Interview with DIABLO

ukevents · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 1941

DIABLO are a four piece rock band based in the North-East.

How have you developed as a band since you got together in 2005?
DAVY The lads and myself have all improved as musicians and performers. Getting better and better each gig as far as I'm concerned. Proud of them all!

STEVE We’re both tighter and more relaxed in our playing, we know each others individual styles and how we can best bring those together into DIABLO songs.

PAUL I think as a band, you try not to stop developing, with DIABLO the development doesn't stop .......... ever.

DAVE Well, before DIABLO took a gig, we spent 8 months rehearsing which made us tight as a unit. We got to know each well this way. We hadn't played with each other in bands before, even though I'm Davy's Dad! He'd played in a couple line-ups whilst I'd played all over the North East for centuries! It was eerie at first, getting used to playing alongside one another. We argued like any musicians with individual ideas, but three years down the line we exercise the give and take you'd expect, and it works out well but it's clear he's the boss! Steve proved a great lad and fantastic bass player, he fitted in straightaway. He's a dab hand at a PC and designed both album covers. Original guitarist Anth, worked with Davy and they got on well in DIABLO but work commitments meant he had to leave in 2007 - could have been a disaster for a band getting established. We consider ourselves fortunate to have found Paul, who slotted in without any hassle and added his own individual sound.

Thankfully he shared the same sense of humour as us!! We decided early on, two major things when attacking the north east music scene. Firstly, not to buy a PA but to find a sound engineer instead. We found a lovely fella called Kevin McBride who ran his own PA business and he's been with us since day one. He does a fantastic job for DIABLO.

Secondly, we wanted to maximise the gigs - not for us playing once in a blue moon; to three people; for £6 between us - so we mixed cover material AND our originals from the off. We knew we'd primarily be playing the North East's busy pub rock scene - and trust me - you have to be good! Fantastic audiences, but they know what they like. This worked out magically and we now play gigs as an all originals band or where it's not feasible, we do some covers but maximise on originals. This goes down really well, we sell albums every gig and everybody's happy.

Obviously we are keen to do more venues which allow all self-composed material and that's slowly starting to happen.

You’re known for your live shows-what do you enjoy most about playing live?

DAVY Everything, the songs, me making a tool of myself, the connection we have with the audience and the attention of course! Absolutely love gigging, just a shame it can't be my full time job.

STEVE We get off when our audience gets off! Their feedback is so important and it’s fantastic to see them having a good time and meeting them, and talking to them afterwards makes it seem like they’re part of the Diablo family

PAUL Where do I start? The thrill of performing, feedback from fans,watching people enjoying whatever we're playing & knowing just about every person in the room would love love to swap places with us........

DAVE Everything's fun - even humping of gear, the occasional duff venue, travelling, the awkward customer - it all goes with the territory. But the best feeling in the world is to see the reaction we get playing live. We have a large following from all over the North East and we genuinely appreciate people taking time out to come and see us, time after time, on each occasion bringing new friends and buying our albums. We know them all as mates after they've attended twenty or more gigs!

Do you have any gigs coming up?
DAVY Oh yes!! Take a look at our website!

STEVE Always!! See <http://diablonortheast.tripod.com/diablo_gigs.htm> for our giglist. Usually 2-3 each week.

PAUL all the time ...... we are DIABLO ....

DAVE I did 125 dates last year and we expect to do more this year. We've been asked to open the music room of a pub called Gosforth Hotel on the outskirts of Newcastle where they've never had live music for nearly 30 years - the last guys who played there were Sting (pre-Police); Mark Knopfler (pre Dire Straits) and Lindisfarne. We headline the Allendale Fair in May and another new independent fund raiser for animal welfare called Ramshaw Rocks Festival also in May. We have a radio ppearance coming up to promote Davy's solo album and an all day event in Durham which is fun. We've tended to play near home but are perfectly keen to play further south - hint, hint! We play Teeside and Cleveland reas later in the year, among 45 new venues for us in 2008.

What’s the most interesting venue you’ve played in?

DAVY Well interesting is one word you could say for it!! A pub in Sunderland had it all! Water was undrinkable from the tap; a biker coming through the stage as we played; guys stripping off naked; girls fighting; people hanging off our lights equipment and some jealous boyfriends starting on me at the end of the night! Thank God Paul was foaming and looked like the incredible hulk or I would have been flattened. I can't wait to play there again!?!

STEVE Stormin’ the Castle (annual biker rally) – huge marquee which attracts about 6000 people…or my sisters living room for her birthday…or the Geordie Hog, the only other bikers rally we’ve played - soooo much smoke from their fog machines we couldn’t see the audience at all, then two huge guys in full wolf-men costumes on 6ft stilts loomed out of the gloom towards us. We certainly left our mark on that stage… and our undercrackers.

PAUL "Stormin'" ......... the feedback we received from the sound engineer of the whole event was enough. ..... I think it went something like this "best band of the night mate".

DAVE I remember The Sun Pub in Sunniside - 5 miles out of Gateshead on Bank Holiday Monday 2005. It was our very first gig and were we looking forward to it! Half the band had just got back from watching the Leeds Festival that weekend and appeared to have brought back half of Leeds! The Sun was crammed shoulder to shoulder like a mini festival on its own, and the reaction to
DIABLO was overwhelming. Never known a debut gig like it. Do you know, they had to telephone for emergency staff to come in; ran out of beer at 9.30 and had to borrow some from pubs up the road!

Diablo’s latest studio venture is Davy’s solo album “Quietly In The Background”. Davy, did you find it strange recording an album without the rest of the band?
DAVY It was weird definitely since I had to play majority of instruments myself but the lads were happy to come in and help me if I struggled and they did. It has more of my inspirations on this one as it is only me. Main one being "Last Of The Mohicans" soundtrack with other great singers of mine going solo like Kelly Jones and Chris Cornell. There is still some Muse, Greenday, Ventures, Johnny Cash and China Drum hoyed in there for good measure!

STEVE What!?!! He’s gone off and done a solo album??!? Why I oughta… Hehehe!! Actually we’re there on a track or two if you listen for us.

PAUL Davy just couldn't be quietly in the background & nor could the rest of us ..... we're all in there somewhere .. after all we are a team .......... we are DIABLO.

DAVE He was a pain in the arse!!

How would you describe “Quietly In The Background?”

DAVY Great! I was very happy the way the songs progressed the more we worked on them. I think it would sound out of this world if we had the proper backing - I really do! Maybe one day if the likes of you guys keep on helping to promote us - Thanks for this by the way.

STEVE Round, silver and fantastic. Like all the best albums it’s a grower every time I listen to it, even the tracks I’m not on(!) It’s different to the songs he writes for Diablo which shows his writing versatility, the talented bugger.

PAUL Top drawer - nuff said.

DAVE Although it is still rocky, it succeeded in achieving a different side of Davy's songwriting - slightly mellow and not as outright rock as "Violet Scent Of Rose" but carefully crafted - I know how much effort he put into it. I agree with Steve, it's a grower - you have to listen to it a few times and not think about the DIABLO album. We're doing songs from both albums now at our live shows.

How have things changed for the band since the release of your debut album “Violet Scent of Rose”?

DAVY We have a lot of people coming up to us saying how great the album is and asking if we can sign it! Although it's a small measure of fame, I never ever get tired of signing and talking to everyone who comes to see us. And that's what makes us have an edge on all the other bands. We know the name of everyone who comes to see us more then once! Sad I guess! So thank you to ..... erm ... I better not I don't know how many characters and email that Hotmail can hold!!

STEVE From the extra sales we can afford soap and underwear. Each. No more sharing the same pair sullied at the Geordie Hog Bikers Rally…

PAUL There's no ego in DIABLO - it's a huge step in the right direction.

DAVE We always did six or so originals from the beginning, but I'm not sure they got the acclaim we felt they should. Don't get me wrong, they always went down well, but since the album, we've noticed people come to see us for that side of DIABLO rather than the covers we used to do. And it has opened doors for us on the originals 'scene' - not often, and not enough - but we're on our way.

You hail from the North-East. How would you rate the North-East music scene at the moment?

DAVY One of the best. I don't think anyone looks up here for unsigned bands and there are some fantastic ones around. I find it so hard after nearly 200 gigs and we still haven't had any offers yet. Just keep on gigging as they say! The punters who enjoy their music are those of the older generation. We do have the rare youngsters who enjoy it but the only way we will get their attention is if we play at venues the Carling Academy or universities. It's quite surprising as we play all today's stuff!

STEVE The talent’s up here for sure, but there aren’t enough venues for original bands and trying to get audiences out of their nightclubs and theme pubs and into live music venues is an uphill struggle. This generation needs a kick up the ‘arris or else all music will be corporate production line crap.

PAUL doesn't get any better anywhere else..........

DAVE Just the best place to play! I was talking to a guitarist pal from Devon and he was telling me venues are poorly supported and pay £100 max for a five piece band! Pubs up here pay realistic fees - they can't pay a fortune 'cos they don't charge to get in - but they just love live bands. And, do you know, there are stax of superb semi-pro bands playing around the pubs and clubs with musicianship far in excess of what they need. And, there is absolutely no rivalry or competition between the bands. We all go to see each other on nights off; sit in with one another when possible and support the local music scene at every opportunity. We have several fabulous websites dedicated to live music in the North East. Yes, venues struggle economically and several have bitten the dust in recent weeks which is sad, but the well established local circuit - pubs, universities, academies and festivals up here have never been stronger. Just fab - you've heard the football expression "Proud To Be A Geordie"? Well, I am.

How important is the support you receive from radio stations?

DAVY Crucial. The only one who has given us the time of day is Alan Robson from NightOwls. We have been on the show three times and I'm going on a fourth to promote my solo album. He is great and although it is for a short period of time he at least acknowledges us and does plug us on his station so thank y you Alan.

STEVE Immensely important, we’ve had fantastic support from Metro Radio in particular and where else can you reach an audience who’s only control over what they listen to is the on-off button. Downloading and MySpace etc are great but you’re relying on people seeking out “your” music in particular before it will spread. Radio simply delivers so radio play and plugs are still a great resource and not to be underestimated even in the light of modern funky technology. Now if we could only auto-download into people's iPods!!

PAUL crucial...........that's where people will hear us then come see for themselves....

DAVE It's absolutely vital for us nationally, but oh dear ....... I have to say, having espoused the great local music circuit two minutes ago, that the radio stations in the North East are dire, almost totally disinterested in promoting local bands. They are all Top 40 whose main aim is to encouraging advertising sponsorship. Just dreadful. The only guy who has helped DIABLO (and others), is Alan Robson on his Metro Radio "Night Owls" show - a midnight to 2.00 am phone-in show. Bless him, he played both Diablo's albums and we've played live on his shows several times. Other than that? d**k! Very disappointed also, that the major venues choose out of town support acts for the bigger names, what's wrong with supporting your own? I guess I'm a bit parochial but it seems logical to me to give your own a chance, not just DIABLO but there are lots of local bands trying to get there music out there in front of big crowds.

Do you have a message for your fans?

DAVY Try not to set yourselves on fire and stop playing with our tigers after the gig, they see you as food not their Mammy. Honestly what are you lot like! Still love you though!

STEVE It might be obvious and clichéd but it’s also heartfelt – Thank You! Your support is truly appreciated. If you weren’t there, what would we do? You keep coming, keep dancing, we’ll keep delivering

PAUL Our fans mean everything to DIABLO ...... without them there really is no point ... we'd be playing with ourselves in the bedroom ........... Bad choice of words I know.........or is it ???

DAVE Yes. How lucky are we? To have so many great people who follow us around and come to see us literally dozens of times in the year is unquestionably the best feeling. Thank you so much - and for the great comments on the albums too. It's a joy for us to see everyone every single

Interviewed by Autumn for UKEvents.net