The Raid talk to Glasswerk

• 14th Feb 2008

Influenced by The Who, The Strokes, Oasis, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Cash, The Smiths, The La's, The Stone Roses, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, The Raid (TR) are all geared up to get apiece for themselves this year, so watch this space folks! Their rhythm guitarist kindly answered more than a few questions for our delight!

AS: When you take aim with your peashooter/pellet gun/sniper rifle, you’re aiming at?
TR: My next door neighbor…wanker!

AS: Where do you go when it all gets too much?
TR: I go to my room and pick up my guitar; that always sorts me out.

AS: Is bedtime more half nine with a half read paper or more half four with fully red eyes?
TR: Somewhere in-between; around half one or two with a lady at my side!

AS: What do you do in your recreational time?
TR: Play guitar; visit our local and then more guitar.

AS: Who would be your dream collaborator?
TR: That’s a tough one?! I’d love to have a jam with Keith Richards or Hendrix they were/are proper boys! I’d love to do something with Noel Gallagher, not in a gay way mind! But Oasis were from my generation and I don’t think I’d even have played my guitar if it wasn’t for them.

AS: What’s the last gig/concert you went to?
TR: The Verve at O2 and what a night it was too! Didn’t even have a ticket! Me and Paul (lead guitar) decided last minute (being the chancers we are) that we’d just head down. 12 cans and a bottle of Jack later I woke up in our friend’s house at 8:30am in London when I was supposed to be in Northampton! Paul had been kicked out for fighting with her house mate! Brilliant gig though well worth it!

AS: What’s the best music video?
TR: Michael Jackson’s Thriller!

AS: If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
TR: It’s a given really, a guitar!

AS: Do you believe in love at first sight?
TR: I believe in sight after love! I’ve yet to experience it.

AS: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
TR: My love for music, I mean what else would I want to do?! I’ve always been a great believer in dreams and my dream was to play guitar in a rock ‘n’ roll band! And that’s what I’m doing! None of us are willing to accept working the 9 to 5 like 99.9% of the nation. Follow your dreams if they work out, brilliant! If not, at least you can look back and say you had a good time trying.

AS: Any regrets, missed opportunities or things that might’ve been?
TR: None, if it’s meant to be then it will happen.

AS: Were/are you aware of your escalating popularity?
TR: We’ve always seen ourselves as fairly unheard of, but recently we’ve noticed more people turning up to see us and coming over for a chat and its great, it really is. I’m glad people are starting to get it and for those who don’t, well, you know what the answer to that is!

AS: Will your past come back to haunt you?
TR: Never.

AS: Where do you most enjoy playing live?
TR: We enjoy every live performance we play.

AS: Why? What's your biggest why question and has mystified you the longest?
TR: Why after 25 years of my life does my Dad still remind me to put the toilet seat down?!

AS: Who is most influential on your sound?
TR: I’m a huge fan of the 60’s so I think the Stones, Beatles and The Who. You listen to their recordings and you can really feel the room and the vibe; you don’t get that these days. So I guess from them really!

AS: Where do you sit in the grand scheme of things?
TR: At the moment I sit at home by The Raid ‘Bat phone’ waiting for the call. I’m the old man of the band and if people step out of line they get a smack.

AS: Why the name?
TR: It was originally Raid! But it doesn’t have the same ring to it as The RAID!

AS: Whose the most likely to go solo or crazy?
TR: Adam might go solo but Paul will go crazy without a doubt!

AS: Any choice epitaphs, famous last words or something you’d like to be remembered for?
TR: I’d be happy with ‘Andy… rhythm guitarist from The Raid’.

AS: What makes you better than everyone else?
TR: We’re all equal apparently.

AS: When do you plan to take over the world?
TR: I don’t think I’d got the time or inclination! I’d much rather play guitar! It would take more than me to sort out the world. If it was easy I’d do it!

AS: Are you all agreed/in control of the formats for your releases?
TR: Most certainly, I’d tell you but then I’d have to pull your teeth out!

AS: Wish you were doing anything else with your time other than music?
TR: I’ve never thought of doing anything else, so that thought scare’s me!

AS: Did you have any heroes when you were a teenager?
TR: Lennon, Noel Gallagher, Margaret Thatcher and Batman.

AS: What do you think of the paparazzi?
TR: Bunch of twats trying to make a living by taking photo’s of people and telling stories about them by bending the truth…enough said, but does anyone really care?

AS: What are you listening to right now?
TR: The Coral’s, Goodbye.

AS: Any message to any underachieving or odds facing musician out there?
TR: Get practicing or give it up!

AS: Any career highs or lows you care to share?
TR: All high’s, no low’s. When we played the Hope and Anchor to about 5 people last year sometime, but it was magic.

AS: Do you enjoy playing live or are you more at home in a studio?
TR: I just enjoy playing. I try to project my live energy into studio sessions and at home.

AS: Your career defining dream moment would be what?
TR: This is a dream I know will happen:- headlining slot at Glastonbury or Wembley.

AS: Any upcoming music / bands worth keeping an eye on that are destined for greatness?
TR: None apart from us but anyone who knows anything about music already knows that, right?

AS: How important do you feel visuals are in relation to music?
TR: Visuals are a massive part, I mean would you pay a tenner to go and watch the Rolling Stones just stand there with their tops off?! Well maybe some people would but you know what I mean, you have to put on a show. We just get lost in the music.

AS: What was the highlight of your summer?
TR: Getting my vintage 1970 Gibson SG! Have you seen it yet?

AS: Afraid not, sorry! Anyways, I’m sure you’ve done a few but, do you know which has been your best ever gig?
TR: Again I can’t remember exactly when but it was at Turnmills in London. No one there apart from the other bands! We played as if it was our last performance at Wembley (like you have to).

AS: What will this year bring?
TR: A gold or maybe a platinum disc for my bedroom wall hopefully!

AS: Is there more pressure playing live with a band than there is playing solo?
TR: Most solo artists are shite so I guess, yeah!

AS: Are you unlucky in love?
TR: Sadly I’d say yes, long term anyway!

AS: Best song, movie or LP ever?
TR: Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash. If there was a song I could take to my grave that would be it!

AS: Where did you sleep last night?
TR: Unfortunately in my own bed alone.

AS: What’s your secret vice, what are you a sucker for?
TR: Vintage guitars!

AS: What makes the world go round?
TR: Probably our tour bus!

AS: Where’s the place to be?
TR: The Winkell, Bourne end, it’s our local!

AS: What’s your weak point?
TR: I suffer from piles!

AS: What’s your favourite instrument?
TR: Guitar.

AS: Are you a good dancer?
TR: Hell yeah!

AS: What kinds of music do you dislike the most?
TR: Shit music, I don’t dislike any particular kind, there’s either good or bad.

AS: Where will you retire to when you're tired of comeback concerts?
TR: I love Cornwall, I’m not a great lover of warm climates but Cornwall is beauts!

AS: When will the world end?
TR: Pretty soon apparently.

AS: Who is the main driving force or do you work as a team?
TR: I’d say we work as a team, that’s what being in a band’s all about. I really don’t think it would work without all the people involved.

AS: How important are the charts?
TR: I don’t think they’re half as important as they were say 5-10 years ago.

AS: What revival would you most like to witness?
TR: I think for me it would have to be Rolling Stones back in the day with Brain Jones, a proper rock ‘n’ roll star!

AS: What era would you have been born in ideally?
TR: 50’s, so I could prepare myself for the 60’s! I mean how cool would it be going back in time knowing what you know now!

AS: Are exercise and diet important?
TR: Apparently so, but I believe laughter and enjoyment are the key!

AS: If you could save 1 thing in the world, what would it be?
TR: My Gibson SG!

AS: Have you got any famous relatives?
TR: My sister has her brother!

AS: Does complaining accomplish anything?
TR: No, not at all

AS: Have you goy anybody’s autograph?
TR: I think I have Wolf’s from Gladiators! I hear they’re bringing it back you know!

AS: Which fictional character would you most like to be?
TR: Batman or Spiderman, they both seem to get the girls!

AS: Which rules, the digital age or the vinyl/cassette age?
TR: You still can’t beat the vinyl/cassette sound.

AS: If a musical style was to become extinct, which would go first i.e. jazz, folk…?
TR: Emo, hip hop, r&b, garage, death metal and thrash metal. Rock ‘n’ roll would be the last!

AS: Do you have any unused band names you’d love to use?
TR: The Unbelievable Scenes.

AS: Was growing up and becoming who you are today easy?
TR: Not at all but I’m not going to go into detail.

AS: What’s the biggest myth about stardom?
TR: Sam (bass player) thought your knob got bigger, but his hasn’t!

AS: Have you ever been conned into or out of something?
TR: Yeah, a Reading ticket last year! Wanker! Apparently the police have him now though!

AS: Do politics or politicians have a place in music?
TR: No fucking way, tossers!

AS: Thanks for your time Andy and all the best for the future.

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