Katie met Essex rock band Bled The Fifth when they invited her along to their show at The Black Heart supporting Chasing Dragons back in October. Impressed with their performance she felt they were worthy of being featured as our Band of the Day, so here they are!
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Bled the Fifth are from Essex.
How did you meet?
Guitarist and co-founder Chris Skinner had been long term school friends with Dan Hand from around 8 years old. Whilst both working on the same premises Chris asked Dan if he would be interested to join the band he was trying to put together due to the departure of the previous drummer. Dan was already in a band. However with the singer AWOL he decided to jump ship.
Through various line up changes Chris had met Adam Cross at work and rather than work they chatted about music and guitars all day, with Chris leaving to check out Adam’s Facebook music page. Chris forwarded this to Dan and the two got Adam in for a jam. Adam became a full time member of the band. However the band still joke that nobody actually told Adam he was recruited full time – they just asked him back every week and that was around three years ago…
Danielle responded to an advert online Chris had posted whilst looking for a singer. Upon first meeting at the studio, Chris had said to Dan in the car park “She hasn’t even sang yet but I just know she is going to be the one, there’s just something about her”. This was to be the case as Danielle landed in the band full time. Unbeknownst in the beginning, it wasn’t the first time Chris and Danielle and crossed paths. Ten years previously, whilst recruiting members for a project, Chris had communicated with Danielle via email. The pair didn’t meet as their crazy schedules got in the way… and this hasn’t changed much! To have all members in the same place at the same time usually means a show is booked. There’s a story of Danielle offering to fire the now long-departed bass player at her own audition, as dreadful as that sounds, it needed to be done and this actually happened.
The band has been rotating part time bass players but currently have Craig Keeling filling the boots. Craig’s first show with the band was Camden’s Black Heart to support Chasing Dragons on tour. Craig has been familiar to Bled the Fifth from early on due to his involvement in various projects on the scene.
How long have you been playing as a band?
Chris and Dan have been playing together in various projects for around six years, recruiting Adam and Danielle roughly half way through this time. The band went into song writing for the best part of the next year and into rehearsals for their first year together of shows.
Where does the band name come from?
The band name is a spin on pleading the fifth. The definition being “to remain silent so as to not incriminate oneself“. Chris had the morbid thought of preferring to bleed out dry from a self inflicted wound than to reveal all about ourselves as individuals.
What are your influences?
The band takes from many different influences. They would name bands such as Marmozets, 30 Seconds to Mars, Stone Sour, In This Moment, Guns N’ Roses, Alkaline Trio and Deftones. We have a broad range of influences from individuals such as Richie Kotzen, John Mayer and Sky Ferreira.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
The range of influences is definitely what sets the band apart, along with the ability to write catchy songs, with a high level of musicianship and lyrical content which is poetic yet easily relatable to listeners of all ages, sex, race and religion.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
The lyrical themes identify feelings that everyone has felt at one time or another. From love and loss to empowerment and the fight for positivity in one’s life. Danielle has often stated she writes her best lyrics when something is pulling hard at her emotions.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Bled the Fifth have been on the live circuit for just over a year. Without counting the number of shows, they have played some great venues such as Fiddler’s Elbow, The Black Heart, and headlining Chinnery’s in Southend.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Just the usual, breaking lights, breaking speakers, being in the toilet or outside when the house music stops and we’re supposed to start playing.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Chris uses Fender Custom Shop guitars, Peavey 6505 amplifiers / Marshall 1960 cabs and Fulltone, Boss, MXR, Tubescreamer pedals.
Adam uses Gibson, Fender, Vox Valvetronix VT100X and TC Electronic, Electro – Harmonix, Dunlop pedals.
Dan uses Mapex pro, Mapex Falcon hardware, Duallist pedals, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo heads and Rock Drummers Custom Skins.
Craig uses TC Electronic BH550 amps / BC410 cabs, Ibanez SR405QM and Boss pedals.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
That would have to be our self-titled debut album Bled The Fifth. Available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play and cdbaby.com.
What are your plans for the rest of 2017?
After playing with Chasing Dragons as part of their UK tour, Chris has scheduled long overdue surgery to remove calcium from a tendon in his shoulder which has been extremely painful every single day for a couple of years. Chris delayed this surgery to continue to play shows and record the album. Along with this, a music video to promote the album will happen along with shows next year and summer festivals for when Chris has rehabbed the shoulder to a point that he can once again handle his Stratocaster.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you?
We would love to tour with The Marmozets and support 30 Seconds to Mars… we can dream, right?
Upcoming tour dates:
Currently booking for next year. Please contact