Figure 5: New kids on the rock.

• 14th May 2008

FIGURE 5 (Vocalist Neil Donaldson, lead guitarist Martin Keith, rhythm guitarist Gerard Espie, bassist Graham Gordon and drummer Brian Calderwood) formed in 2004. Onward they went, laden with instruments and loaded with a lust for psyched up garage punk life, they dive-bombed into the Glaswegian live circuit.

They’ve supported the likes of The Fratellis , The Enemy, Ocean Colour Scene and Kula Shaker to name but a few. Their latest single ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ (click this link for my review) is out May 26th, preceding the summer release of their LP.

Anyways, here’s my interview in which they kindly participated…

AS: What's the last gig/concert you went to?
F5: Circulus at the Monarch.

AS: If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
F5: A Sitar.

AS: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
F5: Billy Childish.

AS: Where do you most enjoy playing live?
F5: Glasgow Barrowlands.

AS: Why? What's your biggest why question and has mystified you the longest?
F5: Did Tommy Sheridan really go to the brothel?

AS: Who is most influential on your sound?
F5: Our sound guy Dave!

AS: Why the name?
F5: Great pop art print by Robert Indiana ( link ).

AS: Who's the most likely to go solo or crazy?
F5: Groovy Graham on both accounts.

AS: Any choice epitaphs, famous last words or something you'd like to be remembered for?
F5: Smoke me a kipper darling; I'll be back for breakfast.

AS: When do you plan to take over the world?
F5: August 14th at 8.43pm.

AS: Are you all agreed/in control of the formats for your releases?
F5: Pretty much.

AS: Did you have any heroes when you were a teenager?
F5: Sylvester McCoy, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Iron Maidens drummer Nicko McBrain, the Hartnoll brothers (Orbital?), Bananaman and Bruce Forsyth.

AS: What do you think of the paparazzi?
F5: They do a good Pizza.

AS: What are you listening to right now?
F5: Shack, The Rudiments, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Buffalo Springfield, Kraut Rock, Groovy Graham's solo triple album and Iron Maiden.

AS: Any career highs or lows you care to share?
F5: High – TCT at the Royal Albert Hall. Low – We travelled all the way to Birmingham to play to the band who were on before us.

AS: Your career defining dream moment would be what?
F5: Jamming with Paul Weller.

AS: Any upcoming music / bands worth keeping an eye on that are destined for greatness?
F5: The Rudiments.

AS: How important do you feel visuals are in relation to music?
F5: A small but important log in the machine.

AS: I'm sure you've done a few but, do you know which has been your best ever gig?
F5: Either our first King Tuts sold out gig or the McChuills video shoot.

AS: What will this year bring?
F5: Rain and shine.

AS: Best song, movie or LP ever?
F5: Song – ‘Green Onions’ by Booker T. & the M.G's. Movie – ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. LP – ‘Forever Changes’ by Love.

AS: Where did you sleep last night?
F5: Neil – On the floor beside the record player, Groovy Graham and an empty bottle of Brandy.

AS: What's your secret vice, what are you a sucker for?
F5: Strawberry Laces.

AS: Where's the place to be?
F5: The Pub.

AS: What's your weak point?
F5: Self control.

AS: What's your favourite instrument?
F5: Guitar & Drums.

AS: Are you a good dancer?
F5: Not bad.

AS: What kinds of music do you dislike the most?
F5: There are only 2 types of music, good and bad. We dislike the bad stuff.

AS: Where will you retire to when you're tired of comeback concerts?
F5: The English countryside.

AS: What revival would you most like to witness?
F5: Medieval times.

AS: If you could save 1 thing in the world, what would it be?
F5: My record collection.

AS: Who's the most gifted person alive today?
F5: Michael Head (British composer, pianist, organist and singer who physically died in ’76, sorry guys!)

AS: Which fictional character would you most like to be?
F5: Alan Partridge, Tony Soprano, Dr. Who, Jim Morrison (?) or Superman.

AS: Which rules, the digital age or the vinyl/cassette age?
F5: Vinyl/Cassette

AS: If a musical style was to become extinct, which would go first i.e. jazz, folk?
F5: Slap bass happy hardcore.

AS: Do you have any unused band names you'd love to use?
F5: The Tomorrow Syndicate, Multiple Spider Bites, Peter Sissons Pantomime Cow or Nutrient Solution.

AS: What's the biggest myth about stardom?
F5: Swimming pools of cider, flumes of lager, Jacuzzi's of Stella.

AS: Do politics have a place in music?
F5: Yes, in small doses.