By Chris Rockson

 

Earholy Catastrophe? 'Fuck me, I gotta go and check this band out'....that was racing through my mind when I stumbled upon them on some web-site a while back. With a name like that, they have to be something different, amazing and ever so creative....well, check out what I found !

I wasn't wrong, [ not that I ever am...LOL ] and fronted by Lady Starduzt herself, SoundCheck's covergirl for January/February issue, she's in top class company there too...we've previously had Bebe Buell, Steve Conte and Pamela Des Barres on our cover, as well as a great many others...

I caught up with the guys over the Internet to bring you something completely different...I hope you like what you see....then go check 'em out for yourselves, and tell 'em we sent you!

Enjoy the Catastrophe !

 

 

SoundCheck : Ok, so tell me a little about how you guys got together....

The band was born in November 2008 when Lady Starduzt wanted to put some music together for a close friend who was terminally ill, himself a talented musician. Unfortunately, he passed away before he could hear them play, but she and the rest of the band were enjoying themselves,  so stuck with it. Lady Starduzt became Madame Catastrophe, and the rest, is history waiting to be written…

 

SoundCheck : You were recently interviewed on the radio in the states, how did that come about?

I owe that one to Angie Bowie. I messaged her on Facebook, and she responded, then Brian Young from Journey Free Classic Rock in Boston, USA, who had interviewed Angie on a previous show, got in touch. He thought as it was David Bowie’s birthday that week, it would be fun to interview Lady Starduzt.

 

SoundCheck : There's an obvious flavour of the 1970's about this band, who were your Influences?

The influence is from some of the bands we cover.  We take our favourite tunes from the 70’s glam and rock era and “Catastrophise” them, as we call it. We like to play hard, as it were. As for the image, I’ve always had my own sparkly style, and the boys wear what I tell ‘em! As far as the sound goes, between us we listen to everything from Alice Cooper to Zabel.

SoundCheck : Where did you find the band name?

It’s from a line in Slade’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Preacher. Founder member Cpt. Carrot and myself, during an early rehearsal when I had a sore throat, I got to Earholy Catastrophe and said “Oh deary me, oh my! (words to that effect, anyway!) That’s us!” The Captain loved it and it stuck. We figured it was either ironic or did exactly what it said on the tin.

 

SoundCheck : Cool, for the benefit of the readers that may not have heard of you yet, in the band Who plays what? I know you have awesome stage names.....

Madame Catastrophe (AKA Lady Starduzt) / vocals

Cpt. Carrot / guitar, vocals

Straight J Hacket / guitar, vocals

Iggy Stropp / bass, vocals

Animal Nitrate / drums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SoundCheck : Besides the radio airtime and interviews with people like us, do you have any gigs lined up?

We’re playing Emmaus Sat 26^th June, Westfest 10 for Great Ormond Street Hospital. There are others to be confirmed, so check in on the band sites for info on upcoming stuff. We’ve also got a single coming out this summer, so we’re quite busy.

SoundCheck : In your live set, is there a mixture of up to date songs, or are you an exclusive 70's outfit?

It’s all 70’s at the moment, but we’ve no plans not to expand if we find something we feel needs to be Catastrophised.

 

SoundCheck : Personal thoughts of current music scene?

The fact that we get to do interviews with lovely people like yourself, and the radio show, tells that there is now a healthy interest in lesser known bands without the backing of  big labels, which is great for guys like us.

 

SoundCheck : Well, it's widely known that SoundCheck has always promoted home-grown, local talent as well as the 'bigger' names and more established acts...we lead where others follow...talkin' of which, Is there a band leader as such?

Straight J Hacket, says. “We discuss it, and Madame then does as she pleases.”

 

SoundCheck : Is it the same when writing own material?

In terms of  writing original songs it is collaborative.

 

SoundCheck : You're based on the South Coast of the UK right? Favourite venue?

Concorde II in Brighton.

 

SoundCheck : Why?

When you step out for a cigarette you are on the beach, and it’s only five minutes from the nudist beach and ASDA. [Walmart, for our American readers..]

 

SoundCheck : Nice, I know it well...ok, I know you guys are busy with the band and other stuff, so thanks so much for joining us here at SoundCheck, and we wish you all the success you deserve....keep that Glam Torch burning!!!!

Just before we let ya go, tell us where can readers find out some more about you.

Animal Nitrate says. “A CRB check will give your readers everything they need.”
Anything else they want to know , including videos and tracks (more to come at the end of Feb) can be found at www.myspace.com/earholycatastrophe, and news is added regularly on our Facebook page.

 

SoundCheck : Final words of wisdom?

Never put your socks in a toaster.

 

Photography : Ken Boddy from Pulse Photography Brighton
 

 

Check out Earholy Catastrophe RIGHT HERE