interview – The Daily Opinion

Interview with Deborah French

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Deborah French is the author of A Brief Moment in Time, a memoir chronicling her experience of raising two children with special needs. A review of the book can be found here, and the link to it on Amazon can be found at the end of this interview.

How did the start of the book come about? Did you decide it was time to tell your story, or did someone else prompt you?

I introduced myself to ASD Publishing in a submissions email for my children’s book. I received an almost immediate response asking me to consider writing down my personal journey and sending a manuscript back to them for consideration. I remember reading the email with a quizzical brow thinking ‘Seriously, could I do this?’ I have always loved writing and had dreams of becoming an author as a teenager, so I asked my husband for the laptop, sat down and wrote Chapter 1, The Moment. And that was it.

The book is such a beautiful insight into your life and covers truly sensitive issues that I found I needed to read it slowly; digesting the information and reality of the situation as I went. Did you find it very difficult to write, retracing each moment and did you have to take it slowly?

The first three chapters were written within a few hours. I was surprised at the speed at which I was able to retrace my steps because up until that point, of course I had recalled the emotional trauma of birth but had yet to take that journey so intimately again. I was also aware that as I was reliving those first few days, I was about to share my story and my most shameful feelings with the world, that fact was overwhelming and frightening. Once I had I passed the first hurdle however and I was able to re read the first chapters without sobbing, everything flowed very smoothly from then on. Those moments of my life had been bottled up for a long time; once I began to write I couldn’t stop.

You’ve constructed a very natural narrative, following your life chronologically. Did you sit down and simply let the story flow, or did you plan out how you would write it?

Once I had made the decision to write my story I felt the only appropriate place to start was from the day I walked into the hospital to give birth to Amariah. From then on I didn’t plan to tell my story chronologically, it just worked out that way because I was able to explain my emotional development more accurately through each experience.

Your writing is very honest and really helps the reader to connect with your experiences, but was there anything that you wanted to include and couldn’t because of time or space constraints?

I could have certainly continued on but as you have described it takes some time to digest the information and the reality of the situation. It was important to find the right balance. I didn’t want to overwhelm the reader, I wanted to make sure that by the end of the book they could connect with the sense of happiness and contentment that we feel despite our circumstance. This was an important point for me to drive home.
I was surprised by the move to Israel and very interested to learn about the help that is available there.

What prompted this move? Primarly we moved because we were advised to live in a hotter climate for sake of Amariah’s health. During those early years she was plagued with chest, throat and sinus infections and the warmer climate has certainly helped with that. Secondly and most importantly, the facilities available to those with special needs is incredible. Amariah is only seen by a paediatrician during routine doctor visits through the regular health service. There are countless nurseries and schools for children with a range of special needs, both separate and integrated into the mainstream system. Therapies and after school programmes are readily available with free transportation from the council to and from our door step. There is also considerable emphasis on supported living and employment opportunities for adults with special needs, which is a consideration for all parents. The question of ‘what’s next?’ still keeps me up at night but I take comfort knowing that we are living in a society that thrives on how it cares for those less fortunate.

Throughout the book your focus is always on the children and their progression, but marriages have fallen through with much less pressure. How did you maintain your relationship and social life through it all?

My husband has an uncanny way of making me laugh, especially when I’m crying. He has often said that ‘If we don’t laugh about it then we will go nuts.’ And I agree with him. The challenges that we have faced have also never created an issue between us, our task has been to work on how we handle our own emotional pain and support each other in the way we both need.
As far as our social life goes, we enjoy as much private time as we do socialising with friends and family. We regard our social time as ‘taking a break’. Sometimes it’s hard to switch off from reality but there will always be something to worry about and time out is good for everyone.

Has the book and subsequent publicity had any effect on the school life of Henry and Amariah, such as raised awareness from friends or negative effects?

From the feedback that I have received so far, including your own review, I can see the effect my story will have on raising awareness. I have always said that ignorance breads fear which in turn breads intolerance and predjuidice. The more informed people are about children and adults with special needs the less they will fear them and the more society will accept those with disabilities. I hope that in some way my story will inspire more integration at a grass roots level between families, friends, teachers and their pupils. As far as Henry and Amariah are concerned, A Brief Moment in Time is merely an extension of these efforts, we work tirelessly everyday to inform those around them to ease their integration. It’s a working progress.

You keep busy with raising awareness for special needs and having activities for special needs children. Do you have any hobbies outside of that part of your life?

I love to cook. I have enjoyed hosting and entertaining our family and friends as well as running cookery demonstrations for adults and lessons for children. I believe that cooking is a life skill that all children should be taught from a young age. I have also run courses for children with special needs and have seen the improvements in their concentration and coordination whilst working towards the finished dish.
Apart from this I love to spend time with my husband and children relaxing and having fun experiences. We try to take time off from our hectic lives even for a short time just to get away and spend the day together. This is a very important part of my life.

How has the reaction to your book been so far, and has it differed from your expectations?

I anticipated that it would have an impact of some sort because birth is an experience anticipated by all and experienced by most and there is always a sense of fear that everything may not go according to plan. Even if the reader doesn’t have a child with a disability they will be automatically transported back to their own experience during the read and will connect with my experience.
In saying that, I could not have hoped for the response that I have received. I haven’t made so many people cry in such a short time in my life! It has been so wonderful to hear that our story has touched the hearts of so many people and, what’s more, I have been so delighted to hear that other mothers in similar situations have headed to my advice and reaped results with their children. I could not have hoped for more.

Do you have any plans for a follow-up to A Brief Moment in Time, telling readers what the experience is like as the children have got older, or how things are changing in a broader perspective for the special needs community?

I wouldn’t rule that out. I am currently developing other projects to help raise awareness through my writing for children with special needs and I have also completed a picture book to help prepare children on the autistic spectrum for their first day of school. So there are lots of directions to follow. I like to take one step at a time.

Interview with Sherri Hayes

The combination of FBI agent and professional footballer is an unusual one. What made you come up with the idea?

Gage’s profession was decided in the first book of the series, Behind Closed Doors. After that, it was a matter of finding the right woman for him. I knew she needed to be strong, both physically and mentally, yet vulnerable, too. Rebecca took shape from there.

Which idea came first, the professional footballer being stalked, or the romance between an FBI agent and her project?

Gage and his stalker were first. There are hints in Behind Closed Doors about Gage having a stalker. Rebecca’s character didn’t begin to take shape until the very end of writing Behind Closed Doors.

You go into quite a lot of detail about the football games. Is this a personal passion of yours?

I grew up watching the Cleveland Browns with my dad. Back then it was not unusual to find me right there along with him shouting at the television. Of course, during playoff season, it’s not uncommon to find me doing that now, either.

As Rebecca relaxes and allows herself to be seduced by Gage she gradually becomes used to the more provocative outfits that he picked out for her. Was this an intentional statement about female sexuality and a woman’s right to dress as we please?

It was more a statement about Rebecca herself. I tend to write what is right for my characters, their personalities, and their growth. Everything else is secondary. In Rebecca’s case, she viewed her ultra conservative clothing as an outward sign of her poise and control over her life and situation. Gage gave her the freedom to release some of that, and realize her world wasn’t going to fall apart if she did.

Your main characters get engaged and have a child relatively quickly by today’s standards. Did you have any alternative endings in mind when you were writing?

Neither of those things were planned when I started writing their story. When I write a story, I generally only have a vague idea of where it’s headed. Outside of that, I let the story flow, and the characters guide where we end up. I knew they would end up together, but they surprised me with the ending.

How did you find writing the erotic scenes and are there any family members who will be forbidden from reading it? (Grandparents, etc.)
This is my sixth published work to date, and all of them have had love scenes of one shape or form. Writing them doesn’t bother me. I do what I feel is appropriate for the plot, scene, and characters. As for family…the only family that reads my books is my mom and she loves my romances. She once told me that my love scenes were what a woman wants but rarely gets.

Who were your literary influences for this book?

I love to read, but I wouldn’t say there were any specific literary influences for Red Zone.

The obvious question is, what was your take on 50 Shades of Grey and did it inspire you to write your own erotic romance?

My first book published six months before 50 Shades of Grey, so no, it didn’t inspire me. While I read part of the fan fiction when it was posted, I haven’t read the books since E.L. James published the trilogy.

Do you see yourself more as Rebecca or Megan and is any part of the story autobiographical?

I relate more to Rebecca than I do Megan. While I wouldn’t say any of the story is autobiographical, there are parts of Rebecca’s past and personality that are similar to mine.

Was there a man that you had in mind when creating Gage’s character?

I tend to visualize personalities more than physical traits when I write my characters, so no. All of my characters come purely from my imagination.

What made you choose the romance genre and not Sci-fi or fantasy, for example?

I’ve always loved reading romance novels, and I write what I like to read. There is something about reading about a couple falling in love that draws me into a story, and makes me want to see them get their happy ending.

When did you decide that you wanted to be a writer?

Writing was something I sort of fell into. It wasn’t anything I’d ever considered as a career path growing up. In fact, I didn’t start writing my first story until I was thirty. It wasn’t until three years later when my publisher approached me after reading some of my online writing that I ever considered being a writer.

Have you got any advice for budding erotic novelists?

The best advice I can give any writer, erotic or otherwise, is to write what you like. If you don’t like the story, then chances are, no one else will either. It also makes the work of writing much more enjoyable.

Do you believe that erotic fiction empowers women?
In a way, yes. I believe it gives women more freedom to learn what they might potentially enjoy sexually with their partners, and that’s always a good thing.

Interview with Adrian ‘Lionheart’ McCallum

The following questions were answered by Adrian ‘Lionheart’ McCallum who as some of you may know and for those of you who don’t; he is an independent wrestler from Scotland. We asked him on his life in wrestling and where he is planning to go with his life now that he has announced his retirement from the Industry.

Firstly, can you tell us how you first got into the wrestling business?

I grew up watching wrestling, and when others grew out of it, I didn’t. Right up till I was around 18 and I decided I was going to try and do this.

So Adrian as an independent wrestler on the England circuits, can you give us an insight into how English wrestling differs from what we see on TV and the American circuit?

I can’t really comment on this aside from the obvious. Television is a very powerful tool and can determine how people are perceived. The British Wrestling scene is no different to any other industry. You have people you like, people you don’t. People you look up to, people you wish would go away.

Haha that is quite a good way to put it! So how did you develop your own character? Is he a spin on you or are you completely different?

My character is really simple. I don’t have an obvious “gimmick” as such; I’m an all-round performer with a fairly charismatic/entertainment persona.

That’s great to hear that you can adapt to different wrestlers and their characters to be an all-rounder! We mostly see the independent guys saying their top dream is to wrestle for the WWE, with the likes of TNA and ROH more prominent in the industry today is this still the way? Or are your dreams different?

I think anyone who is in pro wrestling as an in ring performer and says they don’t aspire to be in one of those places, then they have no business being there.

So what has been your favourite match to date and why?

I’ve had way too many to mention. I have some favourite opponents including Kris Travis, Noam Dar, Joey Hayes, Andy Wild, El Ligero, Martin Kirby… So many

And who would your dream opponent be? It can be anyone past or present.

The Rock

That would be a great match! For the younger generation who are just latching onto the industry, can you give any advice to aspiring wrestlers?

Find a reputable training school. Always listen to advice, keep your feet on the ground, fear nothing, and work hard. There are no guarantees of success.

I think it’s great how grounded you are and with your advice to the younger generation. Do you have any dreams outside of the industry?

When I’m a little older, I want to have a family.

Who currently in the industry do you look up to or as a fan follow?

Again, there is too many to mention. My all-time hero is the Rock but I’ve had several influences over the years.

The Rock certainly did establish himself as a big influence on aspiring wrestlers of the future, as a fellow fan myself I think it’s only right when aspiring wrestlers look up to him. Outside of the industry what are some of your hobbies? Follow any sports such as Football or Formula 1?

Nope. Wrestling is all I know and love

Lastly, we have seen you announce your retirement a few weeks ago, so what’s next for you as a person and a character? And where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

10 years from now I’ll probably still be promoting shows, hopefully have a family and be settled down. When I retire, I won’t have a character, I’ll be done completely aside from perhaps the odd appearance if asked in a non-wrestling role.

Well we wish you all the best of luck for the future and much happiness. Thank-you for your time today in conducting this interview with us and we look forward to seeing what you do next!

Interview With Kiss The Sky Author DC Gallin

Tell us a little about yourself

It’s one of the best feelings in the world to laze in bed with someone sucking on your nipples, so I didn’t mind one bit when Baby Number Four refused to go to sleep without me. Going to bed at sunset meant that I’d wake up just before sunrise, and before long the proverbial night owl had metamorphosed into a lark. In the undisturbed stillness of the early morning hours the writing really took off: being the mother of four children is a very grounding job and it’s liberating to be able to escape into another reality where you can still be carefree, dance the nights away and do all those things a mother normally doesn’t get round to doing on a regular basis. You could say that one job lead to the next…

Kiss The Sky is your first book and you achieved an unusual feat in selling 2000 copies yourself on the streets. What gave you the inspiration to do so and the idea to do it that way?

My husband Rich and I had infiltrated the VIP area of the London Book Fair pretending to be literary agents. When you buy your ticket online, they ask you whether you’re an author, agent or publisher. Well, we figured that authors were the least welcome people there and so we ordered badges for agents, dressed up, and sailed straight past security to the upper floor where I handed out my letter. One agency wanted to see the whole manuscript. They loved the writing but didn’t think that there was a market for the subject matter. We couldn’t believe it: the 90s dance music revolution was a worldwide phenomenon that changed the music scene forever. We were much more than just a ‘chemical generation’. We were dancing for freedom and world peace, yet there was no market for a book talking about a period that many still consider the best time of their life? Odd. So instead of playing the lottery and trying to grab the attention of the middlemen, why not take it to the readers directly? We were also ready for a family adventure and the idea of working on a tropical party island beach did appeal!

Where did this story come from? Do you consider it autobiographical in any way?

Most of my art is autobiographical in some way, because that’s what I do when not writing. Like most first novels there are autobiographical elements woven into a fabric of fiction.

One look at your website bio and it’s clear that it’s not just your success that has been unique, but your lifestyle in general – living in a stone shed with no electricity or road access, searching skips for windows and your dance floor from cut-offs at the marble factory. Is your lifestyle as bohemian as it seems, and is it dance music, the focal point of Kiss The Sky, that prompted this lifestyle?

Yes, let’s blame it on the music and the dance floor! When dance music is your guiding star, you can travel this hippie trail where you follow the party and trade whatever you pick up on your way around the world. Where there is trade, there can be a party. And that’s what we learned in India: that you can always sell directly to the people. That’s probably the reason I wasn’t afraid to promote the book myself.

The book explores, amongst other things, anti-materialism and a life without money and this seems to be mirrored in your own life. Is it a fundamental ideology you believe in?

I wouldn’t call it a fundamental ideology but more a lifestyle born out of necessity: When you devote your life to art, financial security is not part of the package; you have to improvise a lot and use your imagination instead of a credit card. I love spending money just like everybody else and can be very good at it when given the chance, but I take more pleasure in picking up treasures for next to nothing – it’s all about the hunt, not the possession.

It also explores the sexual revolution and your attitude to it is “why it is more important than ever to start enjoying sex without indoctrinated guilt or shame.” Can you elaborate on this? Is this a plea to the hedonism of the Swinging Sixties, a suggestion that monogamy is unnecessary, or a mere suggestion that sex is fine if no one is going to get hurt?

I love the way you put this question. It’s probably a bit of all of the above and I will try to answer it point by point:

The hedonism of the swinging sixties was a direct consequence of the sexual liberation through LSD. Anyone who has ever experienced sex on acid and had a good trip with the right partner will confirm this: It enhances our sensitivities and men can be totally in charge of their ejaculations and really satisfy the female who in turn is totally able to let go. That is the most amazing thing about it. All the hang-ups and insecurities can be overcome and sex becomes the art of love making instead of a race to orgasm. That’s where the revolution is going to happen, not in the counting of male and female orgasms.

Is Monogamy unnecessary? Monogamy is an idea, no more no less. It suits some but not all and if we want to move towards a sexually liberated society it has to be an individual choice and not forced upon us by (religious?) morals in a society that wants to control human sexuality in order to harness its energy for warfare or consumerism. Enforced monogamy as the only norm is the reason for a lot of hurt and betrayal in long-term relationships. Why inject guilt and morals into an art form?

…A mere suggestion that sex is fine if no one is going to get hurt:
We live in a world where the taking of lives is witnessed, on a daily basis, through TV, film and other media, but the making of a life is seen as dirty, forbidden and therefore hidden. I’m asking you, what is more hurtful:
Gunshots or healthy sessions of sexy sex?

One review of your book says that it’s “a story about the search for human freedom in a conditioned world…and about forging an authentic being from the imposed structure of modern urban life.” Is this something you were actively trying to portray when writing it, or was it more of an unconscious development in the subtext?

Most of all I intended to tell an exciting story with freedom as the point of departure. I am grateful to my readers, and especially CJ Stone, for putting this into words so eloquently: The reviews and comments on Facebook really have taught me why I gave up so much living to be in front of a computer for years.

In this watered-down modern world of restrictions, new laws and more government intrusion than before, with a primary focus on money and possessions, your book points at a time when that wasn’t the case and argues the case for its virtues. It also bucks the trend in exploring sex, defending drugs, rebellion and how art and creativity threatens capitalism. It’s refreshing and a welcome departure, but how much of that is just story and how much are your actual beliefs?

Again, it’s not so much a belief but more a philosophy lived and learnt through circumstance and the need to be creative while surviving on the material plane. That’s what makes the story so realistic.

You’ve lived in London squats and very much hand-to-mouth at times. Were those your own decisions or just how things turned out, and how do you think your children were affected as you tried to sell your book?

As a one-basket woman I find it impossible to be a ‘part-time’ artist. After our return from India we’ve always sold our stuff in markets, be it art, food or now a book. It’s fun and real and you’re out there in the fresh air meeting cool people. Our children don’t know any better. They come with us wherever we go, and are used to seeing us working and selling and they have realistic expectations of life and its possibilities, I think.

For those who weren’t into the movement, can you explain the appeal of dance music and its purpose beyond the sounds it created?

The appeal was the unity and love created on the dance floor. We didn’t drink alcohol, instead, we were all high on psychedelics, able to experience and envision the potential of a healed humanity.

When did you decide to turn your hand to writing?

I always knew from very young that I’d write books one day and that I had to live an interesting life and read and read and read some more…

Have you started or thought of ideas for a second novel yet?

Yes, I have started and the setting is India, the Goa scene and beyond 😉

What does D C Gallin read when she has free time?
This is the hardest question of all! Let’s just say I do not read genre fiction such as romance or thrillers or anything that is overtly plot driven and predictable. If you wanted a list of books that made me feel at home instantly, influenced and even changed the way I perceive life? Some are mentioned or hinted at in KTS and the list is long, but here are some other favourites:

Rule of the Bone, Russell Banks
White Oleander, Janet Fitch
Gimme More, Liza Cody
This perfect Day, Ira Levin
A very Private Life, Michael Frey
Ines of my Soul Isabel Allende
Are you experienced? William Sutcliffe
Down and Out in Paris and London, George Orwell
A Movable Feast, Ernest Hemingway
The Island, Aldous Huxley

And here are some non fiction:

Fierce Dancing, C. J. Stone
The Tao of Love and Sex Jolan Chang
The Chalice and the Blade Riane Eisler
The Descent of Woman, Elaine Morgan
The politics of Ecstasy, Timothy Leary
The Gift, Lewis Hyde
Small is Beautiful, E. Schumacher
The Nature Doctor, A. Vogel

Thanks for all the thoughtful questions, Richard! Hope you enjoyed KTS 🙂

Interview with Paul Gautrey

The Glitterati emerged onto the UK music scene in 2005 with their self-titled album and singles chart success. Characterised by energetic live shows, the early days were filled with the joys every young band dreams of, from recording with a legendary producer to being signed to one of the world’s biggest labels and touring America, but industry politics brought an untimely end to the band. We caught up with the former singer, Paul Gautrey, to discuss the past and the future.

Let’s start with the Glitterati if you don’t mind. That band felt unique in its honesty, both in the songs you released and in the way you spoke candidly in interviews and on stage. Members of that band said publicly that they weren’t too into modern music and that there wasn’t much decent guitar-based rock hitting the airwaves, at least in the UK. That resonated with me because I felt the same way, with bands like the Killers and Kings of Leon not filling the void. Is that still something you feel or do you think the scene has changed in the past few years? And did the Glitterati deliberately set out to try to change that and bring some excitement back into music?

We were always ourselves in interviews and onstage, sometimes we probably said too much but it made good entertainment. We didn’t set out to fill a void for anyone but ourselves, because like you said there wasn’t really much great rock music around, there weren’t any bands breaking through we loved. It seemed that people treated rock music like some ironic joke, in London especially; all hip kids throwing air guitar and rock horns became cool, [but] we probably benefitted from this too as we got signed for a shitload of money and were all over magazines like the NME, but we never wanted any part of that.

I first heard of the band on the New Kings of Rock N Roll show that aired in the late hours. You were featured on that before your debut album was released, can you tell us how that came about?

Yeah, it was a week of gigs that were broadcast on channel 4 [and] it was supposed to feature all the bands who were getting touted by the press and radio as the best new bands, some were already big and some were up and coming like us. The show we actually played was us supporting The Vines but when it went out on channel 4 they showed us and Jet, I’m not sure why, maybe because we had the same label as Jet, but I kind of wanted to show us with The Vines. I really liked them at the time but they were pretty shambolic live the night we played with them so I thought it would make us look better, ha ha!

Can you talk a bit about the early days after you moved to London and started to get noticed; did success feel to you as rapid as it appeared to the public? You’ve said previously that when you didn’t have a manager you were courted by the labels and getting free meals out of them. Did that require any effort on your part or did it just happen from your reputation as a live band?

It was rapid from the time we all moved to London as we were getting offers from all over the place within a few months, but me, John and Bill had been in bands in Leeds together for a few years before the Glitterati, Nic had already had one record deal in another band, we really were just like “Fuck it, we aren’t getting anywhere in Leeds so let’s move to london where the streets are paved with gold.” I’ve no idea what we would have done if it hadn’t happened, and luckily it happened quickly as we probably couldn’t have afforded to stay for more than a few months, we were living on one pound a day each for food.

How did you live on a pound a day?

It wasn’t a rule, we didn’t give anyone a hard time if they splashed out £2 on a burger and chips, but we were broke and had to be careful as we didn’t want to be on the next Megabus back to Leeds within a few weeks. We also had the regular nights at the posh restaurants courtesy of the labels and managers, besides Costcutter noodles were only about 15p a pack……..we ate a lot of Costcutter noodles, ha ha!

We didnt have a reputation as a live band as we hadnt played even a single gig together, we just had a demo we did at Nic’s house with our mate, we only gave it to one person – Paul Harris – who at the time worked for B-unique records and he played it to someone else, they played it to someone else and it snowballed. We were meeting all these massive labels and managers within weeks, we would bring them all to where we rehearsed and play them 3 or 4 songs live but we hadn’t played a gig together. We didn’t plan anything but everything fell into place like a dream, we signed to Universal Publishing not long after and they helped set us up with even more managers and labels, we did an indie single on Alan McGee’s Poptones label, he wanted to sign us but we ended up going with Atlantic who won us over with nights at Stringfellows and a record deal worth stupid amounts of money. We were pretty wealthy for a while, but that soon changed once we started doing things like paying £35,000 to do one album launch gig and other daft things, but we definitely had fun.

You recorded the debut album in LA with Mike Clink and I understand that there was talk of the band relocating there. Is there any truth to that and what made you choose to stay in the UK?

Yes we considered moving there, this was between the first and the second album, we weren’t on Atlantic anymore and were looking for a new label. We had just toured over there off our own backs and we were getting quite a lot of interest and people were loving us,especially in LA.

Whilst out there we signed a management deal with a big company and it looked like it was all going to happen for us like it did here; it was almost identical to when we moved to London, kind of like we were in the right place at the right time.

I wanted us to just pack up and move, things were obviously better for us there than here, some of us wanted to go but other guys just didn’t want to.

It was never spoken about at the time, the reasons for not going were usually to do with money, visas etc, but by this time the guys had their own houses and were in long-term relationships, things they didn’t want to or couldn’t just give up. I can understand that now, but I really think if we had moved at that point we would have done really well out there. Looking back, two guys left the band not long after so i can understand why they didn’t want to up sticks and move to LA if they were thinking of leaving, but yeah we came back to London [and] things eventually fizzled out with the manager with us being here and them there and I think we missed a great oppurtunity but who knows, maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.

In interviews both you and John stated that the Glitterati was one of those bands that if something could go wrong, it would go wrong. Yet at the same time, you seemed to have enough luck or momentum to make quite an impact – having chart success with your singles before being snapped up by Atlantic, getting a TV slot before you had released an album, and touring with some big bands like the Wildhearts. You even opened in Wembley. Was the bad luck down to any turmoil within the band, or did it just feel like fate was against you?

We always felt like we had bad luck at the time, I’m sure a lot of bands do, it’s why most bands can all see Spinal Tap in themselves.We always had the ability to laugh at it, and when i look back we had a lot of good luck too.

The main thing was probably not luck but timing, we moved to London at the right time, the industry were looking for a band like us, [so were] the labels and the press. This allowed us to sign a huge deal and live out all our dreams, it was the best time of my life and I’m grateful for that.

We also had bad timing, there was a year between us signing with Atlantic and releasing our album; a lot had changed in 12 months, there was a backlash against The Darkness in the music press, and us being a rock band on the same label we were kind of lumped in with all that, and also a lot changed at Atlantic.

It had been a year since they signed us and a LOT can change at a major label in a year. By the time the album was released a lot of our supporters at the label had left and we were always fighting an uphill battle there once the album came out. The same person who sat us down a year earlier and told us we should sign with them because they were a label who were interested in longevity and great albums and not just having hit singles blah blah blah told us they were going to get rid of us if our next single, which was only our third for them, didn’t go top 10 in the charts, and that was the day we set off on a 35-date headline tour – our biggest yet – so that was a tough time. Great way to run a label, sign a band for a huge amount of money, have no idea what to do with them once they’ve signed and give them 3 singles to have a top 10 hit, you really couldn’t make some of it up but that’s pretty much the standard blueprint for major labels, or it was then, now you don’t even get the fun part of blowing loads of money but the rest is still pretty much the same.

I think for fans the band’s break-up felt as sudden as how quickly you emerged – you released ‘Fight Fight Fight’ as a single, released the album, and were waiting to embark on a headline tour but instead broke up. On the New Kings of Rock N Roll show you stated that a lot of bands don’t give it the time to get successful and break up too early. Do you felt that the band broke up prematurely, that it would have been easier to continue with the Glitterati than start from the ground up again in a new band, or was it the only real option?

We really tried to make it work,we tried everything,we had such high hopes for the second album. We funded the recording, got a great producer in Matt Hyde, we shopped it round labels ourselves, at times it was soul destroying and there were probably times where we all thought about splitting up, but we managed to hold it together and eventually signed to Demolition, who released the second album.

The plan was lots of touring to promote the album, both here and Europe where we had never really toured, but the touring never happened, through no fault of ours. We had a co-headline tour that fell through at the last minute as the other band’s agent felt they should headline all the shows. I won’t mention the other band but to be honest it was laughable that either they or their agent suggested that, so the day we were going to announce it we were off that tour, we were told not to worry as we were guaranteed the european tour with the New York Dolls. That fell through too.

So we were now left with an album that had been out months and nothing had been done to promote it, if we had good management at this point we could maybe have salvaged it but doing it ourselves and just coming up against brick walls everywhere eventually just ground us down and I don’t think any of us had the energy to fight for it anymore. John actually left the band a month or two before we split, we thought about finding a new guitarist but I think we all knew the band had naturally come to an end. It’s sad to me even now talking about it as it was a great band that should have done more, but I’ve nothing but amazing memories, I got to be in a band with my best mates and we were my favourite band, I had the time of my life, and everything has to end some time.

Were the hard times with the labels what inspired songs like Overnight Superstar?

Yes it is, a lot of that second album was about things that happened with the label and stuff. Lyrically it’s an angrier record than the first, the first album is about 5 mates having the time of their lives and being slightly naive and wide eyed to everything that was happening, and the second is more about dealing with the aftermath of that, trying to keep things together – friendships, relationships, the band – and basically wondering what the fuck happened to us and what do we do next. Regardless of the fact we didn’t get to give it anywhere near the promotion it deserved I’m still proud we at least got that second album out there, as the two albums pretty much tell our whole story, the good times and the bad. It nearly killed us getting it out there but at least we managed it in the end.

Two of the original members quit before the second album was recorded, how did that affect things?

When Nic and Jamie left the band it was really tough, it sounds silly and probably is but it really is like someone walking out of a marriage as it’s such a big part of everyones life. When they left it was tough,we had begun talking with Matt Hyde about producing the album and stuff, and [were] just about to set off on a UK headline tour so we were all pretty optimistic, so it was a bit out of the blue.

We were rehearsing for tour and Jamie rang and told us he was leaving the band, but would do the rehearsals and tour, which was actually pretty brave as he could have just left us in the lurch. The rehearsals were a bit tense but we got through that tour the best we could, I think the tour went pretty well, we were all laughing and joking about him ditching us and stuff, definitely gallows humour. It was really sad on that last gig in the dressing room, we had all been through so much, we were like a gang and this was the first chink in the armour. I’m pretty sure we all tried to be super manly about it and make out like it wasn’t a big deal and stuff but it was a sad time.

We were all determined to carry on, but Nic had been pretty quiet the whole tour, I just thought it was because him and Jamie were the closest so he didn’t really want to talk about replacements or anything, but I remember near the end of the tour getting the feeling Nic was about to jump ship too. I dont know if he and Jamie had both talked about leaving and decided between them not to both do it at the same time for the good of the tour, but a day or so after the tour ended Nic called me and said he was leaving too, so we were down to a 3 piece.

It was a tough time,when you are so into something, and it’s your life you can’t understand why someone else feels differently and would walk away from it, but they had their reasons and did what was best for them, it just wasn’t their whole life anymore and they wanted to do something else.

We went on to get Baz in and Gaff as replacements and getting new guys in definitely lifted the morale. They hadn’t been through the shit we had and had enthusiasm and excitement for everything, which was just what we needed at that point. Making the second album was so much fun, getting a second record deal was exciting too and we had some great times with the new line up, it’s just a shame we couldn’t have had a few more.

All of us have moved on to different things now but we will always be connected through the amazing times we had. It was a great time in all our lives, and I’m glad I got to share it with my mates because at the end of the day we were just mates doing the things we had always dreamed of doing.

I gather that you’re putting together, or have put together, a new band now. How’s that progressing, and is it anyone people may have heard of?

Yes i have, I’ve been working on it for a while, for a lot of reasons it’s taken longer than I imagined, but it’s really starting to come together now. I’m really enjoying it and I’m excited for people to hear it. I’m taking my time, I don’t feel under any pressure, I just want to make the kind of music I want to hear and hope other people like it too.

What can we expect from the new band sound-wise, and when can we expect to see you playing on the live circuit again?

It won’t sound like the Glitterati, I just don’t see the point, and I wouldn’t want to be in another band with a similair style as we may as well have just carried on. I’ve had the chance to join a few and it would have been the easier and maybe the more accepted thing to do, but I need to do something different,and right now if I was playing that kind of music my heart wouldn’t be in it, so like I said I’m just doing what i love first and foremost and hope lots of other people like it. If they don’t, I’ll live, ha ha!

If I’m honest, as much as I still love bands like GNR and New York Dolls it’s not something I really listen to much these days. Don’t get me wrong, I love those bands but it doesn’t influence my songwriting anymore. I’ve always been really into 50s rock n roll and I’m really into a lot of old blues stuff. The new band has elements of that, it’s kind of dirty, bluesy, vintagey rock n roll.

When the Glitterati disbanded, did you ever feel like throwing in the towel on music and trying something else, or is this all you’re compelled to do?

No I’ll never stop making music. I didn’t want to be in a band for a while after the Glitterati, that’s why it’s taken so long. I started the new thing on my own, I was just writing songs [and] I didn’t know if it would be a band. I thought I’d just get mates who are musicians to help me record whenever I needed to but as it went along I started wanting a more permanent thing again, I missed the laughs you have as a band and I missed having people to make music with.

Going off-topic, you’ve said before that you think Appetite for Destruction is the best rock album ever made – and millions would agree with you. The hot topic right now is Guns N’ Roses being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame next month, as a fan what’s your opinion on that, and do you think they will, or should, put their differences aside to play on the night?

I still think it is, I have a lot of people who I know who are quite close to the band members so I hear a lot of different stories and different opinions. My personal opinion is I’d love to see them put their differences aside, it would be amazing for the fans, [but] I’m not sure if they ever will. The bad feeling between Axl and Slash obviously runs deep, it would take a lot of egos being left at the door and there are some massive massive egos involved. I hope it happens one day, but I think time’s almost up on them doing it and it still being cool – I dont want to see them up there at 70………….actually I probably would still want to see it, but I dont want it to be a train wreck.