Introduce yourself…
We're CHARRED HEARTS...Current lineup is Dermot Fuller(always called just Fuller)--vocals, Lee Fellows--guitar, Eamonn Treanor--bass, Sam Fuller--drums.
How did the band start?
Fuller...Well we originally started as The Corpses in 1981 with Fuller and Eamonn and the other two original members Pat Luscsz--guitar and Dave Simpson--drums. Three of us had been in a band called The BCGs in 1980 and Pat had played guitar for Static Annoyers, when both bands split up we all started rehearsing together and it just clicked.
How did you come up with the name?
Fuller...The name change Charred Hearts came up in 1983 and I can generally say have no recollection where it came from although we probably were less "hardcore" by then so The Corpses maybe didn't fit so well. Funny though even till this day there's still a small hardcore following who call themselves "Corpses Barmy Army".
Who would you say are your influences?
Eamonn...I guess still the stuff like The Clash, The Ruts, Pistols et al.
Lee...definitely all the old school sounds more than the later thrashy stuff, 999. Adverts, Damned.
Sam...being a bit younger also like Dropkick Murphys, Pennywise but my dad got me into the old stuff too!
Fuller...agree with the rest but always liked the trashy stuff like The Stooges and The Heartbreakers.
What is the punk scene like in the UK?
Fuller..The punk scene is like a big community now, most of the bands and those who come and watch all tend to know each other , always makes for a good crack at gigs. It's funny doing gigs with some of your heroes from 30-odd years back and now they are your mates. It can be still difficult to get big crowds though and some great venues have closed recently.
How has it changed since 1981?
Fuller...Ha! most of us are a bit older, greyer and carrying some weight! But generally much more comraderie, rarely get aggro at shows now. I suppose it's kind of an underground scene in apeculiar way.
The band broken up in 1996, what caused this?
Eamonn...it was actually 1986! I suppose children come along and unfortunately boring things like work and mortgages. The music scene at this time was pretty tepid so we kind of just fizzled out. There was no dramatic break up we just went our own ways.
Why did you start doing shows again in 2000?
Eamonn..well we all bumped into each other one night watching a band in a pub in town and over a few beers started bouncing around the idea.
Fuller...well yeh the more beers we had the better an idea it seemed and after acouple of months practiced we kicked off in early 2001.
Describe the song writing process...
Fuller..Pretty slow really, I guess it would be fair to say we're not the most prolific songwriters really.
Lee...I suppose I tend to come to practice with a riff and it tends to develop from there.
Sam...Yeh three hours of arguing and one hour of creativity.
Your first release was 'Good Boys', tell us about the EP...
Fuller..Well recorded over a couple of days and including two new songs from 2001, a Stooges cover and one of our songs "Ronald Reagan" from 1981. Still sound pretty good I reckon, although is now unavailable, may repress the EP later this year.
You then released 'The Triumph and the Tradedy', tell us about the album...
Eamonn...This was quite a traumatic recording as our guitarist Pat left the band during the recording and we ende up using the album's producer to complete guitar duties. Although still real y happy with the outcome.
Fuller...Some quite personal songs on the album, particularly "Always Beside Me" that was written for a very close friend who was murdered the year before.
Your current release is 'Persecute Me', tell us about the single...
Lee...recorded over two crazy weekends in Somerset, had go back and re-record some of it as the adrenalin may have taken over first time round.
Sam...great fun recording and two punchy punk songs as a result, had Andy from Fandangle producing.
Tell us about the current lineup...
Fuller...well the current lineup is I think the best, has so much energy(even after 30 years). Lee was recruited on guitar in 2006, although he has been a long-standing mate and is one of the original "Corpses Barmy Army". My son, Sam joined on drums in 2007/8 and added a bit of youth to the band!
Eamonn...this lineup seems to have achieved a better following and more success.
What else have you released?
Fuller...Appeared on numerous compilation.
Fuller...There's also quite a lot of unreleased stuff from the 80s we're trying to gather together and maybe put out at some point.
Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
Eamonn...well first time round bands like Subhumans, Action Pact, Newtown Neurotics, Chumbawumba and Rubella Ballet
Lee...and in the last few years...Buzzcocks, 999, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, GBH, Anti-Nowhere League, The Business and loads more.
Lee....also played with UK Subs, Goldblade and Sham 69.
Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
Sam...Generally only get opportunity for small venues but has been great when we've played with Buzzcocks in large venues.
Have you toured?
Lee...Yeh we've done Germany twice, France, Spain and Finland.
Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
All...We think there's loads of great bands to do shows with, so no real favourites.
Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
Fuller...I think mine is Wild at Heart,Berlin...great staff and a brilliant audience
Sam....for me Rebellion Festival, our third time this year.
Do you see is the future of Charred Hearts?
Fuller...well it's been 30 years since it started and I'm still loving it! So in no mood to finish for some time yet.
Sam...to star twriting and recording new stuff!
Eamonn...stuff we've got coming up before the end of this year includes a couple more festivals, in particularly our third appearance at the "world famous" Rebellion Festival where we're on the same stage on Sunday as Jello Biafra. In September we're off to France again to do a few shows with our good friends and drinking buddies, Blitzkrieg, etc.
How can people contact the band?
The best way is to go to website www.charredhearts.co.uk which has all contact links contained.
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