INTERVIEW: Quatermass 3 – World Of Twist/Earl Brutus/the Dials

INTERVIEW: Quatermass 3 – World Of Twist/Earl Brutus/the Dials

The music world has never been the same since World Of Twist, Earl Brutus and The Dials introduced their spell binding, hypnotic beats to an unsuspecting audience. Following intriguing social media posts the aforementioned bands have connections to a psychedelic spiked guitar erupting new band in the guise of Quatermass 3 who are all set to take more prisoners with their debut releases, which are out now, and a debut live performance in early April 2022.

Here we find the band in their first interview talking exclusively to Gigslutz about their upbringing, the journey which has lead the band to be where they are now and what awaiting the band in the future:

Testing 1-2, 1-2, Quatermass 3 to earth do you read, come in Quatermass 3?

Neil: Yes. We hear you Earthlet.

First question; can you each explain who you are in the band what you do and play in the band?

N: I considered calling myself Vincent Picasso because my name is Neil. I sing and play the electric kazoo.

Gordon: I have neither the time nor imagination to come up with a pseudonym so it’s plain ol’ Gordon King – a name I’ve always hated. I play guitar and shout a bit.

Andy: I’m Andy. I play devil’s advocate.

What were your upbringings like?

N: Plymouth 70s. The Earl Brutus song Navyhead encapsulates my early years vividly.

G: Stockport 60s/70s – middle class, turbulent, confusing.

A: Sheffield 70s. Brown and orange. And itchy.

What was the first music you can remember hearing?

N: First single was Suzi Quatro’s Devil Gate Drive, first album was Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds.

G: Loads of classical music, West Side StoryJames Bond Theme, The Seekers. First single was Run Run Run by Jo Jo Gunne, first album was Slade Alive

A: Val Doonican, the Oliver! soundtrack and Showaddywaddy – still the best (and loudest) live act I’ve ever seen

What was the first serious music you can remember getting into?

N: Plymouth had a vibrant punk scene which was a massive influence on everything I did and do. There was a local band called the Cult Maniax that we adored. Also loved everything out of Two Tone. Terry Hall once eased a 15 year old me out of the way to get to a Space Invader machine.

G: I took it all very seriously from the off, so I’d say The Beatles, Love Affair, The Foundations, Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Titch, Chairman of the Board, Procol Harum (I always loved abit of baroque pop!)

A: Prog rock, although I told everyone I was into the Durutti Column.

How did you learn the instruments you have become acquainted with?

N: Just put my lips together and blew.

G: Have been trying to play guitar since I was 18. Have always found it really difficult and judging by the amount of time I’ve been playing and the effort I’ve put in I should be way better than I am!

A: I bashed out the hits of the day on my parents’ piano, quality stuff like Tight Fit and Brotherhood of Man. The piano tuner once told me a new piano should last 80 years but he’d give ours another 18 months.

Did you have any music idols you were big into who influenced your playing?

N: Attitude of Mark E Smith, Acker Bilk’s charm, Alan Vega’s swagger and Fred Schneider’s energy. We have got to know The Nightingales quite well over the past few years, Fliss has been a big supporter of what we do.

G: I was never really influenced by my musical idols (Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Jan Akkerman, Pete Townshend) as they’re all too good. I think I’m most influenced by Status Quo as I can play most of their stuff without too much difficulty and it’s great jamming along with their records. Oh, Allen Collins from Lynyrd Skynyrd should be mentioned, also Wayne Kramer, Tom Verlaine, Randy California…too many to name.

A: I’ve always identified with Dave Greenfield. Wish I could play half as well as he did.

Were you all in any bands before Q3?

N: No. I have been saving myself for this moment. I did give Underworld their big break though… but that’s a whole different story.

G: I was in World of Twist, Earl Brutus and The Pre New.

A: I was previously in Deep Meaningful Swimming Pools and am also in The Dials.

World Of Twist have a bit of a hallowed name in and around the indie music scene, sadly lead singer Tony Odgen and drummer Nick Sanderson are no longer with us. Do you all have vivid memories of the band?

G: Good times and bad times. It’s all in the book…out in July.

N: They were my post-rave music of choice. Weird that I now rub shoulders with a Son of the Stage.

Following on from WOT, Earl Brutus carried on the torch WOT started, starting their own fires along the way. Were EB as riotous as reports suggest?

G: Yes, it was crazy. Not good for your health. If it had taken off properly it couldn’t have lasted very long.

Do you have any favourite songs from these 2 bands?

G: WOT – On The Scene and Sweets (and all the fantastic tunes that Tony Ogden binned), EB – Navyhead, Motorola and Larky (our final single)

What have you been doing since being the leaving these bands and now?

G: I performed with The Pre New but didn’t have much to do with the writing/recording. When we got Quatermass III together it was the first time I’d picked up a guitar in over 20 years.

How did Q3 form?

N: We’ve been friends a long time. Gordon and Andy had been plotting a musical collaboration for a while and then spotted me singing at my wife’s 50th.

A: It was a pub conversation that got out of hand very quickly.

Who are the bands current influences?

N: The Fall, Glitter Band, Slade, Suicide, Darts, Psychic TV, Radiophonic Orchestra, Roxy Music, Northern Soul, Hawkwind, Motorik, Cold War Steve and Monty Python.

G: In addition to the above Andy and I are very influenced by early Genesis but I know we’re alone in that respect!

A: Shhhh!

How do the songs come to fruition? Does 1 person in the band have an ideal for a song and then you all jam it out in the studio?

N: Gordon and Andy normally have a riff or a melody that they build in the studio (Andy’s garage) whilst I hunker in the corner writing words on a big pad. I believe in that David Lynch thing that ideas are swimming about like fish and you just pluck them out of the air. Most of the tracks were composed and written in a single (often drunken) night. Ben then mixes the scores of tracks into a semblance of order but brings lots of fresh ideas. Then we refine the minutiae of each track for way too long. Now and again someone might bring an idea and the music follows, for example, Room At The Top is based on a short story by JG Ballard about overpopulation. We have also recorded a couple of extremely obscure covers.

How has the process been with making your first 2 tracks that now appear as a download?

N: Found Footage is an interesting journey where Andy & Gordon had created a wonderful musical track and I was stuck on the lyric. We often use Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies cards in these situations and the card I drew was: “Don’t be frightened of cliches”  The song kind of wrote itself from that point on. Like a Ouija Board.

G: As Neil’s alluded to above, I don’t think we can underestimate the role alcohol has played in the creation of the Quatermass III canon. For any young musician’s reading I can’t stress how helpful it can be when writing. It has a wonderful creative arc that mirrors a good night out, you lose your nerves, your inhibitions, become a bit aggressive a bit wild, then tire and fall asleep. Fortunately the band are all very similar drunks so there is no fighting or womanising to mar the process.

Do you have an album in the making?

N: It’s done. We are just waiting for the best opportunity and medium to release it.

What can fans expect with the new album? I’m talking the sound and style of the songs?

N: It is like Anthony Newley mixed with Rocket Robin Hood.

You have a debut live gig imminently on the horizon at the Con Club in Lewes on 2 April 2022 with Pete Wiggs from Saint Etienne providing a DJ set. What can fans expect in the set and on stage on the night?

N: If Gordon had his way we would be re-creating the World of Twist papier-mâché erupting volcano but we will build to those heights. There will be costume changes, clog dancing, possibly the release of some form of caged mammal and big, bruising beats. Originally it was just the three of us but now we have Ben on bass and Richie on drums which has added an extra dimension to the original songs. Pete Wiggs is a good friend of the band and will whip the crowd into a frenzy before we land on stage.

G: As Neil says we are now a five piece so we’ll be rocking out a bit more than on the recordings. I hope we can inject a bit of theatre into the presentation, I might have a shave!

Do you have further live dates including festival dates in the offering?

N: Always looking to orbit some fresh territory…

Are you working on any more material for future releases?

N: We have 23 tracks in the bag so will look to develop some of those but have loads of new ideas. I have been writing a song about trepanation.

Gordon has a book coming out very soon which explores his time in World Of Twist entitled When Does The Mindbending Start published via Nine Eight Books. What can readers expect with the imminent release?

G: The book is a sort of cautionary tale for young musicians with very fragile id’s who have some cockamamie idea that being in a rock band might be a fun way to make a living.

N: Pages and pages of libellous, unmitigated filth delivered with a downbeat, sardonic sense of humour. And a dash of olde English charm.

Finally, whats on your turntable at present?

N: Always The Fall. This week I have been mostly listening to Pye Corner Audio. Cymande. John Fahey and Stars Of The Lid.

G: During the working hours I like to listen to Edmund Rubbra or Vaughan Williams. Once I’ve downed tools I roll back the carpet and wig out to some early Genesis.

A: I’m working on a lovely vase.

All links to Q3 social media accounts and links how to buy tickets for this live shows is here