Sure we’ve heard about you before, but we think it’s time for Tone Deaf to get to know you a little better. Slip in to something comfortable while we put on some music, pour us a couple of drinks and turn the lights down low. So, tell us about yourselves…Who are you – who who? We really wanna know….
Who are you and what do you do in your act?
Hey! I’m Stuart, I play the bass in Box Rockets. We play songs that are mainly written by Luke, who sings and guitars and chills often. We mess them up and change it and it sounds awesome. We play hard live, and record quite nicely. Been around for a few years now and we’ve become the best of friends and the greatest of bands, in my opinion. Well that’s mainly because people keep telling me they’re not sure why we aren’t bigger than we are. Granted those people are often my girlfriends and close friends, and really drunk bogans at the Great Britain, but I believe them, because after all, they’re the best of people.
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parents’ record collection and why?
Why call it stealing? It’s not like I’m on bad relations with my parents. I grew up on my parent’s collection. If, however, I were to suddenly have a massive falling out with them, I would probably take Joni Mitchell’s Hejira with me. Beautiful album, my mum apparently hated it after listening to Blue, so the vinyl’s in near mint condition. I love it. That and Electric Ladyland. Oh yeah. The grooves are pretty worn on that one. Mostly by me. I would probably need a lot of time with those records after a hardcore falling out with my parents that forced me to steal their albums.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
Peter Gabriel’s So, Adalita’s album and PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love… mmmmmmmmm
also been listening constantly to M83’s ‘Midnight City’… pretty rabidly excited for the album.
‘Home taping is killing the music business’ was the catch-cry of the record industry in the 1970s and 1980s, but it managed to survive until now. What do you think is the difference between mates taping copies of friend’s records back in the 80s and 90s and file sharing now?
One involved magnetic tape in your hand and the other involves magnetic tape in the hard drive… People are going to get music anyway they can if they have ears and a heart and an empty wallet… I wouldn’t change it, it’s a beautiful thing.
You must answer this question honestly or we steal your rider. What was the first gig you went to? Where was it and what was the venue?
You wouldn’t do that, because I would share it with you anyway. Wish I could answer honestly, but I can’t really remember. I can probably vouch that it was a FreezA gig, at a community centre somewhere. I think it was to see a friend’s band cover Black Sabbath. Went to a lot of those. This one time at Hampton community centre these kids lit all these firecrackers in the street and the police came. Most exciting thing about the night, from what I recall. My puberty was really boring.
What’s your favourite site to download music from and do you ever pay for it? Can we find any of your releases there?
I generally just search for blogs. Or soundcloud stuff. You find some really interesting stuff along the way. There’s always this one day that comes around maybe once a month where I lose my mind and download gigabytes upon gigabytes of sweet sweet digital music. Keeps me occupied for a long time. I buy a lot of cds though. Too much, it’s like an addiction, but one that keeps on giving. I’m one of those guys that gets pretty intense satisfaction from organising and surveying my collection.
Box Rockets are on iTunes! Our 2009 EP Throwing Stones can be found there. Soon our No Control EP is going to drop, and be everywhere I reckon. Even where you least expect it.
What artist made you want to pick up an instrument and/or sing?
Started playing bass when I was 12 in year 7 just because the double bass looked cool to me. So I guess the guy who designed that thing played a part. I picked up the electric because ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ sounded crap on double bass, and my dad had an old electric hanging around.
I started playing guitar and singing when I was 17 mainly because a bunch of guys I knew were earning money doing it and I figured I could do it better, which I did (saved like 1600 bucks doing it and bought a second hand Rickenbacker copy from the early 80s that sexed my world).
Have you ever been arrested?
Nope. I’m only young though… I got a canary sticker for a broken side mirror once, but the policeman was really nice and didn’t put it on my car, because he trusted me to get it fixed (I’m a nice guy).
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
Who needs superstition and luck when you’ve got a brain and muscles and bones? Providing they all work correctly…
Supposing you were to be playing sold out stadiums on your next tour, what outrageous rider requests would you submit?
Two professional quality trampolines, plenty of washable paint (all colours of the rainbow), a hot jazz band, a carton of those little paper cocktail umbrellas, and a Sherlock Holmes pipe. That’d just about cover it.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
Adalita. Just being in the same room with her on a personal level would probably inspire the greatest love song a man has ever written. Then she’d get really weirded out and break it off, and the greatest break-up song a man has ever written would be born. So in the end I’d make heaps of money because those songs will be amazing. Can’t wait.
Right, let’s get really intimate. Tell us what releases you have that we can listen to with the lights down low, or even better, where we can see you play in person next. Naturally, don’t forget to give us the link to your Facebook fan page too.
Come to the Grace Darling, Thursday 15th September! We’re launching our spankin’ new single ‘No Control’ then, bringing awesome southern (Melbourne) rockers Winter Street and the deadly Ghosts along for the ride.
After, I suggest waiting for the 27th October. At the Northcote Social Club we’re gonna launch the titular 4 track EP No Control containing 4 tracks produced by evil genius Steve Schram (the Vasco Era, the Cat Empire, Eagle and the Worm, Custom Kings). If you’re after dilated pupils and lovely music, it’s most definitely what you’ll get. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/boxrockets. We write posts, put pictures and stuff there. Our new single can also be heard on the bandpage thing. And you can post stuff to us, and then it will get real intimate, the way you and I like it. Mmm.
