We also released their final album "Thugs" in 2007 and had just taken over management when they decided to split early this
year. Press support and reviews for Desperado, and FULC too for that matter, was fantastic and we got great coverage in all the mags
like Kerrang, Rocksound, Metal Hammer, Powerplay etc. Desperado put on the most electric and extraordinary performance at every gig.
They played the Imp on that tour to very few people but were jaw droppingly good. They had a back drop and lighting that created a
very Twin Peaks ambience - they took me back to some of my punk roots and I'll always be grateful for being part of their history.
A chance meeting with Thomas Blug in 2006 saw us start to develop the guitar section of Stunted Records. Basically we act like
a shop to sell the releases of some fantastic players, mostly unknown, although if they are interested we can help them get a digital
release which is something we have done with 2 of Thomas's albums. Currently we have Thomas Blug (German), Marcus Deml/Errorhead (Czech),Dominik Ruegg/Cuthead (Swiss) and a new guy coming on board called Niko Tsonev (Bulgarian) - all world class players in their own
right.
Late in 2007 we came across International Trust from Leeds who asked if we would be interested in helping them out, so
they have become one of our latest projects. There's a bit of a buzz around them at the minute having played the Leeds Festival, record
of the week in NME and been on R1 a few times, so we're looking for the right breaks for them.
2008 is looking like a busy year
(again!!) with releases from International Trust, [sub]NOVA, Niko Tsonev and, following a phone call this morning from Norway, we
have just got the green light to release an album by an amazing rock band called Dog Almighty, which is for me an almost perfect rock
album - think a cross between NIN/Tool/FNM and you're getting close. The band used to be called Span and were signed to Universal/Island,
selling 55,000 copies of their only album worldwide, so it's a bit of a coup and a very exciting prospect for us. Hopefully the Dog
Almighty album will get a full national release at the beginning of July.
At the end of the day, we only ever work with things
we truly believe in and for us the current roster is looking healthier than ever.
FRM: What advice would you give to young up
and coming bands looking for a record deal?
JC: 1. Learn to play your instruments.
2. Write and
perform your own material.
3. Video your own live performances and be your own critic - look
at stage craft and appearance.
4. Gig regularly & build up a local fan base then expand that fan
base outwards.
5. Record a good 2 or 3 track
demo but don't send it out to
labels/industry until you KNOW that it is good
enough. If you
approach people too early (and many do) then you will
blow your
chances. In fact if you are good enough people will find you
eventually.
6. Keep egos in check - you
wouldn't believe how many bands think
they are the next Metallica or Arctic
Monkeys when in fact they
are just like a million other bands in every town
around the
country.
7. Have
your own website/MySpace page/youTube/facebook profile
etc and network with
fans.
8. Be committed and do it for the right reasons, most of all listen to
advice and act on that advice if you want to get anywhere.
9. Be prepared to keep hitting brick
walls, but persistence usually
pays off.
.
FRM: Finally, have you any further recording projects in the pipeline and will we be seing you back on the live stage at some time
in the future?
JC: There are always recording projects for myself, Watch This Space and with the label. I'm busy setting up my
own little project studio so that I can collaborate with people like Graham without having to trek over to Grimsby - it's so easy
these days via the internet, email and upload servers. Rik, (my son, ex FULC) has written some excellent music since FULC folded and
it would be nice to either contribute or collaborate with him in the future.
At the back of my head there's a germ of a recording
project which could involve a number of guitarists, both local and not so local, which would sit nicely with the "guitar" side of
things at Stunted, some of the names I've already mentioned, but there's only time will tell if it ever comes off.
It would be
nice to do some live work again but whether it will happen is another thing, if it does it will be with like-minded musicians who
are doing it because they love music and there won't be a "cover" in sight. For me there's got to be that element of self satisfaction
to make it worthwhile. I've always had strong views and opinions when it comes to music and there is no right and wrong answer in
reality, just different points of view. One thing is for sure, I aren't getting any younger!
For anyone with any time to kill
here's a few links to various related sites where you can hear what we've been up to:
FRM: Thanks for taking time out to talk to us John. We wish you all the best with
Stunted Records & Management and look forward to hearing "Inside" some time soon.
