INTERVIEWS
**Just Because The Band Said It Doesn't Mean We Think The Same**
Band members;
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The first time I heard Overthrow, I was blown away. Their unique blend of Reggae and punk makes for an interesting and unpredictable roller coaster of tempo, dynamic and melodic changes. You're never quite sure where the next line will take you, every word oozes with emotion and expression. It really is nothing like I've ever heard before, and I can't wait to hear more from them.
When and why did you guys start playing together?
Sam H: we started the band early in 2005. I suppose the reason why we started the band was because we had the right amount of people at the right time who all had a great passion for a similar genre of music (reggae/rock) and we all wanted to write and play music together.
Mike: Alike most other musicians, we just prefer writing music or playing gigs, rather than sitting in the pub for a few pints after the 9-5, or staying in watching TV. Not to say that going to the pub or watching T.V everyday is wrong.... We are just the kind of people who get very agitated when we go days at a time without doing something musically productive.
Where did you get the name 'Overthrow' from?
Sam H: in 2006 (when used to be called Jeremy George) we lost 3 valued members to our band, due to other commitments. Our old Drummer Will, our old bassist My, and our Sax player and backing vocalist James, who all put a lot of effort into the band and were hard to replace. Anyway, we had an old friend called Sam Jones who we knew was an outstanding drummer, and the timing was perfect as he had just split with his old band ''Complex GSL'' and he was already occasionally playing a bit of percussion for us, but he was mainly looking to join a band permanently again so we got him in on drums. Then whilst we began to record the first couple songs on our Album, we met Mike who was engineering for us at the Studio. His previous band ''Stowic'' had just recently split up as well and he was also very keen to get back into writing and playing live again, so he had a chat to Sam Jones about joining, and the line up was complete again! To answer your question... we just thought, as we have lost half of the original members of the band, and gained two new members, why don't we start fresh and give ourselves a new name...It took us a while to think of, and even delayed the release of our album, but we got there in the end.
If you could go back in time, what band/song/album would you erase from history?
Mike: I would say a certain song by us...but I haven't been in the band long enough to start saying that kind of stuff yet, so I'm going to say ''The Earth Song'' by ''Michael Jackson''. Environmentally concerned Paedophiles just don't do it for me.
How do you go about writing a song?
Sam H: We usually get together at mine and Duff's house in Guildford and will find a new area in the house (the kitchen, a bedroom, next to the fish tank, in the garage/garden etc) to set up. We will just get a kick drum, a hi hat and a snare, get 2 acoustic guitars and a bass and start jamming. If something evolves from the jam we will start structuring the song. As for the lyrics it is different. We always put the lyrics to the music. Sometimes I write the Lyrics but most of the time our drummer, Sam Jones who is also a great MC will have an entire page of lyrics which are suitable for us to use. To finish writing the song, Duff will work out the harmonies on the Guitar and Mike and I will sit and work out vocal melodies and harmonies. Very occasionally Duff or I will write a song on our own and bring it to practice for the others to work out.
Who are your main influences, and how have they affected your playing style?
Sam H: We like RX Bandits quite a lot, Biffy Clyro has recently become a big influence and then we have classic influences such as The Police or Pink Floyd. I suppose certain riffs and melodies of ours are influenced from another bands songs but we don't like to think we are ripping anyone off.
What do you think of the current state of UK radio and the live/local music scene?
Mike: I think the Radio is slowly but surely getting better. I remember a few years ago, all you ever heard on the Radio was tacky formulated Pop or RnB tracks and occasionally there would be a rock show on at 10 in the evening, when no-one was around to listen. I think it's hard to complain about the Radio because at the end of the day it's all about what the largest majority of people want to hear, and all I can give is an opinion. I'm Glad Rock music and underground bands are becoming much more well known Locally and nationally, and that It is no longer uncool to go and watch a local band in your spare time, or even to be in a band (unless you're really bad ;) . The local music scene could do with a few more people getting involved but there are a lot of people out there who have a lot of passion for their local scene and seem to be doing a lot of beneficial and unselfish things for it in many places at the moment.
Any other new bands and/or new albums that you would recommend checking out?
Sam H: Two local bands/albums which we are loving at the moment are The Savage Jazz (Mixtape Voodoo) and The JB Conspiracy (This Machine). You should definitely check them out!
What's the strangest/coolest thing a fan has ever thrown at you while you were on stage?
Sam H: a tiny pink sock........ I have no clue why...
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your natural life, which song would it be and why?
Probably at this moment in time 'machines' by Biffy Clyro, its so heart felt, but it will change next week.
If you could play any festival/concert/venue in the world, where would it be and why?
Mike: I think we would go for Reading festival. Just because it's been a tradition when you are from the south to go there. It would be amazing to play to everyone we know that goes there and to hundreds of complete strangers.
Any final comments?
Thanks a lot for reading this interview!
Our debut album ''The Withdrawal Of Reason'' is out now for just £5, you can find links to purchase it from www.myspace.com/overthrowrock