02 October 2007 (released)
12 October 2007
Fresh from winning at the BT Digital Music Awards [Best Artist Promotion in association with Yahoo! Music with Ten New Messages], Music-News caught up with frontman Alan Donohoe and guitarist Chris Ketley to point some questions.
Music News: Hello Alan, Is tonight totally different from the way your gigs normally feel? I mean you guys sounded great but there doesn’t seem to be much atmosphere.
Alan Donohoe: Yeah, you’ve just got to be keep your eyes closed really.
MN: Where do you feel you guys are now, how big do you feel you’re getting?
AD: Well spiritually,[laughs]..we’re more popular than Jesus’.
MN: Doing a bit of research on you guys, there seems to be a bit of depth to what you’re doing, is it all show?
AD: Well most people with more than two brain cells to rub together probably do think about bigger things than just big brother, things a little bit more interesting’.
MN: Is 10 new messages, new 10 commandments?
AD: No, no no no no, I hope that no-one looks at that album and thinks that, but I do recommend people to look at the God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. He’s got a chapter about the 10 new commandments with more secular ideas of things. It’s good. Anyways, this is fucking boring for everyone isn’t it?!!
MN: Well, shall we get onto Nietzsche, you guys mention philosophy, talk about Genesis, are you trying to get any message across?
AD: Not really, there’s too many of us in the band to go like, like Rage Against the Machine, really left wing hardcore, anti-establishment. We’re actually so English, we’re not like 'Oh I’ve got a really good idea we can use our music purposely’, we’re like 'Oh I don’t think so, lets just have a nice cup of tea and write a nice song about going to work’.
MN: So what is the one thing that you want to get people to think about from listening to the new album?
AD: Well the sort of idea in it was that you can refer to some very normal English things, but with a certain level of depth. That was the main emphasis. There’s a depth to it. Everyone goes to work, that’s a big part of everyone lives, including ours, but there is more than just that. That’s the main idea.
MN: How much would you pay for the Radiohead album?
AD: I’d pay the regular price, 10 quid, I totally would.
MN: Would you be offended if you did the same thing and someone paid 1 pence?
AD: Well, I think a lot of people download ours illegally, plus 99% of that 1 pence would go to other people anyway.
MN: Have you made 22 grand this year?
AD: We made it last year.
MN: Individually?
AD: Well our accountant did actually announce to us that last year we earned 22 grand each, we all looked at him and he was like 'What’s so funny?’ Ummm well one of our most famous songs was '22 Grand Job’ and he was like 'Oh really, never heard if it’. But it is crazy really, I mean before, I worked my arse of at the NHS and now, this is my job, standing here with a bottle of wine.
MN: Half a bottle of wine.
AD: I feel like a rock and roll millionaire.
MN: Well you sounded good tonight, enjoy the rest of your evening.
AD: Cheers, and you.
The Rakes – part 2:
MN: Chris, you joined a month ago, how come?
Chris well with the big tour coming up they needed someone to do keys for them, a bit of guitars.’
MN: What were you up to before?
Chris Ketley: I was with a band called The On Offs, they’re a bit Jam like.
MN: Did you know the Rakes beforehand?
CK: Not really, well we toured with them, but I didn’t know them as mates. So now I do a bit of keys, but of guitar and a bit of drumming as well.
MN: Yeah we spotted you banging on the drums.
CK: Well it saved me sitting there like a lemon, thinking what can I do on this song? [laughs]
MN: Do you feel like you’re part of the band now?
CK: Yeah yeah, it’s good. I just need to learn all the old stuff, and all the new stuff and work with what they want to do on this tour. But yeah, I’m settling in well.
MN: Where does the tour kick off?
CK: France and we go through Europe. The SeOne club gig [9th November] is the last night of the tour.
MN: What is it like now you’re with the Rakes, do you get recognised in the street, what level are you at?
CK: Well at the minute all I bothered about is making sure I know all the parts, otherwise I make myself look like a twat and then I won’t be in the band’ [laughs]
MN: That is pretty funny because you guys are on stage in your smart suits and all that’s going on in your head is 'please don’t fuck up’. What is best thing about being in the Rakes so far?
CK: Well probably today, we’ve got a load of free clothes from Dolce and Gabbana, they were like 'we’ll give you a load of suits and stuff’. I was fine with that. Plus winning the award and it’s just a good night so far.
MN: Well you looked at home on stage. Best of luck with the tour.
CK: Thanks, have a good night.
