Ahead of the release of ‘Darker Days Are Here to Stay‘, we asked Dark Stares to tell us more about themselves using our A-Z challenge!
A song that made you want to make music?
‘Boys In The Band’ – The Libertines
Best rider you’ve ever had?
Bottled waters.
Craziest thing you’ve experienced in the band?
Brian May watching us at a gig.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
“Say what you’ll say
Learn how to play their game
And dance in the flames
They never hurt you anyway”
Easiest song you wrote?
‘Bad Machine‘. One riff, one tempo, one departure but always delivers.
Favourite song in your set?
Maybe ‘Animal‘ as it has two big drop/riff moments from quite a chilled song and the drums deal with each one differently.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Ziggy Stardust.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Dealing with your brothers and friends in close proximity, but also the different creative tastes and interests of different members is always a challenge.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Lead guitarist, Harry Collins, is currently training to be a pilot.
Jokes you have in the band?
Jokes aren’t allowed in Dark Stares.
Key to writing a song?
C major.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
CockRock in Cumbria was quite a drive – we’re based down in St Albans.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Arctic Monkeys in Milan on the AM tour was great in 2013 or 2014.
New band you’d recommend?
Alexis Kings have a new album on the horizon, check them out.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Would be great to open up for Death From Above 1979.
Place you’d most like to tour?
Scandinavia would be pretty epic.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” – Napoleon Hill
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
‘Darker Days Are Here to Stay‘ is firstly a lyric from album track ‘Darker Days‘ but also kind of seems to sum up the state of a few things in the world at the moment.
See us live at?
Our Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Darkstares
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
In many ways yes, for advances and physical album sales etc. but there are exciting new opportunities with the internet for exposure and gaining fans.
Unusual merchandise?
We were thinking about doing a run of cassette tapes not so long ago but we bottled it in the end. We might do a limited vinyl run for our debut album soon though.
Variations you’d like to do of any of your songs?
We did an acoustic, live and alternative versions EP of some of our studio tracks. We called it ‘Zebra Session‘, here’s one of the songs on Youtube.
What do your fans mean to you?
Well they are absolutely key as they give you the demand and encouragement to put out your new music. You’ve got to have that spark or inspiration inside you anyway, to deal with those early days when nobody is listening but they are so important to have on your side.
Xrays or any other treatments needed for band related injuries?
No, reasonably unscathed on that front, nothing while on duty for Dark Stares. Hopefully stays that way!
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
We’re very punctual, in an extremely rock and roll way.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
A big fat seal.