Post by wingsj0 on Feb 11, 2006 13:03:18 GMT
Since compiling the fanzine we've been introduced to a number of up and coming bands who keep the sound of the 60's alive and kicking with their music, we thought they'd be of interest to you. Starting with The Mags from Liverpool.The Mags where brought to our attention by top US Record Producer Will Schillinger (thanks Will).
The Mags are on a quest to save the record buying public from themselves. Rock and Roll is their passion and anything else is meaningless in comparison. They are a proper band, driven by the right reasons and making music in the right way. In this current climate of synthetic, monotonous and bands formed for the television, The Mags are leading the way in being different to all of this.
"If music can change people then it can change the world. Pick up the torch. We are immortal. We are alive with a feeling of mischief and endeavour. Nothing else matters but this. We are hedonists. We are the lucky few. We are blessed. "We live in our own world." - The Mags.
The Mags sound is Backbeat Rock and Roll. It is all about energy - It can be raw but it always has melody.
"There's lots of rock nowadays, but people forget about the roll” – Keith Richards.
The Mags debut album will be recorded in New York City in April 2005. The album will be recorded at Pilot Studios and the sessions will be chaired by legendary US producers Will Schillinger and Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar. (Review coming soon ..)
The Mags are the Cavern's resident band in Liverpool and have quickly become one of the most popular to see on the live circuit. I’d like to thank The Mags – Mike Kennedy for taking the time out of their busy schedule to talk to our fanzine and for keeping the back beat sound we’d longed to hear in their music.
How old were you when you first learnt the instrument you play?
Mike Kennedy: Our drummer was about 9 but the rest of us learnt guitar when we were around 16-17. For me personally, it was crazy.. I picked it up so quickly, It was like it was meant to be, it seemed the most natural thing in the world... Other people in my family are in bands so I suppose there is a musical gene or something... If I could sing as well as I can play guitar I'd be chuffed! Learning guitar and deciding to form a band is the best thing in the world - It gave my life meaning.
What music did you listen to whilst growing up and who where your music idols?
Mike Kennedy: The first album I ever owned was a Beatles 'Best Of' compilation. I was about 6 years old and one day our teacher took my class out of our classroom and into the hall and sat us down, told us all about the Beatles and why it was important that we knew about them….. He said it was our heritage and we should be proud, it was Liverpool's gift to the world etc... He played us his own copy of Strawberry Fields/Penney Lane. (An original 7") and I loved it instantly. I went home and told my Dad all that I knew about the Beatles, he pretended he'd never heard of them and listened to me waffle on. Then he took me to Woolworth's and bought me the Best Of tape. I had it for years and years but it vanished recently, I'm gutted. So it was mostly Beatles, Beatles, Beatles for me with stuff like The Kinks, Small Faces, Stones,The Who. That all came through later and even though I love all those bands none of them are a match for the Beatles - they just wrote & recorded SO MANY great songs.
Who are The Mags?
Mike Kennedy: Lead Vocals
Greig WIlding: Bass Guitarist
Anthony Wilkinson: Lead Guitarist
Mark Bleasdale: Drums
How did the band meet?
Mike Kennedy: Me, Mark and Greig were mates from school - Wilco came later, we needed a singer at the time and we saw Wilco singing "Brown Eyed Girl" on a karaoke. He just walked into rehearsal, into a room full of strangers, with a microphone in hand and said "let's go". It became clear after about half an
hour or so that he was a much better guitarist than he was a singer so that was that.
What was the reason for calling yourselves The Mags?
Mike Kennedy: We formed at The Magnet on Hardman St. in Liverpool. It was about six months before we realised it almost spelt our initials. . Mike, Mark, Anthony, Greig, (MMAG).
As a band why it is important for you to keep rock 'n' roll alive?
Mike Kennedy: Rock and roll is the only type of music that we really care about and at the moment true rock and roll appears to be vanishing over the horizon. I can appreciate other styles from a muso point of view but rock and roll at its purest is an escape to a place where you can be anything, do anything, live in your own world and are completely, totally free. You don't have to follow the rules and do all the boring stuff that EVERYONE else does. Being in a band to me is a way of living my life by a different set of rules. I like that. If I worked in an office or a factory and drank beer at 8am then I would be a bum, an alcoholic, people would think it wasn't right. If you're in a band then that's okay, what else are you expected to do? Rock and roll suits our lifestyle like a glove and is the only type of music that has ever really felt important to us. That's what's special about rock 'n' roll and that's why we're in a rock and roll band.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Mike Kennedy: Recording our album in New York. The people we met, the places we went, the experiences, the parties, the studio, the songs. It was a rollercoaster and we loved every minute. It was the best month of our lives. If people enjoy our album as half as much as we enjoyed recording it, that would be great.
Do you write your own songs, and if so who is the song-writer?
Mike Kennedy: Yes of course, our songs are all our own. We all chip in with ideas and arrangements. Generally what happens is, I'll bring an idea to the band on acoustic guitar, it may be a verse or chorus with a melody, and we'll build on it from there.
You're about to tour the UK, where can we see you?
Mike Kennedy: We don't have the dates confirmed yet because we are waiting until the album is finished. It's being mastered in the U.S at the moment - As soon as we have something to promote we'll be out there. In the meantime people can always see us at The Cavern. We play there most Thursday nights.
What can you tell us about your album, and most importantly when will it be out?
Mike Kennedy: Not sure when it will be out yet - Fingers crossed it will be in the autumn sometime The album itself is something we are very proud of - If you like rock and roll music then I would be amazed if you didn't dig at least SOME of our album. That sounds really arrogant but I mean it wholeheartedly. We believe in what we do and we believe in this album. We are a proper rock and roll band in a traditional sense and there aren't many around at the moment. If you like The Beatles, The Kinks, The Stones, T-Rex or newer bands like The Strokes, Kings of Leon, Jet, then there will be songs on our album that you will love. Check it out for yourselves; I think you'll like what you hear.
What are your opinions of the music industry of today?
Mike Kennedy: It's difficult to sum it up really, it's become a cliché to complain about all of the artificial bands and pop-idol stuff. But I don't care - I hate all that drivel with a passion. But it's always been around, it's nothing nothing new, and it SELLS so you can't blame the suits for making it... There are some great British bands coming through at the moment but none of them really cut it 100% for me. The music industry needs shaking up and rock and roll has had a habit of doing that over the years, it tends to go in cycles. I'd love The Mags to be a band that can come along and make people sit up and take notice again.
Jo Rishton With Mike Kennedy
We at TBGOAO know The Mags are going to be the rock stars of our future, so why not lend them an hear? You'll not be disappointed, The Mags sound is rock 'n' roll to perfection!
The Mags will be performing two shows throughout International Beatles Week. One at the Pier head, and the other, Mathew Street Festival! See you down at the front! (You can read my review of The Mags Pier Head gig in our review section.)
This interview has been approved by Mike Kennedy.
Official Site: www.themags.info
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.
The Mags are on a quest to save the record buying public from themselves. Rock and Roll is their passion and anything else is meaningless in comparison. They are a proper band, driven by the right reasons and making music in the right way. In this current climate of synthetic, monotonous and bands formed for the television, The Mags are leading the way in being different to all of this.
"If music can change people then it can change the world. Pick up the torch. We are immortal. We are alive with a feeling of mischief and endeavour. Nothing else matters but this. We are hedonists. We are the lucky few. We are blessed. "We live in our own world." - The Mags.
The Mags sound is Backbeat Rock and Roll. It is all about energy - It can be raw but it always has melody.
"There's lots of rock nowadays, but people forget about the roll” – Keith Richards.
The Mags debut album will be recorded in New York City in April 2005. The album will be recorded at Pilot Studios and the sessions will be chaired by legendary US producers Will Schillinger and Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar. (Review coming soon ..)
The Mags are the Cavern's resident band in Liverpool and have quickly become one of the most popular to see on the live circuit. I’d like to thank The Mags – Mike Kennedy for taking the time out of their busy schedule to talk to our fanzine and for keeping the back beat sound we’d longed to hear in their music.
How old were you when you first learnt the instrument you play?
Mike Kennedy: Our drummer was about 9 but the rest of us learnt guitar when we were around 16-17. For me personally, it was crazy.. I picked it up so quickly, It was like it was meant to be, it seemed the most natural thing in the world... Other people in my family are in bands so I suppose there is a musical gene or something... If I could sing as well as I can play guitar I'd be chuffed! Learning guitar and deciding to form a band is the best thing in the world - It gave my life meaning.
What music did you listen to whilst growing up and who where your music idols?
Mike Kennedy: The first album I ever owned was a Beatles 'Best Of' compilation. I was about 6 years old and one day our teacher took my class out of our classroom and into the hall and sat us down, told us all about the Beatles and why it was important that we knew about them….. He said it was our heritage and we should be proud, it was Liverpool's gift to the world etc... He played us his own copy of Strawberry Fields/Penney Lane. (An original 7") and I loved it instantly. I went home and told my Dad all that I knew about the Beatles, he pretended he'd never heard of them and listened to me waffle on. Then he took me to Woolworth's and bought me the Best Of tape. I had it for years and years but it vanished recently, I'm gutted. So it was mostly Beatles, Beatles, Beatles for me with stuff like The Kinks, Small Faces, Stones,The Who. That all came through later and even though I love all those bands none of them are a match for the Beatles - they just wrote & recorded SO MANY great songs.
Who are The Mags?
Mike Kennedy: Lead Vocals
Greig WIlding: Bass Guitarist
Anthony Wilkinson: Lead Guitarist
Mark Bleasdale: Drums
How did the band meet?
Mike Kennedy: Me, Mark and Greig were mates from school - Wilco came later, we needed a singer at the time and we saw Wilco singing "Brown Eyed Girl" on a karaoke. He just walked into rehearsal, into a room full of strangers, with a microphone in hand and said "let's go". It became clear after about half an
hour or so that he was a much better guitarist than he was a singer so that was that.
What was the reason for calling yourselves The Mags?
Mike Kennedy: We formed at The Magnet on Hardman St. in Liverpool. It was about six months before we realised it almost spelt our initials. . Mike, Mark, Anthony, Greig, (MMAG).
As a band why it is important for you to keep rock 'n' roll alive?
Mike Kennedy: Rock and roll is the only type of music that we really care about and at the moment true rock and roll appears to be vanishing over the horizon. I can appreciate other styles from a muso point of view but rock and roll at its purest is an escape to a place where you can be anything, do anything, live in your own world and are completely, totally free. You don't have to follow the rules and do all the boring stuff that EVERYONE else does. Being in a band to me is a way of living my life by a different set of rules. I like that. If I worked in an office or a factory and drank beer at 8am then I would be a bum, an alcoholic, people would think it wasn't right. If you're in a band then that's okay, what else are you expected to do? Rock and roll suits our lifestyle like a glove and is the only type of music that has ever really felt important to us. That's what's special about rock 'n' roll and that's why we're in a rock and roll band.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Mike Kennedy: Recording our album in New York. The people we met, the places we went, the experiences, the parties, the studio, the songs. It was a rollercoaster and we loved every minute. It was the best month of our lives. If people enjoy our album as half as much as we enjoyed recording it, that would be great.
Do you write your own songs, and if so who is the song-writer?
Mike Kennedy: Yes of course, our songs are all our own. We all chip in with ideas and arrangements. Generally what happens is, I'll bring an idea to the band on acoustic guitar, it may be a verse or chorus with a melody, and we'll build on it from there.
You're about to tour the UK, where can we see you?
Mike Kennedy: We don't have the dates confirmed yet because we are waiting until the album is finished. It's being mastered in the U.S at the moment - As soon as we have something to promote we'll be out there. In the meantime people can always see us at The Cavern. We play there most Thursday nights.
What can you tell us about your album, and most importantly when will it be out?
Mike Kennedy: Not sure when it will be out yet - Fingers crossed it will be in the autumn sometime The album itself is something we are very proud of - If you like rock and roll music then I would be amazed if you didn't dig at least SOME of our album. That sounds really arrogant but I mean it wholeheartedly. We believe in what we do and we believe in this album. We are a proper rock and roll band in a traditional sense and there aren't many around at the moment. If you like The Beatles, The Kinks, The Stones, T-Rex or newer bands like The Strokes, Kings of Leon, Jet, then there will be songs on our album that you will love. Check it out for yourselves; I think you'll like what you hear.
What are your opinions of the music industry of today?
Mike Kennedy: It's difficult to sum it up really, it's become a cliché to complain about all of the artificial bands and pop-idol stuff. But I don't care - I hate all that drivel with a passion. But it's always been around, it's nothing nothing new, and it SELLS so you can't blame the suits for making it... There are some great British bands coming through at the moment but none of them really cut it 100% for me. The music industry needs shaking up and rock and roll has had a habit of doing that over the years, it tends to go in cycles. I'd love The Mags to be a band that can come along and make people sit up and take notice again.
Jo Rishton With Mike Kennedy
We at TBGOAO know The Mags are going to be the rock stars of our future, so why not lend them an hear? You'll not be disappointed, The Mags sound is rock 'n' roll to perfection!
The Mags will be performing two shows throughout International Beatles Week. One at the Pier head, and the other, Mathew Street Festival! See you down at the front! (You can read my review of The Mags Pier Head gig in our review section.)
This interview has been approved by Mike Kennedy.
Official Site: www.themags.info
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.