Interview With Teenage Casket Company

Who’s who in Teenage Casket Company?

Rob Wylde: My names Rob Wylde. I sing, play guitar and write songs for the band. Jamie Delerict also sings, plays guitar and writes songs. Rob Lane (Laney 74) plays bass and Mike Hollinshead (Spike) plays drums.

How did you get the name Teenage Casket Company?

Rob Wylde: Jamie came up with the name when we were tossing a few ideas around. He'd apparently had that name in his head for years. I'm sure he can tell you more about the concept but to me it was just so original and different I loved it!
Spike: I was a little unsure of the name at first until I saw the logo! Great branding.
Laney 74: Odd name really but one that people recognise and don't forget which is pretty important today. Initially I don't think you would associate it with a 'Glam, Pop Rock' Band but now it seems to sit really well.
 
How hard was it to find the members of your band?  

Rob Wylde: It all actually came together quite easily. Myself and Jamie put the band together after both of our previous bands had pretty much come to an end. I knew of L74 from hanging out at all the same gigs so I just went over to him one night in Rock City and told him I was putting together a new band and asked if he'd be interested in playing bass. I sent him a tape of a few songs which he dug and he in turn brought in Mike with whom he'd played in a band with some years earlier. We all instantly connected and the band was really easy to get off the ground.
Spike: Hey presto TCC!
Laney 74: With everything me and Rob have in common it was pretty inevitable we'd end up in a band together at some point. We even found out that we'd been to the same gigs as each other years ago and probably stood next to each without realising it! Rob used to live up North but it turns out we both went to see Ted Poley's BONE MACHINE back in 1994 in Bradford which was quite a trek for both of us and we'd both been on the front row!

 Can you describe each band member?

Rob Wylde: Well I would say I'm pretty laid back and relatively quiet off stage. On stage I come to life and can be just as cocky and arrogant as anyone, especially knowing I have such an awesome kick ass band behind me. Musically all my heroes come from the late 80s hair metal scene, so I like to think I bring a lot of those elements into our sound and update them for 2005. Jamie is without doubt one of the most 'larger than life, all or nothing' guys I've ever met! He certainly doesn't do anything by halves! If he's doing something he's doing it at a million miles an hour! He's also the Punk Rocker in the band which makes my songwriting and Jamie's really interesting. On paper it shouldn't work 'cause at one end of the scale you have me writing songs in an updated Bon Jovi style and Jamie writing cocky Ramones style punk songs. But I think its the contrast that makes it work! Kind of like the rough and the smooth! L74 is pretty similar to me in that offstage he's pretty quiet and keeps himself to himself but onstage he goes absolutely nuts! In my opinion he's the coolest bassist around bar none. Rob and Mike are so tight as a rhythm section it enables myself and Jamie to do our thing. L74 also digs a lot of the same bands as me from the hair metal days (Trixter anyone?) but also likes a lot of the cool power pop stuff out there too. Mike is probably one of the nicest, most genuine guys I've ever met and one hell of a drummer! As an ex-drummer myself I'm always impressed with some one who can really play, and boy can he play! Musically he comes from a prog rock background which again like me and Jamie makes things interesting as Mike will often come up with feel or fill that none of us would have come up with in a million years. He's also got a great voice

Spike: Wylde's a comic genius yet I'm not sure if he's aware of it! Quite a dry sense of humour, and some of his facial expressions in situations that are out of his control are priceless. L74 I've known him for some years now - always a pro and Wylde's musical soulmate. A Tasmanian Devil on stage, and a legend in his own lifetime! Jamie D - Full on, bile fuelled punk, great showman and foil for Mr Wylde. You've only got to check the pictures of these two on stage to know it's a great team! Me, introvert, extrovert, intense - it's a drummer thing!

 How old were you when you first decided to be in a band?

Rob Wylde: I knew from the first time I saw Europe's 'Final Countdown' on Top of the Pops that I wanted to be a musician. My mum and dad bought me a guitar for my 9th birthday and it was all down hill from there! I wrote my first song when I was 10 and joined my first band when I was 13. Music is THE most important thing in my entire life. If I had to live without it - shoot me in the head!
Spike: Ever since I can remember it's always been music. It's the only thing that's made any sense to me. I would soak it up like a sponge as a kid - on TV, Radio and Magazines - anything and all sorts of music!
Laney 74: Sixteen - I saw POISON's Bret Michaels on TV and thought he was the coolest lookin' dude EVER!! Still do!

 What’s a TEENAGE CASKET COMPANY live show like?

Rob Wylde: To me we're everything I look for in a band. If you have great songs cool...but if you don't entertain me visually as well I ain't interested! Simple as that! The last thing I want to see is a bunch of guys on stage who look like they've just walked off the street and strapped on a guitar. In my opinion if you're up on stage you should look like stars at all times. It's a 100 mph in your face, high energy, fun good time rock and roll show that takes no prisoners!  Ask anyone who's seen us!
Spike: It's like being in the middle of a storm! I try and catch as much of the show as I can. I know there is life beyond the cymbals, and I do catch the odd figure in front of me throwing mad shapes. Got to keep my head up!
Laney 74: We all know how important it is to ENTERTAIN! That's what playing live is all about so it's 100% energy from the first note till the last. Lots of bands tend to forget that these days and look uninterested. Even if there's one person out there - they deserve the same show as 10,000. I like to think there's more than just the one person out there though!!

 I believe you have been touring in the USA what are the crowds like there?

Rob Wylde: Well first of all it was a dream come true to tour over there where all my heroes come from especially driving along and seeing signs like the one for Sayreville, New Jersey. It was so cool! However the crowds weren't all that different from the ones over here. Some shows were awesome like when we played Albany and Pittsburgh but some of the midweek shows were hit and miss. I think it's probably the same all over the world. The only way you're going to play to huge crowds every night is if you're signed and have a big label pushing your every move. But it was worth every minute. We made a lot of new friends/fans and we plan to tour over there again next year. I cant wait to go back!
Spike: It was my first time there and long over due so to do that on tour with the band was just fantastic - great memories. The Erotic's were great to tour with and I'm already looking forward to more next year!
Laney 74: Everyone we met was so friendly and gracious to the band that it made the whole experience that bit more special. USA you rule!

 Is it true that Steve West From DANGER DANGER came out to see you? How does that feel to have one of your idols watching you?

Rob Wylde: Yeah, Steve came down and I can honestly say it was one of the best nights of my life. I kind of know Steve a little bit as my old band toured with D2 back in 2003. Knowing he lived fairly close to the venue I emailed him and invited him down. I didn't get an email back but an hour or so before we were due to go on stage in he walked. We hung out with him all night and of course he watched the show which he loved! I can't even begin to tell you how weird it was to be onstage in NYC looking out at the crowd and seeing a guy who'd literally been on my bedroom room for years and who'd completely influenced my life watching OUR show! He was such a nice guy and the sort I aspire to be when we make it!
Spike: It was awesome to see Steve at the Don Hills show in Manhattan, Wylde's face was just beaming!
Laney 74: That was a really cool night. The only downer was that we went on really late after about 5 other bands at around 1am in the morning! I thought Steve would maybe stick around for a couple of songs then bail like most people would cause it was so late but he didn't. He stayed for all the set and for THE EROTICS who went on after us too - how awesome was that of him?! Like Wylde, D2 are one of the bands that I aspired to as a kid so to see him out in the audience digging the show was so cool!

What’s the wildest story from the USA?

Rob Wylde: Well it would have to be our second show in Boston. I can't go into all the details (we'll save that for our 'DIRT' book coming out in 10 years time). But it involved Jamie Delerict unconscious with his pants down in a toilet cubicle, a trashed bathroom, 2 very large kick ass bouncers and a 911 phone call! Motley Crue had nothing on us that night I can promise you!
Spike: Ah one for the book - The Soil ....ha! ha! The wildest and most rock'n' roll moment known affectionately in rock circle's as 'The Boston Incident' For more info contact J.D !!!!
Laney 74: Nuff said - wait for the book!!

What’s been your most R’N’R moment to date?

Rob Wylde: See above and times it by 10. A very scary evening 3000 miles from home!
 
Who have been some of your favourite bands to perform with?

Rob Wylde: I've enjoyed everyone we've performed with and touch wood up to now all of them have been really nice. The biggie for me though had to be the VAIN shows.They were another band I had on my wall when I was a kid, so to play with them was amazing.To watch them soundcheck '1000 Degrees' with perfect harmonies was mind blowing!
Spike: On the British part of the 'Dial It Up' Tour, VAIN for sure, they were just fantastic. We were just lucky enough to get a couple of dates on their European Tour. As for the American leg of the tour - the one and only EROTICS! or was it that band in Brooklyn? I'm sure Mr Wylde will remember?
Laney 74: We've already been privileged to share the stage with some great bands - TRASHLIGHT VISION, MITCH MALLOY, VAIN - all very cool bands and genuine guys! THE EROTICS are our brothers though and we love those dudes!
 
What would be your dream gig?

Rob Wylde: Us, DANGER DANGER, TRIXTER (don't laugh I'm serious!) and POISON playing arenas in the USA.
Spike: Opening for RUSH. That would be a great test!
Laney 74: VAN HALEN, GOO GOO DOLLS, TRIXTER (Yeah, Wylde was serious!) and TCC!

How did you get the name ‘Dial It Up’ for an album?

Rob Wylde: Well we'd finished recording the album and still didn't have a name so Jamie said 'Why don't we just call it Dial It Up?'. It made sense and summed up the songs really well. It also gave us lots of ideas for the artwork.
Spike: Jamie's baby that one. Just make's sense don't ya think!
Laney 74: I'm gonna stick my neck out and say I thought it was me who suggested that as the title cause JD was suggesting stuff like 'Razorblade Rhinoceros' or something equally heavy! Maybe I'm wrong as no one else remembers that but whoever it was it fits really well with the sound and it's a great introduction to the band.

What’s your favourite track off the album?

Rob Wylde: Always a really hard question to answer as I honestly love every single track. If I had to pick one then 'Down On Luck' as it was the very first song we put together as a band and gave us our sound. I also think it's just a great pop rock song that given the Bob Rock/Mutt Lange treatment could be even more huge!
Spike: 'Bad Girl' is just great to play live, but it's hard to pick a fave, I love 'em all !!!!
Laney 74: 'Mirrors & Wires' really captures the feel of the band I think. Melody, Energy, Punk and Rock all rolled into a three and a half minute steam train!

 What’s next for TCC?

Rob Wylde: Well, we're currently putting together another UK tour for late Oct/Nov, with loads of shows in between that are being added daily.Keep posted to www.teenagecasketcompany.com We're also writing songs for album number 2 and generally keeping as busy as possible. We're determined to play anywhere and everywhere and get into as many people's faces as possible.
Laney 74: We're reworking the set to bring in a few new songs along with a few 'vintage' surprises! There's talk of a lot of cool tours towards the end of the year but we'll see what surfaces. Either way we'll be out kicking some ass live!
Spike: It's all sounding great!

What’s in your pockets?

Rob Wylde: Erm....chewing gum, 15 pence and a guitar pick!
Spike: 70p.
Laney 74: Mobile Phone and 65p

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