Time to catch up with London based TEAR a four piece DIY punk outfit signed to Tim Burgess’ O Genesis label. We met up with them at our store in Soho to get to know where they are from and where they are going.
Give us your names
Ben
Camille
Jed
Katie
Where are you from?
Camille, Ben and Jed are from London. Camille and Ben grew up on the same street. Katie is from Stoke
What type of music did you listen to when you were growing up?
Hole, Marilyn Manson, Queen, Queen Adreena, Spice Girls, Rachel Stamp.
What made you want to start creating music?
I can’t even remember when that started. When it became apparent it was more than likely the best thing you could possibly do with your life?
Who musically is your biggest influence?
Early Marilyn Manson when he was essentially playing funk.
What is your main source of inspiration to write your music?
Camille’s diaries from when she was 14.
Which is your favourite of your songs to play live, and why?
Careless Again because it’s epic and people usually sway beautifully.
Waiting Room because it’s nasty and short.
You are signed to Tim Burgess’ O Genesis Label. How has it been working with Tim?
Tim’s totally lovely and supportive and enthusiastic about young bands. He’s the Godfather.
It’s a digital age and that has done great things for music. But we still see a big place for Vinyl- your thoughts on that and any plans to launch something on Vinyl?
We just have!
What was the first music you bought (vinyl or otherwise)?
Take That greatest hits on tape.
What was the last album that you bought (vinyl or otherwise)?
‘Botanic Verses’ by the March Violets on CD. CDs are so hard to find. And so expensive now! CDs are the new vinyl. We’ve made CDRs to sell on our tour that are really beautiful hand coloured in by Jed masterpieces.
What is your favourite venue that you have played?
Isle of Wight festival where we supported Brian May and he played a 15min guitar solo on a plinth in front of a projection of the cosmos. Also DIY Thursdays, a club night run by the legend Lyndell Mansfield that used to be on Chatsworth Road and is now in a warehouse in Bow.
Over the years, the U.K has lost hundreds of its grassroots music venues. Have you lost a venue that was special to you?
The Barfly in Camden. RIP. Also Astoria/ LA2, Madame Jojos although that may be coming back at some point, hopefully it will be a music venue and not just a fancy bar with a sideshow of burlesque.
You can pick any band or artist to support you on tour- who is it ?
Beds in Parks (pictured below) or Average Sex
You can support any band or artist on tour -who is that ?
Playing with Honeyblood is awesome, there are so many bands around right now that are amazing – Yassasin, Dream Wife, Black Honey, Goat Girl.
Any new band or artist you want to tell us about?
Chambers (@UKChamberss) are totally awesome. Female doom pop duo.
What are your plans for the future as a band/artist?
We’re joining Honeyblood on tour over the next fortnight. Then we’re supporting Tim Burgess at the Lowry in Salford and playing some festivals (Liverpool Sounds City, Kendal Calling, Cotton Clouds). We’ve just been recording at Bark Studios again so some more releases in the works, maybe some CD singles…
UNDERGROUND inspires and is inspired by British Subculture, both past and present. Which Subculture or British artist has had the most influence on you?
Cosey Fanni Tutti, Dale Winton.
