Power Steering: `Anglo-Grunge’ Swervedriver Likes Its Melodies Loud

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
February 4, 1994

Making as much noise as Sonic Youth and relying as heavily on guitars as My Bloody Valentine, England’s Swervedriver throws in a touch of reggae that mutates their sound just so.  Sometimes uneven live performers whose songs tend to drone on a la the Grateful Dead, Swervedriver fares much better with  its current CD “Mezcal Head”: strong lyrics and punkish guitars played LOUDLY.

The band from Oxford, England, formed in 1989 and released its critically acclaimed “Raise” in 1991.  Sometimes dubbed “anglo-grunge,” the tag is deceiving.  While  they’re as loud as their American Sup Pop counterparts, Swervedriver places  more emphasis on melody.

Guitarist-vocalist Adam Franklin, guitarist Jimmy Hartridge, bassist Steven George and drummer Jez are this year’s lineup (the rhythm section is new).  Jez took a  break from their New Jersey stop to call the Beat.

I was supposed to interview you a couple months ago when you were touring with the Smashing Pumpkins, but the people in your record company said you guys were in a car accident.  Are you OK?
What?  There was no car accident.  That’s a bunch of bullocks. I did blow my hand out on the tour when we were in Philadelphia, but I’m fine.

You what?
I put my cigarette out in an ashtray that had  gunpowder in it and it blew up.  (Someone backstage had cartridges and emptied a couple  to show what gunpowder looked like.) I went to the hospital and they strapped a stick to my hand so I could play.  We went on and did a slightly shorter set.  And I cried at the end from the pain. Then my mom read about the accident (in the New Musical Express) and was hysterical.

So much for the weirdest thing that happened on the road question . . .
Well, as a result of the accident, I did do some strange things. Like I bought these ridiculous wrap-around sunglasses and ate about $30 worth of food at one meal, which I never do.  The thing is, I don’t remember buying the shades or the meals.

What do you steal when you’re on the road?
Nothing.

Nothing?
Well, I don’t steal towels or anything like that because there’re always more towels at the next hotel we get to.

Who’s the most valuable member of your entourage?
Matty Matt, the guy who sells our T-shirts. He’s a comedian who almost got a TV show in England who wears this beat-up rabbit skin coat that’s two sizes too small for him.

I asked who was the most valuable member, not the smelliest.
Hold on then.  I’m getting to that.  Anyhow, so officially he’s here to sell our goods, but he’s really on the road with us to drink and tell us jokes.  He’s the best.

Do you like touring in the winter?
Some geezer from the Clash said that touring was as close  as there is to being an alien from another planet.  When you step off the bus, you feel like Jabba the Hut or something.  You lose your mind, but that’s part of the fun.  I love touring, but nothing’s been as bad as when I was in Chicago (a couple  of weeks ago) when it was  like 70 degrees below zero with the wind chill factor. I’ve never experienced anything like that.

 What were you doing in Chicago?  You guys didn’t have a show then.
I’ve got some friends there in the Pumpkins.  Well, that’s stretching it a bit.  I get on with Jimmy (Iha) all right.  There’s also a lady I really like who’s in Chicago.

And finally, how much would it take to buy you off from playing music professionally?
Oh, I come cheap.  Probably about $12,000, which is enough to buy a  (used) Jaguar in England.  I’d just piss around in a home studio and work on music for myself.  I’d be fine.