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TEST
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Interview
GUNSLINGER
(Questionnaire by STEFAN)
A talk with
ALAN DAVEY (Vocals/ Bass)
METAL TO INFINITY
I've always had extremely much admiration for bands formed decades ago and still exist nowadays. Playing Rock or Metal music is a way of living - in fact a choice which you make for the rest of your life whatever it takes. Don't take no for an answer - sometimes it can go bad but you've gotta be strong enough to stand up and fight back in such kinda situations. Only the strong survive - one of those is a band from England called Gunslinger. Set up in the late seventies - struggled through good and bad times but the point is the band is still alive and kicking! Via a good longtime friend of mine named Jan De Vriendt, aka as Bux, I had the chance to get in touch with there lead singer / bass player Alan Davey who was able to answer some questions regarding past, present and future facts. Let's start right away...
Q: Hi there Alan, first of all thx very much for the opportunity asking the following questions!
Hey man, what brings on a day like this?
A: We just finished our rehearsal this afternoon. I have 2 new members in Gunslinger, my nephew Louis Davey on Guitars and Cat, our new drummer! So now I'm back on the internet findings new friends on myspace and taking bookings for UK and mainland Europe, we are getting lots of interest now! I`m the manager at the moment too!
Q: I'd like to go back in time, more specifically the era where it all has started. I guess it must be somewhere in the late seventies you came up with the idea the set up a band, right? What were the ambitions and goals to reach those days?
A: The very ones we are doing now! Turning people on to our BIG rock sound, gigging, getting an album out (on Buzzville Records) and having as much fun as possible! Nothings changed accept this time Gunslinger is an experienced, pro outfit with an album out! Gunslinger has been around since 1979 trading small amounts of tapes etc and doing the odd gig now and then. We got a record deal very quickly in 1980 but circumstances beyond our control saw that come to nothing! But we are the band ''too tough to die'', so here we come, bigger and better than ever!!
Q: To set up a band you need some other musicians to complete the line up... Nigel Potter was the one who offered his guitar skills first of all, am I correct?
A: No, Nigel and me were the founder members, Nigel is as big a part of Gunslinger as me, he is my cousin too! All the songs we wrote together, and we have many more Gunslinger songs ready to go, maybe 4 albums worth! So there is plenty of ammo in our belts!! Of all the musicians I've worked with, Nigel is the best by far! He brought out the best in me everytime, and vice versa I hope!
Q: You both were very musicians with big ambitions playing Rock and Roll all night and day. From where the driving power to Rock at such a young age - who were your idols you guys looked up too those days?
A: Well, we both got into Motorhead, after them all rock bands seemed I little small, ya know what I mean right! For me Lemmy was the trigger, that BIG dirty bass sound pushed my buttons big time, I had to have that sound!!
I like things that are different too, so just playing with a normal bass sound playing normal basslines for me was boring!! Its got to make you snarl when ya play it, right! I'm a 'Bass Slayer'', So big and dirty bass played like a rythem guitar is the only way for me!
Q: The name Gunslinger - who chose the name and what's the meaning behind Alan?
A: Well we had a band called Chainsaw and a song called Gunslinger in that band, but after some time we wanted a different band name and Gunslinger we thought is like ya guitar becomes the gun. At the time we were faster than other bands so its like being quicker on the draw which is what Gunslinger's were al about, but with my bass not a gun! So GUNSLINGER seemed cool and is!!
Q: You in charge as singer / bassist - Nigel took control over the guitar movements� who was in for all the drum works?
A: Back then we had 2-3 drummers but the best one and longest standing was Liffy (Andy Lamb). He was a cool and funny guy too so we all got on well. Louis and me played with Liffy about 2 months ago for old times sake, it was great fun to do it!!
Q: Locked and loaded, ready to Rock - practising as much as possible was mission number one I guess. How that happened in the camp of Gunslinger?
A: We used to just play for fun more than to practice, in the end that's all we could do was practice as we were banned from all venue's in Ipswich for being too loud!! The police called us a traffic hazard as cars driving past would swerve because the volume coming out the doors made them jump as they drive past!!!
Q: Living in Ipswich, London - can you give us an image about the days back then and the days right now? What the difference after so many years of Rock 'n' Roll Alan - what do you prefer, the vintage years or the nowadays scene?
A: The vintage years had less bands and better quality songs I think, these days unless your very different it all sounds the same! Gunslinger are very different because I have such original style of bass playing, its like Lemmy but I've added my own sytle to it. Lemmy said this in an interview with Kerrang Mag UK years ago! So its cool with him what I do!!
I believe that's why we are getting a lot of interest because we are so different from other rock bands!
Q: Gunslinger worked out a few songs, played everywhere they could in local bars... gimme a picture of your first played gig ever. How the crowd react those days?
A: The 1st gig was in Woodbridge cinema in Suffolk UK. It was just like you would think it would be! Drinking, girl's backstage, lots of fun and bad behaviour!! Then of course we did the gig! It blew people away, we got a following immediately!! Again we were different from all the other local bands and that attracted more girls too!!! They know where the fun is eh!! It was great being young and in a band!! I was 18-19 and so bad!!!!
Q: Day by day, GS's fanbase growth on and on - fans saw that you guys just served Rock the way they liked. Even a few demo's were realized, next step in the young career of the band was to catch a record deal but things went wrong I suppose. Many record label were interested in working things out with Gunslinger but unfortunately, an ultimate debut album never became reality... an explanation please brother...
A: Neat Records in the UK made a competition for all bands to send in a demo tape. Hundreds were sent and only 2 were left in the final, Gunslinger and Raven, remember them? It was looking like we would get it but then our drummer Liffy left for personal reasons and we could not find another drummer in time so we backed out and Raven got the deal.
I hold no grudge with Liffy as I said earlier we jammed out together and are still good friends!
Q: The curtain fell over Gunslinger, so another way to follow was mission number one. After Gunslinger, you had the chance to join the legendary Hawkwind from 1984 - 1996 and from 2000 - 2006 (to be fully correct). How did you came in touch with these legendary Space Rockers?
A: The fan club guy Brian Tawn had a Gunslinger demo that he copied and sent to HW as they were in big trouble! I had seen them recently myself and thought they were really bad, no power in the sound, and going thru the motions ( like they are now!), this is all Lemmy's fault as without that BIG BASS, Hawkwind are nothing!! Lemmy set the president for this right!!
So after HW heard my playing I was in the band fast!! All fans were very happy HW had the big bass sound back, and many still say to me I saved HW and kept them going all those years I was in them! Many fans say HW are like a tribute band of themselves now that I'm not in it again! I do play with the Hawklords though, which is Nik Turner, Terry Ollis, Harvey Bainbridge, Steve Swindells, Ron Tree, Jerry Richards, Martin Griffin, Adrian Shaw and myself. We are doing a BIG show in Londons Roundhouse March 8th. www.myspace.com/hawklordsinmyspace
I am so happy to be doing Gunslinger now and not Hawkwind, this is where I come from, Gunslinger is my roots!!
Q: I think you didn't have to choose twice to say Hell Yeah to accept the opportunity teaming with this formation...
A: It was my chance to be a pro musician but the politics of HW are not nice and I found this unpleasant! Its not peace and love at all, its all back-stabbing and bitching, I was very disappointed but stuck with it, ignoring the bull shit and waiting everyday to be sacked because I said no or disagreed!!! Goodbye HW4ever!! ''I Don't Need You!'' That's a Gunslinger song, a f**king good fast one!!
Q: Can you tell how many albums you have brought out with Hawkwind and please mention the most favourite one of all.
A: I've probably done about 30-35 albums with HW its hard to be accurate as I've not got them all! Favourite one is California Brainstorm as it's the closest to old HW, lots of jamming!!
Q: In 1996 you left the band for a couple of years - in 2000 you've teamed up again for another six years. Can you tell me more about that Alan?
A: I was bored with HW and I was writing really good songs that were rejected by Brock, so I did a solo album of them called ''Captured Rotation''. It got GREAT reviews in UK and Europe while HW's at the time was voted worst HW album ever!! I knew what the fans wanted but Brock would not listen, he did not have a clue and still does not in my opinion!! So I thought it best to leave as my opinion and experience meant so little to Brock!
I went back in 2000 for the big Hawkestra gig, with all the old members. The best part was playing with Lemmy on stage again, we broke the monitors straight away, our 2 bass sounds were just too powerful!! HA!!
It was a fun night but again HW politics F**ked it up in the end! I stayed with HW a few more years but its run its course I think and I got bored playing the same old songs over and over instead of choosing the good old songs that have not been played for so long that I know the fans want to hear!!
I was replaced without being told, by my roadie! Its an insult to true HW fans to have such an average bassist in it, when you consider who have done bass duties before in HW!! Like Lemmy, Myself, Adrian Shaw, Harvey Bainbridge, John Harrison, all top players and respected!! HW has always had a top Bassist in it but no more! The roadie guy is a yes man so that's why he is in HW!! No one in HW has any BALLS!! They just bitch about each other behind each others backs, its really sad, it made me pissed off and angry listening to it all the time, F**king peace and love MY ASS!!
Q: Hey, how's the situation in Hawkwind's camp anno 2009?
A: SNIGGERRRRRR!!!!!!!!
Q: So far your story in days with Hawkwind but there was another band called Bedouin you were active in too. Some more info about that band will be interested to know.
A: Yeah this was a real threat to HW I was to be told by someone in HW's camp!! I had no idea!! We were good though!! The 1st Psycedelic Metal band!! We did the 1st Hawkfest and blew people away! But the music industry was in a mess so it was hard to get anything going at that time for all starting bands! We got 2 albums out, 1 studio, and 1 live!
We had a good following and they were BIG fans, we delivered psycedelia like no one else!! I was told that's why I was asked to join HW again to get rid of the Bedouin threat! That's what I'm told!!
Q: Another great topic to announce is your own solo career. Also concerning these years, I'd like to ask to spread the word about Alan.
A: I've done about 10 solo albums I`m working on my next right now as well as everything else!! My last one was called ''Human on the Outside'' and did very well getting good reviews! My next one is called ''Eclectic Devils'' and featured lots of girls dressed as devils and one angel!! Its more rocky than my usual albums but that's the way I`m going now!
I'm doing several albums with other musicians like Silva Nigra that'll be ambient, Desolate Angel a female guitarist, Bridget Wishart (ex-HW) and Karl Seigfried a classical musician fron Chicago USA!!! So I`m a busy Bass Monster!! To see all I'm doing go to... www.alandaveymusic.co.uk / www.myspace.com/alandaveymusic
Q: Pretty busy musical career throughout many years so my respect and dignity is sincere brother. Between the lines - Gunslinger's guitarist Nigel Potter auditioned with Motorhead. Did everything went good during those auditions?
A: Nigel got in the last 10, which was great considering how many tried for it!! Nigel would have been a great asset to Motorhead, he writes great songs, Lemmy would have enjoyed playing bass on them!! But Lemmy knew what he was after and got it in the end, and still doing great eh!!
Q: I guess you're still a good friend of Nigel nowadays - a true brother for life, right?!
A: Oh yes!! Always brothers, cousins even!! Heehee!!
Q: As I've mentioned in my review of Gunslinger's new album ''Earthquake In E Minor'', you probably couldn't forget all the good times you've experienced during the early days of existence. All those early songs created with a burning passion, I can imagine that you cannot throw them away let it never happened. Your ambition was the rework older songs to release as CD version, right? Tell me the story behind this process please.
A: I found out Nigel had a studio so we decided to do 2 Gunslinger songs as we both thought in our hearts that these were great songs! We put them on our myspace sites and the reaction was HUGE!! Do more, do more!!! There was so many messages about them we decided to open a Gunslinger myspace of its own! It got 1200 hit per week and is still doing so!! 10,000 in the last month!! As it grows it grows bigger! Unfortunately Nigel cant play live anymore but we keep it in the family with my nephew Louis Davey and Nigel was very happy about this!! It was his suggestion to get Louis in Gunslinger!
Q: Can I assume that Earthquake Records is your own label. The new album has been recorded in your own studio too, right?
A: Yes EQ records is my label, just a small one to keep things legal and copyrighted etc! And yes the Gunslinger album was recorded and mixed in my studio, and mastered by Paul Cobbold in his mastering studio.
Q: The songs on the new album are actually works from your early demo's - is that correct?
A: Yeah, all the songs on Earthquake in E Minor were written in 1979-80, in fact they are older than Louis and Cat!! We have many more songs too from the same period, we got 11 ready for the next album already, hot songs too!! Its great that these old songs are so popular now 30 years later, in fact Gunslinger is 30 years old this year!!!
Q: Point was that you wanted those older songs some kind of a 'modern' touch, why?
A: The modern touch is from the drums, all else is as it would have been! Drumming has changed more than bassing or guitaring. The double kicking (which Cat is great at!) was only really brought to light with Motorheads song 'Overkill'. The songs are as they would have been back in 1979 otherwise, but I do prefer the modern drumming, its more powerful.
Q: What is Nigel Potters' share on this release?
A: 50/50 credit!! Totally Equal!!!
Q: My first impression while listening to the album was that Gunslinger took me back in time to the glorious days of Motorhead. Your bass works brings on similarities with Lemmy's thunderous bass tactics. Heavy as hell, dirty as can be - definitely in the footsteps of Motorheads bass killer, how feels that to be compared with him?
A: Normal and fantastic at the same time!! He is my biggest influence, there is no other way to play bass for me! Lemmy started something unique, and he is happy that I do it too, he told me once, it was a great moment I'll never forget! In a way I owe all to Lemmy as it was hearing his bass sound which made me start to play bass. I had no interest in being a musician before that!! So a BIG THANX to Lemmy eh!!
Q: Even your voice reflects an obvious approach to Lemmy... agree with that?
A: Now that's a strange thing, it never used to sound like that till I got Bedouin going! I used to sing all the songs in Bedouin, this was a 1st for me! Nigel was the lead singer in early Gunslinger! You can`t just change your voice! One day it went growl... and it's been like that ever since! Perhaps my voice was late in breaking eh!!!!! Hahahahaha!!!!!
Q: One day, Lemmy called you 'Bass Assassin Number 2' - ain't that a nice compliment Alan?
A: Totally cool!! That credit is on Motorheads ''Orgasmatron'' album if you read thru the credits you'll find it! Yeah, Lemmy means a lot to me, I don't see him much now he lives in Los Angeles, but he will always be in my heart like a brother!!
Q: Can I say that Lemmy's a friend of you?
A: Yes, when he lived in London I used to stay at his place for 2-3 days many times and we would go to night clubs and hang out at Motorhead gigs, get drunk take many things and so on....!!!!! A Lemmy breakfast is something else!!!!! Ask me in person about that!!!
Q: The new Gunslinger album ''Earthquake In E Minor'' gives a picture of a band in good form, first released through Earthquake Records in the UK but some other label will release the album too real soon..3 what to ay about that?
A: In Europe Buzzville Records will release it at the end of Febuary and Iron Pegasus a german label who specialise in VINYL will bring it out at the same time! I met Buzzville thru my good friend in Belgium Hugo 'Jack Daniels' Ringoir! Peter at Buzzville really liked the album when Hugo played it to him, he has great taste in Rock eh!! Thanx Hugo and Peter!!
Q: Motorhead meets Hawkwind meets early Deep Purple / Zeppelin is how I'd like to describe this new output. Can you deal with this point of view?
A: That's a good description! I am the Motorhead/Hawkwind part and Nigel is the Deep Purple/Zeppelin part!! Yeah that's our main 4 influences right there!! Spot on brother!!
Q: To promote the album even better, there is a European tour planned to let happen within a few weeks. Gunslinger will stop by in Belgium tow for two gigs I guess. What to expect from this tour Alan?
A: A kick ass night of pure dirty old skool rock!! Like it should be! We start with a show in Holland 22nd Jan at The Little Devil in Tilburg, then to Paris at Le Klub on 23rd Jan (thanx to Thierry for that one!) then we come to Belgium at t' Kruisken, Belzele, near Gent on 24th Jan. It's a lil taster tour cause we can, and we cant wait to play in Europe!! You guys love ya rock in Europe so we cant wait to come and play fro ya!!
Q: As mentioned already, a good friend of mine named Bux asked you to bring on a promo CD to spread the word of Gunslinger which I did with pleasure of course! Well, Bux is the right guy on the right place when all has to do with organizing gigs (read American Dog / Alabama Thunderpussy / BugGirl / ... . So he also has something to do with Gunslinger's concert in Belgium soon - from where the co-operation with Bux?
A: Bux knows Peter from Buzzville too!! And Bux having such good taste in music likes Gunslinger also, so he started to look for a gig for us in Belgium! Bux has been great for us, we not forget his help and we always buy him a good beer when we meet eh!!!
Q: More band are on the bill to support Gunslinger during this Tour - who are they and what do they have to offer for the present crowd?
A: Solenoid are our support for Tilburg and Belzele, Bux knows them too, and they have an album out too, they are a good rock band so you get 2 goods bands when you come to concert eh!! They will certainly warm up the crowd!
Q: Did you ever played in Belgium before? How's your knowledge about the Belgian Rock and Metal scene actually?
A: I did Belgium many times with Bedouin and the Belgium crowd is always having fun! Plenty beers! And going deaf!! It's a good scene in Belgium for rock/metal it always has been!!
Q: While playing live gigs, the line up of Gunslinger looks different that on the CD. The one who takes control over the 'live' guitars is Louis Davey, your nephew... the Rocking spirit is rooted in your family Alan!
A: Yeah he is only 21, he has done really well to learn guitar so quick, he is like a rock/blues player he has old amp and speaker like Hendrix used to use so a great 70's sound that fits with my bass sound really well!
He looks just me when I was 21 too! Sadly that means he is going to look like me when he is 45!! OUCH!!
Q: Live drums by Cat - introduce in a few lines please.
A: Cat is 18 years old and a small girl, but she plays like a big guy!! When I 1st tried her out I was amazed by her! I could not believe it! Her idle is the drummer from Cradle of Filth. She plays their songs with ease!! She is a great find and I'm sure she will be a great asset to Gunslinger, and it is unusual for a power house rock/metal band to have a female drummer! We have a lot of laughs when we play together, she is lots of fun!!
This is the best line up ever for Gunslinger, now is our time I feel!
Q: Well I'm sure that Belgium will start the tremble while Gunslinger walk the stage. Far from sure that I can be there at the show but I'd like to wish the entire Gunslinger camp all the very best during the live acts. Give those Belgian Rockers a blast they will never forget Alan. Before closing up this interview, I'd like to know what the plans are for both solo project and Gunslinger.
A: Gunslinger plan to tour all Europe including Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, Austria, Italy, Spain and Greece. Plans for a tour of the USA have begun too, it's going so well for us, we must be doing the right thing at the right time!! This year we will record a live album and next year we will record a new Gunslinger album, with songs like 'Living Like a Viking', 'All the Way', 'Some ones got you in the Gun Sights' and 'Sad to see you go.'
My solo projects will have to work around Gunslinger now as it's becoming very busy!!
Thx a ton for your time answering these questions... do you have some last remarks before close the curtains finally?
I'm going to thank all you guys and girls in advance who are going to come to our shows!! Without you, there is no us!! Thanx to Buzzville, Bux, Hugo, Costa (iron Pegasus) and all the friends on myspace for keeping in touch and sending great messages about us!! See you all soon for a ''shoot out'', Gunslinger style!!!!!!!
Cheers/Prost/Salut/ciao, Alan Davey (the Bass Monster!!)
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