“Don’t Hate The Player”, Hate The Game

Interview with LiViD by “Sexy” Dave

After nine years on the circuit, this unruly bunch of Stoke rockers are finally on the verge of releasing their debut album. Seven years in the making, and with their fair share of scrapes along the way, it looks like it may finally see their masterwork this year. We talk to the guys about the long ride, moshpit disasters and definitely NOT sounding anything like Rush.

Thanks from Pure Rawk for taking part in this interview, hope you're all feeling rockin' today?

Phill: We’ve just learned ‘Here I go Again’! Yes, we’re very rockin’.

Rollcall. Who's in the band, what do they play and what are their principal vices?

Steve (Guitars): Oh God, masturbate. A lot! Must think of something great! (Lots of random noises)

Ency (Bass): I’m Ency, I play bass, and vices? I don’t know… I don’t even smoke anymore!

Steve: Yeah, we really aren’t living the rock n roll lifestyle too much anymore, are we? Well, me and Psy drink. Lots.

Psy (Vocals): I’m Psy and I sing, drink and drive the bus. Not at the same time however!

Phill (Drums): I’m Phill, play drums. Spend too many nice little Saturdays at Home Depot.

Steve: Twat! (Towards Ency as he traps his own fingers in a guitar stand).

Ency: Ow, though!

Chaz (Manager): I’m Chaz and am the dog handler.

So, LiViD, that's a very angry name. What makes you livid?

Steve: Joss Stone in that BASTARD FLAKE ADVERT, Davina McCall, reality TV shows…

Ency: Yeah! Big Brother… well, people who’ve been on Big Brother and now act like they’re famous. Well, they are famous, but for what? I mean, come on…

Psy: Now that Britney looks like a man.

Phill: Have you seen the shots of Britney’s ‘Foof’?

Ency: Yeah, It looks like a dropped pie! (Randomly Ency, Steve and Chaz re-enact ‘Some Kind of Monster’)

What are you guys up to at the moment, haven't heard much from you since the 'Closer To God' single?

Phill: WE’VE JUST LEARNED HERE I GO AGAIN! – FIN! Also, our new website is finally up and running!

Steve: Now the album’s finished we’re currently submitting the songs for films, TV shows, that kind of thing, in the States via our American agent.

Psy: It has been great though. We just need a shitload of money to release it. Hence, gigs, gigs and more gigs!

Chaz: Rebuilding the studio, making it more great.

For 'Closer To God', you did a video, full of lightning and rain and scary faces in classic metal style. How was that, good fun?

Chaz: Cold, wet and Liverpudlian.

Steve: The crowd scene was filmed with fans that we’d brought up with us, so it was great to hang out with them.

Psy: In between scenes we’d all watch Transformers the cartoon movie!

Phill: It’s always been a dream to make a music video and we’re really proud how it came out.

Ency: Yeah, it looks a lot better on film than it did in person. After all, it was all done in a dodgy warehouse!

Phill: That’s the magic of television buddy. Warehouses can become sea-front cliffs. Puppets can talk. It’s a great age to be alive in.

Chaz: Also, the cameraman has just recovered from cancer so our rock has saved the world again!

Nine Years?! Have you guys seriously been going that long? How have things changed for you in that time, and how does it feel to still be unsigned?

Psy: Absolute SHIT! But everything we’ve done to date has been with only the help of friends and family. So we’ve got a lot to be thankful of and learned a hell of a lot.

Steve: It’s amazing how many people promise stuff to you and let you down. We’ve been offered 4 deals so far and even record companies can’t keep their promises.

Chaz: You spend 4 years getting great, then the other 4 trying to get that great while drunk!

Phill: Although it’s been nine years, every year we learn something new and also get closer as a unit. Of course it’s frustrating not to be signed but we’ve achieved a lot over the past few years and we intend to continue this way.

Rumours abound that you are finally recording your debut album, how's that going?

Steve: The album is a combination of our best song writing and everything we’ve learned.

Phill: The recording has gone very well. Working with a very tight budget, we feel that the end product captures what we originally set out to achieve when we first started the band, and that is rock.

Ency: Although it sounds obvious there are songs that could have not been on the album 9 years ago. That does sound obvious, doesn’t it?

Psy does seem to spend a lot of time singing in a Geddy Lee style shriek - has his voice ever dropped out at an important moment? God knows my voice won't hold a note like that for more than two seconds.

Steve: You can never really tell on stage.

Ency: All I hear is Phill smashing his drums up into matchsticks behind me! Geddy Lee, y’say? We sound like Rush? Awesome…

Steve: We are NOT like Rush! No matter how many times you say it, we are NOT like Rush!

Ency: Dammit!

Phill: His voice did fail once that I remember, when we were attempting to record 15 songs in 14 hours.

Psy: That was SO painful but we did it! Could not talk for a day... Could still drink like a fish though!!

Ency: What, through your gills?

Psy: Yes, I also have webbed feet! Ooo, no, shut up! Just be quiet, you.

Some silly Questions: 1. Kittens or puppies? Or just put them both in a bag and drown them?

Phill and Psy: Errrrrrrr, man that’s wrong.

Steve: Puppies, as it could be boobs!

Ency: Hmmm. Can’t think of anything cat-related that’s even vaguely sexual. Oh, hang on, how about p… paws? No.

2. Boxers or pants?
Phill: None of the above!

Psy: Are we talking about dogs again?

3. Pogo or Pit?

(Steve asks for clarification)

Steve: Oh, they’re both shit.

Chaz: Pits seemed to have gone from a bit of a laugh to all out war! At our last showcase in London there were guys covered in blood.

Psy: I used to be a pit man but now…

Ency: No, it’s all elbows and head-butts these days. Used to be, if you got knocked down, you’d get helped back up, but now you just get your throat stamped on. Boo, we say!

Steve: Yeah, if you’re pogoing or moshing at our gigs, you’ve missed the point! You don’t have to conform. Just do your thing and have fun, man!

Phill: As long as it isn’t kicking the shit out of somebody!

What’s next for LiViD?

ALL: Release the greatest rock album in the world!

Chaz: Become Batman.

Phill: I’ve always wanted to tour Japan.

Ency: Awesome. Is that so we can go on Takeshi’s Castle?

Phill: Yes. Yes it is.

Steve: Just to get out there, get known, get massive, get getting stuff, y’know? A record deal, preferably!

Psy: We want more LiViD branded stuff! You should see our glow in the dark thongs on our website store.

Check it out at www.LiViDtheband.com or www.myspace.com/lividtheband

Words by “Sexy” Dave and images courtesy of LiViD’s MySpace.

© Pure Rawk 2008