Interviews

The Horrors

Ross Drummond 19/03/2007

Not for some time has there been a band that has caused such disruption, cited by Jarvis Cocker as "the future of music" and toted on the front cover of the NME with just one chart ineligible single to their name. Their brand of what keyboardist Rhys "Spider Webb" describes as "early rock n' roll or punk" has proven that this is a band with more than a striking image to live on.

"The difference between us and the majority of groups around at the moment is that we are kind of on a parallel to whatever contemporary trend there is at the moment be it because of our sound or our roots. I think we are certainly lodged out with the mainstream of what is put out in most music magazines, and for that reason I see it as a long term thing . Where as there are a lot of groups around at the moment who I don't think will see the year out."

Rhys's confidence in the band, formed in the ultra hip junk club back in August 2005 and he has every reason to be confident. With 4 limited run 7inches all sold out and now selling for ridiculous prices on ebay, a video directed by cult director Chris Cunningham (which was then banned on MTV2 due to excessive strobe lights). Along with a sold out NME 'indie rock' tour under there belt and preparations for a headlining tour which will take them all over Europe and America, you can forgive them for their tone. In short The Horrors have the world at their rather smartly dressed feet.

"We played our first gigs in September and then were asked to play the following Saturday and before we knew it we were playing maybe 2-3 gigs a week and we were just really driven to get on stage and make some noise. We were playing all over London and had managed to gather quite a buzz around us, after a while we were visited from A&R from Loog Records (who the band are now signed with, a subsidiary of Polydor) and things just took off from there"

With a buzz built so quickly it meant the band were able to catch the eye of Yeah Yeah Yeah's guitarist Nick Zinner after a gig at the forum.

"It was amazing, We worked with him over 3 days and recorded two tracks. One was a re-recorded version of 'she was the new thing' and a new track 'Sister Menavilla' (the title is rusty). They didn't make the album but we are hoping to release them at a later point either as b-sides or something else. We had the opportunity to either take a week off or work with Nick so it was simple really"

With references to bands that they have collected and adore from the 70s including: This Heat, July and many other bands that unless you were in the echelon's of Rob Gordon you would probably never have heard of, its quite apparent where they get there punk ethics from.

"For us reaching the charts isn't a motivation, us putting something out on vinyl with all the extras for us was something we wanted and was a lot more personal. I mean we put out a fanzine for every tour we do so that we can really obtain a close connection with our fans"

Once you've heard their new album "'Strange House" which according to some major publications you should: you'll hear the lyrics of Farris Rotter, who's sold his soul to Edgar Allan Poe some time ago. The psychedelic guitar of Joshua Von Grimm doubled with Spider Webb's Manzarek-esque organ (the same organ that The Beatles used nonetheless) and the frantic bass and drums of Tomethy Furse and Coffin Joe respectively. There is no reason that The Horrors Ghost Train is going to stop anytime soon.

And if you were wondering, what the band's(or Josh's) favourite sandwich is: Mackrel, Mango, Horse radish and Whole Grain Mustard, it works best on a bagel.