Stuntmen Interview

• 3rd Jul 2007

After seeing their engaging gig at Junktion 7 recently, I took time out with ‘Stuntmen’ (Steve D’Souza guitar/lead vocals/keyboard, Rob Weiss, bass/backing vocals and Ed Gorrod on drums), to ask a few questions.

Now I’d seen them and heard their performance, I wanted to know who had influenced these prog-rock saviours most. Turns out it was a good old RUSH, Dream Theatre and Incubus combo!
Stuntmen formed three and a half years ago but the current overworked line up is only eighteen months young. In that time they’ve been in three Battle of the Bands and done a silly amount of touring. I wonder if they have a five year plan.
In five years from now Steve wants to be driving a Ferrari into work as head of Microsoft, Rob would like to be doing anything abroad and laughs when I recommend ladies as opposed to jail time! Ed opts for sticking to what he knows and dreams of playing the circuit with any of their aforementioned influences filling support slots at his gigs.

With good reason, Stuntmen have a naughty schoolboy grins. Steve uses his as he studies IT Management, Ed wears his grin as he studies Philosophy and Rob works his whilst studying Engineering. These same grins appear upon their faces when I ask which gig they would most like to take their shiny new sniper rifle to. Ed goes with Sugababes, Rob would be off to any recent Isle of Wight festival, preferably the line up would boast a certain Razorlight. Steve reveals his long burning vengeance as he tells me he could quite happily take down his school headmaster and his band. Some mentor he turned out to be!

Disappointed with the reply, I find that the name Stuntmen originated from their previous alias of Six String Stuntmen. No tales of jumping off bridges for a bet or setting yourself on fire then. I continue to pursue satisfaction and ask for any rock n roll stories they might have to share. Robs tells me that his mum is ex Wishbone Ash tour manager, which explains his dread of playing in front of her! Each member recalls a very ‘Spinal Tap’ moment on the way to a gig at Stealth, when they drove their tour bus (Nissan Micra) the wrong way down a tram route and eventually struggled to park, easily adding forty minutes to a five minute journey. Ah, such is the sport of life!

Itching for more beer, I draw the interview to a close with my last question. What are you advised with God on one shoulder and the Devil on the other, guiding you? There are visible signs of repressed incorrect responses. When I say incorrect, I mean wrong. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Rob begins to tell me it’s a simple message of God telling him to save the world, whilst the Devil says screw everyone! Ed gets the same thing from God, though the Devil is advising him to stick out that pesky leg of his to wait for his piggy backing friends to pass by first. This way is the best way for spilling blood! Ed seems to recall it did a good job when he did it last time, leaving his pals in their own plasma pool after tripping them! Steve says with his tongue in his cheek that they’re both telling him to go and put an end to Christian music! Thanks for your time guys!