Vatican Shotgun Scare; Paul Heaney, Fiona Watt, Andrew Smith, Robin Woods and Yazz (not of the plastic population), were part and parcel of the Scottish independant music scene of the late 80 – early 90′, supporting the likes of Factory Records The Wendys. Fast forward 30 odd years the band have issued their material digitally. Gigslutz reached out to Robin Woods to talk about the band and get the low down on the reissue.

Hi Robin, how are you?

I am fine, still in a band called Carbona Not Glue but I seem to have my head on producing these days. Carbona Not Glue are the world’s longest running tribute band for the RAMONES, and I hate tribute bands.
We ‘ve been together for 30 years. we see it as therapy, more like psychotherapy. I record and produce in my home studio and a have a few projects on the go.

Can you tell us a bit about your upbringing?

I was born in Blyth , Northumberland , went to University in Edinburgh and stayed. either for girlfriends. jobs or bands. Upbringing was tough as Mam died at age 10, my Dad and brothers did brilliantly.

What was the first music you can remember hearing?

Good question I always thought it was two Little Boys by Rolf Harris, but now I believe it is I’m a Tiger by Lulu, which is way cooler.

What was the first serious music you got into?

First bands I liked were Sweet, I thought they were great, so cool. Used to draw pictures of them at first school. I liked most of the Glam bands, Mud, Slade etc.. even Gary Glitter – if that’s allowed.

Who inspired you to play the guitar?

To be honest initially just making a noise! Literally being in the garage at my dads in Seaton Sluice pretending I was in the early Banshees, making things up. Later
the Ramones, for the sheer buzz of the songs. Their first album had the guitar fully panned so you could paly along with them.

Did writing music come naturally to you?

No, I would I say I was always a riff maker, not a song writer, girlfriends and wives (not at the same time) were the ones that made my noises into songs. Although I did write some early VSS lyrics.

Were you in any bands prior to Vatican Shotgun Scare?

Nope, VSS were my first proper band, a band that had a name.

How did Vatican Shotgun Scare form?

VSS from in 1987, just me and Paul Heaney, we were part of the Edinburgh Musicians Collective (Dog faced Hermans were part of it), we found a drummer from my university by putting a picture of a drum kit on the noticeboard with the Andy written on it. I had met him at a party and he said he could drum. It was the only way of contacting him. We were going for a year without a singer, basically just making a noise, then the Edinburgh Musicians Collective said ok, you guys are supporting the Thanes next month. So it was fuck! We have to get a singer. We roped in a guy called Alastair Ross who basically just shouted. (Later I found out he was younger brother of Malcolm Ross from Josef K, when you are young you don’t realise that connections are what you need.) Anyway we sacked him, we wanted a girl, got an opera singer called Pippa, she had a great voice but you had to tell her what to sing. I did not get along with her, so we sacked her. That’s where where Fiona, my girlfriend asked to be in the band. she was very talented and could make up melodies. She had a famous Dad who was a folk singer, so music ran in her family.

Who wrote the music for the bands material?

The music was written from jammed riffs with Fiona making things up. Poundstretcher was such a song, we tried to do that song again supporting The Wendys in Glasgow , it was a mess, glad we recorded it when we did, it is 100% improvised. Hence no proper lyrics, just phonetics. It was number one in the Scottish Demo Disco for 10 weeks, haha.

Who were the bands musical influences?

A mix of influences, Paul (Bass player) had introduced me to the Fall, – I loved early Siouxsie and the Banshees. I loved the Dog Face Hermans, Hook n Pull Gang. I think the others loved REM, Pixies, Sugarcubes, To be honest when you are in throes of being in a band and being creative you tend not to listen to other music, just your own.

Where did the band play gigs mostly?

We played mostly in Scotland, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Aberdeen, Inverness. We did have wee ventures to London , we played an IRA pub where, if the light on the ceiling went on for 20 seconds the back line got cut. , We played Bradford a lot and also Hull. (I think we had to sleep on the stage in Hull)

You supported the likes of The Wendy’s, did you support any other well known bands?

We played with the Macc Lads, did not know why. we got spat at loads, luckily I was behind a bouncer so I avoided it. We played with the UK Subs in Edinburgh, Charlie Harper was very nice to us.
We also played our last gig with Chelsea.

What’s your favourite gig the band ever played?

My favourite gig was playing St Andrews University, the student rep took us to the student off licence and said take what you want. The gig was very good, I was playing slide guitar with a pint glass , it broke and blood was everywhere. Very rock and roll and pre aids. Loads of students jumping all over me.

Did the band try to get signed to a record label at any point?

We did, got lots of weird offers where you had to front some money, we always refused, lots of compilations, etc…

When did the band decide to call it a day?

Just before the Chelsea gig, we kind of all hated each other , we were very angsty. Me and Fiona had split be then so we did not speak but wrote songs together, we have some really good tunes that will appear on Volume 2. Weird writing songs up until the end.

Fast forward to 2025 and you’ve released a new digital album Greatest Hits Volume 1. What influenced this release?

I had all the recordings on six track cassette, I re mastered and re mixed them, I thought they deserve to be out there. But I did notice someone else was releasing VSS stuff which I though was weird. So this is official, even though i have not told Fiona, she thinks I don’t exist. There is absolutely no grudge from me, she is very talented.

How do you think the band sounds now 30 odd years after you recorded the material?

I think they stand up well, we were doing noisy stuff when Scotland was jangly and boring

Do you have plans to release any more music?

I am in a band with my wife , called SALT, we are on a hiatus due to her having heart surgery. We are are excellent, had two vinyl albums out on HX records, and a one to follow digitally. check SALT out here. https://salt.sunnyleith.co.uk/

What about a reunion gig?

For VSS I would love to, I would have to re exist to Fiona , I always talked to the Edinburgh Musicians Collective bands today I am still in contact with – thinking about McFestival with The Wendys , Cringe, etc… we used to do tapes called McTape, so there is a pattern there. Funnily enough for my 60th , I did do a reunion of VSS with me as the only original member, to do I am on a Wire, it was totally cool, I got Rita and Eileen from Hook n Pull gang to guest, they were the coolest band ever in late 80s. Here is it on YouTube. https://youtu.be/DoWjugqmJPE?si=OkgdgSzNBwCnM4T5 Total buzz doing that again after 35 years. I totally honoured to have them do that for me.

Are you still writing music?

Yes, but mostly producing – I still like to make a noise. working on a collaboration with Rita from Hook n Pull Gang.

Finally, what’s on your turntable?

My Ramones CD, called Local Live – I put together for my RAMONESMANIA event on May 30th (first ten people get a CD) – Its Carbona Not Glue version of Loco live but called Local Live , but on other real bands i would say Stateless by Lene Lovich. A brilliant album, I saw last month, she is still brilliant.