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Fan-demoniunBritish music nerds the Horrors
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Finally, a band to force goth elders and emo kids onto common ground, and to agree on something other than hair dye and eyeliner. But even the multitudes of rock connoisseurs who aren’t clad in black at all times can get behind the Horrors, themselves music nerds through and through. As this decade dawned, Faris Badwan, Joshua Hayward, Tom Cowan, Rhys Webb and Joseph Spurgeon were united under love of ’60s garage rock, Edward Gorey illustrations, Grimm’s fairy tales, tasteful clothes and distasteful hair. They had studied together, played rugby together (really), DJed together and crafted fanzines together, so forming a band was the only logical next step. What emerged from their rehearsal space and recording studio in 2005 and 2006 was a transmutation of their beloved garage, reanimated by transfusions of post-punk adrenaline, art rock otherness, horror soundtrack ambiance and a touch of goth gravitas. Strange House was their 2007 debut album, Primary Colours its 2009 follow-up, co-produced with Craig Silvey (the Coral, New Young Pony Club), Portishead’s Geoff Barrow and masterful music video director Chris Cunningham. Nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize, the record lost to that of rapper Speech Debelle. Undeterred, the band is currently touring North America, divining a new record of their own and working with Damon Albarn on the next Gorillaz record. The Mirror e-mailed guitarist Hayward (aka Joshua Third), who responded from a reclining position somewhere between Detroit and Toronto, with questions about music fandom, collaboration and coiffure. Mirror: What is it about vintage garage rock that turns you on? Joshua Hayward: Mainly the young, frustrated adolescents screaming about drugs and sex, but the pounding rhythm sections and wild, distorted guitars don’t hurt either. M: I’ve read about your interest in rock-DJing and fanzines. What do you think makes a) a great zine, and b) a great rock-DJ set? JH: Great zines can be amazing because they are written by proper music fans, with no real interest in a journalistic career. They do of course have to be able to write, but it’s nice to read something really honest, to read about how something makes someone feel. Great rock DJ sets start with a complete absence of annoying indie electro remixes, and end with everyone on the floor. M: Why “the Horrors”? JH: We were not nice children. M: Please tell me about your collaboration with Damon Albarn and Gorillaz. JH: Damon heard Primary Colours and asked us to come play on one of the songs. It was a really great experience—he’s an incredibly inspiring chap, quite excitable too. We’re the first band he’s collaborated with, so that’s incredibly reassuring. I will definitely be extending him the courtesy of not revealing anything about his new record prematurely. M: Last and possibly least, the kids want to know what hair product you use. JH: I run Lemmy’s own spit through my hair morning, noon and night. This improves volume and promotes a healthy scalp. M: Anything else to tell me? JH: Be tender. WITH BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES AT |
