Interview with The Horrors

Posted on Dec 11, 2007 by DevotedToMusic

The Horrors are a garage rock band from London who have been together since 2005.

This year they played a number of well known festivals, including Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and others around the world. They also released their latest album ‘Strange Town’ on March 5th.

They are soon to make an appearance in the popular English comedy ‘The Mighty Boosh’ alongside creators Noel Fieldng and Julian Barratt.

I Alex McLoughlin was lucky to grab a quick chat with Joshua Third and Tomethy about where they met, Joe Meek and more….

How are you both?

Josh- I’m very well thank you. How are you?

Tom- Not cold at all.

Freezing thank you. You guys formed around Junkclub, an underground club in London. When you go back there does it bring back a lot of memories?

Tom- It’s in southend and it’s finished.

Josh- It finished about a year ago so no it doesn’t at all.

Tom- And it’s in Southend.

Apparently Rhys was a founder of the Junkclub. He must really love it there…

Josh- Yeah Rhys started it with Oliver and they really had something special going on when it was running.

Tom- A couple of years ago.

Josh- Yeah. So I guess he really did enjoy it.

And you guys do DJing. How long have you been doing that for?

Josh- As long as we’ve been collecting records. I think it’s just a passion to share the music with everybody else.

Have any of your friends asked you to DJ for them?

Josh- Yes.

(Laughs)

Tom- Pretty much. That’s how it works!

Josh- Yeah especially when you run clubs. You have other friends from other clubs come down and then you and check their clubs.

I saw Tim Burgess DJing for you on Wednesday. That was unexpected. What brought that on?

Tom- He is a wonderful, wonderful human being.

Josh- With an excellent record collection. Who better to DJ then Tim Burgess himself?

Tom- Tim Burgess.

What is it about 60s garage rock that really puts a sparkle in your eye?

Josh- The fact that you can basically smell sweaty teenage bodies having sex.

Tom- It’s just really raw. It’s a really early form of punk. I like archanistic forms of music which means it’s not really of its time.

You’ve really opened my eyes to 60s garage rock. I bet that’s happened to many more people too. Is this intentional?

Tom- Absolutely.

Josh- Of course it is. I still do read interviews with bands and see what they’re into and pick up on new music from them. You can learn off anyone and I really like learning. Learning off bands is a really good way. They should know a bit about music.

Tom- They should.

(Laughs)

And I know that you guys are very much inspired by Joe Meek. If Joe Meek was still around today and you were given the opportunity to meet him, what would you say to him?

Tom- Can you produce one of our records please? (Laughs) Fancy a chat?

(Laughs)

Josh- Yeah fancy a chat?

I’m sure he’d like that Tom…

Josh – He would!

When did you first find out about Joe Meek?

Tom- Erm….I dunno. I think it was when I heard a different version of Jack the Ripper by an 80s Garage band called ‘The Gruesomes’ I really like that. And then I heard the original and I had no idea who Joe Meek was. I think it’s one of those things you gradually find out about. Everyone knows ‘Telstar ‘though.

Josh- I think a lot of people know Joe Meek’s work without actually knowing it was him.

Tom- ‘Telstar’ was his first big hit.

Josh- Yeah.

It was his most famous one wasn’t it?

Tom- Yeah

Josh- It was his first number 1 from a British band in America. The man’s a genius!

Finally. I know that you are all influenced by ‘Screamin' Jay Hawkins’ and ‘Screaming Lord Sutch’. Who is a bigger influence of yours?

Tom- We’re not really influenced by them. I mean I really like them both but Screaming Lord Sutch wasn’t really a musician and didn’t really have any talent. He’s just a really good publicist.

Interview Information

Taken At:

Alexandra Palace, London

Taken On:

December 9th, 2007

Interviewees:

Joshua Third
Tomethy

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