Up-Load UK, Gigs News & reviews Seether Download Interview

Prior to their appearance on the gibson stage on Friday at this year’s Download Festival we did a quick interview with Tommy , the vocalist and guitar player from Slaves To Gravity. Check out what he had to say to us.

Up-load	You have been booked to play the second stage at the Download festival this year. Are you looking forward to it and how did the booking come about ?
Tommy	We’re jumping out of our skin with excitement! We played Download 3 years ago with another band so it’s been a long road to get back on that stage, but it’s been worth every drop of blood sweat and tears. We’ve been working hard on the road in that time and I guess we finally caught the attention of the right people who decided our profile was high enough and our live show good enough to merit giving us a slot. We won’t let them or the fans down. It’s fucking ON!.
Up-load	When did you know you were playing ?
Tommy	We found out the same way everyone else did – the day it was announced on the internet! They’re very cagey about giving information out so whilst we had a suspicion that it was going to happen we were kept in the dark until the 11th hour..
Up-load	Will you be spending the whole weekend at the festival?
Tommy	The plan is that we’ll be camping – we’re old school, you see! We’ve got some friends with us who will be filming our escapades throughout the weekend to create a video for the next single, or if that doesn’t come off we can add it to the archive and use it for a kind of pantera-style home video DVD in the future. If you see us wandering around filming random shit be sure to come and say hi!.
Up-load	Is there anyone else you are looking forward to seeing at the festival?
Tommy	To be honest I think the line-up is pretty weak this year. I wanted to check out Chris Cornell but he’s pulled out… I suppose out of sheer curiosity I’ll check out Kiss. I’ve never been a fan, but I’d love to see what all the fuss is about – their fans are obsessive beyond belief!.
Up-load	Have you been to Download before?
Tommy	Once, in 2004. I decided then I’d only ever go to a festival again if I was working. I grew up going to Glastonbury every year ‘cause it was my local festival, but I’m done with hanging at these things without an agenda. I just want to get on that fucking stage!.
Up-load	What other bands would you like to share the stage with past or present?
Tommy	Now they’ve reformed I’d love to play a show with STP. That’d be a real treat. Also Zepplin would be pretty cool. Any stage is good though, really. As long as it has monitors, which a lot don’t!.
Up-load	Have any of you ever had a stalker or over obsessive fan ?
Tommy	We have a few of very dedicated fans who never cease to amaze us. They’ll travel hundreds of miles, staying in hotels, spending all this cash just to see us play in the back of a pub. We’re eternally in their debt. We do have one guy who pops up In random places however, who quite frankly is a fucking psycho and is the only reason we’ve ever seriously discussed getting some kind of security.
Up-load	What has been the highlight of your career so far ?
Tommy	The best feeling in the world is the feeling you get when you’ve just finished writing a really kicking song. Where you feel like you have said what you wanted to say as eloquently and precisely as possible – like you couldn’t change anything about it. It’s rare as rocking horse shit but that’s what I live for. As an extension of that sentiment, I would say that pulling off producing our record ourselves and having 13 songs to listen back to all polished and mixed felt like a massive achievement.
Up-load	If you hadn’t been in a band, what do you think you would have done with your life career wise?
Tommy	Honestly I don’t know because I had my mind made up about music when I was 8 years old – perhaps even younger. I knew it was what I wanted to immerse myself in and lose myself to. If I had to pick something, I’d take a shot in the dark and say I’d be a Shrink..
Up-load	If you could change places with anyone for a day – who would it be and why?
Tommy	Lindsey Dawn Mckenzie – Do I need to explain?.
	Now for a few silly random questions ...... Jam doughnuts or iced ring doughnuts? Jam Playstation or Nintendo Wii? Wii Vodka or Beer Beer MacDonalds or Burger King? Burger King for Burgers, McDonalds for Fries. Women with tattoo?s or no tattoo?s? Tattoos, but tastefully placed Shoes ? slip on or lace up? Lace up Boxer shorts or briefs? Neither ;-)