Pete Boyd and Gary Bridgewood come together to create Book of Shame, drawing influence from the enigmatic nature of musicians like David Bowie and Talking Heads and mixes their artistic nature with an unapologetic fringe-punk sound. Playing a variety of cool instruments, this new group is sure to surprise you with every new track. They have just released their debut self-titled album recorded at the Gun Factory and produced by Rico Conning.
Was there something (an experience) or someone in your life that was the “catalyst” for you to start writing music? Tell us about it.
Gary started with a Grundig reel to reel tape machine looped together with a TDK, yards of tape stretching around his bedroom, jamming and adding others recordings, multi-layering. Later he would cut up the pieces and randomly splice the pieces back together creating weird and often surprising song results.
As a filmmaker I have always been interested in new ways to tell stories visually. When I started jamming in the studio I enjoyed writing stories, for me the songs are like short films, full of conflict, colour and drama. The difference between filmmaking and songwriting is I think is an immediate gratification, unlike the film process which takes time to bear fruit if at all.
Let’s get this out of the way. What is the CRAZIEST thing that has ever happened to you in your music career?
Meeting legend Lemmy when playing a gig at Dingwalls in Camden Lock, inspirational performer. Having beer crates thrown at the band and being spat at when supporting the Heavy Metal Kids.
What has been the high point of your music path?
Meeting Rico Conning who produced and mixed bands like Wire, Depeche Mode, Swans, who fell in love with our music and offered to produce our album. We finished mixing our album then Peter remembered an old buddy, Fergus Gerrand (Madonna, Bryan Adams, Sting, Peter Gabriel), who he met while filming with William Orbit. Fergus heard our album, he was impressed and offered to record the entire album,
So, how do you approach songwriting or what is your creative process like?
It varies, Gary plays and records almost every day, a lot of our ideas come from this, for compatibility Gary played the more or less finished track without words to Pete in the car, we got back in the studio and pressed record, Pete improvised the words – and that became the basis of the song.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing Indie Artists today? Or, if you could ask the music industry to change one thing, what would it be?
Indie artists now must engage in all areas of the business end of music e.g promotion, social media etc. The biggest pitfall is not being consumed by this and managing your creativity. One thing we’d say to a record company is you’re done, you’re dead and you’re starting to smell bad.
If you could share the stage with one other artist or band, who would it be and why?
Sharing the stage with any of the artists who played the Isle of White festival in 1970, Hendrix, Procal Harem, Miles Davis, The Doors – to share the chaos and the Glory
What are your rehearsals generally like? Or, how do you prepare for a live show?
We’re currently in rehearsals for live shows
Pick one song that was your greatest challenge to write. Tell us about it!
Damned, its got a gospel choir, which we recorded in Gary’s kitchen, we hadn’t predicted how many singers would come, it was a tight squeeze but the end result is great.
What’s coming up in the future?
Our next release and video plus live shows to be announced.
Tell us where fans can access your music?
Website
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