The Smears Queens of The Scene

By Chris Röckson

 

The Smears are the ‘Queens of the Scene’ and are an allgirl punk/grunge band that can back up this bold statement whilst pulling no punches.
The Smears are a hard working band whose live shows are fun and likened to ‘being hit by a train driven by Iggy Pop and Courtney Love or L7 being caught in a bar room brawl with Mudhoney’ all comparisons that the girls are very proud of.
 

Like all great bands, The Smears are a gang. You name it these girls have faced it. The girls have been hungry, broke, through breakups and breakdowns but like all great bands they have always put their anger, energy and frustration in to their music.
Don't be fooled by their appearance, these girls will kick you in the teeth, rip your heart right out of your chest and you'll love them for doing so! I mean let’s face it, sometimes a good bone rattling is just what you need…

 

Hey! How are you gals doing?

Miss C: Great thanks! Busy but it’s all going good.

 

The Smears? Where did the band name originate?

Miss C: The Smears name came from a trip to The Old Angel when we very first got together as a band with an old drummer. We were chatting away and discussing our recent trips to the doctors…

 

For the benefit of the readers that haven’t had the chance to check you out yet, tell them about the band….influences, sounds etc..?

Miss C: The band is an amalgamation of punk, grunge, rock and a naughty pinch of pop thrown in for good measure. Our influences are a wide range of geniuses that range from Iggy Pop to Peter Cook, From Faith No More to Lydia Lunch. I could go on but I find so many people inspirational.

C Doll: We have been likened to ‘being hit by a train driven by Iggy Pop and Courtney Love’ or ‘L7 being caught in a bar room brawl with Mudhoney.’

I’m personally influenced by anything from classical to heavy metal.

Emma: We make hard fast music. We have bad times but we like to turn that in to snarling biting music rather than complaining. We can't help it, we try to write slow songs but it doesn't happen! The musicians I 'look up to' Play fast, simple, good music and that's the philosophy we play by.

 

Who plays in the band? Is this the original line-up

Miss C: I met Emma in 2001 and then C Doll joined a few years later.

Emma: Ah the original line up didn't work...our 1st drummer wanted us to cover Def Leopard and I actually stood in the room and my eyes welled up with tears. Then neither did the next 5 line ups didn't work either... then I managed to talk C Doll in to the band and the rest is history...and the future.

C Doll: I was the last to join. I was about their fifth drummer I think. I was phoned up by Emma at the bar I used to work in and asked to join. I said ‘go on then.’ The next thing I knew was that we had a gig in 2 weeks time and a recording to do straight after.

Where are you based, and are you signed yet?

C Doll: We released an album through Pinkbox Records last year but we’re not signed to anybody.

Miss C: We are based in Nottingham, we have had a few amazing deals offered us, from which our music you can find on I tunes and various other sites. We also had the opportunity to work with Pink Box and our first album Hell in High Heels came out of that. Currently we are working on writing our new album out and we are in talks. But it’s all very early days.

Emma: I'm from Liverpool but we're based in Notts. We've never signed to anything really but we have released on Pink Box records from Leicester. Not really interested in anything other than the alternative and underground, some of the other things we've been offered are ridiculous and came with alot of provisos that we weren't up for doing. The money and free stuff would help but a girl's gotta have principles!

 

We reviewed your latest single in this month’s issue too, is that gonna be included in any future release/album release?

Emma: Yep the new single will be remaster and put on the new album along with all our other new tracks.

Miss C: Yes I think so. I want a home for every track we have ever made. Even the ones we no longer play for what ever reason, I would like to record eventually for my own personal use!

C Doll: We will be recording a new album early next year which we are currently writing and we will be putting it out ourselves. Our latest single, Freakshow, will be on it. We’ve got some nice new songs and riffs waiting for the new one!

 

Which bands are you listening to these days?

C Doll: We’re all big Faith No More fans, as well as System of a Down. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Ramones, Portishead, Jamie Woon and Slayer-bit of a mix there!

Miss C: I love unsigned acts, there is so much mainstream crap out there. I love Digger and the Pussycats, The Dogbones, Petebox. I also love Faith No More, Led Zepplin and System of a Down.

Emma: Same as the girls along with Pissed Jeans, Fucked Up and local gals Grim Dylan.

 

Ever say to yourselves, ‘ah, fuck this, I’m gonna get a job working in a bank’?

Miss C: Nope.

C Doll: We all work but I’d never stop playing music-it’s too much fun and a nice escape from everyday crap.

Emma: Nope! wouldn't know what else to do. I've known I was going to do this since I was a very little girl, I am Maimee V/ Emma Smears no getting away from it.

 

Which venue and city/town would you say was your favourite, and why?

Miss C: There is a fair few I like now. The Old Bell in Derby has an awesome set up, The Old Wharf in Birmingham because there is always a decent crowd. The Maze in Nottingham is good we always seem to have a great gig there.

C Doll: I always love Liverpool-the music scene’s amazing there! We had a great time in Glasgow last year too-all the people we met were lovely.

Emma: I like playing the Old Wharf in Brum, Love playing Liverpool and Nottingham, they are always good nights... I don't know, sometimes it's hard to see the city if you know what I mean? Glasgow was ace, so was Ireland... It's not really the city it's more the gig that makes the difference.

 

Did you go to Rebellion festival this time? Any plans to play there?

Emma: Ok, I'll take this one. We keep getting overlooked by Rebellion. Don't know why. Is it because we don't have mohawks? I mean we have played as main support to some pretty heavy weight punk bands, we ARE a bloody good punk band yet Rebellion comes and goes and we're not on the stage. Your loss Rebellion.

Finally, you’re gonna be shipwrecked on a Desert Island, which three items would you grab from the sinking ship and why?

Emma: Guitar, hot bloke and a bottle of whisky

C Doll: My Ipod, A generator (‘cos I’m sure there’d be one on the ship?!) and a massive sound system so that I could have loads of parties with the natives.

Miss C: A crate of beer, some Hot Wings and my Lipstick.

 

Any words of wisdom you’d like to share with the readers?

Miss C: Arse clown.

C Doll: Drink Beer

Emma: When you've got a problem just sit down and think to yourself 'what would Lemmy do?' and everything will be fine.

Well, thanks ladies, I’m sure we’ll be checking you out on the live circuit very soon, and good luck with the single too.

 

Chris