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Questions compiled by Andrew Griswold
RODAN INTERVIEW
- OK for those readers lucky enough to have been spared your wretched band for the last 11 years, give us a brief-yet-exhaustive history of Rodan so far…
Well the sorry, sordid saga began back in November ’92 when I was asked to stand in on bass at the last minute for the debut gig of Indecision, a band formed by some of my school friends. We quickly earned a reputation as being the most out-of-tune, talentless bastards ever to disgrace a Belfast stage.
After numerous line up changes I eventually look over the singing, guitar and songwriting duties and we attempted to be taken seriously in the emerging punk-pop scene at the time – with a certain amount of success. Our demos were well received and more people were coming to our gigs. But by the mid 90s the band effectively split. In the next couple of years, there were a series of attempts to resurrect the band with different line-ups, but it wasn’t until late 1997 that the current line-up came together. In 1999 we renamed the band ‘Rodan’ and played our first gig in Belfast’s legendary ‘Front Page’ bar. We have since played this venue 87 times. Yes, that’s 87 times.
- What is it that keeps you guys going after all this time?
I do often ask myself ‘Why is this band still going?!!’ It seems unlikely that after 11 years we are suddenly going to get signed and become rock stars. But there is something that drives us to keep going. It’s something that we need to do. I think that it’s those (albeit few) times when it all comes together - when we play a mind-blowing gig, or record a great new song, we know this is something that we just can’t give up.
- Rodan started gigging (as In.Decision) around the same time as Ash. Why did they become megastars and you didn’t? Do you ever regret not pushing the band that little bit harder back in the early ‘90s?
There was a time in the early 90s it felt like we had the potential to make it – more people were coming to our gigs and we had a few record companies interested. I do think that if we pushed a little harder, something really could have happened. Our style of music seemed to be in fashion at that point in time. But I was an extremely lazy and apathetic teenager. This combined with the band members moving away meant that the band sort of fizzled out in the mid 90s. Looking back I know we really blew a lot of opportunities that came our way. Pretty stupid really.
- You haven’t really changed your sound since your inception yet still remain remarkably fresh and dynamic. Do you, like me, attribute this to the timeless genius of your songwriting or would you be too humble to agree?
Aww shucks, you’re too kind…. Ummm, I think we’ve always had a clear idea of what we want to sound like. We’ve managed not to be too influenced by trends or bandwagons and to just stay focused on our own sound. Like, respect the music. Man.
- What do you see the future holding for Rodan and when are you gonna release a fucking album?
Within the next month (I swear!!) we will be recording some new material. We’ve got a shit load of new songs that are definitely our strongest to date. I still cling to a pathetic, naïve hope that one day someone will hear our demo and throw some money at us to record a full length album.
- What have been your favourite and least favourite Rodan/In.Decision gigs and why? Any humorous gig anecdotes?
My favourite gig was in Belfast’s Art College in 1994. It was an all ages ‘Youth Against Sectarianism’ show which was packed with 500 kids who all wanted to rock. Watching hundreds of people bounce in time to our music was pretty amazing.
The worst gig was in Giros in 2001. The place was overrun with knuckle-dragging spide punks who bottled us for playing poof music. It really felt like we weren’t gonna get out of there alive.
But the funniest gig has to be our debut in 1992. To this day I can barely believe it actually happened. We went on stage never having rehearsed as a full band (in fact I’d never even met the singer). We attempted a 3 song set but I can honestly say that every single note we played was wrong, every strike of the drum was off beat. It must have sounded like aural dogshit. Mayhem in it’s purest form.
- Is it true you’ve played the Front Page 87 times and, if so, how does that make you feel (apart from suicidal)?
Lamentably, this is actually true. The thought of it makes me want to vomit.
We have had some awesome gigs in The Front Page though. The place gets a bad press – it’s a massively underrated venue.
- How has the Belfast punk rock scene changed since you guys first started playing in ‘92, and are there any local bands you haven’t outlasted? What local bands are you into these days?
I think the scene is really exciting these days, as it was back in ‘92. In the late 90s I thought local music was in a bit of a trough and was pretty uninspiring, but some of the bands around at the minute kick serious butt. Bands I can’t get enough of would be Yakuza, The Dangerfields, Clearshot and Girl Wets Pants.
- Who have been the coolest bands you’ve played with and is there anyone you’d really like to support?
We’ve never had any really high profile support slots but I really enjoyed supporting The Pattern a couple of years ago in Giros. I was hoping that we would get the Superchunk support in Belfast last year as they are my favourite band of all time. We really did everything we could to get that slot, but in the end Superchunk brought their own support with them (The Art of Fighting). Fucking fantastic gig anyway though.
- Do you believe in destiny and, if so, what is Rodan’s destiny?
I don’t believe in destiny. I think you make your own luck and if you really want to achieve something, you work hard and it will happen. Unfortunately as Rodan are probably the laziest band around, we have condemned ourselves to playing Castors(Look I’m On) in the Front Page at Iain The Beard’s weekly new band night until 2031.
- Do you believe in rock’n’roll and, if not, why not?
If I didn’t believe in rock ‘n’ roll I would’ve quit this band years ago. Rock ‘n’ roll is everything. Apart from maybe sweeties and Columbo re-runs.
- Any last requests?
Yes, kindly stick vomit covered skewers in your eyes and fall into an abyss…. Thanks & Bye!
Questions compiled by Andrew Griswold
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