Lee Martin plays guitar with raucous mob Blue Stragglers. He also answers questions for random websites, which has worked out very well for both us and them…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Oh hello there! We are from the historic market town of Horsham, West Sussex.
How did you meet?
Old college buddies who’s orbits naturally started moving in the same musical circle.
How long have you been playing as a band?
We’ve been playing in bands with some or all of us in for longer than I can remember!
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
A Blue Straggler is the remnants of a dead star. So, heirs to the rock throne or space trash depending on your point of view.
What are your influences?
Anyone or anything that is unequivocally themselves and delivers the goods. Be it a relentless band or Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
I’ve always seen our music as the sonic equivalent of the third pint on a Friday – anything can happen!
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Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Reoccurring themes of misfortune, lesser-used sayings and the curveballs of being a functioning human being unintentionally weave in and out most songs. That and drinking.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
We’ve spent our whole musical lives trying to capture on record our live show and it feels like we may have just cracked it – unhinged, unpredictable electric chaos. We did three shows in a night Tuesday just gone, My long term memory isn’t all that, a fair few over the years though! We’re very much a live band,
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
I saw a geezer deliver a karate kick to a fella sitting down, seemingly for no reason whatsoever, whilst a completely naked audience member was nearby in a since closed-down pub in Hastings on New Years eve once. That was pretty odd.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Lee – Gibson SG, Marshall head, Sound City cab and a Bigfoot Engineering King Fuzz, you need not anything else !
Ali – Fender basses and both TC Electronic and Ampeg rigs.
Andy – Slingerland drums, Dream cymbals, Demo drum heads and Vater sticks – all taken good care of inside Protection Racket cases.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Our brand spanking new single “Reactor” is out now on Hassle Records. It has an accompanying video too if aural pleasure is not enough for you, then check out the video below.
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
Play live and write as much as possible whilst plugging this single and forthcoming album Cautionary Tales of Excess out later this year!
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!
Great question! I would have Hastings band Al Mitchell & The New born Sinners open up, then us, then Bad Nerves headline. And if they were busy then Tigercub. Check the two bits of bread either side of us out!
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