Interview by: Francijn Suermondt
Pictures: Adrian Hextall \ MindHex Media
Fran – I can’t actually believe The Bit
Jono – I like what I have seen so far
Fran – You are very kind and diplomatic! I bought your album a few weeks ago now and I have to say it reminds me a lot of old La Guns and it has a Poison vibe too. What’s your favourite song that you play off the album?
Jono – Good question, I think it has to be Knockin on The Door, it’s the first one we play and I feel like before we get on stage there is so much going on. So, by the time we have finished that song I am super charged ready to go and the adrenaline is pumping.
Fran – They are all adrenaline songs, aren’t they? They are all awesome tracks. Heather Leather is my personal favourite.
Jono – Do you know there is actually a Heather Leather, who we didn’t know existed until after we wrote the song! In the US she is a big influencer so people thing we wrote the song about her, so actually now she has become a friend and comes to shows and stuff!
Fran – Oh really! That’s brilliant! I love her already she sounds ace. Will your fans be able to enjoy and meet and greets on this UK tour?
Jono – We are not doing any meet or greets, but we always make ourselves available at our merch stand after we play. Then we are there all night available to say hi to our fans
Fran – That’s really nice of you guys and a lot of bands just don’t do that.
Jono – We love to meet our fans; they are the guys who have made this all possible for us and we appreciate that. Especially when we come to a new country, we can experience meeting new people and just something different.
Fran – Its how to can get your fan base up by doing that, it’s really important, I think.
Jono – Yes it definitely helps, we love it, really love it
Fran – How do English fans compare to American fans?
Jono – That’s a great question, I think that everyone who loves rock n roll has a connection all over the world. But something about the UK makes me feel that it is the home of rock n roll. All the bands that I was influenced by was either British or influenced by British bands. So, for me to come to the UK kinda feels like a second home.
Fran – What band has influenced you the most?
Jono – Guns n Roses is my favourite band and I recently found out I have the same birthday as Slash!
Fran – Spooky!
Jono – I know! That band were everything to me you know?
Fran – What has been the best part of touring with The Dead Daisies so far?
Jono – The show last night in Brighton was a lot of fun. A lot of friends we had recently met came out to support us. I guess one massive thing for me was meeting Doug Aldrich last night. He has been a big hero of mine for so long. He is actually part of a motorcycle gang with the director who just did a music video of ours, actually the Heather Leather video. His name is Christopher Pierson, he is amazing. Doug is the nicest guy; he knew about us and saw our video and had such nice things to say.
Fran – You came to the UK last year, did you come this far south then?
Jono – We came to Plymouth, not Torquay (pronounced Torqe) sorry I pronounce it Torqee don’t I ?
Fran – Yes that’s right . You know what Torquay is famous for? Fawlty Towers!
Jono – What’s that?
Fran – Oh my god you are so young, ok …. Agatha Christie was born here!
Jono – Oh really? OK, OK !
Fran – If you had to invite 5 famous people dead or alive to dinner who would it be and why?
Jono – Slash, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Frank Zappa, Steve Vai
Fran – When is your next album out?
Jono – Well we are writing it right now. We are hoping to go on tour in the US soon, it’s not announced yet, but we are hoping to tour until the end of the year. Then get back in the studio for the next album. We are super excited to get back in the studio and the album should be out next year!
Fran – I can’t wait to hear it, so please give me a heads up so that I can review it! Thank you so much for your time.
Jono – Thank you !!!
https://the-bites.bandcamp.com/
THE DEAD DAISIES – TOUR DATES:
With Special Guests The Treatment & The Bites
UK – SEPTEMBER
06 – Chalk Brighton
07 – The Foundry Torquay
08 – The 1865
10 – Picturedrome Holmfirth
11 – SWG3
13 – Rock City Nottingham
14 – KK’s Steel Mill Wolverhampton
15 – Boiler Shop Newcastle
17 – O2 Ritz
18 – Patti Pavilion Swansea
20 – O2 Academy Bristol
21 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire London
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