Radio Metro Interview With Alan Robson

Hello, lads. Hello. Hello, yes, and in, in harmony. I bet you do-I bet you don't hear That on stage. Great. Uh, I'd like to welcome you here to Metro, To the little studio pools. And, uh, I'd like to start basically by taking You way back to when you were just mere Children. Mere infants exactly, how did you actually Start the band? 'Cause we get a lot of Young bands writing in, asking how do you, how To get started on the road. Now you've succeeded, you're actually there at the Very pinnacle. So how did ex-how did you Start? We started like most bands do. Started off at school with me and the brother Mark, yes, in't ya? That's right. Yes, we started a band off. Hadn't a clue really what to do. Yeah. And were buying these-Still haven't, Have you? Cheap instruments, starting a band off. Started as a four piece, and we just, you Know, Looked at other bands and said, "Well, what do They do?" Yeah. Ended up playing local gigs-Yeah And just doing the rounds everywhere. Was this the doing standards rather than your own Stuff? Half and half. It's always been-yeah uh, when we started, always Half and half, 'cause we always wrote our own Stuff from the start. Yeah. We did that, and we just went round The pubs and that. Built up, managed to get A few slots at the Mayfair. Yeah. Supporting p-like The Stranglers and The Motors. Yeah. Then went through a period of doing very little, And then we-So what-had changed the line-up A few things. A lot What size of, Of gear are you talking about? You're talking starting in a Transit and sort of Working up from there, aren't you? Was it more like a Fiat 850? The lion brand. We started small, haven't Yeah. No, that's the, I mean, that's the way you Gotta do it, you know, to start off. I mean, you can't just, uh, expect to just Jump in the superstar dome, know? It's, it's-That's just not on, you know? And how, how, how did you feel about supporting A band? Because obviously The Stranglers at the time You supported them were really pretty big. I mean, they were-That was, when was that? 1976. Yeah. Where we knew nothing of punk rock up Until that gig. Yeah. You know, it was, uh, pretty-Now you open Up for us. An, an odd mix as well. Yeah. Pretty choked up about it, yeah. Yeah. Oh, oh. And now you, now you're at an, an interesting Stage in your career, actually, but could you, Did you think then that you would ever actually Make it, or did you ever have the, the Sort of doubt, the saying, "Well, goodness gracious, It's never gonna happen for us"? No, I think You've, you've got to think in the back of Your mind that you are going to do it- Yeah otherwise you won't. Yeah. You know, we were just-Uh, uh you Know what, we're just gonna go on and it's Gonna happen eventually. Yeah. Just gotta bash our head against the brick Wall until it does break down. Yeah. And you said that you, you watched other Bands that influenced you. Who were, what type of bands are we talking About here? Uh, New Orleans. Burt Weedon. Burt, yes, Burt Weedon. Play anywhere. Yeah. We always used to do what, you know, Most kids do now. You know, City Hall all The time, Mayfair every week. Yeah, yeah. Purple, you know. When, when we were about 15, we used to Roadie for bands like, was it UFO at Mayfair? Yeah. Stuff like that. Any chance you could get, just to get a Little bit of experience what, what just to watch It, what's going on. Yeah. And how do you think that you're going to, Now that you're actually at that stage where you've Got your own following, you've got people doing that At your gigs-Uh-huh do you think that's affected The way that you treat the fans? 'Cause a lot of bands are really p-pretty Blase about it. No. No. Never saw them. I was at the Mayfair on Friday night. Yeah? So I got a tippy's Newcastle on Monday Night. Yeah. The only thing that gets me mad is that, Lots of people like my favorite bands, so a Track comes on by AC/DC, you try and get On the dance floor and you can't. Yeah. 'Cause it's full. That's right. So asking for obscure tracks that I really like And then there's nobody there, so I can go On and jump around all over the place and, You know, it's free. Do you think that it's made a difference though, Being in the Northeast with the hard rock following That you've got up here? Because to be honest, There's, I think there's only about two, maybe three Independent radio stations throughout the country That have actually got a rock show to start With. Yeah, yeah. So there's obviously a strong Following here. Makes a difference. I mean, there's always been a heavy rock show On Metro, and like we've always listened to it. Yeah, yeah. It's always made a hell of a... Everybody, all the people know are going, "Oh, did You listen to Metro last night?" Yeah. This sort of stuff. Did you notice how I got the plug in for the show there Anyway? I know what you mean. have to get rid Of these cards, you know. Anyway, what I'm gonna do now is gi-just To demonstrate, Raven on stage. They can bring the hammer down. Bring the hammer down off the new Raven album That's soon going to be in the stores, and You're all gonna be raiding piggy banks galore to Get your hands on that, aren't you? You are, 'cause I've told you to. And I'd like to, uh, go back to the Band, who I see are all huddled together around One microphone. All right, come back now, Pete. She's talking at You. It's very, very pally over there, You know. A little bit worried. I'd like to Just stay that side of the desk, man. And, uh, actually, the, the first album that you Recorded, Rock Until You Drop, uh, We've played quite a few tracks on that. Uh, you wrote a lot of the songs on There yourself, but, uh, I'd like to ask you First about, uh, the Sweet medley. Now, now, come on, guys. I've just won Yes, I know. I know. Yes. It's your question. It's, it's gotta be the question. Yeah. Why, why choose Sweet? I don't know. Why? When we were young lads, we always used to Like listening to Sweet, especially the B sides. Yes. 'Cause everyone thought they were bunch of-And You know, limp wrists, but they were really heavy. You phrased that well, didn't he? Yes. Quick wit. Yes, actually, towards the end Particularly. Oh, yeah. They've got a great live album out which you Can hear them smashing guitars up and all sorts Of stuff. Yeah. And we just thought they were Two great songs, and we'd do them a bit Heavier and faster. Yeah. There was a, there was a lot of songs We were trying at the time, we just wouldn't Think about doing any covers, but, uh-Would you, W-just play these two and improve them practice Them. I thought we wanna do them. And we're, we're only gonna do one, like Hellraiser. Yeah. But we thought, well, let's make a melody And, and change the songs around and put little Bits of our own ideas in. Yeah. it's really, it's the sweet songs, but it's, It's our arrangement, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Well, speaking personally, I, I prefer To play your version rather than theirs. It's lot faster as well. It is. Yes. Just compare. It's, it's a little bit hotter And heavier, I suppose. That, that's basically the Main But how do you get your, what, how Do you, what do you use for your inspiration For your songs, basically, is what I'm getting at? Uh, brown ale. Yeah. Apart from that. Uh. And the odd amphetamine, I'm sure. What's that? That's a band that supported The Stranglers or Something, you Oh, on. No, it's um, just putting my ideas, Everyday sort of things, you know? Yeah. And, uh, like, you know? It's usually-Argentino. It's usually a bit of a spontaneous combustion sets Off when we're practicing and r-rehearsing. And, uh, Mark will start off a riff or Something, and then, you know, we'll all pool our Ideas and then, and the words come along later. Sometimes the words are there before. Yeah. You know. It just, it just happens, It-So mainly, mainly at, at your rehearsals, Though. Oh, yeah. Like soundchecks. It all happens, definitely. John's got this massive, big, fat cassette that he Takes everywhere with him. Yeah. It weighs a ton. And if we're at soundchecks, anything, we usually, If there's something, "Oh, that sounds good," you Know-Yeah we want to stick the record button On and have it. And then put it together Again. Yeah. Yeah. So y-you've ne-you're signed, Of course, to Neat Records, because we've got a Rep there. I just give him a, give him Mensch because he's here. And, uh, there's quite a, a lot going for Neat at the present moment. There's a lot of, A lot of other bands in similar positions to Yourself on the way. Yeah. For instance, that is. So what do you think Of, uh, of your colleagues? Would you like to give us a, a few Tips and tell our listeners all about them? Yeah. Let's see. I-I hope they're all listening, Mate. Our partners in crime. Yeah. I think they're, Horrs are good. They're a good group. They were on last week. the, signed, they've signed A new band called Jaguar-Yeah who I'm here To, from Bristol. Yes. Yeah. In fact, they, they were initially on- Good group. Heavy Metal Records. Yeah, right. Yeah, on Heavy Metal Records. Yeah. They've got a new single They, they, they Got a quite wildy sound. Yeah. There's The Venoms who are making, they make A dreadful racket. Yes. Really low and nasty. I've been w-warned about Them already. Yeah. You know I mean? they, they're the pissed up Bits. Literally. Wouldn't they not? And there's Fish too, who've just got a new LP out. Yeah. They've reformed. Got a different line-up. Nice tight sound they've got now. That's right. So a, a lot going for Neat, And particularly a lot going for you, though. I, I think you're probably the, the premier rock Band of the label so far. And that was-thank you. You very much. That, that should get them all At your throats when they get back. So, uh, I even actually saw you on TV. TV, on the blue or green or red program. Whatever color it was at the time. And, uh, how much do you think that, that Helps get you, get your own, uh-Well, it's The b-it's the best sound we've ever had At a gig on that program. I think that's a, that's a touch of what, What's known in the trade as sarcasm. Yeah, definitely. But to be honest, to appear on, On a program at peak, peak viewing times, It's gotta do you some good. Yeah. yeah. Quality, no matter what the quality, It's worth doing. And, and were you surprised that Your, your album Rock Until You Drop got as Much airplay around the country? Because it hasn't just made it here. I mean, it's being played on national radio and Local radio stations throughout the country. I think it got it just on the strength Of the songs, really. Because, I mean, we're, We haven't done that many gigs in Britain, you Know. We've been abroad more than we have been In Britain. But, um, like everybody's picked up Because the album was uh, decent, you know? Yeah. let's play it because it is good. Yeah. Which is a, a good interesting sign, you Know? And that's Rock Until You Drop, the title track Of the Ravens' first album. But, uh, we're here to talk about your new LP. Because, uh, as I say, I'm the very First one to get it, I think. I think I'm right in saying that. You're dead right. You're ex-exceedingly lucky out There to be hearing this, 'cause I got a, A rather smashing track for you coming up in A, in a few moments' time. So how difficult was it actually to get Raven Down on record initially? Um, it's quite easy really because, um, when we're Going, we're just like, once we've got the sound Right, you know, it's like straight, straight there Forward. Um, just put them down on, on, uh, Tape. Yeah. And it-And how long did it Take you to get the, the stuff together, the, The amount of tracks that, that are on it? 'Cause I mean, you fill, you fill both sides. You mean writing the tracks, you mean, or recording? Yeah, well, getting the whole lot together. Getting it together. together. I mean, we wrote, Well, there's about two or three songs which had Been lying around a bit, sort of in between. Yeah. And a lot of it was wrote sort Of for the album in about two or three Weeks. One frenzied session, just get it all Together. Yeah. The title, The Airways and the Hellraiser in Action, they were both done in the Studio, you know. And on this one, this one Long track that was done in the studio. We just wrote it, recorded it straight away. Wrote the words, put the words on. But like one thing we do, we make sure Of doing this, we, we jump around and carry On as much as, as possible. To try and make it as near the live- Well, it's, just-Yeah we just carry on the Same old thing. We're, you know, totally doing the Twist, actually. Mental. Oh, we're, we're going to psychiatrist Tomorrow. Are we? we? It's quite of a lot Of equipment gets bashed around, like-Yes but it's All good. Seems to come out in the sound. Sounds like we're all doing what we're doing. Yes. Which you know, which pleases us, like. It's all in a bad cause. How, how do you manage to actually get the Sheer weight of sound? Because to be honest, I've heard five-piece bands That haven't managed to put across the force that Raven manage to on stage. Mate. Rob's a bit overweight, aren't you? Rob's head's a bit overweight. Oh, that's it, like. Oh, no, I think, uh, We just do, you know, like what, like kids Do when they go out and headbang on the Floor. We just let it go. To us, like a step further. When we go crazy and do it on stage. We do, we'll sort of play at the extreme, Like. Well, like, uh, you know, we're, we're pleased With being able to play well. Yeah. things, and be able to go absolutely crackers As well. Where a lot of bands, to me, They come on, people pay money, and they're just Standing and doing nothing. Yeah. It's just a job, and they get on with It. A And it's just-uh-You know, boring Mark's got a very thick, um, rhythm sound Yeah As well, you know, very g-good chunky, Uh-guitar sound, and that adds a hell of A lot to the-It carries the weight Especially On the new album, 'cause it's, it's weird. There's very few overdubs on the new one-compared To the first one. Mm. There's a lot of Times there's only one guitar. Yeah. And there's t-two tracks where only the Vocals are dubbed on. Mm. It's just straight through live. And your album, both sides of the album tots Up to an, an immense 52 minutes. Yes, value for money, folks. That's Go out and get it now. That's right. W-well, when will it be in The shops? Uh, February. Release date's about the 14th of May. Yeah, so don't go out and get it now. Go out and get it on the 14th. Why Not? Pester them. Make them buy some. That's right. Two opens. Get the orders going there. I believe you're doing a February touring as well. Yeah, um, we're doing a tour with Girls School. Yeah. Like, their UK tour, which should be very Good. Uh-Starts the 11th nice bunch of girls. 11th of May. Yeah. And we're in the City Hall on June 2nd. Yeah. It's a Wednesday. That's right. I'm actually interviewing the girls eventually, So don't, don't wear them out, lads. Eh? Oh, of course. Why not? So you've also been abroad recently. I believe you've been to Italy. Yeah, went to Italy and Poland in November last year. Yeah. And we've been back home since. Yeah. And, um, we're going back again after the Girls School tour, and we're doing some things in Japan for, uh, two weeks. Yeah. Or so, and, um, we're doing some headline Gigs around the country as well. Yeah. Like, uh, Marquee, what have you. Well, that's the place to make your name, isn't It? Oh, Japan. I mean, the amount of, the Amount of places that, uh-We're looking forward to Amount of bands who have made it there. Yeah. Big look. So how do they take to Raven-style rock in, uh, Europe? Uh-Oh, great. They're mental. Holland-Absolutely Holland and Italy, They're just lunatics, you know? Uh-It's Italy, they're really starved of heavy bands Because the, uh, the money situation, there's always Been a bit of a stigma about bands playing- Especially big bands, you know? So we'll get the money and run for the Border. Like, they're, they're just, they're starved, you Know? Like, like we're, we thought we'd be unknown, And there was, like-Mm kids about 10 o'clock In the morning at the gig, about 40 kids Standing outside-Yeah waiting to get in, you know? Mm. The only bands, the bands popular there are Saxon and Iron Maiden, purely because they're the Only bands that's bothered to tour there. Have, have gone there. That's it. Yeah. Then you go there, they nut us, and they All jump on stage, and you're pushing them off With one hand, trying to play with the other. We've also got a tour lined up with the Falklands, and we're signing up for that, You know? Yes. And that should be, uh, very Interesting. I've heard, heard-Give us five minutes A week, yeah the money isn't very good, though. No. No. And I'm not su-I'm not so Sure that the fans would take to you somehow. Yeah. Good, good effort. You'd be a bit flatly, aren't You? Oh. I think we better leave this. Get bummed. bummed out nicely. Get next. Just moving swiftly on, folks. Um, I'd like to put you all on the Spot now. Why, why should the heavy metallers out There buy your album? Now, come on. Why shouldn't they? Uh, why should they? Why should they? Uh, we, we need the money. Yes, we've caught them. So I'm gonna play a Track now called U. X. B. Could you tell us a little bit about that Now, before we play it? Robert's bit here. Yes. Um, well, I just thought, uh, it's about a Bomb disposal expert. Yeah. And, uh-After the TV program Yes. Yeah. Who thinks that he's got, Uh, he's got a way with fixing his bombs, See, but he's slightly wrong. And I just-Or, is he? I, I'm not sure that you, that you're right There. You might, you might get away with it. He, he, he doesn't go up, does he? Anyway, I tell you what, let's have a listen, See if he makes it. I'd like to thank You for coming in, lads, anyway. Brilliant. This is U. X. B., which I, I presume stands For unexploded bomb. Yes, yes. Yes. I believe so. I'm very fast. I just got that, you know. I've been, been looking at it for half an Hour. Anyway, here you go. Attention, attention. The area is now completely safe. Bomb in pieces. Bits and no, enough of that. I've had tons of, uh, Gleason three films, And, uh, there's gonna be one for Ra-from Raven fairly soon, I'm fairly sure