The Moshville Times - Pre-Bloodstock interview: Left for Red

Due to the huge number of bands playing at Bloodstock this year, and the fact that our two roving reporters will actually want to watch some of them, we’re doing a little round of pre-festival interviews this year. We’re focussing on the bands playing the Jagermeister and Hobgoblin New Blood Stages so they get a chance to convince you to go and watch them. Remember, these guys and gals are the future of our musical world!

Simple things first – where are you guys from?

We are from Stourbridge in the West Midlands.

How did you meet?

We all met at various times in our life. LC, Rob and Phil have known each other since they were younger. Dan and Rob met in college and we all met Aaron through friends on the metal scene.

How long have you been playing together as a band?

We are into our sixth year as a band but as this line up about 3 years.

Where does the name of the band come from?

Quite a boring story to be honest, Rob and our old guitarist started the band, they were both left handed and the guitarist had a red beard……but the name stuck and here we are 😀

What are your influences – individually or as a band?

We all listen to different styles of music but we all agree on Pantera, Down and Deftones haha! Other than music it is comic books, beer and food 😀 our best band meetings to brainstorm new songs etc are in the pub with a pint and a bag of pork scratchings.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

Our music is loud, meaty and melodic a lot of our unique…ness lies in the melody lines. We try to write catchy songs that people will remember.

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

After 6 years I can’t remember how many shows we have played but it is a lot haha! Our live shows are quite energetic for five chunky dudes, we try to own as much of the stage as possible.

When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?

I had a phone call from Simon Hall whilst I was in work, once he told me the good news he continued to say something, but I was so excited that I couldn’t actually tell you what that was haha! I put the phone down to him and I did about 10 laps around the classroom I was in haha! We found out about three weeks before we got announced….it was hard not to yell it from the rooftops haha!

What sort of setlist can we expect?

Our setlist is filled with our heavier, faster songs and we feel the songs we have chosen show the best of LFR.

Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?

Probably Sepultura or Orange Goblin but there are loads of bands on the other stages like the Sophie stage on Sunday that I really want to see, Trepalium being one of the main ones.

What are you working on at the moment?

Currently we have just released our first album so we are continuing to push that as much as possible but within the next few months we are planning on releasing a new music video for our next single ‘Utopia’ and we are also working on touring as much of the UK as we can before the end of 2015.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?

We went on our first tour with our good friends in Valous we had a bit of a manic night in a hotel in Crewe (which I believe we are banned from and had a bill for carpets and other damages….sorry, still not paid up!) anyway this night involved the singer of Valous screaming one of our songs starkers on top of our drummer (video on YouTube) whilst he was sleeping, a drinking competition that lasted until 5am and it ended up with me sleep walking (which I have never done before and never done since) down 4 flights of stairs and I woke up in the staff toilets behind reception….ooops, watch out BOA!

What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?

I would say to bands to be respectful to promoters, bands and fans, supportive of other bands whether it be at shows, buying merch or gig swaps and have faith in your music, you need to believe the songs you are putting out are to the best of your abilities.

If you could be part of any 3-band line-up (as support or headlining) who else would you have on the bill?

Queen, Left For Red and Pantera…somehow I don’t see this happening anytime soon.

Left For Red will play the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage on the Sunday.