Here we go again… Last year we covered every band on the Hobgoblin New Blood and Jagermeister stages in the run-up to Bloodstock 2015. This year, we’re going one better and aim to have interviews from all the bands on those two stages as well as all of those on the SOPHIE stage prior to the event kicking off on August 11th. That’s almost 100 interviews to get online for you lucky people over the course of the next couple of weeks. I bloody love this job, but you lot owe me a beer at Catton Hall, right?
Thanks to all the bands who’ve taken the time to respond!
Boss Keloid – SOPHIE stage, Friday
Interview responses by Paul Swarbrick (guitar)
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
We’re from the Wigan area, UK.
How did you meet?
Alex (vocals) runs a rehearsal studio in Wigan. I was jamming there in 2010 when I started the band and asked him was he interested in doing vocals. Ste was a mate of Alex and joined in 2011 after our first drummer (Chris) left before we started writing the first album The Calming Influence of Teeth. Adam joined halfway through writing the latest album Herb Your Enthusiasm, after our first bassist (Liam) left the band.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
Since late 2010. As the current line-up, since late 2014.
Where does the name of the band come from?
It comes from an Iron Monkey song. A tip of the hat to them, and it’s a pretty enigmatic name. Some people see the name and instantly think we’re going to sound like them. When they hear us they’re either pleasantly surprised or severely disappointed.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
Collectively we have a wide range of influences…..Bob Marley, Yes, Tool, Kyuss, Genesis, Neurosis, King Crimson, Mike Patton, Om, Keelhaul, Snarky Puppy to name a few.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Passionate, interesting, heavy, progressive, psychedelic, uplifting. We aim to bring our collective influences and juices together when we write. We always try to keep things interesting for ourselves and constantly challenge ourselves and each other.
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
Passionate, interesting, heavy, progressive, psychedelic, uplifting. People can witness Alex’s elastic gorilla dancing with added breast-stroke.
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
We were offered a slot on the Sophie Lancaster Stage by Simon Hall a few months ago.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
Likely to be five of our best songs.
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
Gojira.
What are you working on at the moment?
We’re balls deep into writing and crafting the next album. We have an album’s worth of draft material that we’ll keep on sculpting until it’s golden and fully textured. We may record next year.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
The gypsy knife fight between myself and Ste was pretty funny. That wasn’t on tour, but in the kitchen at Skyhammer Studios.
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Be yourselves and play from the balls/ovaries.
If you could be part of any 3-band line-up who else would you have on the bill? One band above you and one below – a chance to plug a smaller, unsigned act!
Tool. Boss Keloid. Under.
Under are three lovely dudes from Stockport and supremely talented musicians. They play some unique, interesting and unsettling stuff. The way it should be.
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
We play Friday 12.40pm on the Sophie Lancaster (second stage).
