Ash are going back to there roots this week with a tiny club tour, and tickets will be like gold dust. Drummer Rick McMurray is confident though, that the band’s usual array of stalkers will be there for them once more…
You’ve chosen an interesting route back into the limelight?
Yeah, we’re going back to the bars, playing a load of small venues. We’re itching to get back on the road.
Do you have any surprises in store?
We’re going to play our albums back to back. Its exhausting, but back in the States they’ve got gigging down to an art, coz they spend so much time on the road. That’s rubbed off on us. They seem to like us over there.
No unpleasant experiences to speak of?
We had a stalker turn up at the studio at the crack of dawn. We asked her what she was doing, and she was like “I’m here to stalk you” then she kept turning up for about 6 months just to say “hi”. Then we didn’t see her for a while. We’ve had some Japanese fans who’d turn up at random shows in the US and Europe, but they’re really honest and sweet about it. I figure if they don’t turn up with a big iron pot to boil your bits in then you can’t argue with it.
Who would you stalk?
Most of the people id stalk are dead, like John Bonham. I’m not sure I’d want to go beyond the grave for advice, and short of that there’s not much point.
Too easy a target?
Yeah no trill of the hunt.
Do you suffer from stage-fright?
When we first started, but these days not as much. You get more worried about playing a good show than just getting up onstage.
Does imagining the crowd naked work?
The real question is if you’d like to see them naked. What if they’re all a bunch of builders?
What was touring the States like?
Hanging out with Dave Grohl and the Foos was pretty amazing. Dave was in the studio with us, so that was a high point.
Is it true that he wears dentures?
Yeah big donkey dentures. Apparently he doesn’t like being asked about it, so we try to keep it quiet, but it’s hard not to stare when he takes them out for a polish.
Could he drink you under the table?
Yeah coz he drinks Coors Light most of the time. The rest of the Foos are pretty tame but Dave likes his parties.
Would Ash defeat the Foos in a mud-wrestling match?
They’re a pretty health conscious group, so they’d probably have an advantage. but with us being Irish we’re a little crazier, it’d probably be a gentleman’s draw.