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Purr:
The title of your CD The Music Saved us and in your biography you state that
Tim was slipping into marijuana addiction. Do you really feel the forming
of
the band saved any of you?If so how?
Richie:
Well it certainly saved us from a life of 9 to 5. We've all been
in various bands before, and when we first started playing together in
Glitterbug it just all clicked into place. We knew that this was the band
that would get us a great deal, allow us to make music, and have a good time
without having to worry about where the next meal is coming from.
Richie: I don't think the "fast lane" is a problem unless you let it
become a problem. There are people in the band who burn the candle at both
ends, and when that candle ends, just light up another - but as long as we
all turn up for rehearsals, gigs, meetings etc. on time and fully
functioning, it doesn't matter. I think if and when someone messes up and it
affects the rest of the band or the music, then it's time to address the
issue. At the moment "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
Purr:
When things happen that shock the world it seems music, TV and movies get
blamed for the actions. Do you feel that musicians should think about moral
issues when writing lyrics?
Richie: HaHaHa, luckily I only write the music, blame Leighton if someone's
kid plays the record backwards and blows away 20 of his classmates. I think
that anyone in the public eye should think about what they're saying,
whether it be a Musician, Politician, or Scriptwriter - but then, everything
can be over-analysed and if you wanna find a hidden meaning, you'll get
there in the end. At the end of the day, we're not Marilyn Manson, or Judas
Priest....We're just a great rock'n'roll band with some cool tunes, having a
great time, make of it what you want ;-)
Purr:
How did you come up with the name Glitterbug?
Richie: We wanted something that would give a fairly instant
description of the band - Full of sparkle, but with a little bit of dirt as
well. You can have something which is brand-spanking-new but it doesn't seem
REALLY yours until you've put your fingerprints on it. Some people get
confused with the "Glitter" part, and think we're 70's revivalists, but we
wanna take a little bit of the Glam, add a little bit of Punk, Pop and Rock,
whack it in a blender and paint the town with the result!!!
Purr:
On your web page you state that you believe in Zen do you really or is this
a
media gimmick?
Richie: ...er......um......er.....hahaha....>Well we're not a religious
band, that's for sure!! I believe that you get what you give, be that Karma
or whatever...>I think that if everyone treated each other with the same
respect that they would like to be treated with, the world would be a lot
better place - Media gimmicks eh??OK let me think about that!!
Purr:
When is your CD "The Music Saved Us' to be released and where can people
expect to be able to purchase it.
Purr:
What does your music mean to you.
Richie: It's one of the purest form of self-expression there is. I
love it to bits!!
I've been playing music for years now, and whenever I have a spare moment, I
always seem to find myself with a guitar in my hands. Glitterbug's songs
just jump out at me when I'm writing, it doesn't involve deep thought
process...haha!! Music is totally international - there are no
boundaries - you'll get people listening to The Beatles and The Stones (and
hopefully GBug!) all over the world for years to come....It's all about the
feeling you get when you hear either a dance/ballad/rock/punk/glam tune...If
you wanna feel good put on an uplifting song, If you wanna feel sorry for
yourself put on the most "pull on your heart strings" ballad. It's a very
personal thing.
Purr:
Your web site states you want spread the gospel according to Glitterbug
through out the land.. What would you say Glitterbug's gospel is?
Richie: hmmmm....Can I quote a few people on this?...
Rolling Stones "It's only Rock'n'Roll(but I like it)"
Spinal Tap heh,heh,"Have a good time......all the time" Purr:
Besides getting a recording contract what do you feel will be the point you
yourselves believe the band has succeeded? (or do you already feel this
way?)
Richie: It's always important to set yourself goals and dreams, but
don't set them too high.
The band has succeeded to a certain point, but we're always gonna be
striving for more. When we have a single in the charts, we'll do our utmost
to get it to number one...Once we've done that there's the album to think
of...........and not just limiting ourselves to Britain or U.S.A. There's a
lot of people and places out there who won't have heard about us - We've
only just started!!!
Richie: Go ahead, do it. It's the best bloody job in the
world!!!
A word of warning though - be prepared to lose your loved ones, your job,
the support of your family, and be skint for at least 5 years!!! Being in a
band means getting up at 4am for video shoots and TV shows, getting home at
3am the same day......and then up again at 4am etc.
Having said that, I wouldn't change it for the world!!
Purr:
What part do you think the Internet plays in a bands success?
Richie: These days a band has to have at least some knowledge of the
Internet to make it. It's becoming more and more a part of daily life for
millions of people, and if you've got the right team that knows what they're
doing(24-7) behind you, there's no stopping you.
Purr:
Do you think that it will get actually to the point that CD's will be sold
only on the Internet as encrypted downloads?
Richie: I reckon It's gonna be a huge problem for record shops, and
only the very strong will survive, but it won't do away with the need for
shops all together. Personally I prefer going to the shops and buying a CD
with packaging, and feeling "I can't wait to get back home and have a
listen". But then, that's the collector in me!!
Purr:
Do you feel this is a negative or positive thing if it happens?
Richie: A bit of both. It's a very good way of being able to get
people to hear your music without having to convince the radio DJ that it's
cool, but It could gonna turn us into a world of computer slaves....who
knows?...BRING IT ON!!!!
Purr:
Do you think the digital age will eventually do away with live 'in person'
concerts?
Richie: Nah..That'll never happen. It's one of the best feelings in
the world - being surrounded by hundreds of like-minded fans, all getting
into the music, all there for the same reason, all having a great time. I
can't imagine sitting in front of my PC and getting a huge adrenaline rush
when 'whoever' walks on the screen!!!
Purr:
If you personally had one thing you could say to the world and have the
people listen what would it be?
Richie:
"I HAVE A DREAM................Oh, hang on,.......no.......no, it's gone."
Purr:
What music do you feel influenced you the most.
Richie: Personally, the first time I saw Photos of KISS and Hanoi Rocks
when I was 13, I thought "Wow! That's what I wanna do!!!", but hey, that was
a few years ago!!
Let's just say Leighton's a little bit Country, and I'm a little bit of
Rock'n'Roll!!
Purr:
If you could collaborate with any one musician on a song who would it be?
Richie: Purr:
Do you have any other MP3's then at the Edel site on-line?
Richie:
In our contract, we're only allowed a small amount of MP3 time on the site,
so to try and give the fans as much music as possible, we're putting tunes
on the http://www.glitterbug.co.uk site and changing them round every couple
of weeks
OK just for the fans:
Purr:
Who's single and who's not?
Richie: hahaha, let's just say some are, and some aren't!!
Purr:
For that instant..love at first sight or at least 'lust'...what do you want
that special, lucky fan to be wearing?
Richie: hahaha, can't somebody else answer these ones!!!
OK, Their Birthday suit is always quite appealing!!!!
Purr:
Do you prefer the woman to come on to you or do your prefer making the first
move yourself?
Richie: .I really enjoy being chatted up, but most of the time I don't
even realize they're doing it!!!
Purr:
Once you get past the lust, what type of woman do you like, what helps keep
your interest in her?
Richie: Humour and conversation......if you're gonna spend a lot of
time with someone, you've got to be able to talk to 'em, and then laugh with
'em.
Purr:
Do you have an official fan club as of yet. I know you just signed a
contract and it is rather early in the game but you must have a good
following to already make it this far.
Richie:
I've put together an emailing list, and whenever we're gigging I do a
mail-out, but no fan-club as such.
Purr:
If you don't have one yet and someone is interested who should they contact
about starting one. (Hey, just following your positive thought process here
guys!)
Richie: First, contact me ( richie@glitterbug.co.uk ) and I'll see
what I can do.
Purr:
Is there any thing you would just like to say?
Richie: If anyone wants to get in touch or find out what the band are up
to, feel free to email me richie@glitterbug.co.uk and
http://www.glitterbug.co.uk/index.htm
All material provide by Glitterbug! Thanks guys!
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Purr:
Do you feel that since you have this view of being saved that it will
prevent
you from falling into the 'fast lane' traps a lot of bands experience (at
least on a temporary basis)? (The drugs, the sex, OK, just the drug part)
Richie: "The Music Saved Us" is due to be released in around
Julyish.......Hey, Hey, come back....We have got a single released on March
13th("Today, Tonight, Tomorrow").First it's gonna be out in Britain, but
when it takes off, it'll be available all over the world. - I'm looking to
alternate "T.T.T." and "T.M.S.U." on the website every couple of weeks or
so, as we're only allowed a small amount of MP3 time on the web site...
Purr:
What advise would you give someone who was thinking about starting a band?
