R.A.D - Rational Alternative Digital
Ned's Atomic Dustbin have been through a lot of changes since their birth. "Growth means change, and change requires adaptation" (Matt), a lesson this band has learned only too well since it's last album release 2-1/2 years ago.
Ned's have done a lot since "God Fodder." Ned's were one of headlining band's for the "Alternative Tribute to Freddie Mercury" to raise money for AIDS research.
Their new album "BrainBloodVolume" has also been doing
well. The first single "All I Ask of Myself is that I Hold Together"
has been putting them back up in the spotlight where they belong.
RAD:
So what part of England do you come from?
Ned's:
Well, in central England, West Midlands area,
about eight miles south from Overhampton.
We all pretty much live in the same town.
RAD:
Is that where all of you met?
Ned's:
We met at college in a small town a couple
of miles from where we lived.
RAD:
Are any of you college graduates?
Ned's:
Well sort of and sort of not. When we formed
in 1987, I was 17. So when it came around for
me to do my final exams, I was touring and
stuff like that. I kind of messed up really. I was
one of those people with plenty of potential
and very few end results. So now I have a very
low-grade qualification in Geology and that's
it.
RAD:
So I take it you like touring more than going
to school.
Ned's:
Well, it's just the case of you only get this
sort of opportunity once, so you've got to grab it. I
would like to do both, but obviously school
work had to suffer.
RAD:
So you have a new album out called "BrainBloodVolume."
Where did that name come
from?
Ned's:
Well, there's a certain school of theory--a
medical theory--that thinks if you increase the
volume of blood in the brain that you can increase
your awareness in your empathy and
your sensitivity. There were some people in
the 60's who tried to increase their brain blood
volume by drilling a hole into the skull to
crack sort of a pressure release.
RAD:
That sounds pretty crazy
Ned's:
I don't know how crazy it is. People are trying
to do that to themselves all the time, maybe
not like that literally, but that's what people
use drugs for and that's why people exercise--
basically to release the pressure that's in
them. I think it's something that everybody does in
their own way; it's just that this is a particularly
interesting way to relieve the pressures in
your head.
RAD:
From your album "God Fodder" to the new album,
do you think you have changed your style
of music?
Ned's:
Yes, definitely. That's a part of getting older.
The more you experience, the more
knowledge you accumulate, the more you get
used to playing with other people, the better
you get with your instrument, you know?
RAD:
So do you think you're getting better as you
go along?
Ned's:
I think we are definitely getting better. I'm
pleased to be able to keep moving. I think we've
been out of focus. Our sounds are a lot better.
I think we're more aware of what we are
doing now. We're sort of in the dark, just
thrashing around.
RAD:
Actually, I think you did an excellent job
on "God Fodder" and "Are You Normal." Didn't you
tour with Pop Will Eat Itself once? How was
that?
Ned's:
Yeah, we did a few gigs with the Poppies. They
are from the same home town as us. We
used to play in the same pubs and shit.
RAD:
Out of all the bands you have ever toured with,
who has been your favorite?
Ned's:
I don't know. We haven't toured with many bands,
really. We've done festivals; we've played
with Killing Joke, which was just like amazing,
because they are one of my favorite bands. I
think that was ace. I was really nervous about
going on before Killing Joke because I
thought there was no way you can top them.
RAD:
You have been around since 1987, right? Did
you have any other names for the band
before you chose Ned's Atomic Dustbin?
Ned's:
Well, we were going to do a gig at this small
pub. It was like our first gig and we did not
have a name. We were doing it just for laughs,
and we were just having fun. So we needed
a name like within a week and just basically
pulled it out of a hat. "Yeah, all right." At that
time we didn't think we would use it more than once.
RAD:
So did this name come from an old show on the
BBC?
Ned's:
Yeah, BBC radio. It was called the "Goon Show."
RAD:
I do want to ask you one last question. If
you had a chance to talk to any of your fans out
there who were thinking of going into this
business, what would you tell them?
Ned's:
Only do this if you are serious about doing
it. This is a hard way to make a living, but if you
love making music and touring then it is worth
it.
The Wonder Stuff firmly established Ned's Atomic Dustbin as "the band most likely to create an in-concert riot." That just means that they are a great band who knows how to have fun with what they do best--PLAY MUSIC!!
James Bonisteel