0711 ALL IN GOOD TIME BOOK.indd

all IN GOOD TIME
®
STYLE/MUSIC/CULTURE
ISSUE 1
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
FREE MAGAZINE
SPRING/SUMMER 2012
all IN GOOD TIME
STYLE/MUSIC/CULTURE
®
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
SPRING/SUMMER 2012
CONTACT [email protected] / www.deliciousjunction.co.uk
EDITORIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY
Del Junction
Mark Baxter
Phil Dias @Karma Creative
Pages 12-13 Lee Cogswell
Pages 20 Annie Ward
Pages 21 Derek Brad
MODELS
Darron J Connett
Joel Rogers
Billy Sullivan
Paolo Hewitt
Gary Crowley
Neil Sheasby
Simon Townshend
wElCOME
DESIGN
Phil Dias @ Karma Creative
Gurps Chahal @ Karma Creative
www.karma-creative.co.uk
SPECIAL THANkS
Lee Osborne
of Osborne-Horbowsky design,
ATOM RETRO
www.atomretro.com for supplying
a large selection of clothing
Nicholon&Walcot
for providing scarves
www.nicholsonandwalcot.com
TO THE INAUGURAL ISSUE
OF ALL IN GOOD TIME
It goes without
saying that what
we wear on the
outside tells much
about the person
on the inside. The books we read,
the people we connect with and the
music we listen to; all add flavour
and provide a cultural backdrop to
our lives.
All in Good Time is written and
created to explore and celebrate
the work of those among us,
expressing themselves in the best
way they know how.
The relationship between style, music
and popular culture is at the very
heart of Delicious Junction; inspired
and driven by the many sub-cultures
that have flowed out of Britain since
the late 1950’s and early 60’s and
continue to influence today’s trends.
Often a “certain look” or
“movement” simply cannot be
created on a designer’s bench - it
runs much deeper and is born by
groups of like-minded people
determined to announce themselves
through their music and attire. We
thus arrive at a delicious junction
of expression born out of rebellion
against conformity - in turn this
creates a unique identity for others
to join, adore or simply dismiss…
We are constantly absorbing
and listening - so whether your
allegiances and interests lie in the
sharp eyed detail of Mod, fast tempo
Northern Soul; the uplifting 2-Tone
or SKA movement, the crisp cut
Skinhead silhouette, Scooter Boy
to Suede Head swagger…or simply
you just love wearing great shoes!?!
Having spent over 20 years in the
shoe making business, we know our
way around the classic cuts of the
footwear family tree; combining
that know how with our passion
for the British music scene we aim
to serve up some exciting flavours
and delicious footwear for your
enjoyment…
Love and Peace
CONTENTS
4. PAOLO HEWITT
Del Junction meets Spurs
supporting Lemonade drinker and
purveyor of fine footwear,
writer Paolo Hewitt.
7. GARY CROWLEY
Gary chats with Del Junction
about his immense love of music
and his constant quest for the
ultimate desert boot.
12.NEIL SHEASBY
Del Junction catches up with the
dapper bass player from Stone
Foundation for a cappuccino
and a chat…
14. DARRON J CONNETT
Darron talks to Del Junction
about his musical roots and
the current state of the music
industry.
16.JOEL ROGERS
Del Junction talks music and
fashion with Joel from the band
The Last of The Troubadours.
20.SIMON TOWNSHEND
Del Junction meets Simon after
his recent US tour with Roger
Daltrey.
22.BILLY SULLIVAN Billy tells Del Junction about his
favourite bands and all time top
tunes.
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
3
“
“
MOD FOR
ME WILL BE
RELEVANT
FOR EVER.
IT’S THE MOST
ENDURING
YOUTH CULT
WE’VE EVER
SEEN.
PaOlO HEwITT
DEL JUNCTION MEETS SPURS SUPPORTING,
LEMONADE DRINkER AND PURVEYOR OF FINE
FOOTWEAR, WRITER PAOLO HEWITT...
Born and raised in Woking in Surrey in 1958, writer
Paolo Hewitt had the toughest start in life imaginable.
His Italian mother had separated from her English
husband and had a breakdown, which resulted in her
ending up in a mental institution. She fell pregnant with
Paolo and upon giving birth he was taken from her.
He then spent the next major part of his childhood
in a succession of kid’s homes or with foster parents.
Tough aint the word for it. But he survived and wrote
a fantastic book about those experiences, The Looked
After Kid, which I urge you to read.
Upon leaving the care system and indeed Woking,
Paolo found himself a job writing for the music paper
Melody Maker and from there he progressed to the
NME. He had the good fortune through his talent for
writing to then meet many of his heroes, Marvin Gaye,
James Brown, Steve Marriott and Stevie Wonder among
many others. Around the late 1970s he also became
firm friends with the fellow Woking-ite Paul Weller,
who he had known back in his home town, before
Weller went on to achieve national acclaim with his
band The Jam
They shared a love of all things Mod and that has
stayed with Paolo to this day.
‘In 1972, when things went all Suedehead, the kids
that I hung around at school suddenly turned into these
amazing looking young adults with their Ben Shermans
and Sta-prest trousers. I didn’t have the money to
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
5
dress like that and it killed me. I remember
writing a whole essay on the Brutus shirt ...
‘they do these blue check ones with buttondown collars and hooks on the back’.
When I started earning money, it became
all I would buy and I’m still making up for
wearing pass-ons back then.’
Mod for me will be relevant for ever. It’s
the most enduring youth cult we’ve ever
seen. The idea of people dressing up and
being part of a secret cult with all the little
associated signals will never go away. The
defining period for me was 58, 59 - the new
jazz of Absolute Beginners but it was over
by 1963. I was talking to an original mod
once and he said they had it all down pat
and then suddenly they put it on the telly
with Ready, Steady, Go and the game
was up.
I loved the Beatles, The Kinks, Motown
and all those 60s pop singles. Then I got
into punk for about a year and soon got
bored of that so I went back to listening to
the older stuff.
Leaving the NME, Paolo became a writer
of books on subjects such as The Jam,
The Small Faces, a footballer called Robin
Friday and Ben Sherman shirts. His book’s
‘The Soul Stylists’ and The Fashion of
Football’ provided a fascinating insight into
the way clothes have pervaded our daily
lives. His novel The Mumper, written with
sometime collaborator Mark Baxter, has
been adapted for the big screen as the film
‘Outside Best’ starring Bob Hoskins.
Noted biographies on Steve Marriott and
Paul Weller have also seen Paolo reach the
top of the book sales charts.
His latest book is ‘Fab Gear’ which looks
at the fashions of The Beatles.
Paolo’s love of fashion has led him to
design a knitwear range for DNA Groove
in Italy and footwear for Delicious Junction,
first The Napoli and Capri, and now La
Scarpa, a driving shoe mixed with a classic
tasseled loafer.
One last thing to ask him before he heads
off to White Hart Lane and his beloved
mighty cockerel.
Was he really the Cappuccino Kid
known for all those sleeve notes on
Style Council records?
‘It’s funny how years later people still
want to know if it was me. I did used to
love writing those things ... People didn’t
seem to realise that it was all just a wind up
for Paul to get away from The Jam thing which was so serious and dour’
Now we know, goodbye and Grazie Mille
6
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
Gary Crowley
DJ Gary Crowley’s love
of music was fired in
the late 70’s by a passion
for the Beatles and all
things punk rock and mod
Whilst at school he started a punk fanzine,
inspiringly titled “The Modern World ‘and
got to interview heroes like the Sex Pistols,
the Clash and the Jam.
Upon leaving school he became an
office boy for Decca records (probably the
least Punk record label imaginable in the
Western world at the time!) before taking
over the telephone receptionist job from a
departing Danny Baker at the NME.
From there he joined the UK’s most
happening independent plugging company
and through them began a stint on
London’s Capital Radio (radio’s youngest
DJ at the time, clocking in at a tender 19!).
From then on his world was his oyster
(or so he was told) with many TV stints
including Thames TV’s ‘White Light’,
Channel 4’s ‘Earsay’, Carlton’s ‘The Beat’
and more recently ‘Gary Crowley Presents’
on Rockworld TV/ Sky 368.
Alongside the TV work, Gary has
presented radio shows on GLR, XFM and
now the BBC station for the capital BBC
London 94.9.
A long time, respected champion of new
music, the blood nutted bopper has given
many new bands and artist their first taste
of radio exposure and currently boasts a
Woody Allen DVD collection second to
none.
Gary explains here how he developed
his love of Mod and music from a very
young age…
‘ My Uncle Dave (a top Paddington
Mod back in the 60’s) played a large
part in igniting my passion for all things
modernist. He would regularly pop over
to our flat for a cuppa and I would sit with
him and my Auntie Christine (a top Swiss
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
7
Cottage Mod-ette) and literally interrogate
them for eons about their social life in
the 1960’s.
I wanted to know about the music they
listened to, the clothes they wore, the
scooters, and the culture. The whole kit
and caboodle in fact!
Apart from a green corduroy shoe I had
a as a kid (stylish!) I can remember buying
my very own first Desert Boot like it was
only yesterday.
After much badgering my other Auntie,
dear Auntie Olive gave me the money
and I was off down to Ernie Noads
(purveyors of bespoke footwear) on
Church Street NW8.
It would’ve been a pair of Clark’s. It was
literally love at first sight. The look, the
feel, the comfort of the desert boot has
always held a particular fascination for me
and that day was like meeting up with a
long lost friend. And over the years believe
8
you me I’ve had a collection that would’ve
made Imelda Marcos proud.
This new design for those groovy folk
at DJ, I’m immensely proud of. I’m already
cutting a dash around North West London
in mine. But as Del himself knows only too
well, the quest continues for the perfect
Desert Boot and I’m already badgering him
at the moment about one that crosses a
boot with a shoe.
In fact a bit like the one I had as a kid
all those years ago! Funny how things
go full circle...!
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
“
“
I CAN
REMEMBER
BUYING MY
VERY OWN
FIRST DESERT
BOOT LIkE
IT WAS ONLY
YESTERDAY.
NEIL SHEASBY
Del Junction
catches up with
bass player Neil
Sheasby from
the band Stone
Foundation over
a cappuccino in
Soho’s Bar Italia
DJ: Tell our readers about the journey
so far
DJ: So, the band is beginning to take shape,
what was the first release?
DJ: You can tell a lot from the shoes
someone is wearing…Next up?
Sheas: It’s been a strange old journey
really from playing half empty bars to sold
out arenas supporting The Specials and
it’s still unfolding. What I can tell you is
that we have always believed it, lived it,
breathed it, dreamed it. Right from the off.
For those who are intrigued by the history
lesson it started in earnest around 10
summers ago when I met Neil Jones. Our
worlds collided, an instant mash. Ideas,
songs and a vision formed but a band
didn’t. Members joined and then left or
were shown the door; a stable, solid line
up took time. Any gang worth its salt
(and pepper) does. This had to be right,
more than music, a family affair. Once
the team was in place they would still
take the duration required to firmly knit
the solid bond their hearts desired. The
understanding between the seven was
crucial. Yes, seven that’s right. We knew it
had to be. Hammond, Horns over a solid
soulful (stone) foundation, we didn’t want
anyone just dipping their toes in the water.
We were off to swim the channel!
Sheas: ‘In Our Time’ was the first fruit
of the labours of this group. It had its
moments, still does on reflection, certainly
a firm step in the right direction outlining
the intention and what could and would
be built upon. The live shows (although
it’s not a show you understand) gathered
pace and started to catch fire and peoples
imaginations. It had probably been a while
since gig goers had chanced upon a hard
hitting seven piece putting in a proper
shift, grafting. It was work in progress (still
is), commanding, earning and deserving
respect. We would play dates opening for
the old guard, we always had the upmost
for the majority of them, we could always
learn something from them (even if it was
Terry “Don’t talk to me about Jagger”
Reid’s wife’s Jamaican Jerk recipe) that
respect was reciprocated when Steve
Gibbons phoned all the venues on his
forthcoming tour and warned them not to
book us as support. “Nowhere to run to
baby, nowhere to...............” shame because
he always wore such good shoes.
Sheas: The sound of the ‘Small Town Soul’
was soon to follow. By this time the band
had set up camp in Downtown Chinatown
with their nearest and dearest, Mr Andy
Codling at the controls. Although over
long, 17 tracks weighing in at just over
an hour, it was fundamentally a double
album on a single disc. It could have and
probably should have been trimmed but
we needed to get the songs out there and
move on. To our gratification the small
but ever growing faithful that were slowly
but surely spreading the gospel took it
to the hearts. That album changed the
gears, made us new friends. Not least the
author and journalist, and fellow Delicious
Junction wearer, Paolo Hewitt who mailed
in to say it reminded him in equal parts
of Tyrone Davis, Neil Young and Dexys
Midnight Runners. Right words, right
time, it spurred us on.
12
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
DJ: Paolo knows you know…
Sheas: Never ones to pat each other on the
back or blow our own bugles, we felt inspired
and quickly made another record. ‘Away
From The Grain’. A more concise and direct
affair than its predecessor. Two of the songs,
‘Tracing Paper’ and ‘Right Track’, feature US
Soul singer Nolan Porter famed in Northern
Soul circles here in the UK for songs such as
‘Keep on Keepin’ On’ and ‘If I Could Only Be
Sure’ (later covered by Paul Weller). Nolan
recorded with the group on his recent visit to
England where SF were used as his backing
band to play a handful of sell out gigs. As
well as live fave raves ‘Uncomplicated’, ‘Let
The Light’, ‘These Dreams of You’, ‘Get
It Back’, ‘Human’...you’ll find a hammond
instrumental ‘Dogtooth’ written for a
fictional movie soundtrack and a trippy
psych out claiming to recall the tales of
‘Terrence Rigby’.
DJ: Having seen you guys Live a few times,
Dogtooth has become a personal favourite,
a real crowd pleaser
Sheas: Once again buoyed on by the
response and reaction to the latest offering
it seemed to spur the band on again to new
heights. The group’s next collaboration
would be alongside Joe Harris, the voice of
the Fabulous Peps and Motown legends The
Undisputed Truth. Another special moment
for the band, already big fans of Joes ( and
Nolan’s ) records. This proved to be a very
effective and dynamic marriage for both
sides. A couple of initial low key gigs and a
very successful radio session for the Craig
Charles BBC Radio 6 Funk and Soul show
led to a headline show at 2011’s Vintage
festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
spread their gospel even further afield.
DJ: And so what of the future ?
Sheas: We constantly look forward, never
back. Onwards to what’s approaching, fresh
footsteps, into tomorrow. Out with the old
bring in the new, forever changes. It’s like the
man once said “ It’s too late to stop now....”
DJ: Amen to that brother.
DJ: And then you get checked out by
Specials drummer John Bradbury …
Sheas: Yeah, Brad saw us at a gig at The
Fiddlers Elbow in Chalk Farm and we got
offered the support spot on their Winter
tour 2011. Another album was compiled
consisting of Stone Foundation’s strongest
work to date, entitled “The Three Shades
of Stone Foundation” and this was released
to coincide with our band’s first major tour
of the UK . A 15 date arena tour supporting
Coventry Ska legends The Specials, can’t
be bad. This exposure has seen the band
gain new friends and followers all over the
country and is the perfect springboard to
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
DISCOGRAPHY
Albums
• In Our Time (2005)
• Small Town Soul (2008)
• Away From the Grain (2010)
• The Three Shades of Stone
Foundation (2011)
Singles
• Somebody Somewhere EP
featuring Steve Calloway (2009)
• Tracing Paper 7” Vinyl (2011)
• Holy Blue (2011)
www.stonefoundation.co.uk
13
TOMMY
(Black&White leather)
WODDCUTTER
(Red, White & Blue leather)
AUTUMN STONE
(Brown&Orange suede)
VANDELLA
(Beige corded suede with Tan leather contrast)
WATTS
(Red,White&Blue leather)
DarrON J CONNETT
DARRON TALkS TO DEL JUNCTION ABOUT HIS
MUSICAL ROOTS AND THE CURRENT STATE OF
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
DJ: What or who inspired you to get started
in the music scene and producing your own
music. Was it a particular artist or band? And
from what age did it become an obsession?
DJC: My mums record collection I guess,
lots of soul, reggae, r ‘n’ b plus Elvis, The
Beatles, The Stones, The Faces, Scott
Walker, plus some crooning stuff I later
appreciated more as I got older. I still like all
that but fell in love with all things Britpop Weller solo, Oasis, Blur and that entire guitar
based music. To me they looked so dapper
and rock ’n’ roll. I’ve always been obsessed
with music as far back as I can remember and
no one likes a scruffy ‘erbert do they?
DJ: On the day of a gig do you have a
particular routine or list of things you have to
do before you go onstage? Any superstitions
perhaps?
DJC: I haven’t really had the pleasure yet,
but I wish I could have five minutes on my
own to get myself geared up, but its mainly
two drinks, wish the band good luck and off
we go...cant wait for the lily’s and the fairy
lights in the dressing room ha ha…
DJ: What are your views on the state of the
current music industry?
DJC: Awful in the mainstream arena, but
really healthy on the underground scene.
There is no diversity in the charts so I rarely
look now, its all stage-school kids and Simon
Cowells X Factor victims, or such and such
featuring such and such, it sounds a lot like to
me when I got my first Casio keyboard aged
ten, the standard seems pretty low to me.
DJ: Is the music scene too dominated by TV
and reality shows in particular to allow the
Indies a chance? How would you change or
improve it?
DJC: I wouldn’t let kids audition for a record
deal to start with, all that shit has nothing to
do with music, only prime time TV ratings.
What suckers these people are, they vote
for their favourite acts and then Cowell sells
them back to the people, genius in a way I
suppose. I think artist/bands should learn
their craft by forming bands and getting
out there gigging. I think record companies
should hire music people and not marketing
people and get the A&R men back out to the
gig circuits and see what’s out there, that way
we aint gotta put up with the likes of West
Life and shit like that no more.
DJ: Do you have a favourite venue?
DJC: That’s got to be The 100 club. I’ve had
the pleasure of playing there many times
now. Once the lights go down, the magic
begins, such a rich heritage. Macca played
there one Friday and I played the following
Sunday… I was well chuffed.
DJ: Ideally, what band performer would you
like to support?
DJC: Anyone who’d have us! Beady Eye
would be nice. The Stone Roses might need a
brand new band like us to help out, how bout
it boys?
DJ: Who are your favourite bands or
performer’s from the last six months?
DJC: Beady Eye, Miles Kane, Michael
Kiwanuka all put a smile on my face this year.
I love a lot of the quirky Indie bands too like
Bombay Bicycle Club and Stornaway.
DJ: Often music and fashion often go hand
in hand, especially in the ‘Mod’ world, name
check your favourite label(s) at present…
DJC: Delicious Junction for shoes,
Nicholson and Walcott for pocket squares
and scarves, Pretty Green black label is cool
and love Atom Retro for their flag waving of
all things Mod/Indie and Casual - some top
stuff on their site. Love a bit of clobber me!
DJ: Tough question, but name you’re alltime top 3 favourite 45’s
DJC: Live Forever – Oasis. Just loved how
I felt when I very first heard, it still makes
feel like I can take on the world even now!
Wichita Lineman -Glen Campbell – I didn’t
hear never this till the late 90s but it made
me realise the importance of the singer
and the song, without trying too hard or
appearing to any way. One - Harry Nilsson.
Another one I didn’t find till maybe 2004.
Now I think he’s one of the best singersong writers of all time, The Beatles were
obsessed by him.
DJ: And finally, your all-time top three
albums
DJC: Rubber Soul - The Beatles. The start of
their studio experiments. Forever Changes
– Love. One album everyone should
have, just great songs. The Age of The
Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets.
Miles Kane and Alex Turner turned out a
modern classic which is always on in my
house, although to be fair this list would all
change next week as I love to hear and play
as many albums as I can and never really rob
myself by staying with one.
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
15
Joel Rogers
OGDEN
DJ: What or who inspired you to get
started in the music scene and producing
your own music. Was it a particular artist or
band? And from what age did it become an
obsession?
DJ: Who are your favourite bands or
performer’s from the last six months?
JR: I had all the obvious influences being
raised by parents that grew up in the
sixties. Motown, Beatles and Stones. My
first single I bought in ‘Our Price Records’
was George Harrison “I’ve Got My Mind
Set On You”. Again, like many of my
generation, an early influence were bands
like Nirvana & Pearl Jam before Oasis came
along and changed everything! Together
with Ocean Colour Scene & Paul Weller,
Oasis provide the soundtrack to my
teenage years.
DJ: On the day of a gig do you have a
particular routine or list of things you
have to do before you go onstage? Any
superstitions perhaps?
DJ: Is the music scene too dominated by
TV and reality shows in particular to allow
the Indies a chance? How would you change
or improve it?
JR: My view of the whole reality music/TV
thing is that the charts if you like are full of
such acts, but it is almost so detached from
real live bands that they are almost two
completely separate things. I think it all has
a shelf life and it will implode in time.
DJ: Do you have a favourite venue?
JR: I don’t really have a set routine. I tend
to just have a couple of liveners, quick team
hug, and get up there!
JR: To watch bands, I love The 100
Club, The Electric Ballroom and The
Roundhouse. I’m not a fan of the bigger
venues.
DJ: What are your views on the state of the
current music industry?
DJ: Ideally, what band performer would
you like to support?
JR: I think that there is a rich vein of bands
about right now but with the exception
of the “big boys” it’s hard to get much
recognition. Record companies are on their
arse and unless you turn up with a fully
JR: Right now I would like to support Miles
Kane. I think he has released one of, if not
THE, best albums of the year in ‘Colour Of
The Trap’.
16
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
(White leather)
THE STANHOPE
complete package, the perfectly produced
EP, the website, the 3000 regular followers,
they don’t want to know. A lot of good
bands are being forced underground to an
extent. At the same time, you could easily
go out every night of the week in London
right now and see a top band, and even have
a couple to choose from
(Black leather)
THE UNIVERSAL
(Tan&Cream leather)
Del Junction talks music and fashion
with Joel Rogers, from the band
‘The Last of The Troubadours’
JR: As above really, Miles Kane. Been to a
couple of his shows and he blew me away.
Apart from that, I love an Essex band
called Lamplight. Check them out They
are fantastic. Also, The Real People played
in London in September and they were
different class!!
DJ: Often music and fashion often go hand
in hand, especially in the ‘Mod’ world, name
check your favourite label(s) at present…
JR: I really like the Madcap Pieces we wore
in the photo-shoot we did for Delicious
Junction. They seem to get knitwear just
right! Also, Art Gallery Clothing has got
some nice pieces in their collection. For
accessories, I’ve got a bag from a boutique
designer Jam Tarts and Tractors. They
specialize in retro fabrics. For example, my
holdall is made from authentic 1960’s deck
chair material.
DJ: Tough question, but name you’re alltime top 3 favourite 45’s
JR: I always struggle to compile such lists
as they change like my mood on an hourly
basis. Right now I would have to go for
1. The Riverboat Song by Ocean Colour
Scene 2. Hear Me Lord by George Harrison
and 3. Stay with me –The Faces
THE UPSETTER
(Oxblood rub off leather)
www.deliciousjunction.co.uk
MERTON
(Blue rub off leather)
TOMMY
(Brown, Cream Suede)
SIMON TOWNSHEND
VANDELLA
(Beige corded suede with Tan leather contrast)
Del Junction meets Simon
Townshend after his recent US
tour with Roger Daltrey
DJ: What or Who inspired you to get started
in the music scene/producing your own
music was it a particular artist/ band? & from
what age did it become an obsession?
ST: I guess it had to be my older brother
Pete and The Who initially that got me into
music. My father, also a great musician,
pushed me to always write music. I was
obsessed about music, playing guitar and
being in a band from an early age... I was six
years old when I got my first plastic guitar.
8 when I got my first real one (a stuck
together job from Pete)
DJ: On a gig day do you have a particular
routine or list of things you have to
do before you go onstage? Any
superstitions perhaps?
ST: I don’t like to be around too many
people on gig days. I like to think and get
focussed which I find hard when people
want a general chat and ask even simple
questions. I never walk under ladders
intentionally. God knows why. I’m not
superstitious otherwise.
DJ: What are your views on the state of the
current music industry?
DJ: Fave band/performer from the last
6 months
ST: Difficult time for artists to make a
living, especially at the low end of the
spectrum. Free downloading and sharing is
great but it doesn’t pay.
ST: I am really enjoying writing and
recording my own new album , Looking
Out Looking In due out next March 2012. I
rarely find time to listen to anything else as
I’m constantly checking mixes. I like Elliot
Smith a lot.
DJ: Is the music scene too dominated by
TV/reality shows to allow indies a chance?
How would you change or improve it?
ST: I think I would bring back Ready Steady
Go or Top Of The Pops. I miss those shows.
DJ: Favourite Venue?
ST: The Royal Albert Hall is an amazing
place to play but not such a great place to
play rock (for sound). I would prefer to see
a band at Red Rock in Colorado.
DJ: What band/performer would you love
to support?
ST: I think Pearl Jam is my dream support.
And I think it will happen sometime next year.
DJ: Music and fashion often go hand in hand
especially in the ‘Mod’ world, namecheck
your favourite label(s) at present
ST: D Junction of course and Lambretta
DJ: All time top 3 fave singles
ST: Going Underground, Won’t Get Fooled
Again, London Calling
DJ: All time top 3 fave albums
ST: London Calling, Setting Sons, Who’s
Next
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
21
DJ: What or who inspired you to get started
in the music scene and producing your own
music. Was it a particular artist or band? And
from what age did it become an obsession?
BS: Gig day basically consists of me waking
up in the morning and all I can think about is
the gig that evening. What time I have to be
there, what I’m going to wear etc. All I can
focus on is playing.
BS: Weller and Oasis, when I hit about 8
or 9, it just took over my life. Around the
same age I picked up the guitar for the
first time and after a few month I became
obsessed with it. I didn’t do the grade
exams or learn all the technical in and outs,
I just learnt how to play Jam songs. At the
end of each year, my primary school would
hold a concert so the pupils could play to
their parents and an audience. So me and
my three mates would get our little band
together and instead of playing ‘Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star’, we decided to get the
drum kit out and the amps.
It was this that made me fall in love with
playing on stage to an audience, the buzz
and the energy that cannot be recreated
in any other way then to play on stage.
The summer after I left primary school,
we discovered this little rehearsal studio
in Watford where we’d spend hours
practising and it was pretty much the only
place we could be as loud as we wanted.
We then started turning up at open mic
nights in pubs local to where we live, and
we would just plug into the equipment
provided and play the song we’d learnt
that week. As we got older, I became much
more serious about it and wanted likeminded people to play with. I wanted to
play the songs that I’d written with people
who wanted to play them. I found these
people at my secondary school and I’ve
been with them ever since.
BS: The current music industry is far too
involved. Far too many things going on for
there to be any guidance or hint in the right
direction. There are far too many people
stuck in their ways, scared to venture out.
I don’t feel as if there is any band in the
UK at the moment that represents youth,
makes people dress in a certain way, makes
them look, think and feel differently. Music
isn’t about just the noise that comes out of
speakers. Its should be a whole experience.
The buying of a physical album, one you can
hold and feel in your hands. The booklets/
inserts where you see the photos read the
lyrics. My favourite albums are not only
my favourites because of the music, but
also because of the experience I had when
listening to them for the first time or when I
realised it was one of my favourite albums.
Obviously the technology has somewhat
caused lack of passion or belief in music. Its
getting harder and harder to get people to
gigs and I think if we’re not careful the live
element is going to die on its arse. However
there is good things that technology has
brought us. Anyone is now able to get their
music out there. Through the use of iPods,
people are now listening to music constantly,
not just at home through their stereo but on
the way to and from work, on the tube or bus.
DJ: On the day of a gig do you have a
particular routine or list of things you have
to do before you go onstage? Any
superstitions perhaps?
DJ: Is the music scene too dominated by TV
and reality shows in particular to allow the
Indies a chance? How would you change or
improve it?
22
DJ: What are your views on the state of the
current music industry?
ALL IN GOOD TIME • SPRING/SUMMER 2012
MERTON
Del Junction talks music and
fashion with Billy Sullivan,
from the band The Spitfires
(Bordo rub off leather)
Billy Sullivan
BS: I feel that its very easy for people
to blame the current state of the music
industry on TV shows. Don’t get me
wrong, I completely disagree with them
and I for one refuse to line Cowell’s pockets
and guarantee him a Xmas no.1. I’m just
slightly worried that young people’s
perception of music is going to change as a
result of X Factor.
DJ: Do you have a favourite venue?
BS: My favourite venue and one that I’ve
played has to be The 100 Club. I loved every
minute of it. Sound checking and suddenly
spotting a photograph on the wall of one of
your heroes literally standing on the spot
you are on stage. Great sound in there too.
DJ: Ideally, what band performer would you
like to support?
BS: There are the obvious artists who are
my dream to support (Weller, Gallagher etc.)
but I would just love to support a band who
personally I believe in and the crowd believes
in. They could be signed or they could be just
starting, at the end of the day it’s down to the
crowd with things like that.
DJ: Who are your favourite bands or
performer’s from the last six months?
BS: The last 6 months I’ve been listening
to a few different things. Noel Gallagher
new album, which is think is great but I
don’t expect it to make an impact. I’ve
discovered my love for The Style Council’s
‘Confessions of a Pop Group’, which I think
is a brave and beautifully written album. For
new bands I haven’t seen or heard anything
that has excited me. I’ve listened to The
Sons EPs a lot recently which I also think are
perfectly structured songs -with lyrics that
mean something and a bit of bite to them!
(Which is needed in this scene which
people are scared to offend anyone)
DJ: Often music and fashion often go hand in
hand, especially in the ‘Mod’ world, name check
your favourite label(s) at present…
BS: I love my clothes. I love my Fred Perry’s,
Ben Sherman shirts, Levis jeans and my Sebago
loafers. I think there is a lot of snobbery attached
to the Mod scene to do with clothes. I’m sure I
could name-check incredibly expensive labels
which I’d love to own, clothes made by them, but
I’m a working class teenager. I can’t afford it!
DJ: Tough question, but name you’re all-time
top 3 favourite 45’s
MERTON
RUDE BOY SPECIAL
(Black/white hi shine leather)
RUDE BOY
BS: 1. All Mod Cons - The Jam
2. The Village Green Preservation Society The Kinks 3. The Clash - The Clash
(Brown hi shine leather)
DJ: And finally, your all-time top three albums
(Blue rub off leather)
BS: 1. Strange Town - The Jam
2. Tin Soldier - Small Faces
3. Do Nothing - The Specials