Meet John Doe

Having won a battle of the bands in 2005 Surrey-based quintet Meet John Doe could soon be winning the war. Their debut EP sold out nationwide in just two days paving the way for an eagerly anticipated album due later this year. Now writing with a more British sound the band are ready to net the masses with their re-branded rock as they continue to tear up the live circuit. Fresh from playing a local gig - the final one with their original bassist - megaphone-wielding frontman Jamie Giarraputo brought Music News up to speed.

MN: So you're one member down now…

Jamie: We've still got Justin (Giarraputo, guitar), Rob (Eisner, guitar) and James (Taylor, drums). Lewis is going on to pastures green shall we say. I think he wants to go somewhere that's a bit more aggressive, a bit heavier. The rest of us were going in the same direction and he was moving away a bit which is fair enough. Good luck to him. We're auditioning at the moment.

MN: Are you fans of the film ‘Meet John Doe'?

Jamie: Yeah, I think that's where it stemmed from because Justin is really, really into his films. He loves Frank Capra and studied it at uni. We were thinking it's a name you can't really get pigeon-holed with and I think it's got a nice little quirky edge to it.

MN: Metal Hammer magazine said you were potentially the British Mars Volta. Is that a fair comment you are happy with?

Jamie: Yeah I mean I'm happy with it but I think that was judging on that last EP release and we've changed so much recently. I know we've got more of a British sound because I sing in an English accent for a start. It's just odd time signatures that Mars Volta do that we happen to do, that's where the comparison is but generally I just think we're a British rock band.

MN: The EP's opening track ‘Signals' contains a lot of social commentary. Are you responsible for that?

Jamie: Yeah, I write all the lyrics. That's probably the only song with any social commentary in it. I just write about where I am and where I live. It all gets a bit testing sometimes. It's venting a few things but not anger.

MN: And which town do you “want to burn to the ground”?

Jamie: Oh, Epsom! That's all tongue-in-cheek. A lot of the media have got me wrong on that. If you really listen to the lyrics it's just a laugh really. Pregnant teens, it's a thing you see everyday.

MN: You're working on your debut album at Waterside Manor. What's it sounding like?

Jamie: Rock, punky, British… just everything we are live basically which we had trouble capturing. I think the last EP is very flat. It was very budget production because we didn't have much money but Matt's (Howe, producer) taken us under his wing for free - you don't get that everyday, a producer of his calibre. He likes us and he's basically captured our sound to a tee. We've got four final tracks mixed and they're coming together really nicely.

MN: You have rehashed some classics. Do you mean the EP tracks?

Jamie: Yes the last track on the EP ‘The Grip' has completely changed now. To be honest the EP was very rushed because we won that competition (NASS Battle of the Bands) and needed to get something out there. And I think recording's a moment in time so now it's time for a new chapter. Personally I rushed a lot of things lyrically. I like to spend time on my lyrics - even if they're the simplest things - getting the message across and portraying something. I don't really like to say “rehash” because they're completely different songs now. We don't play them live at the moment because they're not fully finished.

MN: Do you have a working title?

Jamie: Erm… no! (laughs) We just throw around stupid titles but nothing is set in stone. I'd like it to be self-titled. We're really introducing ourselves now properly. In all fairness the EP only went out to a few hundred, a thousand people maybe and they all dig the new stuff anyway. We're always getting messages on My Space after gigs.

MN: Has My Space been helpful?

Jamie: I think it's really, really good for what it does but I don't like the way people think it's the only option now to promote. We use it to get in contact with people when we're playing gigs. I don't like the idea of going round randomly adding people just to get the plays up. I've heard that bands have been signed up just from the amount of plays. I think that's ridiculous.

MN: How did you get involved with the NASS (National Adventure Sports Show) Battle of the Bands last year?

Jamie: It was really weird because Justin applied for it and I didn't know. I hate the term ‘Battle of the Bands' as everyone was totally different that night you can't possibly judge against each other. We were sat in the van thinking we hadn't won then we got a knock on the window saying we'd been announced! We got £500, a nice bit of recognition and we're playing the NEC in Birmingham this year. We get to co-headline and then do the VIP party.

MN: What are your thoughts on the current UK music scene?

Jamie: I think it's swings and roundabouts really because some things are really, really great and some things are just so over-hyped. I like the idea of promoting British music. I do really love what the Arctic Monkeys are doing. I just like the whole British edge they've got to them. It's all very raw and they don't give a shit really. I can't stand over the top American bands just purposely snapped up to appeal to that market boy bands would've appealed to. The integrity things gets to me a little bit. But fair enough they're making their money aren't they?

MN: What did you think to Finnish band Lordi winning the Eurovision Song Contest this year?

Jamie: I thought it was great! I'm really happy they won. The fact people, media, all different religions just really, really slated them but they're tongue-in-cheek and they're taking the piss. They didn't understand it on the night. Raising a bouquet dressed as a monster! It's wicked! I think the good thing about that is they're going to sell records.

MN: Who are your musical heroes and have you met any?

Jamie: When I was 15 or 16 I did work experience at Rak studios in London when Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were recording there. I wasn't really allowed to talk to them I was told. Thom Yorke was there but I didn't get to speak to him either. I wasn't really into Zeppelin and Radiohead till Justin - he's my older brother - used to make me listen. I like some of the clever quirkiness and the lyrics of UK hip hop. I'm very big on lyrics. Billy Bragg is my all time hero. He's just such a geezer! I like Counting Crows as well. I love the way he tells stories which I find really hard to do so I leave it to him.

MN: Are you working full time in the band?

Jamie: It's going get to that point soon but not at the moment. I'm a learning support assistant for special needs. There's nothing else I would want to do apart from obviously the music. I taught music tech for a while and they employed me to do this. It's rewarding and it kind of grounds you as well. One minute you're in a magazine and the next one of them has bought it and is laughing at you saying how stupid you look and how much they hate the music!

MN: How successful are you planning to be?

Jamie: I want to be as big as we can be and get our music to a massive wide audience. I'd love to hit the Japanese market, that's one of my dreams, and the European market. We get a lot of Japanese fans actually on our My Space and we've set up our own Japan page. It's nice to cater for individual fans as well. My family are originally from Italy so we've got an Italian page. At the moment we're going to concentrate on the London area to hone ourselves live.

MN: What's the typical reaction to your live show?

Jamie: Really good, with the newer stuff especially because it's got the chorus and the hooks. It went down well before but we pigeon-holed ourselves too early with the odd sound. I always wanted to write stuff that was upbeat. I love bands that are good songwriters like The Who, Zeppelin and The Beatles. Rob and Justin especially were initially the ones who suggested it. Justin writes like a trooper at the moment, he just keeps on knocking songs out.
We've been playing the scene for a year now and it's getting better and better.

MN: Your guitarist Rob's been nicknamed The Edge on your website… explain that one!

Jamie: (laughing) He's got so many pedals we just called him that for a laugh. We got a review and they actually thought we called him The Edge and said it was ludicrous. They believed that the actual Edge was playing in Meet John Doe!

U2 fans face disappointment but to those who want a “fun and noisy” night, Jamie absolutely guarantees a “wicked live show”. See for yourself and check listings at www.myspace.com/meetjohndoe where exquisite brand new tracks have just been added.

Official website: www.meetjohndoe.co.uk.