Mark’s guide to music

TOTP caught up with Mark from Ash only to discover what a cynical head he has on his young shoulders. And that he enjoys a sly perv on Hilary Duff as well. So, after a bit of prompting, here’s Master Music Mogul Mark’s guide to perfect pop…

TOTP: So, who’s ringing your pop bells at the moment?

Mark: Oh, I think Eamon is great. I suppose initially it probably was a bit of a gimmick, what with all the swear words and that, but it’s better than the slushy lyrics of most pop bands. It’s a lot more real and more like what people would actually think if they were in that situation.

TOTP: Do you think it will open the floodgates as far as swearing in songs is concerned?

Mark: Er, words are just words. I think it’s stupid that radio stations have to censor stuff – they should just get with the times.

TOTP: So should we expect to see some crazy rude Ash song titles on the horizon?

Mark: We’ve almost had an extreme song – it was one of the first ones we ever recorded actually. In fact, I don’t know if you’ll be able to print this – it was called (Ed; er, no we cannot print that, in fact we had trouble even spelling it). But when we signed the contract, because Tim was underage his dad had to sign on his behalf, and because he didn’t like the song, he made part of the condition of him signing the contract that we wouldn’t record this song. We did anyway mind, we just covered up the vocals with distortion, In fact, it went out as the B-side to “Kung Fu”.

TOTP: So, who else are you liking in the charts at the moment?

Mark: Erm, I don’t really listen to the charts… Oh yeah, I love the D12 song – it’s great – really catchy. And the video is particularly brilliant. It’s great that they can take the mick out of themselves. It’s a brilliant way to get round that whole thing – they’re really tackling it head on.

TOTP: What about McFly?

Mark: Oh, the Busted juniors? It’s strange because of the whole death of the boy band as such – especially with Pop Idol killing off the traditional boy band format – just look at One True Voice. Record companies are no longer pumping money into that kind of thing now, but they are trying to find a new face for it, so I guess that Busted and McFly are the new faces of boy bands.

TOTP: What do you make of the whole surf guitar revival?

Mark: I suppose it’s good cos it’s one way of getting kids to listen to guitar music. And, if these kids do start to listen around then they might to start to get into more serious guitar music. Personally, it’s not really my scene, in fact, I don’t want to say too much there…

TOTP: What about Westlife? Reckon it’s time for them to pick up some guitars?

Mark: I saw an interview about a year ago that made me laugh. One of them was saying that he’s going to start a metal band after Westlife finish. I’d love to see that. We had a sort of feud with them over the last album, but it’s a tongue in cheek kinda thing. We haven’t really got a problem with them – it’s their manager Louis Walsh. He’s just an out-and-out business man and with him, it’s not at all about the music it’s about the money. He’s a two-faced backstabber – did you see him admit that on that boy band program? He blatantly admitted that he was plotting behind the scenes with Ronan planning his solo career and doing the Judas on Boyzone. He’s just a ruthless, ruthless business man.

TOTP: Erm, OK, don’t hold back! Anyway, we heard that Colin Farrell auditioned for Boyzone – do you think it would have been better with him in the band?

Mark: A boy band made up with a bunch of Colin Farrells would be proper. They would just go out and reap destruction. You’ve always had wild boy bands, like East 17 and even Five I suppose, but a band of just Colin Farrells? That would be amazing.

TOTP: So to say you’re not a fan of Louis Walsh is a bit of an understatement. Does it really annoy you that he’s so successful with bands like Girls Aloud?

Mark: Well Girls Aloud are really successful, but I just think that’s cos half the country fancies them. Although, they do have some catchy songs. I suppose you have to give him some sort of credit. I have no problems saying he’s done some good things, it’s just that he’s done come terrible things as well.

TOTP: So, Eurovision’s coming up – how do you rate Ireland’s chances?

Mark: I never watch it.

TOTP: Yeah, yeah, not even with the family?

Mark: Nah, I’m never home enough, and, if I was home, I’d be in a bar, I wouldn’t be watching Eurovision! I think it’s the kinda of thing you watch when you’re young. Although, I guess there’ll be a lot of political voting this year – lot’s of anti-UK sentiment, what with the current world situation.

TOTP: So, what bands would like to see more of in the charts?

Mark: We’ve been friends with Snow Patrol for a long time, and they’ve supported us, and it’s great that this year is good for them. They’re from back home as well, and they’ve been around for a long time and have worked really hard so they really deserve to be successful and it’s great to see them charting high. It’s great when as well as all the bad stuff in the charts there are exceptions to it – people who really deserve it.

TOTP: So, where do you stand on the Snow Patrol/Coldplay debate?

Mark: I don’t really see the Coldplay/Snow Patrol connection that much – if you listen to their albums they are completely different bands. It’s just that one song had similar guitar strumming although it sounded nothing like Coldplay. It’s a very easy way for people to pigeonhole bands and say ‘Here’s the next Coldplay’ just because a song is a slow mid-tempo – the guy’s voice is completely different to Chris’.

TOTP: Any other bands you’re really looking forward to seeing this year?

Mark: Well it’s gonna be great seeing what happens when the Pixies reform this year. We’ve gotta quite a few shows booked with them, so it’s going to be a bit of a dream come true playing with them. I’m sure we’ll be star struck for a while, but after a few shows we’ll probably get up the courage to go and have a few drinks with them. It’ll be really interesting seeing if they record any new material though or if it’s just going to be a way of making a bit of money. Hopefully they’ll play a lot of the old stuff, and fingers crossed, if they do any stuff that it’s good.

TOTP: What do you make of the new wave of indie bands?

Mark: Well we met Franz Ferdinand this week at CD:UK and they were really down to earth really nice guys. They are doing almost disco in their music.

TOTP: Is it weird when you appear on pop shows like CD:UK?

Mark: It’s all about having a laugh on those shows. It’s kinda funny y’know. It’s good fun. When Cat Deeley interviewed Tim she said afterwards how nice it was to interview a proper artist who knows what they are talking about. Cos most of them are just nodding dogs or have to be briefed beforehand on what to say.

TOTP: Are there any records that you own that you hide when people come round?

Mark: I suppose cos we’re on the same label as Holly Valance and er, what do you call her, Hilary Duff that when I go round the CD shelves I grab them cos I grab everything. I just get those for the bonus DVD stuff, if you know what I mean. After you’ve had a couple of looks at the DVD stuff though that’s it. It’s not stuff that you’d be proud to own.