Sunday, September 9, 2007

Coventry's Got Talent: The Ripps Interview


Here is the full interview with The Ripps, taken from "Feel Alive" Magazine (produced by CV One).



UP AND COMING COVENTRY TALENT THE RIPPS ARE A THREE PIECE BAND WHO DESCRIBE THEIR MUSIC AS ALCOPOPALTPIC, CHIPTASTIC AND TOSTADORA! THIS FUN AND ENERGETIC BAND ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH AND ARE EMERGING AS ONE OF COVENTRY'S HOTTEST NEW BANDS TO WATCH. WE CAUGHT UP WITH PATCH FROM THE BAND :




  • You've been touted by NME's Radar Special as one of the bands to watch this year. Tell us about your amazing year?

Where do we start? We've been touring the UK for most of the year (it feels like forever!) and it's been so much fun. The highlights been our Glastonbury show and our hometown shows. Obviously Godiva will top them! Our debut album "Long Live The Ripps" came out earlier in the year and it was a truly overwhelming experience seeing it in the shops. The past year has been very surreal. It feels like we've lived so much in a very short space of time.



  • How does it feel to be playing at the Godiva Festival in front of your home crowd?

We've lived here all our lives and growing up in Coventry it was THE event of the summer. We've been to the festival loads of times and seen many inspiring acts there so feel extremely privileged to be playing. Our hometown crowd always make our gigs special so we can't wait. We've got a few days off around the festival so we'll be hanging out maybe watching the skate comp and enjoying a few drinks.



  • Who are you looking forward to seeing at the Godiva Festival?

We've been lifelong Super Furry Animals fans so we're looking forward to them. We've played with The Noisettes a few times and they're really cool. Be good catching up. The bill is really strong so it should be great. We are intrigued that The Silent League are playing. That will be hilarious.



  • Have you ever been to the Godiva Festival before?

Loads and loads of times.



  • How has living and growing up in Coventry inspired your songs?

Our album has been shaped by our experience here. We've even got a song called the "Cov Song" with references to the Lower Precinct and The Burges. We're 100% Coventarian so we write about what we know; Far Gosford Street, The Colly, that sort of thing. Cov might not be pretty but the people here are and it's getting better.



  • So the Ripps - where did the name come from?

We were brainstorming names and it was the one that sounded most like punk bands from the late 70's like The Clash, Buzzcocks, Rezillos which we're all into. The two p's is purely an aesthetic thing R.I.P is kinda negative and we're a mostly happy bunch.



  • How did it all start for you guys?

We were in other bands from Cov and we wanted a change. When we started we rehearsed for a year before playing a gig. We've always been committed. We got a manager after our first gig then slogged it playing up and down the country and playing many a time at The Colly. Eventually we got a deal. The usual story really.



  • Describe your style of music?

Spanglish, kick-ass, ska tinged, mostly tongue in cheek, punk, power pop.



  • Who would you compare yourself to?

Our first album is kinda like The Buzzcocks, Ramones, Rezillos, Cardiacs, These Animal Men, Supergrass, Blur or that's what we've been told. Hard question. Some of these songs have been around for a couple of years so they don't feel like they represent us where we are now, although we do like them. Our new stuff is much more Sandinista era Clash and Specials sounding. We're really excited about the new stuff.



  • What would you be doing if you weren't in The Ripps?

Probably struggling in other bands or maybe at university.



  • If you could form a Super Group who would be in it?

Great question!


John Lydon from The Sex Pistols or Jello Biafra from The Dead Kennedys fronting it. On guitar Kirk Hammet from Metallica or Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead. Drums - Matt Cameron originally from Sound Garden, Keith Moon or Mithc Mitchell. Bass - Paul Simonon from The Clash or maybe even Sting. Ha!



  • If you could sum up Coventry in three words what would they be?

City Of Dreams.



  • Who or what are your inspirations?

Loads of stuff. Lyrically Billy Bragg, Joe Strummer, Victor Jara. We've got so many influences. Salvador Allende is a massive inspiration. From Cov Steve Ogrizovic, Clive Owen. Any of the 1987 squad are inspiring.



  • Have you heard any mistruths about yourselves in the media? If so what has been the best lie you've heard?

A funny one is that me and my brother Raul were born in Chile. Our parents are from Chile but we're from here. Another good one is that I'm a smack addict. In an interview Rachel told them that and so it was printed. She was getting her own back for all the lies I tell about her.



  • Do you have partners? And if so how are they coping with your rise to stardom?

We're all in relationships. It's difficult when we're away but it makes the time you have together more special.



  • Who in the group gets the most attention?

Easily Rachel. People love her smiling and she laps up the attention particularly from the males.



  • Any weird fans or have you been sent any strange fan letters/objects?

Ha Ha! We love all our fans and don't consider any weird :)


The best things we've received are playing cards and someone even bought us samosas. He's a legend.



  • Have you ever been star struck and if so by whom?

We recently met Terry Hall and nearly died. He was very humble and down to earth. We nearly wet our pants though!



  • Any celebrity crushes?

Rachel - Jeremy Paxman.


The Ripps are currently working hard in the studio and their current album "Long Live The Ripps" and other merchandise can be purchased from Coventry's Urban Village (above Kong), in The Burgess.


*Interview taken from "Feel Alive" Magazine, produced by CV One and typed up by robmacca.

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