Proudhon

I've known Proudhon's drummer Mike for about 5 years and its safe to say is one of my best mates and one of the only people I still keep in contact with from school.

This interview was conducted with Tom, Proudhon's vocalist....

So who is the rest of the band and what bands have they played in?
Ok, the rest of the band is Stuart (guitars), Wayne (bass, programming) and myself (vocals, piano, guitar,)
Wayne and I have been in loads of bands; in contrast, Stu had his first gig ever with us, which is amazing considering how longs he's been playing guitar. I guess it just depends on what your friends are into as you grow up..

How did the band form and where did the name come from?
Me and Mike are on the same course at Uni. and, through a Rock night in Brighton , ended up starting a band. We kind of juggled around members and instruments for a bit, became a five piece then Jamie, our old guitarist jumped ship to America, to avoid the tax office and all the bank managers baying for his blood.
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, is kind of considered by some as the father of anarchy, and at any rate was a French Socialist. Our name comes from him. It's not much of a tribute, but there you go. I think it confuses some people because they immediately think we're going to be heavily into his policies / ideas/ etc. but in reality, we're pretty divided about some of his thinking. Not the most united of fronts in that respect.

How old is everyone are you all of similar ages and interests?
We're all between 19-21; I think give or take a few months. Mike is the baby, Wayne is the oldest. I can safely say that we're all very good friends, which is a first for me, being in a band where you actually want to hang out with the other members. It's a band of artists , which makes us official " artfagcore " , to some.
3/ 4 skate or BMX, I'm more of a walker.
I can safely say that I'm the only member though who is a fan of So Solid Crew.

Are you all in education at the moment, if so what do you do and why is doing this important to you?
We're all at Uni. I'm doing Architecture, but it could have been a number of things. I'm terrified of spending my life stuff in an office doing things for other people rather than making something that I want to create, something I can stand up and say was my idea. Stagnation terrifies me. In all aspects of what I do, I suppose. At the end of the day, it's my safety net if the music fails. I just wanted to make sure that landing in it wouldn't be too painful, hence the arty stuff.

Were you always into punk?
Tricky, because the attitude was always much more attractive than the music. I count bands like joy Division, Refused, the smiths, mogwai, aphex twin, public enemy, amen, primal scream as having that /" fuck you, it's our rules or nothing " kind of mentality, and I respect that just as an idealism. I've been into heavy music since day one really.
What was the first record you bought? Did that have any impact on you as a musician or

was there one specific record you can remember buying from which sparked your interest in forming a band?
Appetite for destruction, was my first record, something I'm really proud off. In terms of bands, Nirvana just totally changed the way I was as a music lover and person in general. Bleach was this little evil record that one of my friends big brothers had got on import, and it was just so raw and dark that I loved it instantly. It's still brilliant, better than nevermind, or at least, more honest.

How would you describe a) the band as a unit? And b) the sound
a) As a unit, it's a shifting quagmire of tantrums and ego's, all grappling to be heard at once. We're friends firstly, I hope, and we just love playing. There's a lot of love in the practice room.
b) I couldn't possibly answer that, not in an arsey way, I'll just get it wrong that's all. We sound to me like a band who couldn't play anything other than the music we love. Cheesy but true.

Im so glad that Mike now plays in a band of substance, he seems to progress as a drummer and now singer with every band he has a part of playing in aside from being one of my best friends I also totally respect what he does and his work ethic, it is fair to say I've never met a more dedicated person both in his musical ability and his educational aspirations does this hard work aspect reverberate amongst the band and would you say as far as the band is concerned there is this driving force from all the members to succeed? (From what I've heard from the demo a lot of love is in the music-there is defiantly something special in the energy captured on the CD)
I hope so. I love what we do; it's what I think about more than anything else. I think we can do this if we just make sure we do what we feel needs to be done, in terms of song writing. I love that all of us feel so differently about it though, it makes it less obsessive and more fun. I think our energy is something that we couldn't fake, so if you hear it in what we do, then it's there.

How do you find people are responding to your shows and the demo, is it positive?
One of my friends said it made his two year old sister cry, so yeah, positive stuff all round.
We've been overwhelmed by the nice things people have said about it, it's heartening and worrying at the same time. At least when everyone thinks your shit you don't have any pressure on you to maintain a standard..

Where has the band played and who with?
Alas, a short list of bands, mostly local, although I'd like to big up Wall of Denial, The guillotines and death before Disco. We played at an all dayer in Essex with Kilkus, As clouds gather, and Vescera, which was our first gig, so not a bad start. We need to do it more really; we got into a pattern and have had to fall out of it for the summer.

There is a rumour (not really Mike told me) that the band have been approached by Victory Records as the support for the Taking Back Sunday tour later in the year? How did that come about and what's it like for a prolific label like that to ask you too support arguably one of their key bands?
I should point out that this is a big IF, at the moment. It was just weird that they'd heard of us after one gig, and with such praise, because we came off stage on that night thinking we'd really screwed up, and then all these people kept coming up to us and thanking us. Taking Back Sunday are one of the best bands on victory. It's very cool and scary at the same time. I hope it goes through, knowing us, we'll end up crashing the car on the way there.

How are the songs formed is it the whole group getting together with ideas in a room? One person orchestrating? What is the usual process?
It started off as just me really writing the songs and then everyone just adding little bits, but we've really started writing as a group, which is much easier and usually creates a better result. It usually starts with a guitar part, or an idea of rhythm or something. We do tend to pick stuff a little, we're probably a little too meticulous when it comes to just tiny little parts of songs, but it seems to work for us. We all write a lot on our own, too, Wayne's really into messing around with his electronica stuff, me and Stu just seem to churn out endless guitar parts, and mike just hits stuff.

In your lyrics are there any resounding messages you try to get across? What inspires them?
This could be a huge answer, so ill try and be as concise as I can. All of what I write, seems to revolve around the idea of holding on the things you love, and just letting all the negative things in your life just float away. Fight for the things you love, whether it's a girlor boy, music, art, family, personal freedom, privacy, intimacy etc. Don't be a slave in you own home, and don't think that just because you're told to think in a certain way you have too. Don't be frightened of change. Don't be afraid to stick your neck out for something you care about.
Anything can inspire me; I suppose positive things more than negative. I'm not from the Korn school of lyrics, I tend not to care about telling people who shitty my days been, because I wouldn't want to hear about it. I'm just one person; there are more important things than my bruised ego.

What one person in your life has had the most effect on you and why? (Who do you most look up to?)
I couldn't name one person. I can think of a few but it's not my place to name them here, because I haven't told them.
Oh, David Dickinson. As a starter for ten.

Are any members of the band straightedge? What made them decide to become straightedge? (Or vegan / vegetarian)
I'm afraid we're all beer drinking, burger guzzling scumbags. Although I quite like tofu.
What is your opinion of the straightedge as a movement and ideal?
As an ideal, I have every respect for people who do it for the right reasons, and maintain it, as long as they are happy doing it. It takes a type of personal strength to do it properly. As a movement, I think it's slightly less positive, as it seems to create too much of a clique mentality, and that's not really what's needed in the scene at the moment.

Do believe people really can be "true till death"? and what is your opinion or the saying "if your not now you never were"? (to me that's unfair I've been straightedge for two years and obviously used to drink / smoke but gave it up, comments like that only serve as a negative purpose)
I think that's crap, because if you can't accept changes to yourself or others around you then you're eventually going to close yourself of to anyone who doesn't think in exactly the same way as you do. It's a very pretty way of saying, " I'm snob because you don't agree with me."
What is your opinion of organised religion and what was it that decided your opinion?
My view is if you've found God, then I don't see why you should have to express it in a way that other people tell you to do. Religion has no place with faith; it's just politics that seems to always get in the way. I'm don't object to it passionately, I can see why for some it works. Let them get on with it. The second someone forces it on another, it becomes wrong.
If you use a concept such as God to generate money for yourself, then you deserve nothing less that to burn in hell for eternity.

Do you see Religion as having a positive purpose for those who follow it? What about conflicts that arise from the subject of religion, wars for example
Wars don't come from religion, it's an excuse not the first word. People will fire crap at each other till the end of time, only the reasoning will change. I think it can be positive for an individual, but if that person has no ideas of there own before they start along that path, it can be restricting and dangerous.
For the record, I believe in God, I just can't define why or quite what that means.

If you could do anything in your lifetime say you had one wish what would it be and why would you choose that particular thing?
Again, one thing? To be with some one I love till the day I die and to see this band on Top of the Tops. Or maybe CD: UK. Two is the least I could ask for.
As an individual outside of the band what is it that interests you? Are you into politics or maybe have a hobby or favourite pastime like BMX for example?
I love music with everything I've got. I DJ a bit, I like clubbing, photography, art, fashion, travelling. This sounds like a C.V for a job application.
Did I mention I'm a fast learner and enjoy working in-groups?

What are you hopes as far as where the band is going?
I hope we can do this for as long as we feel we're being creative and haven't turned into ageing rock stars.
How long do you see Proudhon lasting it's a clich�uestion but what the hell!
More than Refused, less than Rod Stewart.
Marmite you either love it or you hate it tom, are you a lover or a hater?
I'm a fighter.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? And what is the reason behind this?
Flying. Think of the airline fee's saved!

What bands are you currently listening too?
I'm at this very moment singing along to the new Flaming Lips album, called, quite brilliantly " Yoshimi battles the pink Robots." It's amazing, really beautiful.
Loads of stuff: The strokes, killswitch engage, promise ring, people under the stairs, fisherspooner, minus, Alicia keys, boards of Canada .....
If you could recommend a particular CD to the world what would it be? And who by?
I'd recommend that everyone on the planet should own Marvin Gayes, " what's going on." It's still mega, after all this time. It's one of the most profoundly wonderful pieces of music ever made.

Pepsi or Coca-Cola?
I bow down the capitalist king that is Coca-Cola. Pepsi is too sweet, and it owned by Marriott, the hotel chain, and as Bill Marriott is a big fat cocksucker, he deserves not one penny of any ones money.

What is your opinion on cloning? (Should it be allowed at all, is it ok for research or what about cloning a human like they've started to do in china im sure I read that they have cloned some human embryo's)
If it will save lives, which I think is why they're trying to do it, then it'll be worth the moral dilemma. And it's pissing of a lot fundamentalist Christians, which can only be a good thing.
Why do they only ever get passionate about the things they hate? How anti-Jesus is that as a mind frame?

If someone wanted to get a hold of the demo who would they write too or email? (aside from myself) also this weekend I will be adding a track with the interview
Either email me at ovingroad@hotmail.com , or Wayne unclefishcakes@hotmail.com or stamped addressed envelope to 2A Montepelier Road, Brighton, East Sussex.
It'll be free to you, this isn't a money making venture. Come and see us live though.

Have you guys got any merchandise / T-shirts yet are you going to any time soon?
Not that I'm aware of. Maybe in a bit, when we make a bit more head way with this. Would any one be interested in Proudhon Sweat Bands and jean shorts?

Do you have any aspirations to tour in America at all? (I know this answer from mike im gonna roadie sell merch. and drive lol!)
We'll play anywhere. You ask us , we'll come. America would be amazing though. We want to play with Poison the Well!

What's the most positive element to your life as of this moment?
Hope.
Thankyou.