RiotZine

-Another Life

When and why did you guys start playing together?

Steve: I formed the band back towards the end of 2003 or so when I asked Craig if he wanted to be in a band, he told me his brother Graeme played the drums so we got together every now and then and jammed around. It wasn’t until the year after that things kinda got a bit more serious
Tom: Well, I don’t know why these guys started playing together, I joined in 2006 because my previous band had gotten to the point wherein we never jammed, and never…did anything. I got the offer to join AL (I was friends with Steve anyway) and so I jumped at the chance.

Where did you get the name 'Another Life' from?

Tom: I think it’s an Iron Maiden song? I have no idea, really.
Steve: Our ex guitarist came forward with the name to replace “Unidentified Rocking Object” (which is what the band was called back in the day). And yes, it is the name of an Iron Maiden song

If you could start your own religion and write 3 commandments, what would the religion be called and what would the commandments be?

Tom: Ooh, a good question. I have no concrete answer though. I don’t particularly care for religion. I would just let people believe whatever they want to believe, as long as they have faith it’s all good.
Steve: Same applies to me really, I’m not a massive fan of religion, I personally think it causes more trouble than it solves.

If you could perform live or record with any famous musician, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Steve: Devin Townsend, Tom recently got me into his solo stuff and I think it just sounds utterly amazing and epic, just how I like my music and how I’ve been trying to write it lately, so performing with him would just be incredible.
Tom: James Hetfield, although he would be singing and playing the guitar so I wouldn’t have to do anything.

If you could go back in time, what band/song/album would you erase from history?

Steve: I personally don’t have any beef with whatever anyone releases, I’m sure they all have some significance however slight in their own right.
Tom: Too tough a question:
Any of the following bands: The Beatles, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin
Song would probably be Sweet Child O’ Mine. And the album would be…too tough to decide that one.

How do you go about writing a song?

Steve: I’m just at home with my guitar, doodling about as you do, and if I come up with something I like I might put it into Powertabs (amazing programme) or I’ll just do a rough recording and send it to Tom to put to Lyrics.
Tom: I just start writing the lyrics out, I don’t have a set theme or meaning that I’m trying to convey. I just write, and what I write normally is something personal that’s happened to me or to a friend or just some generalized bollocks.

Who are your main influences, and how have they affected your playing style?

Steve: In my early days playing guitar and writing music, it was all about the Iron Maiden. Then after listening to all this music that Tom has introduced me to over the years I’ve found its become more diverse, but main influences would be: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, SUM 41, Devin Townsend, Anthrax.
Tom: Metallica, Counting Crows, R.E.M., Barenaked Ladies, Testament, Stevie Wonder off the top of my head would be big influences, both lyrically and vocally inspiring.
Adam Duritz, James Hetfield and Chuck Billy have probably had the biggest impact on how my voice sounds today, and if it weren’t for Hetfield and The Beautiful South’s Paul Heaton I probably wouldn’t be singing at all.

Finish the following statements:

Steve:
- You know when you’ve made it when… People start singing your lyrics and learning your songs.
- It’ll be time to pack up the gear for good when… I find I’m better at anything else
- I’ll never forget the first time I… Wrote my first full song
- When I make a million, I’m going to… Save it until I can think of something to actually do with it haha

Tom:
- You know you’ve made it when you’re actually doing stuff instead of sitting round like a moron.
- It’ll be time to pack up the gear for good when…we’re dead? Or if at a gig when the bottle start getting thrown.
- I’ll never forget the first time…I sang onstage, eleven years ago
- When I make a million, I’m going to build my own recording studio, preferably in Toronto.

What have been the most memorable gigs you've played so far - both good and bad...?

Steve: Our gig in Fleet on the 25th of October 2008. It was at The Point with Wicked Boy Promotions. Utterly amazing night, the crowd was incredible when they joined in with their participation. Our sound was brilliant and we all played beyond the best of our abilities I believe. The videos are on our YouTube.

As for the bad side of things, probably in March of 2007 at the Farnborough College Of Technology’s battle of the bands. On the night I just didn’t want to go through with it anymore (and I had to play with two different bands). Unfortunately the first band on wasn’t there so we had to go on first and I was totally unprepared.

Tom: Most memorable was October 25th 2008, at The Point in Fleet, great crowd, great performance and such like. Worst was November 8th a little fireworks party we played, ‘twas shit. No-one paid any attention to us at all. Another bad ‘un was March 17th 2006, when we played really badly and I had lost my voice during the day and could barely talk let alone sing.

Any final comments?

Steve: If there is anyway, anyone out there can help us get gigs in the local area, it would be greatly appreciated!
Tom: Go to our My Space, please? We’re starving artists damnit