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!
Vice – Jagermeister Stage, Saturday
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Individually we’re based around various parts of Lancashire. Tom is from Bury, Connor is based in Accrington, Simon is the Wilmslow warrior and Jack based over in Helmshore. Collectively the band’s base is in Bury Greater Manchester.
How did you meet?
Tom, Connor and Jack were playing together in another band. When the original Vice drummer left, Connor replaced him. After a while the lineup split. Tom and Connor stayed together and we recruited Jack on guitar and, after holding auditions, brought Simon in on bass guitar.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
The current line up has been together now for around 18 months.
Where does the name of the band come from?
The name of the band took a while to think of (as it does with any project), but we decided on the concept of basing the songs for the first album on the seven deadly sins, a.k.a the Seven Vices, and that’s where it came from.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
As individuals we all have a broad spectrum of musical influences. So as a band, the combined sound we all seem to enjoy are bands like Machine Head, Gojira, Lamb of God, with some of the technicalities of bands like Dream Theater and Meshuggah. Also some of the classic twists like the guitar harmonies from bands like Thin Lizzy.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We just wanted to write music that we enjoy. We never set out to sound like “that band that reminds us of so and so”. We’ve just tried to mould the Vice sound into something we enjoy playing. You could say our sound is a mix of modern metal, prog, classic rock. The songs have a strong anthemic feel with strong riffs/hooks and numerous time/tempo changes.
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
A lot of swirling hair is how it’s normally described! We just set out to ensure people can be involved. There’s plenty of opportunity in our music to bang your heads, or however you wish to express yourself! If you like guitar solos, lots of riffs, dynamic bass and drums and head banging. That’s a good enough reason to spare thirty minutes of your time to come and watch us at the mighty Bloodstock.
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
We were invited to play and informed through a personal message from Simon Hall who had seen the band headline a festival in Manchester. We were all very humbled to be asked to play a festival we all usually attend and think of as the best rock and metal festival in the country. We are all extremely excited and looking forward to the experience.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
For Bloodstock we just wanted to include all our big hitters with big riffs and hooks lots of guitar solos, guitar harmonies, powerful bass and pulsating dynamic drums. Just a continuous assault that keeps you gripped. Also, all the songs we play will be from the forthcoming album based on the seven deadly sins.
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
We play on the Jagermeister stage early Saturday evening and we all want to be finished in time to catch the mighty Gojira on the main stage. A great band with stunning playing ability and great songs.
What are you working on at the moment?
The week after our Bloodstock debut we are going into the studio to start recording the drums for our first album which will be released before the end of 2016. Then we will be touring in support of the album with the intention of maintaining the momentum we have built up over the last 18 months.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
It may sound boring but we tend to concentrate on our music, look after ourselves and be as professional as possible when on tour, although like anyone we do like to literally let our hair down and have a good night out with family, friends and fans.
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Work hard on your playing, learn about the industry, be dedicated and professional in both your playing and attitude. There is no room for arrogance and negativity, there is so much competition out there. Look after your mind and body and just go for it. The music industry is changing. Friends in bands around Manchester are being signed to labels so it is possible. You just have to put in the hard work. You will have tough times, rough emotional patches, personal problems, arguments, and creative blocks. But that’s just all part of being a musician. We can go into a rehearsal room all wanting to punch each other, but when that first note hits it doesn’t matter. Just never give up.
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!
If we are talking about playing with a top drawer band headlining it would have to be Machine Head/ Vice / and then our friends, Deified – a great band from Merseyside.
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
We are playing the Jagermeister stage on Saturday 13th August. During the early evening, probably around 6-7pm Stage times haven’t yet been confirmed.
