from Bad Robot
British heavy rock band Stone Gods, formed from the ashes of the Darkness, recently played an excellent show with Airbourne at the Carling Academy, Newcastle.
Bad Robots Jamie Thomas spoke to Toby MacFarlane (bass), Dan Hawkins (guitar), Robin Goodridge (drums) and Richie Edwards (vocals, guitar) just before they went onstage.
Jamie: Toby, people will know you from your time in JJ72, but more recently youve been working with Graham Coxon. Hes a creative guy, but always comes across as very quiet. Whats he really like in person?
Toby: Yes, hes a strange boy (laughs). Everyone has a character they put on sometimes, so although he is pretty quiet, perhaps some of the mannerisms you see when hes on stage are slightly exaggerated, because thats how everyone expects him to act. Jamie: Do you think youll be working with him again in the future?
Toby: At this stage I dont know, it all depends on how peoples diaries line up. It would be nice though.
Dan: Weve stolen Toby from him, but we might give him back!
Jamie: Moving on to you, Robin, youve recently been drumming for Spear of Destiny, now youve joined Stone Gods does that bring your time with them to an end?
Robin: Again like Toby said, it depends on diaries. Spear have some dates booked for next year, but they have a bit of a revolving door policy when it comes to their line-up, it seems to change all the time! I think Im actually their longest-serving drummer, because I was in the band for about three years.
Jamie: Youre best known for your time in Bush. Can you see a Bush reunion happening in the future?
Robin: Gavin (Rossdale, Bush lead singer) has got a solo album out at the moment, so thats keeping him busy, but who knows? Some day perhaps. Reunions are best left until everyone really wants to do it. I had a great time in Bush but Im concentrating on Stone Gods now.
Jamie: As everyone knows, Stone Gods came about after The Darkness split. Do you guys get sick of journalists asking you about The Darkness?
Dan: No, not at all. Im very proud of my past. We achieved some great things with The Darkness, had a lot of fun, and for me it was a great start to my career. If some people dont like talking about their old bands, maybe its because they were in shit bands! The Darkness was my band, and Im proud of what we did.
Jamie: I recently spoke to Justin (Hawkins) and he was very positive about what you guys are doing with Stone Gods. Have you had a chance to listen to Justins new band Hot Leg?
Toby: Are they really called Hot Leg?
Dan: I have to say I havent really heard them yet. Do they have an album out?
Jamie: Im told theyre hoping to release it early next year.
Richie: Ive heard some of their tracks. I thought it was good stuff. Its healthy that people are moving on with their new bands.
Dan: Obviously what people are doing now reflects what theyre really into. I think thats one of the things that brought down The Darkness, in the end. We had different priorities in terms of the kind of music we wanted to make. Hopefully Justins now getting the chance to do what he wants to do.
Jamie: Youve recently been championed by the rock press, with the likes of Classic Rock and Kerrang! giving you a lot of support. How does that feel?
Robin: Its ok being on the periphery, as long as youre enjoying your music, but its really good to feel youre actually appearing on the radar straight away. And well prove them right.
Jamie: Your debut album is an interesting mix of styles. A song like Burn the Witch is very different to, say, Magdalene Street. Did you deliberately set out to make an album with a wide range, or did it just happen that way?
Richie: There was no real agenda. We all got together, wrote a whole load of songs I think 28 in the end and then whittled it down to the 14 or so we thought were good enough for the record. When youve got four people working on an album, youre going to get lots of influences coming together, and weve ended up with a pretty diverse record.
Jamie: And how are you enjoying being on tour with Airbourne, do they party as hard as their image suggests?
All: Its fucking awesome.
Dan: You can print that fucking awesome. The tour is going very, very well. Theyre a great band and were having a really good time.
Robin: And once this tour is over, well be looking forward to hitting the festivals next year.
