It doesn’t take a very observant music commentator to tell
you that British mainstream guitar music is in a bit of a rut right now. Sure,
a reverb soaked telecaster is still an indie mainstay, but the
over-intellectualised rock that tends to chart just doesn’t seem very fun does
it? Enter three uninhibited teenagers from small-town Missouri who were brought
up on a diet of classic rock and grunge. Radkey is a one-band hardcore revival and
they’re currently playing some of the most energetic live shows this country
has seen in years. Plus they have guitar solos! Lots them! And without any irony!
We caught up with the band backstage on their tour supporting
Drenge. Although they’re a group of very few words, they’re by far the most
polite and cheerful hardcore punks we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting:
You must be sick of
comparisons to the Misfits by now, but what are the top influences for you
guys?
Isaiah: Nirvana.
Dee: Nirvana, yeah.
Isaiah: And Led Zepplin!
I guess the Misfits
thing is because of the vocals...
Isaiah: We’re happy to be compared to the Misfits, and I
guess Dee’s voice is pretty similar, but that’s probably as far as it goes.
What have been your
first impressions of the UK?
Isaiah: Everybody from the UK is really enthusiastic about
American guitar music, a lot more than Americans I think.
Dee: [Laughs] Yeah!
Isaiah: It’s also cool being able to drink over here.
How has it been
touring with Drenge?
Isaiah: They’re really cool because they share all their
food and beer with us!
Do you not get much
of a rider yourselves?
Isaiah: Yeah look... [Points to a table of oranges, crisps,
houmous etc] I guess it’s kind of standard stuff.
You played Jools
Holland recently, was that the first time you’ve played in a studio?
Isaiah: It was the first time we’ve played in a real studio,
we’ve played on a small TV show back home but nothing like this. It awesome! It
was kind of weird, you do one live song on the TV and then the rest of it is
pre-recorded for the internet.
As brothers, how do
you manage not to kill each other on tour?
[All laugh]
Isaiah: We were all home-schooled so that made us all
abnormally close, so we don’t hate each other as much as most brothers.
Is there a big
hardcore scene where you’re from [St. Joseph, Missouri]?
Isaiah: No not all!
I read on your
website that you’re big gamers, do you get to play many games on tour?
Isaiah: No sadly, unfortunately. Maybe next time though!
So you’ve missed out
on GTA V so far?
Isaiah: Yesssssss! [Pained expression] Everyone is talking
about it too.
When will you get the
chance to play it online?
Isaiah: We get two weeks off at the end of this tour, so I
guess we’ll get to play it then.
Who is the best band
in the world right now?
Isaiah: Ugh... Arctic Monkeys are definitely up there right
now...
Dee: The Foo Fighters.
Isaiah: Um, who else? Queens of the Stone Age are doing
pretty well right now.
What is the best
movie you’ve seen this year?
Isaiah: [Instantly] World’s End!
Dee: World’s End, yeah! [They all nod in agreement]
Interview by: Joseph Smith
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