Saints of Excess

Interview with Ryan (bassist) from GU Medicine by Nicola “Nix” Crichton.

Think of Barnsley and you might think of … well, what would you think of? Certainly not the home of one of the loudest, vicious hard rock bands in the North of England. GU Medicine take a lump of hardcore and kick the crap out of it with a dose of metal and coat it in a layer of groove. They’re heavy but seem to lace their tunes with more hooks than a fish market on a Sunday!

Formed of Lee (vocals/guitar), Ryan (bass), Dale (guitar) and Murray (drums) – GU Medicine are no stranger to the large stages. Touring with The Wildhearts and Skid Row last year, plus My Ruin previously seems to be getting them the notice that they deserve. The band are just cranking up the heat in anticipation of a brand new album after their previous two albums (GU Medicine/Saints of Excess) did well with fans and critics alike.

I had a chat with GU Medicine bassist, Ryan about the makings of album three, touring with Skid Row and The Wildhearts, their new drummer and how their delightful name came to be.

Nix: In a nutshell, what do GU Medicine stand for?
Ryan: Heavy rock n' roll, having a good time and taking no shit.

N: How did all of you guys get together?
R: Lee asked me if I fancied starting a band so we did! I asked Dale, who is a long time good buddy of mine, Lee asked Pete and it all started from there really.

N: To go with a band name like GU Medicine is a bit nefarious, how did it come about?
R: It was a suggestion made by Lee. Firstly it was 'The Department of G.U. Medicine', we thought that was a bit long-winded so we whittled it down a bit! It's a place that was frequented in his formative years that made a lasting impression!

N: What’s your favourite GU Medicine song? What’s your favourite to play live?
R: Favourite, depends really, obviously like them all. As for live, it's always cool playing the new stuff. Taking Her Lead is a good one to play, a rockin' headbanger with parts where I can refresh myself suitably (gaps I can drink booze!).

N: Ryan, you’re not just in GU are you? What other band stuff do you do? Do other members have any other projects on the boil?
R: That is true Nix, I'm also in a band called 'Errander'. I play guitar and do vocals in that band, we've been going a little while now and our album came out last year (The Need to Know, on In At The Deep End Records). It's the more extreme end of the rock/metal spectrum, loud, noisy, thrashy, metal, hardcore type stuff! None of the others are involved in any other bands/projects at the moment.

N: You’ve recently got a new lad on drums! Tell us a bit about him?
R: Yes, Murray! He's an excellent drummer, top lad and it's awesome to have him in the band. He likes a good drink and a good time, so all is sweet in the medicine mob. I've known him for a while and never knew he was this good!

N: GU have had a range of top notch support slots and tours with a range of different bands from My Ruin to the Wildhearts and even Skid Row, what’s been your favourite? Most memorable? Any stories you’d like to share?
R: All tours are memorable, some of the memories can be a bit fuzzy because of all the booze, but touring is THE best. The Wildhearts tour was a stormer as it was one of the longest we've done and we met many awesome people. The My Ruin tours were great. The Skid Row dates were pretty fucking special, they were one of the bands that REALLY got me into this kind of music and being able to share a stage with them was amazing and then getting to sing along! As for stories, there are just too many, random, crazy, disgusting, hilarious, scary things that have happened.

N: Favourite venue?
R: Just too many really to pick one definitive one. To pick a favourite venue it's kind of a mix between the crew, crowd, attitude, hospitality, sound, and if we had a good time! It'd be so much easier to name the shit holes we've played! We've had some great times at some fucking awful places and awful times and 'great' places!

N: Are there any bands you’ve played with recently that you’d like to give a shout-out to?
R: Beasts, Viking Skull, Disarm and our buddies in Left Side Brain (check em out). And obviously Skid Row, Sign and The Wildhearts!

N: A random fact that not a lot of people would know about you?
R: I'm right handed but I eat and drink like I'm left handed. Fact.

N: You’re working on album number 3, what’s to expect from that?
R: Loud, rough, dirty, rocking tunes, the usual but with extra dirt, attitude and sleaze. We've got a new drummer, new producer and a new outlook on things so hopefully all this will come out in the record.

N: How do you think GU Med has developed since the first album?
R: We've got hairier and heavier (musically!).

N: What’s next for GU Medicine? What are the plans for 2008?
R: We've got to put the finishing touches on the writing of the third album then we'll be recording that in May. Basically we've got our shit together even more and we're more fired up than ever. We'll still be around gigging and sorting tours and the album should be in the shops in the autumn of this year.

Check out the GU Medicine MySpace for more information and anticipate the third album from the lads later part of this year.

Words by Nix, pictures kindly provided by BitchinRock Photos.

© Pure Rawk 2008