Rhia Calvert (17) is a young lady from Holbrook with an extremely bright future ahead of her. She is in her second year at Derby College where she is studying Media. Rhia (pictured) has a huge passion for music and spends a lot of her spare time at gigs. She loves photography and writing and hopes to become a professional photographer.
Rhia is interviewing bands and reporting back in forthcoming issues of All Things Local. If you’re a local band and would welcome some exposure within this magazine then e-mail karyn@allthingslocal.co.uk
I've personally felt for a while now there are not enough good melodic rock bands around any more. With genres such as 'deathcore' and 'metalcore' dominating the music scene it seemed I was giving up hope on finding anything different and a little bit unique; but Blood Orange are exactly this. For any metal lover, the Nottingham four-piece are definitely something to look out for. Here's Blood Orange to tell us more...
Can you tell us how Blood Orange first got together and how long you've been a band?
Simon and Steve (drums, guitar) met while in previous bands and formed Blood Orange during the late 1990s. Neil joined in 1997 and Paul in 2006.
Can you tell us some interesting facts about each member?
Steve and Neil are scared of germs and carry alcoholic hand disinfectant everywhere they go! Neil was once an extra in an AC/DC video. On his left hand Steve has the top of his middle finger missing. Simon is an excellent surfer. Paul still gets really nervous before playing live.
How would you describe Blood Orange's sound?
We think we're doing something a little bit different to what else is around. I think Faye Coulman, from Sandman Magazine, said it best. She once reviewed one of our gigs and described us as "Goth-tinged melodic rock" with "intricate melodies both luxuriant and acidic-edged in character" and an "almost manic-depressive energy." I love that description. I don't know why, but bands often seem to find it hard to put their sound into words - ourselves included; but for me, Faye's totally nailed it. If we'd have said it ourselves it'd look like we're being pretentious, but coming from someone else - it's awesome.
What's currently happening with the band?
We're finishing off our album. It's taken quite a while to do, but we're doing it all ourselves so there's been a lot to learn about recording and stuff. Up until now, we've just recorded in studios as cheaply and quickly as possible, but the results have always been disappointing quality-wise. This time it's going to sound how it should.
Where is the band's favourite place to play a gig and why?
Anywhere playing outdoors is fantastic if you've got good weather. Rock City in Nottingham is cool to play just because of its reputation. We've had some great gigs at The Vic Inn in Derby, too. It's really small in there, but there's a good atmosphere.
What's planned for 2011?
Our album will be released early this year, then it's all about getting it heard in as many places as we can, so we'll be gigging a lot to promote it.
To find out more about Blood Orange and to listen to their music go to www.myspace.com/bloodorangeonline
Rhia
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Belper Heritage Matters By Adrian Farmer
For the first edition of a new year, I thought it would be interesting to reflect on events that happened in this area exactly a century ago. 1911 was the year work started on the building of Belper’s biggest building, the East Mill, but a look back to other events of that year shows how much life has changed – and how some things change very little.
January 1911 saw the release of figures showing 75 per cent of old people in the Belper Union Workhouse eligible for pensions had said they preferred to stay at the workhouse rather than take the pension and move out. At a meeting of the Belper Guardians, who officiated over the workhouse, this announcement was met by one member’s response: “I thought these old age pensions were going to see the workhouses abandoned!” which raised considerable laughter. Persistent badgering of the authorities by former police inspector John Clark (73) of Belper finally saw a change that month in the frequency pensions were paid, from quarterly to monthly.
Early in the year, the improved street lighting programme for the town took another step forward with better and brighter lamps on Nottingham Road, Bedlam Hill, Over Lane and Long Row. April saw the first appearance of electric lighting for private use in the town centre. Rushton’s cycle and motor works on Chapel Street had electric lights in the workshop and house. The only electric lighting previously seen in the town was at the fair and to light up the front of the Public Hall (now the Ritz Cinema) for an event in 1908.
Illness hit a Belper’s High Street School in the February, with outbreaks of whooping cough and Scarlet Fever closing the school for three weeks. It was Pottery Infant School’s turn in April, with a 14-day closure owing to outbreaks of mumps, chicken pox and measles. The building had to be fumigated and disinfected before it was cleared for opening by the council’s medical officer.
In May, there was a massive explosion at Kilburn brickworks. Mr Gale was breaking up old iron with dynamite and used too much. Iron fragments were thrown hundreds of feet into the air, and one piece fell on the leg of 18-year-old Tom Chamberlain, who had been lying down nearby, looking on. His leg was fractured, and he was taken to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. Several others were hit by fragments, one being knocked off their feet, but no-one else was hurt.
The 1911 census results were released in June, showing Belper's population had risen from 10,934 in 1901 to 11,643 – it has more than doubled since.
George V's 1911 coronation saw bonfires lit at Duffield and Alport, with activities in all the surrounding communities. Many of the elderly were invited to a dinner in Belper River Gardens but didn't attend because the organisers didn’t put on any transport.
September saw Belper's first ever bungalow being built by Fred Blount at the rear of his new hosiery factory on Spencer Road. That month, Milford people were asking for a station to be built for the village, but this failed to receive backing from Alderman Strutt at Makeney Hall, and came to nothing.
If you want to know more about the history of Belper and the surrounding villages, visit St John’s Chapel in the town on the last Saturday of the month, between 10am and 12 noon. Members of Belper Historical Society are available to answer questions and there is information to read and a database of old photographs to explore.
January 1911 saw the release of figures showing 75 per cent of old people in the Belper Union Workhouse eligible for pensions had said they preferred to stay at the workhouse rather than take the pension and move out. At a meeting of the Belper Guardians, who officiated over the workhouse, this announcement was met by one member’s response: “I thought these old age pensions were going to see the workhouses abandoned!” which raised considerable laughter. Persistent badgering of the authorities by former police inspector John Clark (73) of Belper finally saw a change that month in the frequency pensions were paid, from quarterly to monthly.
Early in the year, the improved street lighting programme for the town took another step forward with better and brighter lamps on Nottingham Road, Bedlam Hill, Over Lane and Long Row. April saw the first appearance of electric lighting for private use in the town centre. Rushton’s cycle and motor works on Chapel Street had electric lights in the workshop and house. The only electric lighting previously seen in the town was at the fair and to light up the front of the Public Hall (now the Ritz Cinema) for an event in 1908.
Illness hit a Belper’s High Street School in the February, with outbreaks of whooping cough and Scarlet Fever closing the school for three weeks. It was Pottery Infant School’s turn in April, with a 14-day closure owing to outbreaks of mumps, chicken pox and measles. The building had to be fumigated and disinfected before it was cleared for opening by the council’s medical officer.
In May, there was a massive explosion at Kilburn brickworks. Mr Gale was breaking up old iron with dynamite and used too much. Iron fragments were thrown hundreds of feet into the air, and one piece fell on the leg of 18-year-old Tom Chamberlain, who had been lying down nearby, looking on. His leg was fractured, and he was taken to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. Several others were hit by fragments, one being knocked off their feet, but no-one else was hurt.
The 1911 census results were released in June, showing Belper's population had risen from 10,934 in 1901 to 11,643 – it has more than doubled since.
George V's 1911 coronation saw bonfires lit at Duffield and Alport, with activities in all the surrounding communities. Many of the elderly were invited to a dinner in Belper River Gardens but didn't attend because the organisers didn’t put on any transport.
September saw Belper's first ever bungalow being built by Fred Blount at the rear of his new hosiery factory on Spencer Road. That month, Milford people were asking for a station to be built for the village, but this failed to receive backing from Alderman Strutt at Makeney Hall, and came to nothing.
If you want to know more about the history of Belper and the surrounding villages, visit St John’s Chapel in the town on the last Saturday of the month, between 10am and 12 noon. Members of Belper Historical Society are available to answer questions and there is information to read and a database of old photographs to explore.
Fashion by Shona Harding from Pearls & Scarlett
I hope you have all recovered from the excesses of Christmas and I am sure, like me, you are currently on one of numerous diets to get off the weight before spring. With diets and sale shopping I get very depressed in January and February.
Firstly I hate having to lose weight and secondly I loathe the hustle and bustle of sale shopping. So I always look forward to the optimism that spring brings; new fashion styles, funky prints and the promise of adding some bright colours to my winter palette of black, black and more black. What makes this spring especially promising is the influence designers have taken from oriental fashion. As well as this we have the trend of animal prints following through from winter to spring.
Firstly we will look at oriental fashions taken straight from the influence of the 70’s, Studio 54 and the style icon, Bianca Jagger. Here we have vibrant colours, floral or tropical flora and fauna teamed with sharp cuts and laser cut jackets. Large bracelet cuffs and tie oriental style belts make accessories a safe bet if you are not sure about going fully oriental all at once.
Autumn/Winter 2010 was filled with animal print and this trend will continue throughout spring. From leopard spots to tiger stripes whatever your taste, a touch of any print will make an outfit look current and on trend. If you feel uncomfortable wearing prints then why not try jewellery, shoes or a handbag?
It seems there is still a throw-back to the eighties this spring. Instead of power dressing jackets and big shoulders, the high street will feature more of a ‘glam disco’ feel. Neon colours and golds are all over the catwalk with Fendi, Dior and Versace all going for all out glamour. If you have an occasion to attend it might be worth ditching the staple black dress and experiment with bright bold colours. Statement belts will help to pinch in the waist and create the curves.
Colour seems to be the real theme running through all the catwalks for spring/summer 2011. Gone are the ditsy prints and pastels and in is a more acidic palette of colours. If the thought of neons in the daytime scares you then tone down the impact with a crisp white shirt. If you can’t bear the thought of all over neon why not just introduce a bright belt or bright patent shoe?
See you next edition, when we get a glimpse of spring/summer 2011.
Shona xx
Firstly I hate having to lose weight and secondly I loathe the hustle and bustle of sale shopping. So I always look forward to the optimism that spring brings; new fashion styles, funky prints and the promise of adding some bright colours to my winter palette of black, black and more black. What makes this spring especially promising is the influence designers have taken from oriental fashion. As well as this we have the trend of animal prints following through from winter to spring.
Firstly we will look at oriental fashions taken straight from the influence of the 70’s, Studio 54 and the style icon, Bianca Jagger. Here we have vibrant colours, floral or tropical flora and fauna teamed with sharp cuts and laser cut jackets. Large bracelet cuffs and tie oriental style belts make accessories a safe bet if you are not sure about going fully oriental all at once.
Autumn/Winter 2010 was filled with animal print and this trend will continue throughout spring. From leopard spots to tiger stripes whatever your taste, a touch of any print will make an outfit look current and on trend. If you feel uncomfortable wearing prints then why not try jewellery, shoes or a handbag?
It seems there is still a throw-back to the eighties this spring. Instead of power dressing jackets and big shoulders, the high street will feature more of a ‘glam disco’ feel. Neon colours and golds are all over the catwalk with Fendi, Dior and Versace all going for all out glamour. If you have an occasion to attend it might be worth ditching the staple black dress and experiment with bright bold colours. Statement belts will help to pinch in the waist and create the curves.
Colour seems to be the real theme running through all the catwalks for spring/summer 2011. Gone are the ditsy prints and pastels and in is a more acidic palette of colours. If the thought of neons in the daytime scares you then tone down the impact with a crisp white shirt. If you can’t bear the thought of all over neon why not just introduce a bright belt or bright patent shoe?
See you next edition, when we get a glimpse of spring/summer 2011.
Shona xx
Friday, 24 September 2010
Local Walk: Around Wingfield Manor
Walk supplied by Angela Clarke of Belper www.peakwalker.net
Start: Roadside parking in Pentrich opposite the church (SK 3900 5258)
Route: Pentrich - Wingfield Manor - Coalburn Hill - Wingfield Park - Pentrich
Map: Explorer OS 269: Chesterfield & Alfreton
Distance: 5 miles
Terrain: Good tracks, fields and quiet lanes.
Refreshments: Dog Inn, Pentrich.
Toilets: None
A local walk that offers extensive views and visits two areas that have a historical claim to fame.
Having parked opposite the church, with the church on your left, head uphill, in the opposite direction to the Dog Inn, towards Ripley.
Pentrich is where the last revolution in England began and the brown plaques on the walls in the village relate to this event.
Pass the village hall and Farm Close on the left. As the road bends round to the right cross it and take the signed footpath to the right of Farm Close.
Ignore the stile, on the right, at the back of the house on the right; instead continue straight ahead through the gate to follow a broad track along the ridge. In the distance the noise of the A38 can be heard but press on and it will soon be lost. Away to your left the view extends as far as Crich Stand.
After passing through a second gate the track swings round to the left, towards the farm. Before you reach the farm take the broad track on the left that is signed public footpath. Can you spot the ruins of Wingfield Manor across the valley to your right?
Wingfield Manor
Follow the track downhill until, as it swings left, you see a gate on the right, which you take. Continue straight ahead, downhill, to reach another gate onto the road. This road is quite busy so keep children close by.
Turn left to find a footpath sign on the right. The actual path down to the stile is just beyond the sign. If you have young children with you it is advisable to let an adult tackle the stile first as it is a long step down on the other side and they may need helping down.
Your route is straight ahead, downhill, with the hedge on your left. After crossing another stile continue straight ahead to find a third stile, on your left, onto the lane.
Turn right and follow the lane round to the left, under the railway bridge to the public bridleway sign on the right just after Bull Farm.
Go through the gate and follow the track towards Shrewsbury Cottage. Just before you reach a second gate take the track on the left.
Coalburn Hill
Follow this track passing through, or round, one gate to reach a second gate after which a signpost gives you multiple routes to follow. The path you eventually want is the one on the left, which is heading uphill and back on yourself.
Before you head along the track take the time to divert off the route to get the best view of Wingfield Manor, a temporary prison for Mary Queen of Scots before she was executed in Fotheringhay Castle. To do this ignore both paths and take the gap in the trees straight ahead of you. Then follow the vague path uphill and to the left to not only look at the manor, which isn’t normally open to the public1, but to also admire the view across the valley.
Having returned to the path follow it uphill, passing an entrance to Wingfield Manor, to a gate and a squeeze stile. Continue straight ahead to reach a second gate, which was missing at the time of writing. Continue straight ahead with the wall on your left to another gate (also missing), keep straight ahead, downhill with the wall now on your right.
At the bottom of the field take the gate on the right and continue straight ahead, downhill, to a further gate on the right by a building. The gate takes you onto a lane where you turn left and then, at the junction, right along Lynam Road.
Walk along Lynam Road, which is normally an extremely quiet lane, until, as the lane heads uphill, you see, on the left, a footpath sign for Buckland Hollow.
Take the footpath and follow it straight across the field to a gate and then veer left to find a stone stile onto a broad track. Turn right along the track and follow it uphill and through Lodge Hill Farm.
The track exits the farm via a gate and continues downhill to another gate to the left of a wooded area.
Having gone through this gate, leave the track as the footpath now veers off to the left heading towards the trees and the River Amber.
As the trees end bear left, with the river, to find, straight ahead of you, a bridge across the river onto the road, which can be busy. Turn right along the road and then take the footpath on the right, which is signed for Pentrich.
After going through the gate continue straight ahead, keeping the hedge on your right. When a large gap appears in the hedge veer left to a stile in the top right hand corner of the field.
Continue straight ahead, with the hedge on your right, across another stile, to eventually cross a third stile, in the right corner of the second field, into a third field on the right.
Continue straight ahead, with the hedge now on your left, to find a squeeze stile further along the hedge. Take the squeeze stile and now head diagonally left, towards the houses, following a vague path.
Take the stile into the next field, and then continue straight ahead, uphill, towards the church to a squeeze stile into the church grounds.
Bear left to a stone path, which you follow downhill to the road, where you can either turn right for a drink in the Dog Inn or left to return to your car.
1.Wingfield Manor is only open for pre-arranged visits on the 1st Saturday of the
month. To arrange a visit telephone English Heritage Customer Services on:
0870 333 1183.
We have taken reasonable steps to ensure that this walk is safe and achievable by walkers of a realistic level of fitness. The publisher accepts no responsibility for any injuries caused to readers whilst following the walk. Always wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Start: Roadside parking in Pentrich opposite the church (SK 3900 5258)
Route: Pentrich - Wingfield Manor - Coalburn Hill - Wingfield Park - Pentrich
Map: Explorer OS 269: Chesterfield & Alfreton
Distance: 5 miles
Terrain: Good tracks, fields and quiet lanes.
Refreshments: Dog Inn, Pentrich.
Toilets: None
A local walk that offers extensive views and visits two areas that have a historical claim to fame.
Having parked opposite the church, with the church on your left, head uphill, in the opposite direction to the Dog Inn, towards Ripley.
Pentrich is where the last revolution in England began and the brown plaques on the walls in the village relate to this event.
Pass the village hall and Farm Close on the left. As the road bends round to the right cross it and take the signed footpath to the right of Farm Close.
Ignore the stile, on the right, at the back of the house on the right; instead continue straight ahead through the gate to follow a broad track along the ridge. In the distance the noise of the A38 can be heard but press on and it will soon be lost. Away to your left the view extends as far as Crich Stand.
After passing through a second gate the track swings round to the left, towards the farm. Before you reach the farm take the broad track on the left that is signed public footpath. Can you spot the ruins of Wingfield Manor across the valley to your right?
Wingfield Manor
Follow the track downhill until, as it swings left, you see a gate on the right, which you take. Continue straight ahead, downhill, to reach another gate onto the road. This road is quite busy so keep children close by.
Turn left to find a footpath sign on the right. The actual path down to the stile is just beyond the sign. If you have young children with you it is advisable to let an adult tackle the stile first as it is a long step down on the other side and they may need helping down.
Your route is straight ahead, downhill, with the hedge on your left. After crossing another stile continue straight ahead to find a third stile, on your left, onto the lane.
Turn right and follow the lane round to the left, under the railway bridge to the public bridleway sign on the right just after Bull Farm.
Go through the gate and follow the track towards Shrewsbury Cottage. Just before you reach a second gate take the track on the left.
Coalburn Hill
Follow this track passing through, or round, one gate to reach a second gate after which a signpost gives you multiple routes to follow. The path you eventually want is the one on the left, which is heading uphill and back on yourself.
Before you head along the track take the time to divert off the route to get the best view of Wingfield Manor, a temporary prison for Mary Queen of Scots before she was executed in Fotheringhay Castle. To do this ignore both paths and take the gap in the trees straight ahead of you. Then follow the vague path uphill and to the left to not only look at the manor, which isn’t normally open to the public1, but to also admire the view across the valley.
Having returned to the path follow it uphill, passing an entrance to Wingfield Manor, to a gate and a squeeze stile. Continue straight ahead to reach a second gate, which was missing at the time of writing. Continue straight ahead with the wall on your left to another gate (also missing), keep straight ahead, downhill with the wall now on your right.
At the bottom of the field take the gate on the right and continue straight ahead, downhill, to a further gate on the right by a building. The gate takes you onto a lane where you turn left and then, at the junction, right along Lynam Road.
Walk along Lynam Road, which is normally an extremely quiet lane, until, as the lane heads uphill, you see, on the left, a footpath sign for Buckland Hollow.
Take the footpath and follow it straight across the field to a gate and then veer left to find a stone stile onto a broad track. Turn right along the track and follow it uphill and through Lodge Hill Farm.
The track exits the farm via a gate and continues downhill to another gate to the left of a wooded area.
Having gone through this gate, leave the track as the footpath now veers off to the left heading towards the trees and the River Amber.
As the trees end bear left, with the river, to find, straight ahead of you, a bridge across the river onto the road, which can be busy. Turn right along the road and then take the footpath on the right, which is signed for Pentrich.
After going through the gate continue straight ahead, keeping the hedge on your right. When a large gap appears in the hedge veer left to a stile in the top right hand corner of the field.
Continue straight ahead, with the hedge on your right, across another stile, to eventually cross a third stile, in the right corner of the second field, into a third field on the right.
Continue straight ahead, with the hedge now on your left, to find a squeeze stile further along the hedge. Take the squeeze stile and now head diagonally left, towards the houses, following a vague path.
Take the stile into the next field, and then continue straight ahead, uphill, towards the church to a squeeze stile into the church grounds.
Bear left to a stone path, which you follow downhill to the road, where you can either turn right for a drink in the Dog Inn or left to return to your car.
1.Wingfield Manor is only open for pre-arranged visits on the 1st Saturday of the
month. To arrange a visit telephone English Heritage Customer Services on:
0870 333 1183.
We have taken reasonable steps to ensure that this walk is safe and achievable by walkers of a realistic level of fitness. The publisher accepts no responsibility for any injuries caused to readers whilst following the walk. Always wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Rhia Calvert interviews Dear Superstar's Micky Satiar and Chris Hodgson
Rhia Calvert (17) is a young lady from Holbrook with an extremely bright future ahead of her. She is about to go into her second year at Derby College, where she is studying Media. Rhia has a huge passion for music and spends a lot of her spare time at gigs. She loves photography and writing and hopes to become a professional photographer. Rhia contacted All Things Local as she wants to gain experience in the media and see some of her work in print. We are only too happy to oblige and we wish Rhia all the very best for the future.
Rhia will be interviewing bands and reporting back in forthcoming issues of All Things Local. If you’re a local band and would welcome some exposure within this magazine then email karyn@allthingslocal.co.uk
Five minutes with … Dear Superstar
They're loud, they're wild and they rock. Dear Superstar are ready to tear up the scene and cause a big rock 'n' roll riot. I caught up with front man Micky Satiar and bassist Chris Hodgson backstage at Nottingham's Rock City on the opening night of their UK headline tour.
Dear Superstar front man Micky Satiar
To anyone who hasn't heard Dear Superstar before, how would you describe your sound?
Micky: We just play music as loud as we can and make as much noise as we can; it's just rock 'n' roll. Simple as that really.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Micky: Kiss, Motley Crue. Everything from the whole 80's sunset strip vibe through to modern bands such as Avenged Sevenfold and bands that we've toured with such as Papa Roach. To be honest anyone who's played rock 'n' roll has inspired us, obviously we listen to a lot of music and we always learn something from that - be it the worst or the greatest song in the world.
Chris: Any music with a bit of soul really.
How would you describe 2010 so far?
Micky: Wicked really, we've been spending a lot of time in the studio. We started off the year touring with Heaven's Basement which was amazing and it's getting to the point now where we released our second album two years ago so we need to get the third one written and recorded, so we've been drilling away at that; writing song after song, throwing it in the bin then re-writing it and just demo-ing as much as we can. And that's brought us up to now really where we're back on the road.
What was touring with Heaven's Basement like?
Micky: Amazing, we've toured together a lot like back with Buckcherry and we've done shows together previously so we've always had that friendship. We're like brothers really, it's got to the point now where you don't know where Dear Superstar starts and Heaven's Basement ends.
Chris: It's two bands that have completely integrated, by the end of the last tour with them it wasn't like two different bands.
Micky: It's so easy to go out on tour with bands that have egos or think they're above others but Heaven's Basement just aren't like that, we've got such similar personalities. Plus they like to drink, that's good for us because we need drinking partners!
Are you excited about this upcoming tour?
Micky: Yeah, massively. For us we haven't done a headline tour properly for two years, we've just supported bigger bands which is great and it's been an amazing ride, but it's something really endearing, exciting and worrying as well when you're going out on a headline tour especially playing venues like this which is so iconic, it's like - are people going to turn up? It's such a high expectation but zero knowledge about what's around the corner.
Chris: It's exciting really, when you play with a bigger band you know they're going to pull a big crowd, but when you're on your own tour it's exciting to see how many people turn up just to see you.
What are the best and worst parts of being on tour?
Micky: There is no worst part, we've worked so hard to get where we are and to then moan about being on the road just seems stupid to me.
Chris: I think once you get your head around the idea of touring it's just about freedom. I don't see any bad points to it at all, it maybe takes a while to get used to things like living out of a suitcase but it's freedom. You don't have to worry about anything.
Micky: On a completely random note, clean socks are the best thing about being on tour, there's just nothing like it.
Chris: So I guess the worst part would be having no clean socks.
What's been the best moment of being in Dear Superstar so far?
Micky: It's a hard one to answer because every time we achieve something great and think it's the best moment of our lives, something else even more epic happens. I guess playing at Download Festival, we'd always been going there to watch other bands and to be able to go there and grace the stage was just a massive personal achievement for all of us.
You've played a lot of festivals and toured with a lot of bands, have you ever felt totally star struck?
Micky: When we were at Download Festival we met Joe Elliot from Def Leppard and they were the band that first got me into rock 'n' roll, so when sharing a beer with them in the back of my head I was like 'oh my god this is the best thing in the world' but I was trying to act really cool. We've also partied with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue a couple of times and you kinda think 'no way, that's Tommy Lee!'
You've recorded two studio albums, would you say your second album 'Heartless' was more personal to you?
Micky: Yeah because to be honest we don't see our first album as an album really because Chris wasn't in the band and we just begged, stole and borrowed a thousand pounds to record an album, and a thousand pounds doesn't go far when you're recording. But with 'Heartless' we had time to go into a studio and write our songs and make it the best we could at that point in our lives. But we recorded 'Heartless' two years ago and in some ways we've grown out of it and we've experienced so much since so we're really eager to go and record our third album.
How would you describe the recording process?
Chris: Amazing!
Micky: Yeah, we partied every night but on the business side of things, I guess there was quite a bit of pressure on us. There were some lows points and it can be frustrating, I did over two hundred takes of vocals which was stressful, but overall it was an amazing experience for us.
Do you think recording brings you closer as a band?
Chris: For us it does, I think some bands maybe get annoyed when they're in each other's company but we all just have a good time together. If one of us has got any problems we all just pick each other up and everybody just looks after each other and that makes you closer.
Micky: Recording and touring really does separate the men from the boys. Since we started all those years ago we've seen so many bands come and go because they can't hack life on the road or being in the studio or being away from home. But we don't want to go home, this is what we genuinely live for. We're not rich and we drive around in a rubbish van but it's not about that, it’s about doing what your heart tells you.
What do you have lined up for the rest of the year?
Micky: We finish this UK tour then we go to Belgium, through to Switzerland to play Sonisphere Festival with Metallica. Then we've got European shows lined up and then we tour with Papa Roach to play military bases in Germany and Italy; playing to US troops who are serving out there so that will be an amazing experience. Then I guess in autumn we'll be recording the album and maybe we'll get time to tour again in between that.
Rhia
Rhia will be interviewing bands and reporting back in forthcoming issues of All Things Local. If you’re a local band and would welcome some exposure within this magazine then email karyn@allthingslocal.co.uk
Five minutes with … Dear Superstar
They're loud, they're wild and they rock. Dear Superstar are ready to tear up the scene and cause a big rock 'n' roll riot. I caught up with front man Micky Satiar and bassist Chris Hodgson backstage at Nottingham's Rock City on the opening night of their UK headline tour.
Dear Superstar front man Micky Satiar
To anyone who hasn't heard Dear Superstar before, how would you describe your sound?
Micky: We just play music as loud as we can and make as much noise as we can; it's just rock 'n' roll. Simple as that really.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Micky: Kiss, Motley Crue. Everything from the whole 80's sunset strip vibe through to modern bands such as Avenged Sevenfold and bands that we've toured with such as Papa Roach. To be honest anyone who's played rock 'n' roll has inspired us, obviously we listen to a lot of music and we always learn something from that - be it the worst or the greatest song in the world.
Chris: Any music with a bit of soul really.
How would you describe 2010 so far?
Micky: Wicked really, we've been spending a lot of time in the studio. We started off the year touring with Heaven's Basement which was amazing and it's getting to the point now where we released our second album two years ago so we need to get the third one written and recorded, so we've been drilling away at that; writing song after song, throwing it in the bin then re-writing it and just demo-ing as much as we can. And that's brought us up to now really where we're back on the road.
What was touring with Heaven's Basement like?
Micky: Amazing, we've toured together a lot like back with Buckcherry and we've done shows together previously so we've always had that friendship. We're like brothers really, it's got to the point now where you don't know where Dear Superstar starts and Heaven's Basement ends.
Chris: It's two bands that have completely integrated, by the end of the last tour with them it wasn't like two different bands.
Micky: It's so easy to go out on tour with bands that have egos or think they're above others but Heaven's Basement just aren't like that, we've got such similar personalities. Plus they like to drink, that's good for us because we need drinking partners!
Are you excited about this upcoming tour?
Micky: Yeah, massively. For us we haven't done a headline tour properly for two years, we've just supported bigger bands which is great and it's been an amazing ride, but it's something really endearing, exciting and worrying as well when you're going out on a headline tour especially playing venues like this which is so iconic, it's like - are people going to turn up? It's such a high expectation but zero knowledge about what's around the corner.
Chris: It's exciting really, when you play with a bigger band you know they're going to pull a big crowd, but when you're on your own tour it's exciting to see how many people turn up just to see you.
What are the best and worst parts of being on tour?
Micky: There is no worst part, we've worked so hard to get where we are and to then moan about being on the road just seems stupid to me.
Chris: I think once you get your head around the idea of touring it's just about freedom. I don't see any bad points to it at all, it maybe takes a while to get used to things like living out of a suitcase but it's freedom. You don't have to worry about anything.
Micky: On a completely random note, clean socks are the best thing about being on tour, there's just nothing like it.
Chris: So I guess the worst part would be having no clean socks.
What's been the best moment of being in Dear Superstar so far?
Micky: It's a hard one to answer because every time we achieve something great and think it's the best moment of our lives, something else even more epic happens. I guess playing at Download Festival, we'd always been going there to watch other bands and to be able to go there and grace the stage was just a massive personal achievement for all of us.
You've played a lot of festivals and toured with a lot of bands, have you ever felt totally star struck?
Micky: When we were at Download Festival we met Joe Elliot from Def Leppard and they were the band that first got me into rock 'n' roll, so when sharing a beer with them in the back of my head I was like 'oh my god this is the best thing in the world' but I was trying to act really cool. We've also partied with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue a couple of times and you kinda think 'no way, that's Tommy Lee!'
You've recorded two studio albums, would you say your second album 'Heartless' was more personal to you?
Micky: Yeah because to be honest we don't see our first album as an album really because Chris wasn't in the band and we just begged, stole and borrowed a thousand pounds to record an album, and a thousand pounds doesn't go far when you're recording. But with 'Heartless' we had time to go into a studio and write our songs and make it the best we could at that point in our lives. But we recorded 'Heartless' two years ago and in some ways we've grown out of it and we've experienced so much since so we're really eager to go and record our third album.
How would you describe the recording process?
Chris: Amazing!
Micky: Yeah, we partied every night but on the business side of things, I guess there was quite a bit of pressure on us. There were some lows points and it can be frustrating, I did over two hundred takes of vocals which was stressful, but overall it was an amazing experience for us.
Do you think recording brings you closer as a band?
Chris: For us it does, I think some bands maybe get annoyed when they're in each other's company but we all just have a good time together. If one of us has got any problems we all just pick each other up and everybody just looks after each other and that makes you closer.
Micky: Recording and touring really does separate the men from the boys. Since we started all those years ago we've seen so many bands come and go because they can't hack life on the road or being in the studio or being away from home. But we don't want to go home, this is what we genuinely live for. We're not rich and we drive around in a rubbish van but it's not about that, it’s about doing what your heart tells you.
What do you have lined up for the rest of the year?
Micky: We finish this UK tour then we go to Belgium, through to Switzerland to play Sonisphere Festival with Metallica. Then we've got European shows lined up and then we tour with Papa Roach to play military bases in Germany and Italy; playing to US troops who are serving out there so that will be an amazing experience. Then I guess in autumn we'll be recording the album and maybe we'll get time to tour again in between that.
Rhia
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Life with V - the world comes crashing down
Well the world come has come crashing down around our ears yet again.
Now I don’t pretend to know anything at all about football – well not much anyway -but if the country is competing in something it’s nice to get behind them and cheer them along the way. Having said that, if they don’t ban those horrendous things that sound as if my television has been invaded by a massive infestation of extremely angry mosquitoes, I shall never watch another match again.
What I do find quite amusing is all the debating about why we lost. Well it’s my opinion only but we lost because the other team outclassed us, outplayed us and were far superior to our fumbling efforts.
One excuse was that the players were tired. Well I’m fairly confident that the Germans played in other games as well so it’s not really a good enough excuse. If they were that tired why weren’t they put to bed early so they could get a good 10 hours sleep?
Also my opinion, but I understand they were only told two hours before the game who was actually going to play. Well I don’t know about you but if I am doing something major I tend to get myself well psyched up for it beforehand, not convince myself I’m not going to do it and then be told I am.
I also think that to compete at anything at that level, whatever it is you are competing in has to be your passion. It has to ignite a fire in your belly; it has to be something that you eat, drink, sleep and live for. None of our Olympians would win if they didn’t have this attitude.
I personally feel that a good deal of the problem is that, to our footballers, it isn’t their main passion; it isn’t the thing that makes them leap of out of bed in the morning. What is their main passion is being a so-called celebrity and that is their main focus beyond any doubt. There are few sportsmen who successfully juggle being number one in their field with being a celebrity. David Beckham and Wayne Gretzky are two that come to mind but there is no questioning that their first priority was always dedication to their sport.
Wayne Rooney took his shirt off at the end of the game and my immediate thought was he’s been indulging in a few too many pies and pints. He didn’t even look fit. He looked sluggish, out of shape, moody, unmotivated – and this is our star player!! There are a couple of Under 10’s on the Belper football team who could I think give them a run for their money and my dog is pretty good at roaring about with a football, too. I’m sure either of them could have done a better job.
I would have loved England to have won but have to say congratulations to Germany, because at the end of that day the better team definitely won.
V
Now I don’t pretend to know anything at all about football – well not much anyway -but if the country is competing in something it’s nice to get behind them and cheer them along the way. Having said that, if they don’t ban those horrendous things that sound as if my television has been invaded by a massive infestation of extremely angry mosquitoes, I shall never watch another match again.
What I do find quite amusing is all the debating about why we lost. Well it’s my opinion only but we lost because the other team outclassed us, outplayed us and were far superior to our fumbling efforts.
One excuse was that the players were tired. Well I’m fairly confident that the Germans played in other games as well so it’s not really a good enough excuse. If they were that tired why weren’t they put to bed early so they could get a good 10 hours sleep?
Also my opinion, but I understand they were only told two hours before the game who was actually going to play. Well I don’t know about you but if I am doing something major I tend to get myself well psyched up for it beforehand, not convince myself I’m not going to do it and then be told I am.
I also think that to compete at anything at that level, whatever it is you are competing in has to be your passion. It has to ignite a fire in your belly; it has to be something that you eat, drink, sleep and live for. None of our Olympians would win if they didn’t have this attitude.
I personally feel that a good deal of the problem is that, to our footballers, it isn’t their main passion; it isn’t the thing that makes them leap of out of bed in the morning. What is their main passion is being a so-called celebrity and that is their main focus beyond any doubt. There are few sportsmen who successfully juggle being number one in their field with being a celebrity. David Beckham and Wayne Gretzky are two that come to mind but there is no questioning that their first priority was always dedication to their sport.
Wayne Rooney took his shirt off at the end of the game and my immediate thought was he’s been indulging in a few too many pies and pints. He didn’t even look fit. He looked sluggish, out of shape, moody, unmotivated – and this is our star player!! There are a couple of Under 10’s on the Belper football team who could I think give them a run for their money and my dog is pretty good at roaring about with a football, too. I’m sure either of them could have done a better job.
I would have loved England to have won but have to say congratulations to Germany, because at the end of that day the better team definitely won.
V
Friday, 10 September 2010
Just Dance - Jessica's column
At 11am on Saturdays there is an odd sound coming from the back room of Breadsall Village Hall; “tap tap bang bang click clack tap.” Anyone who was to venture closer would find a group of girls honing their tap dancing skills, and having piles of fun doing so; it was not, actually, a herd of wildebeest sporting stilettos!
I’ve been going to Starsteppers Dance School in Breadsall for years now, and although we can’t yet rival Britain’s Got Talent’s ‘Diversity’ I’ve made some really close friends and we’ve put on many a stunning show. Tap, with its crisp steps and shiny heeled shoes with polished metal soles, could well be my favourite style of dance. In French it’s called “les claquettes”, a name very appropriate as it serves as a pretty decent description of the neat noises made – ‘clacket clacket.’
Words used to help remember technical steps in dance form their own language. One muttered under the breath of tappers everywhere, is: “shuffle hop spring brush toe toe stamp”. Or in ballet: “first second and back to bras bas.”
I haven’t been doing ballet for very long, but I like how this type of dance slows everything down so you can concentrate much more on the curve of your hands and feet, and the music. Modern jazz dancing, like tap, is excellent because you can put in loads of cheesy enthusiasm, wide toothy grins and go mad. It’s so versatile that practically any kind of music can be used, from some bizarre classical remix to good old pop to give the dance a different vibe.
For me, dance shows are the best bit of dancing. The nerves from performing on a hot bright stage in front of a crowd means that backstage becomes hours of hyper laughter and messing about with new and old friends. Throw in ridiculous, colourful costumes and the necessary over-the-top stage make-up into the mix (blue eyes and red lips!) and you get some very memorable nights, hopefully for both performers and audience!
I often help out teaching the cute 3 and 4 year olds their routines. It’s always clear they’re having a whale of a time rocking out to Ghostbusters and Abba. No one can beat them for enthusiasm, which just goes to show that any and every age should have a bit of a boogie from time to time.
Recently I’ve been trying some more exercise-based dance classes. Derby Dance has an MTV Moves class on Mondays which I’ve gone to a few times where one intricate routine is taught weekly. All different kinds of people go there, but when we’re all following the music together and conquering the same fiddly sequence of moves, some of the self-consciousness melts away, and through a layer of perspiration you find you’re suddenly rather enjoying yourself!
Zumba is a kind of Latin American fitness dancing with lots of hips and shimmying. Despite its exhausting nature, a class I went to on Fridays with my Mum had an unmistakeable party atmosphere. The rhythmic music is so different to anything you’d hear on the radio. It’s like the lively drums echo your racing heartbeat.
Whether you dance to keep fit, make friends, enjoy the music or just for fun, keep on moving. That way, next time you’re at a wedding and the DJ cranks up the volume you can successfully wow (or embarrass) your relatives and forget your worries on the dance floor. All those spectators will wish that they too could relax their inhibitions, and just dance.
Jessica
I’ve been going to Starsteppers Dance School in Breadsall for years now, and although we can’t yet rival Britain’s Got Talent’s ‘Diversity’ I’ve made some really close friends and we’ve put on many a stunning show. Tap, with its crisp steps and shiny heeled shoes with polished metal soles, could well be my favourite style of dance. In French it’s called “les claquettes”, a name very appropriate as it serves as a pretty decent description of the neat noises made – ‘clacket clacket.’
Words used to help remember technical steps in dance form their own language. One muttered under the breath of tappers everywhere, is: “shuffle hop spring brush toe toe stamp”. Or in ballet: “first second and back to bras bas.”
I haven’t been doing ballet for very long, but I like how this type of dance slows everything down so you can concentrate much more on the curve of your hands and feet, and the music. Modern jazz dancing, like tap, is excellent because you can put in loads of cheesy enthusiasm, wide toothy grins and go mad. It’s so versatile that practically any kind of music can be used, from some bizarre classical remix to good old pop to give the dance a different vibe.
For me, dance shows are the best bit of dancing. The nerves from performing on a hot bright stage in front of a crowd means that backstage becomes hours of hyper laughter and messing about with new and old friends. Throw in ridiculous, colourful costumes and the necessary over-the-top stage make-up into the mix (blue eyes and red lips!) and you get some very memorable nights, hopefully for both performers and audience!
I often help out teaching the cute 3 and 4 year olds their routines. It’s always clear they’re having a whale of a time rocking out to Ghostbusters and Abba. No one can beat them for enthusiasm, which just goes to show that any and every age should have a bit of a boogie from time to time.
Recently I’ve been trying some more exercise-based dance classes. Derby Dance has an MTV Moves class on Mondays which I’ve gone to a few times where one intricate routine is taught weekly. All different kinds of people go there, but when we’re all following the music together and conquering the same fiddly sequence of moves, some of the self-consciousness melts away, and through a layer of perspiration you find you’re suddenly rather enjoying yourself!
Zumba is a kind of Latin American fitness dancing with lots of hips and shimmying. Despite its exhausting nature, a class I went to on Fridays with my Mum had an unmistakeable party atmosphere. The rhythmic music is so different to anything you’d hear on the radio. It’s like the lively drums echo your racing heartbeat.
Whether you dance to keep fit, make friends, enjoy the music or just for fun, keep on moving. That way, next time you’re at a wedding and the DJ cranks up the volume you can successfully wow (or embarrass) your relatives and forget your worries on the dance floor. All those spectators will wish that they too could relax their inhibitions, and just dance.
Jessica
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