Do Me Bad Things
Do Me Bad Things
When Designer Magazine spoke to the Do Me Bad Things on their debut headlining tour in October (Click here for the interview) they were faced with the reality that what was once their cult band was going to be playing in enormodomes around the country supporting the Darkness. With a few dates under their belts Alex McCann caught up with Hurricane Tommy to find out about the reality of opening up for the biggest band in the UK
Q: Last time we spoke on the debut headline tour you
were quite hesitant about going on out the Darkness arena tour so early
on. How are you feeling with a few dates behind you now?
A: I don't think hesitant is the word. It was just a
little bit of trepidation and it being one of those corporate tours, but
it's been surprisingly enjoyable because the guys in the other bands (The
Darkness and Ash) have been encouraging and welcoming.
You don't actually get to see that much of what goes on.
You turn up about 4.30, set up your gear and have a very brief sound check
and then once you're offstage you just go to the bar or something. The
weird thing about it though has been going on about 6.55 - we're the sort
of band that should be playing at midnight!!!
Q: It must feel pretty Smash Hit's tour going on so
early on in the night?
A: (laughs) Yeah, it does. It's like we've just followed
Toyah and Spandau Ballet are up next. It's weird because our set has to
be the regimented half hour, if we go a second over they just cut the power
off because they're paying for advertising which costs about a million
pounds a second. That has felt weird because not only is it so early, but
it takes about half an hour of the set to get really into it.
Q: You didn't do the warm up date at Brixton, so it
was literally straight out in front of the Arena crowds. How was it on
the first night?
A: The first night in Nottingham was a little bit hair-raising
because we were having some behind the scene's bullshit going on that day
as well. After that first night though we took to it like water and it
was like come and find an arena big enough for us.
On the headlining tour that you saw us on, Manchester
was a bit of a weird one, but all the others were really insane. In London
it was sold out and people were paying £100 a ticket outside...and
now just over the last couple of weeks we've started to notice a real reaction
where every headline show we do is sold out. I don't know how it's happened,
and why, but there has been a renewed interest sweeping the students unions
of the country.
Q: I looked on the Darkness message board just before
I came down here and the fans are split totally with you guys and Ash.
The consensus seems if you like one you can't like the other.
A: Yeah, I saw our message board as well. There have
been a few people who have obviously never seen us before and made the
effort to make a comment. It's strange because we still can't believe that
anyone even likes us at all.
The audience are dead strange at these shows with family
days out and stuff. You walk round when the Darkness are playing and the
people there are the most normal average people you could ever expect to
meet - they're the people you see at the pub. I was never quite sure what
sort of audience the Darkness attracted before this. They haven't attracted
the glam fans that the Manics and bands like that attract, it's just really
normal folk.
Q: And tell us how you managed to attract a heckler
in Newcastle?
A: He was just shouting f**k off all the way through
the set...so Nic just looked at him and started to queer it up saying "This
ones for you" just to bait him
Q: So are you up for the idea of Do Me Bad Things in
arenas now or do you still have that idea of the band as a cult icons?
A: We're never going to play these places again. I'm
glad we've done it, but in these places there's just no atmosphere in them.
There really isn't. When The Darkness are playing they're putting on an
amazing show and the crowd are really going for it, but that separation
is so large between the audience and the band that there really can't ever
be that much atmosphere. I'm not assuming we ever would get to the stage
that we could sell out venues like this, but we'd rather play to 1500 at
the Garage. We'd never want to play anywhere bigger than the Brixton Academy
cos at about 4000 it's still too big to get a real atmosphere. On the rare
occasion i've been to see bands at places like that I just haven't enjoyed
it.
Q: As much as we'd love you to say the Manchester gig
with the ever so memorable Morcheeba tribute band we know it isn't going
to happen. What was your gig highlight of the year?
A: It's a tiebreaker between Bedford Esquire about 2
weeks ago and The Barfly in London. Both absolutely insane. I'd love to
say Nottingham Arena, but it's never gonna be one of those type of gigs.
Q: How do the Darkness feel about the arena gigs, cos
they've come from a similar position you guys are in now to this in 2 years?
A: It's hard to say what their position is, but I think
they're as confused as we are about the position we're in. It is surreal
to experience playing to so many people in such a short amount of time.
I know I couldn't handle the responsibility of playing venues such as this
- i'd break the band up before being in their position.
Q: There's been widespread talk that the success has
gone to the Darkness' heads...and we're talking people who've stuck by
them since the beginning and never said a bad worst against them previously
as opposed to a couple of NME hacks. What's your take on it?
A: The thing is people have said that about us, yer know
people from back home. It's works in the same way for the Darkness but
on a large scale. I had someone from back home who I used to be a in band
3 years ago and all it takes is that one person to say something.
Q: What about the fact that they've banned every single
photographer (bar Scarlett Page) in the country on this tour - The Rolling
Stones and Paul McCartney weren't that extreme?
A: Well we were going to have our own photographer on
the tour with us, but we were told it wasn't allowed. I can see their
point because if you're in Heat Magazine every week t just goes to show
what a weird situation it is for them. If it gets to the point where he
(Justin) can't even leave the house without being photographed then you
have to respect his decision. A few days ago after the Glasgow gig we were
having a drink in the hotel bar, this guy pulls up outside, takes out a
big telephoto lense and starts taking as many pictures as he can before
he speeds off on his motorbike. That's when it becomes weird, when you
can't even sit down and have a drink.
Q: Similar to the where the Darkness were in our Best
Of 2002 issue, we've got congratulations for you. You're sandwiched between
Scissor Sisters and The Departure as Best New Band Of 2004. How do you
feel about the other nominees?
A: No comment. I actively dislike both bands. I'm aware
of what the Scissor Sisters look like, but of the music all I know is that
whenever they come on the radio I just hate them. People have said that
we remind them of the Scissor Sisters which surprises me. There's not very
many "new" bands I like. I'm into old bands. But Tokyo Dragons are a strange
band who are friends of ours. They're an amazing band live, but i've not
been too keen on their records so far.
Q: And your faves the Scissor Sisters have just beaten
you in Best Live Act with Mozzer taking the Number 1 spot?
A: I'll let the Scissor Sisters thing go. Hype can be
a dangerous thing. But Morrissey's a legend. For our Best Live Act of 2004
i'm gonna be sycophantic and say The Darkness. They had a really bad weekend
at the Carling Weekend, but this tours amazing pyrotechnics and they've
got 6 new songs in there. I've watched the Darkness for the past 5 nights
so I think i'm being brainwashed by them - I can't stop singing their songs!!!
Q: So what's the plan for next year considering that
you'll probably convert at least 10% of each show on the Darkness tour.
A: One piece of advice we took early on was never turn
down a gig and play as often as possible. The next single is out in February
called "What's Hideous?" (Ed: Designer Magazine suggests an early release
date for Valentines Day - get What's Hideous as an Anti-Valentines present)
and the album should be out in April.
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"What's Hideous?" is due out late February
Expect a tour to be announced shortly
For more info
www.domewebthings.com
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