two weeks after the first demo was made. It came right out of the blue. I just got a phone call from Simon one night to say I was out of the band. ????? And Tony Biggs was my replacement, ex-Firebirds bass player.
Have you been keeping track
with the story of the band, what's your
favourite Torment
album and why? When and why did your involvement with Torment come to an end?
My involvement came to an end about two weeks after the first demo was made. It came right out of the blue. I just got a phone call from Simon one night to say I was out of the band. ????? And Tony Biggs was my replacement, ex-Firebirds bass player.
I have never followed the band's progress and do not own or ever will own any album by the band. I think part of the reason I was kicked out was I would of not let the band go down the route it took musically. And secondly I think Simon didn't like the fact I was center of attention. Everyone seemed to want to talk to me. If you notice in the promo photos I'm always in the middle and we all know that bass players are gods.
You're co-credited on Psyclops Carnival album for song-writing on 'Death Trail'. Please tell us the story of the song. Did you ever get any royalty cheques?
As for the music, I did write Death Trail, but its nothing like the sh*t version on the album. I also came up with the bass line that formed the music for The Source as well, which I am not credited for on the album. I did get some royalty cheques now and then.
How was it like to deal with Simon as a person and as an artist respectively?
I the early days I got on very
well with Simon and
Kevin. Me and Simon
would spend a lot of time
together. We both had
motorcycles and we used to go
out drinking together. Just the
two of us or as a foursome with
our girlfriends. And it was the
same with Kev. But Simon started
stirring up things between me
and Kevin. Simon was a very
talented and troubled person. He
had a very dark side to his
personality which stands out in
the words in his songs.
When and how did you find out that Simon Brand committed suicide?
When and how did you find out that Simon Brand committed suicide?
Wendy ( ED's note: Simon Brand's wife) was a
death sentence for Simon. It was just a
matter of time. I found out about his death when
I was back home on summer leave from Germany. I
was thinking of going to see his mother who
owned a flower shop in Kingswood. I wanted to
get Simon's address so I could get some
gig photos from him as I had none. About two
days later my father was reading the Bristol
Evening Post when he saw the story of how
Simon had hung himself in a tree in page
school.
What music do you listen to
these days and do you still visit gigs?
The last Psychobilly gig I went to was
Caravans for their 25th
anniversary gig in Bristol. And I've been to a
few Rockabilly gigs. One from Germany,
Lennerockers, very good band.
I still listen to the music, loads of 50s
Rockabilly, some Psychobilly....
Nekromantix, The
Quakes, Tiger Army,
Frantic Flintstones,
Mad Sin, Meteors,
Demented Are Go.
