We’d like to know a little bit about you for our files, but we don’t like regurgitating press releases or asking the easy questions. At Tone Deaf we only ask the tough questions, so just hold still, grit your teeth, clench your buttocks and be still while we put on the rubber gloves, apply the thumbscrews, and pull out our thermometer while you open up and say ahhhhhhhhhhh… Truthful answers only or we drink your rider while you’re on stage. El Witeri reveals his deepest darkest secrets as the Tone Deaf team pry the answers out of him.
Who gets the most ‘off stage action’ in the band? What’s the secret to their success?
Our new drummer Nigel Moyes is young and single and the girls go wild for him.
Have you ever been arrested? Where were you, and what was it for?
Recently Damien Charles (guitarist and producer) was attacked by thugs while he was sticking up posters peacefully in downtown Northcote, Victoria. The thugs were ‘protecting’ their local souvlaki shop turf and flexing some muscle when they decided to attack. Damien (aka King Charlie) came out of it with a black eye and some bruisers and his posters were pinched. Thinking he’d report it to the cops to see if he could get some compensation (any donations toward a starving artist’s life welcome!) the police threatened to press charges on him for illegally posting in the street if he tried to make an official report. I guess they weighed up the risk between on-street brutality and dangerous and radical artists spreading propaganda and decided the latter was more of a danger.
What’s been the worst day job you’ve ever had?
Working as an apprentice jockey. I’ve had some bad jobs but that unpaid gruelling 14 hour day slog would have to go down as the worst.
Sex, drugs and groupies – In what order do you prefer them and how often?
My wife will be reading this! None, in no order whatsoever!!
Take us back to the first gig you went to. Where was it and what was the venue?
Dire Straits. Back home in Auckland New Zealand, at the Mount Smart Stadium. Unforgettable. First time I’d ever been to a concert along with a casual 60,000 other fans.
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 don’t spend much time on a computer and prefer to play albums on CD rather than do the whole digital thing. You can buy The Red Eyes latest album Red Army and our first EP Prolific/My Kingdom on ITunes and through MGM related sites. We offer giveaways to subscribers including digital downloads from soundcloud.com so it’s worth getting onto our mailing list or becoming a fan on Facebook or friend on Myspace to get into some special Red Eyes free downloads.
What’s the furthest you’d go to win over a new fan?
Usually I try to meet some of the audience and a quick chat after a gig if there is a chance. Mostly the best time to connect with fans, new or old, is during a performance. This is when I am giving all I’ve got and presenting my songs and my soul in a public arena, but behind the necessary mask of my performance.
Right, here’s the plug section – tell us about upcoming gigs/tours and releases.
Ahead of the Raggamuffin 2011 national tour (Perth, Syd, Mel, Bris, Adelaide), we’ll will be doing a string of dates in Western Australia, including the Indi Bar on Sunday 23 Jan. (Full dates for this WA tour below). This is our sescond time in WA, following sold out shows with The Black Seeds in March ’10 and we’re looking forward to getting back there and to seeing checking out Margaret River and Bunbury as well as doing some different shows around Perth.
In February we’re on the bill for St Kilda Festival (VIC) and Summer Rhythm Festival (ACT). March will see us doing a short tour to Byron Bay, and in late April we’ll be back in Byron for the Byron Bay Bluesfest on Easter Weekend 2011. Bring it all on…
WA TOUR DATES
Thur 20 Jan
Mustang Bar
Northbridge, Perth, WA
Free entry
Fri 21 Jan
Settlers Tavern
Margaret River, WA
Free entry
Sat 22 Jan
Prince Of Wales
Bunbury, WA
Free entry
Sun 23 Jan
INDI Bar
Scarborough, WA
$10 pre-sale / $15 door
1300 GET TIX / www.moshtix.com.au
Weds 26 Jan
Raggamuffin Perth
Freemantle Oval
136 100 / www.ticketmaster.com.au
