Cast your mind back to 2001 – metal and punk were coming back big style in the guise of bands like Slipknot, Mudvayne, Coal Chamber and, to some extent, Limp Bizkit. The UK scene had to make a move and it arrived in the form of Northampton sludge-core crew Raging Speedhorn. Originally the band called it a day in 2008 but reunited last year for live dates and plans for a fan-funded album.
Speedhorn made their triumphant return this year at Bloodstock-Open-Air. We caught up with bassist Dave Thompson and guitarist Jamie Thompson at the festival to talk pledging for music, the change in the music industry, wasps and bananas.
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How do you think your set went today?
Dave: Amazing. It went really well today. Kind of what we were expecting, but not. We didn’t expect much but got a lot.
Jamie: Speak for yourself!
Dave: (laughs) yeah, he fell over!
What happened? Was there a ‘banana’ incident?
Jamie: They’re just taking the p*ss because I fell over.
Dave: It should of been a banana though, it was one of those comedy moments
Jamie: Like in Mario Kart. Y’know with the banana left behind you?
Unlike other bands you have two vocalists (John Loughlin and Frank Regan) is there any competition between the two or is it even?
Dave: Well the reason we have two is because they run out of breath quite easily, so we figured two singers would help the other catch their breath and get through a whole song without collapsing.
You re-united as a band last year, do you feel this is a new chapter for Raging Speedhorn?
Jamie: Yeah I think so. We’re writing again, we’re going to do a record, we’re going to tour, and going to see what happens.
Dave: Not that it’s not serious but we’re going to have a good time. Before we were making a career of it. Now there’s less pressure. We’re enjoying being a band, make some music, see where it goes. As long as were having a good time and people are into it, that’s what counts.
Originally you were compared to the likes of Slipknot and Mudvayne – has this label stuck or have you moved on?
Jamie: It doesn’t particularly stick but I feel there’s a breath of fresh air to the technical, business minded bands at the moment.
Dave: using today as an example, we’re one of those bands that stick out on a bill like this. Which is not a bad thing. People who haven’t heard of us can check out new music and those who have can enjoy it as well. So it works both ways.
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Check out the rest of the interview in the video below:
Photos by Mark Lloyd.
Keep checking RAMzine.co.uk for more interviews and full coverage of Bloodstock Open Air 2015.
