A band we’ve caught a few times over the years, Thirteen Stars are back to tell us what’s new in our world!
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Jax, Andy and Mike are from Cumbria. Hoss is from Scarborough originally but now lives on Cumbria.
How did you meet?
Everyone has a slightly different memory of it but the last thing I remember is drinking and then waking up on a tall ship bound for the West Indies. With a ha’penny in my britches… and you know britches be crazy right?!
How long have you been playing as a band?
Since Shep was a pup. But in human years about 7 or 8. Hoss jokes that the lads would have gotten less time for shoplifting!
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Way past that brother! The name came from an Aleister Crowley/friedrich Nietzsche collaborative called Syphilisation in the Modern World.
What are your influences?
Socio-economics, the employment market, post imperial/post industrial strife. Austerity and wage stagnation. But I presume you mean musical influences. As to that they are myriad. From Wagner to Queen, Hank Williams to Tom Petty, Neil Young to Blackberry smoke, Stephen Stills, Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Lovin’ Spoonful, the Byrds, Radiohead, Weezer. The list could go on and on.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We blend all sorts of music together drawing from many different sources. We’re a bit like Taylor’s or harrogate but with music instead of coffee. What makes us unique is that Mike is secretly a giraffe in a human suit.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Sex, death, sorcery, motorbikes, you name it we’ll have written it. Our songs encompass a massive amount of subjects mainly because Hoss gets bored incredibly easily. But the main point is if we don’t feel it, if we don’t believe what we’re playing with every ounce of our being then we don’t play it.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Our live show is a living breathing animal that grabs you by the ovaries (or knackers if you’re a bloke) and drags you into our world. Rock, funk, country, blues it’s all there just waiting for you with a good dash of humor in between songs for good measure. We’ve played many, many shows all over the world and always leave our crowds sated and begging for more!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Andy once had a half of shandy before a gig that was a pretty wild show! Hoss has played solos stood atop of bars and Jax has inexplicably ended up wearing a North American Indian headdress at past gigs. We have fun.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
We use a custom drum kit that Hoss put together. Guitars, we use Gibson’s mainly but for some songs Gretschs, Fenders and Rickenbackers have been known to make appearances. Amps wise Jax uses a 65 Amps Whiskey and Hoss uses a 1963 AC30 (still with its original magic smoke!). Of course all that is reasonably unimportant compared the Dragons sinew strings we use and the unicorn horn plectrums.
What are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Our latest, amazing, stop what you’re doing and listen to our single “Mint Jelly”! and our newest album Finest Ramshackle Jam, due for release later this year which we think defines and exemplifies a new era of mankind’s existence on this mortal coil!
What are your plans for 2020 and beyond?
Given the current situation we’re planning to get through alive and then tour the U.K. and Europe later in the year if possible.
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!
We would love to support Wayward Sons! They’re an amazing band! As to the opener, I think we would either have to go with Lords Of Ruin or Verity White band. I think that would be an epic lineup.
