With a live performance that's good enough to get them invited to support US act The Matches on their complete Australian tour, Fifty Sixx are a band to watch 2008! Vocalist Benny Britton took some time out to answer these questions for us....
With a live performance that's good enough to get them invited to support US act The Matches on their complete Australian tour, Fifty Sixx are a band to watch 2008!
Vocalist Benny Britton took some time out to answer these questions for us....
Interview w/ Benny Britton
(Vocals) of Fifty Sixx
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By Cameron Chambers
Your name, what you do in
Fifty Sixx and your favourite pre (or during) show drink?
I am Benny and I sing
in Fifty Sixx, and for a pre and post show drink I love Jagermeister mmmmmmmmmmmmm
In your own words, can you
please tell us what Fifty Sixx is all about?
We are a rock band with a punk
rock attitude. We have a good time all the time and we love to party.
How did the band get together?
Earlier 2005 we all played
in separate bands and decided to join forces to expand on our musical
diversity.
Did you or any of the other
members have a defined idea of what you wanted the band to sound like,
or was it a case of jamming and seeing what came out?
We had a faint idea, we knew
we wanted fat heavy rocking riffs with melodic singing. Then we jammed
and our inner personal style came out from each member to make Fifty
Sixx what we are.
For a local band you guys
have a spent a lot of time on the road in 2007. What were some of thehighlights for you?
Playing Soundwave last
year was great, being able to support The Matches was amazing
and just basically spending time with my best friends doing what I love
to do on the road makes me happy enough the rest is a bonus.
Touring with
The Matches (US) must have quite an experience. Were their fans receptive
to you guys? Did the tour teach you guys a lot about what it actually
means to be a touring band?
That band taught us so much,
they changed the way we looked at our band professionally, and they
showed us what a rock show really was and how we could take entertainment
to another level for fans. Their fans were very humble they were a pleasure
to play before and showed us a lot of gratitude, very welcoming.
Your second EP
“Prescriptions For The Rich” was released this year. Can you tell
us about the writing and recording process?
We wanted the EP to showcase
our songwriting ability and take us to that next step as a band writing
wise. We had just gotten a new guitarist Mark Barnes who has
brought a lot of new vibe to the Fifty Sixx camp so it came a
lot easier than the first. As for the recording that could possibly
go down as the worst moments of my musical career it was extremely long
hours in between touring and not a lot of time to get what we wanted
done. But we came through in the end and now we are all happy with the
result.
Are you happy with how the
EP has been received? Is there anything you'd change about the recording?
We are overwhelmed by the response,
people are loving what we are making so that makes it all worth while.
I wouldn’t change anything except more time to play with more mixes
and maybe a live feel would have brought a bit more power to the plate.
What's the biggest difference
between “Prescriptions...” and your debut,
“Gun Powder Office”?
We are a completely different
band, different values and different influences have given our music
a more open feeling. Gun Powder was a pop punk EP we did when we were young. Prescriptions is
a Rock/pop EP with a more mature in-depth approach. The album will be
another massive step up again this year and we cannot wait to get it
out.
Sydney has a diverse and
competitive live music scene. Was it hard to find your niche early on?
Earlier on it was defiantly
but now as you get older as a band you learn to create your own scene
your own show and learn to create a whole new diverse road that people
can follow you down.
Following your own plans and
doing “your thing” and not worrying what everyone else is doing
is the attitude to have.
What
are the pros and cons of being a Sydney based band?
Pros Great friends and fans
who support us at every show we play.
Cons I don’t think there
are many cons I’m totally happy living in Sydney and so is the band.
Who are some
Australian bands you heard in 2007 that have impressed you?
Ahh there are so many, Closure
In Moscow blow me away every time I see them.
Famous by Association
are an awesome rock n roll outfit from Mornington and Calling All
Cars from St Kilda in Melbourne are amazing. I could go on forever
Top five records of 2007?
Thrice’s “Water”
Disc off the “Alchemy” album is great.
Grinspoons “Alibi’s
And Other Lies” record has been cranking in the tour van heaps.
Foo Fighters “Echoes,
Silence, Patience And Grace” is amazing.
Chuck Ragan’s “Feast
Or Famine” is also fantastic. Check out the track “The Boat”.
Bob Dylan’s “Dylan”
is great cause when I’m home off the road my Mum never stops listening
to it and it has grown on me big time.
What have you guys got planned
for 2008?
Writing and releasing our debut
album!
Then TOUR!!!!!!! Forever and
ever and ever
This is your chance to plug
any upcoming shows, is there anything else you'd like to add?
The Annandale Hotel 8th
of Feb and Newtons Playground with Grinspoon March 8th.
Come!
Check out www.fiftysixx.com or www.myspace.com/fiftysixx