Define your genre in five words or less:
Glam rock is back, baby!
Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like?
The ‘Nails’ sound might be likened to post punk glam rock. Over the top ‘take no prisoners’ rock’n’roll so full of clichés and posturing you could create a reality TV show around us.
What do you love about making music?
Making music is the only way I know emotionally to turn myself inside out. To take what is inside you and give it a form that allows it to be accessible to other people. People need to be in touch with their creative side and truly express themselves. For me music makes that happen… and of course, the fancy hotels, limousines and girls!
What do you hate about the music industry?
What I hate about the music industry is that the lyrics have to be sung in a chosen language. The music itself is a universal language, and I wish there was one universal language for the lyrics as well. The Coughin’ Nails built their career in the ’80s across Eastern Europe and we had to record tracks in many different languages and I really think some of our better tracks get lost in translation. Subtitles don’t work live.
What can a punter expect from your live show?
Our live shows are spontaneous and high energy. We have a ‘no set list’ policy and play what feels right on the night. We love pyrotechnics and all the smoke and mirrors that makes a live music experience edge and memorable. I like to think of our live shows as “spontaneous combustion.”
Tell us about the last song you wrote.
My last song is Not A Very Good Year. It is my ‘legacy song’ outlining how certain choices I have made have impacted my career, my health and ultimately my immanent death. I hope it connects with people who may have to make similar choices in their lives. We’ve just put this track out as a film clip exclusively for Smokescreen Music Festival.
Where would you like to be in five years?
In five years time I would like to be still breathing and playing rock’n’roll. A lung transplant and a hair transplant would be a big help in that regard. If not, I would like to be the lead singer of the rock’n’roll heaven glam rock all stars and have a gravestone that has pyrotechnics and lasers that fire up each year for my birthday.
