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Why pixies,
politics and aliens?
"Pixies are
evil and they remove things," explained Jon.
"For instance, my mate visited my house the
other day, sat down and put his phone down on the
floor next to the chair. My house isn't untidy,
but it took us 10 minutes to find the phone and
all the time it was right where he left it.
That's the pixies; they hid it and put it back.
They're evil."
"The alien
association is because we are all interested in
the supernatural."
"We are serious
about our politics," said Jon. "Our
song 'America' is a statement to the American
government; we don't want the world to be ruled
by the Americans."
Why did you
form a band?
"I have been
involved in music since 1979. I was in a band
called Covenant," said Jon. "We
supported Onslaught a few times and got a one off
record deal. We did OK for ourselves."
Two more bands and
over two decades later, Jon formed Alien Stash
Tin with his flatmate Kieran in September 2002.
"He wanted to learn how to play the guitar.
I taught him the basics and we made some mess
around tracks," said Jon. "The drummer
Jim joined shortly afterwards, and we put adverts
in music shop windows and in the paper for a
bassist. I had been in a band with Toby
previously, and it was a surprise when he
telephoned to enquire about the position within
the band."
However, Toby left
the band in December 2002 and was replaced by
Naaman in March 2003. Kieran left in May 2003 and
was replaced by Dave.
"Naaman is the
focal point of the band," said Jon. "He
can take a simple riff and make it sound so
complicated. Plus his hair colour changes
frequently. Dave is so new to the band that we
don't even have pictures of him yet."
"We are
recording an EP and this should hopefully be
released by the end of October."
Where did
the name Alien Stash Tin come from?
"This is due to
our age and life style," explained Jon.
"Kieran was holding his illegal combustible
substances in a metal tin that had an alien on
the lid. This was the alien stash tin."
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Is it true
that you're pals with John Peel?
"Oh no, no,"
said Jon. "I am heavily involved in
community regeneration, hence the track
'Campervan of Love'. We are based in the deprived
area of Barton Hill in east Bristol and the song
was written about the area for the producer Tim
Taylor, who made a community concept CD called
'Music from the Heart of our Community'."
"I didn't hear
the show myself," said Jon, "but
friends and neighbours have told me that John
Peel played 'Campervan of Love' on his show on
Radio 1, and he praised it a lot."
And you're a
journalist?
"For the
community," said Jon. "I interview
councillors and write in-house magazines for
people involved in inner city regeneration. I
have been a music journalist in the past, but I
wouldn't make one now because I don't appreciate
loud angry shouting music like the Linkin Park's.
I leave that to the angry shouting teenagers."
Any tips for
the new young unsigned bands?
"Don't take
yourselves too seriously. Just as long as you
have money for beer and a van, that is all that
matters in a band," said Jon. "Enjoy
your music and don't get an ego, this will spoil
the music and spoil the band. Spend time after a
gig to talk to the people who have come to see
you play. Music is all about bringing people
together, not splitting them apart."
Alien Stash
Tin gigs schedule:
31st August 2003 -
Party in the Park Festival @ Gaunts Ham Park,
Barton Hill 10th September 2003 - The Croft,
Bristol 22nd October 2003 - Barton Hill
Settlement (fundraiser for the local community
newspaper)
Alien Stash Tin are
also playing a secret gig, and details of this
can be found on their website www.alienstashtin.co.uk after 10th September.
Want to send Andrea
a message ? Email Andrea@ukevents.net
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