August 2007
Hi Alan! Though it seems like a lifetime since that last gig in York, what have you been up to in the past 4 years?
Just keeping the wolf from the door really. I continued to run the band studio for a while until I just kind of lost interest. I built another little studio at home where I teach drums a couple of days a week. I had to learn a bit of music theory in order to be able to teach properly which was quite good fun. I’m currently officially a grade four drummer, which means if I stick at it I should be good enough to join a band soon! I tried forming a covers band to no avail and I do a bit of DJ-ing. The highlight of my week though is the pub quiz that I run in York town centre on a Monday night.
Had you stayed in touch with all the lads in the meantime?
Yes My-self, Tom, Rick and Joe see each other most weeks, Fraser however moved to London so I haven’t seen him for a couple of years, I hadn’t had much contact with PB since 1999 when he left until recently.
Hindsight is a great thing, but looking back, did you regret ending Shed Seven as you did back in 2003?
Not at all, if we had carried on the way we were, touring the UK twice a year to subsidise the fact that we weren’t selling enough records, we’d be lucky to fill Fibbers or the Barfly now. Hat’s off to bands like the Bluetones for sticking it out, but to be fair we’ll probably play to more people this December than they’ve played to since we split up. I think the popularity of the tour proves that people were ready for a break from S7, I know I was.
When was the first that you heard about the band getting back together?
We’d discussed it a few times but we were worried about reforming too soon. Four years isn’t really that long, but then I think we all realise that the interest may not be there forever so it does make sense to do it sooner rather than later. Also at the moment we all bear a passing resemblance to the band of the 90s, this may not be the case if we leave it another four years. It works the other way as-well; I for one don’t want to sit behind my drum kit looking out at a sea of blue rinses and comb-overs.
Which song have you enjoyed most rehearsing recently?
Rehearsing, are you having a laugh? It’s like riding a bike, isn’t it?
What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming tour?
Playing drums! My plan is to appreciate the whole thing a lot more this time. When we were touring all the time, the gig was often just something you had to do before you were allowed to party on down; where as now I want to play to the best of my ability and if I’ve still got the energy to put a couple of drinks in me afterwards then I might. We’ll see?
Seeing as your back on the road, what are you least looking forward to?
Nothing really, motorway food maybe.
Can we expect the infamous Leach drum kit jump at the end of each of the new gigs?
My Mum say’s not to. I do creak a bit when I get up in a morning so it’s probably not advisable.
What music around nowadays are you into? What do you think of the latest crop of new bands coming through?
Its weird these days there’s no one I really love but then there’s not much that offends me either. I took the kids to see Mcfly in concert recently and found myself quite happily tapping my feet. I might go see the superfurrys later this year but the only album I’d really consider a classic in the last 10 years is The Libertines up the bracket. Everything else, I just quite like.
And finally, one question I've been meaning to ask you for ages. Alan, have you got a gun?
You’d better believe it!