Posted on Apr 25, 2007 by DevotedToMusic

The Ghost of a Thousand are a band of 5 members. They are based in Brighton, West Sussex and have toured with bands such as Aiden and will be touring with The Gallows.

The band members are:

Tom Lacey - Vocals
Memby Jago - Drums
Andy Blyth - Guitars
Jag Jago - Guitars
Gez Walton - Bass

I Alexandra McLoughlin caught up with Tom and Andy from the band to find out about their new album, Influences and more…

Hello guys how are you?

Tom and Andy: Very well thank you.

I know that your new album came out in February and was rated 5Ks by Kerrang quite fast when did you find out about that and how did you feel?

Tom: About 3 or 4 days before it came out I think.

Andy: Yeah about that.

Tom: I didn’t believe it to be honest. It was great!

Andy: As much as it’s a massive ego boost and we were over the moon it puts a lot of pressure on us now to live up to that type of reputation. That’s not a bad thing.

Do you think the fact you toured with Aiden around April helped you get known at all?

Tom: That was a great tour just because there was so many people there every night and everyone seems to get have a good time and get into it. It was defiantly like a start but that’s our first ever tour.

What was it like touring with them?

Tom: Awesome! They’re really nice guys and down to earth and would just do anything to help out. Very good band. We are great friends with them.

Andy: Yeah that’s great.

And you went to the Metal Hammer awards. That’s what I heard anyway…

Tom: Andy went. I didn’t

Andy: Me, Jag and Mem went.

What was that like?

Andy: Yeah I dunno. I can’t remember (Tom laughs) There was a free bar.

You were drunk?

Andy: I was very drunk. It was an awesome experience drinking with bands and stuff.

Let’s talk about the new album again. Who named the album because it’s a pretty interesting name for an album?

Tom: We all did really but I guess I was the one that came up with it. We wanted the title to reflect the first record. It’s kinda our stand against people we don’t like and things we don’t like.

Are you proud of this album and what is your favourite track on this record?

Andy: I have to say mine is probably One For The Road. Just because it’s just fast and have got balls of riffs and great vocals. It just flows really well.

Tom: I like Up To You because I get to scream. Its really great fun.

You must get a really bad throat with all the screaming…

Tom: I did when we were recording. Yeah. We had 5 days to do the vocals and on the third day I got really sick.

That doesn’t sound very nice…

Tom: It’s alright. You get used to that. It’s not so bad actually.

And tell us the story behind the album…

Andy: Well musically I think the inspiration is kinda like Smackhead, Refused like post hardcore mixed with sort of Bronx style stuff.

Tom: I think a lot of it was writing records we wanted to hear that other bands weren’t doing. It’s very cool those bands are great but we wanted to do other stuff.

And out of the other Brighton bands I have heard, they are mostly Indie music and you definitely stand out a lot compared to the rest of them. Are you quite good friends with some of them?

Andy: I went to college with The Kooks. The drumer from the Ordinary Boys, Im best friends with.

Are you quite supportive of eachother?

Andy: Yeah it’s like Orlando from Macabe a Brighton band has bought our album and they are all really supportive and vice versa.

Tom: Everybody knows everybody and that’s a good thing.

There’s a rock school in Brighton. What do you think about the whole idea of a rock school?

Andy: I was at it for 3 years. I think it serves a purpose. I’ve made connections there and I met Mem, our drummer there and then Jag and Tom. It’s made me make connections with creative people.

Tom: And I guess it can be a bad thing because there’s a lot of people that go to college who expect to get signed and that’s not really how it works.

Andy: … and they don’t really get that you have to work to get where you go.

So as children, did you want to be rockstars? I know it sounds crazy but most people when they young change their mind about what they want to be when they’re older.

Andy: I wanted to be in a band since I was like 12. I started to play the guitar. So my dream was to be in a band who went on tour.

You Tom?

Tom: I’ve been in bands all my life but this is my second serious one. I used to play guitar in a band. We were crap but it was great.

Are your parents quite supportive of you being in a band?

Tom: They love it. They are always at the shows. It just gets to the point when I tell them not to come because they just say “Oh you have to play this song” “Oh you have to play that song” that’s what it is.

Are they not a bit weary of that whole Rock ‘n’ Roll lifestyle?

Tom: I think my dad is.

Andy: Yeah my dad is always very supportive and stuff and the same with Mem and Jags mum. Gez’s mum always lets us stay with them when we go to Wales and cooks us breakfast. Everyone’s being really supportive.

Let’s talk about you as individuals. Who is the craziest member of the band?

(Both laugh) Andy: That’ll probably be me. Just because I drink the most

Do you love your drink?

Andy: I do love my drink. I guess if your looking for a crazy member that would be me.

Tom: Gez is starting to turn into a bit of a dark horse.

Andy: Yeah! Gez has come out of his shell a little recently. But yeah I don’t think any of us is particly mental really.

Finally What’s in the future for you guys?

Andy: We’re touring with the Gallows in June

Tom: …and might be on tour with Hatebreed. We are going to release another single and a 2nd album.

Taken At:

Brighton Concorde 2

Taken On:

March 29th, 2007

Interviewees:

Tom Lacey
Andy Blyth

Related Links:

• www.myspace.com/theghostofatho...
• www.theghostofathousand.com

Interviews

Mar 29, 2007 Brighton Concorde 2