Hello Mo – it’s always great to chat with you, and thanks for getting involved with our looks back at 2016! It’s been a big year for Sentinel Daily, but what about you? First question: What was the best new album you heard in 2016? “Graveyard Innocence and Decadence, Imperial State Electric. All Through the Night, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes (technically the end of 2015) but it’s my album of 2016, angry little redhead geezer screaming his fucking head off. Love it. Motörhead – Clean your Clock (I would say RIP Lemmy but god cannot die)”.
Nice choices. But I’m disqualifying Frank Carter because, as you say, it came out last year… and because I’m in charge around here. What about old stuff – did any reissues grab your attention this year? “Faith No More – The Real Thing reissue! And the Angel Dust reissue, Public Image Limited‘s First Edition – I fucking love Lydon – Led Zeppelin‘s Complete BBC Sessions and the Decade of Dio Boxset”.
That’s the second vote for the Dio boxset, and we’ve only done three interviews! What a legend he was. What was your non-musical highlight of the last twelve months? “Music is everything, even when I tried to think of something non-music related, it’s music related, like finishing my recording studio/producing some records”.
Fair enough! So what have you found particularly disappointing about the wider world in 2016? “The continuing beard/lumberjack/hipster redneck trend. Mainly because I can’t tell which hipsters in the red flanno and bushranger beard are my mates and which ones aren’t. I just greet them all with the same warm familiarity of “how ya going, legend!” and then try and figure out if they’re one of my mates or a random stranger”.
A very real dilemma, it has to be said… And one that doesn’t look to have any end in sight! Do you think the music scene – especially our sort of music – is in good shape at the minute? “It’s tough. On a live front it’s amazing and there’s great records being made. I wish people remembered that you should buy music n’ stuff but I can’t beat my head against a brick wall over it. I just focus on making good records and playing good shows and everything else will sort itself”.
That’s a good philosophy to have! Did anything disappoint you musically in 2016? “Hardwired to Self Destruct. Loving Metallica is like having a son who is in the throws of hopeless addiction. You love them. You will always love them. But really the love is more to do with the memory of what they once were, but you retain hope that one day the boy you loved will come back, only in the back of your mind you know it will never ever be the same person that you loved and they have hurt you terribly but you will always forgive in the hope they’re better next time”.
I quite liked it! But I know what you mean, and I’m sorry this matter has affected you so profoundly. Let’s move away from the subject and onto something hopefully a little happier. Which practitioner or practioners of your own musical role impressed you most this year? “Nicke Anderrson from Imperial State Electric. Its high octane blues based hard rock guitar, you can’t get more up my alley! That dude is a continual inspiration for amazing rock n roll riffs”.
Indeed I can see how he would be… What’s the best live act you’ve seen this year? “The Hard Ons and Iron Maiden“.
Of course! What does the next twelve months hold in prospect for you? “Lots of gigging with Mucho Sonar, recording a second album with Mucho Sonar. And of course, same thing we do every night, Pinkie, TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD”.
Only try? We’ll have to see if you succeed… Which band, if any, do you think is primed to break out into the wider consciousness in 2017? “The Lockhearts. A great young rock n roll band that has awesome songs and rule live”.
And whose EPs you just happened to produce! But yes, you’re right; those EPs are great and the future looks bright for them. We’re fast approaching the festive season – best night for a party – Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve? “New Years. Don’t go for the “hookup” or “magic night” just make sure you’re surrounded by people you love and good tunes and you’re going to have a wicked time”.
Sensible words. Now, we haven’t even got through Halloween yet so we’re not going to ask you for a New Year’s resolution, but what musical feat do you hope to attain next year? “Do the Mucho Sonar album, and finally finish my solo thing”.
I’m available for studio hand claps, if it’s that kind of solo thing… Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers of Sentinel Daily? “Metal up your fuckin’ ass – always and forever!”
Thanks again for taking part!
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