With a new album (which we reviewed recently) about to land on your heads from a great height, guitarist Paul Davies of Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard gives us some more information about the band…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Wrexham, Wales.
How did you meet?
Me and Carrat were in another band called Mother Of Six. Jess was in another band called Warsisters. When both those bands ended we decided to do this.
How long have you been playing as a band?
Since 2016
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
We knew what we wanted to so musically but didn’t have a name. There was so many bands with similar names we took it to the ultimate extreme. Band names mean nothing really and it shows maybe how vacuous a scene is when people within it put too much emphasis on names. This is about the music. Names mean nothing when you are in the music. People are put off by our name but that suits us. Is our name satire? Maybe?
What are your influences?
Vintage science fiction films, books, love, hate, friends and enemies.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Heavy. progressive. layered. genuine. intense. Subtle. Thought out. I think Our personalities make the band unique. I think what influences generate our music make us unique.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
We have loose concepts for the albums. The lyrics relate to these but they are there own entity too. So yes and no.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Many. We’ve lost count. We don’t tour as such but we enjoy playing cool festivals. We like to do things slightly different with our live shows. The core album songs are there but we may improvise and jam stuff out. It’s live so we wanna make a show.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
We played a show in North Wales and we were so loud half the roof fell in and nearly killed jess. She was ok though. Another that is related to a gig. We got booked to play a festival in Lithuania and the shuttle picked us and Mantar up from the airport. Both bands had been drinking heavily so we asked to driver to stop at the side of the freeway so we could all take a piss. But this must have been some farmers field as all these farmers shouted and chased us all with pick axes and bars. We told the driver to hit the gas and all dived in the van. That was pretty wild.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Me and Wes play guild Polaris and Gibson sg. Stu plays a Hagstrom bass. I play a Matamp GT120 amp going into Matamp and Marshall 4×12. Wes plays a 5150 going into 2 4×12 Engl cabs. Stu plays a Peavey bass head into homemade cabs. FX wise we use Blackarts Toneworks fuzz pedals as we have an endorsement deal with them. Plus MXR and EHX phasers, Boss reverb and delays. Carrats uses 15″ Paiste sound edge hats. 24″ Paiste giant beat multi, 20″ Paiste 2002 power crash, 19″ 2002 power crash, 22 Sabian aax ride/crash. DW9000 pedal promark 5b sticks. Live kit 24 x 29 custom kick valley drums. Tama superstar shells worldmax blk beauty copy snare.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
The new album Yn Ol l Annwn out March 1st.
What are your plans for 2019?
Few shows in the UK, few cool festivals in Europe and complete the MWWB video game.
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? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
Support Monster Magnet. Be Supported by Possessor.
From previous Band of the Day, Klammer: Has the golden age of rock finished or is something around the corner that will blow us all away (you can’t say your own band)
Rock Died in the 80s. It’s in its death throes. Kids are too interested in quick fixes and fads.
From another BotD, N.E.S.H.: At a local level, what do you think can be done to help the music industry and bands of the future?
Get funding for live venues. Lower the prices of drinks and keep entry fee down.
And from Stand Alone: If your band was a cheese what would it be and why?
Gorgonzola. Intense but smooth. not everybody likes it.
Yn Ol I Annwn is out on March 1st.
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard: facebook | twitter | instagram | bandcamp
