So where do Taking Names er Take their name from and
is there a story behind how the name came to be?
I'm a huge fan of johnny cash and he has a song with
the line in it "There's a Man going round taking
names", it's a pretty heavy song all about the end of
the world and the battle of armageddon and stuff. I
liked it and like that it can be taken in a lot of
ways as a name for a band. Plus no one had used it
which helps! haha..thinking of band names ain't easy!
How old are you? & What do you all job-wise? Do you
hope to do the band full time?
We're all in our early 20's except old man Chin on
guitar who is...eerrr...a bit older haha
We all have various jobs I work for a charity, Andy
works in IT, Trev works for the NHS...you know
different stuff. I think we'd all like to do the band
full time but are realistic and know that probably
won't happen.
I think I can safely say that the new CD on Rucktion
Records is going to be one of the most anticipated for
the UK hardcore scene in some while! You guys and a
couple of other bands seem to be breathing life back
into it, how does that sort of statement make you
feel?
AWESOME! haha...don't know if it's true but that's a
really nice thing to hear obviously.
What is the message you try to promote through your
lyrics and how have you come to be influenced in that
direction?
First and foremost honesty and positivity. Not in a
"things are great all the time" way. We know people
have huge struggles they have to deal with. I guess we
just feel there is tonnes of negativity in UKHC lyrics
and we don't want to add to that. We want to represent
something different. Also honesty is key as hardcore
has always been honest heartfelt music in my eyes. For
us that means being open about all sorts of things in
our lives including our faith in God which has helped
and helps us as people through our own struggles day
by day. I want to encourage and strengthen people with
my lyrics.
Your shows come across very powerfully, I can envisage
you guys being the UK scene leaders, your exuberance
and energy is like a drug that the crowds cant seem
to get enough of and the pit destroys most have you
been excited about your response so far?
Man I tell you what we are SO thankful for all the
support we have received so far as a band. It's not
something we expected and everyone's been so awesome!
Thank you to everyone who's put us on shows and
encouraged us. It means so much to us honestly. As far
as being "UK scene leaders" haha that's real nice of
you to say but I think knuckledust will always be the
leaders of this scene as well they should be. We're a
long way off anything like that.
Speaking of drugs are any of you Straight Edge? What
influenced your decision? (If youre not what do you
respect most about the movement)
No none of us are edge but none of us take drugs. Some
of us drink but try not to more than would be
healthy.I have alot of respect for the principles
behind what straight edge is all about.
Have you been around many people with drug addictions?
What are your thoughts on the fact that more people
die each year from the effects of smoking & drinking
that any other causes?
I think it's horrible. I have had and am having to
deal with the consequences of drug addiction and
severe chemical dependancy in someone I loved very
dearly. It's not something I take lightly at all as I
don't think any of us would.
From what I know of you guys, your singer Simon is
Canadian? How long have you lived over here? Was there
a specific reason you wanted to live in the UK?
I'm actually English I just lived in Canada for nine
years. I've been back for 2 1/2 years now.
What was the Canadian scene like when you left where
you lived?
Pretty good. We had some good bands from my town
(Winnipeg) like Comeback Kid, Rogue Nation and Figure
Four. More bills were mixed with punk, metal,
rockabilly and other types of bands playing compared
with over here though.
Where did you all grow up and at what age did you get
into hardcore? It must mean the world to you to be
able to give something back? Thats what drives me,
irrespective of the fact that I am not in a band, just
being able to contribute to something that has given
me so much fills me with pride and leaves me content
We all got into it at different points. It means
tonnes to us to be doing what we're doing. I've been
into hardcore since I was about 16 and I'm 23 now.
Taking Names are a Christian band right? How is the
band effected by Christianity and how did you all come
to find religion?
Yes we are a Christian band. How are we effected? We
all have a relationship with God which not only drives
our everyday lives but gives us purpose and focus.
Clarity and meaning. Knowing God is not something I
can really give adequate answer to in a short
interview like this. It's a lifelong journey. Needless
to say it effects us greatly! As for how we all came
to know God...ask us in person! That's five very
different and involved stories!
Would you encourage others to follow that path? Do you
have any favourite passages or religious websites we
could check out? (For those that are interested) (Id
recommend you check out www.interviewwithgod.com)
Absolutely I would encourage other people to seek God.
Although I would never make the decision for them that
they must. It isn't my place to tell people they must
do anything. I will say this though. Since having a
real relationship with Christ my life has completely
changed for the better and I've seen the same happen
with countless others when they've placed their lives
before Jesus. God wants to prosper people, He loves
people, He wants you to live the life you were created
to live...life at it's best. That's something I would
always encourage people to go for.
How did you find watching the Passion Of The Christ?
Were you into it and the way it was portrayed? I think
the film helped a lot of people
I found it very moving and thought it was a great
film.
What makes you all happy and what are your interests
outside of hardcore?
Well serveral of us are very involved in our
respective churches so that I guess you could say that
is an "interest".
We're pretty chilled out guys who just like spending
time with friends & family, other than work the band
takes up all our time! haha we have no other
interests!
Your CD is due out on the UKs own Rucktion Records,
how did you hook up with those guys? What are your
hopes for the CD?
Rucktion are great friends and have been very
supportive of us from the beginning despite our
obvious differences in subject matter most of their
bands. We're super thankful for the chance they've
taken on us.
As far as the cd goes we're hoping people like it
first and foremost! haha I guess we're hoping it
starts to do what we have set out to do. Bring
something positive to the table in UKHC and encourage
people to be open and honest with who they are in the
scene. That and of course we hope it smacks you in the
face!
Tell us whats going on with the London scene nowadays
& what you know the UK scene in general? Who should we
look out for?
Man UKHC is no joke my favourite hardcore in the
world! With all the amazing bands out at the moment I
wouldn't even want to try and list them all. I'd
encourage people to check out everything on the
following labels..Rucktion, Burial, Staunch, Zone 6,
Dead & Gone and Go-Team. All are releasing great stuff
and deserve to be more well known than they are! New
london bands to check out are Hellbent Diehard, Beg
for Mercy and Injury Time...some great new talent
right there!
Youve also just announced a full US West Coast Tour
with Brutal Fight, you guys most be stoked on that?
Itll also be great for a UK band to represent whats
happening over here to the kids over there!
Yeah we're pretty pumped man! We hope we represent
what's going on over here well and get to do exactly
the same thing over there...have some great shows,
show a little positivity and encourage people!
The future seems bright for you all anyway what are
your plans after the US tour?
We're heading to europe for a few short trips later in
the year and of course as many shows around the UK
that we can fit in! We're pretty excited about what
the future holds but are trying not to expect
anything. Just take things as they come.
hope this is what you were looking for man. thanks
again.
Simon TN
is there a story behind how the name came to be?
I'm a huge fan of johnny cash and he has a song with
the line in it "There's a Man going round taking
names", it's a pretty heavy song all about the end of
the world and the battle of armageddon and stuff. I
liked it and like that it can be taken in a lot of
ways as a name for a band. Plus no one had used it
which helps! haha..thinking of band names ain't easy!
How old are you? & What do you all job-wise? Do you
hope to do the band full time?
We're all in our early 20's except old man Chin on
guitar who is...eerrr...a bit older haha
We all have various jobs I work for a charity, Andy
works in IT, Trev works for the NHS...you know
different stuff. I think we'd all like to do the band
full time but are realistic and know that probably
won't happen.
I think I can safely say that the new CD on Rucktion
Records is going to be one of the most anticipated for
the UK hardcore scene in some while! You guys and a
couple of other bands seem to be breathing life back
into it, how does that sort of statement make you
feel?
AWESOME! haha...don't know if it's true but that's a
really nice thing to hear obviously.
What is the message you try to promote through your
lyrics and how have you come to be influenced in that
direction?
First and foremost honesty and positivity. Not in a
"things are great all the time" way. We know people
have huge struggles they have to deal with. I guess we
just feel there is tonnes of negativity in UKHC lyrics
and we don't want to add to that. We want to represent
something different. Also honesty is key as hardcore
has always been honest heartfelt music in my eyes. For
us that means being open about all sorts of things in
our lives including our faith in God which has helped
and helps us as people through our own struggles day
by day. I want to encourage and strengthen people with
my lyrics.
Your shows come across very powerfully, I can envisage
you guys being the UK scene leaders, your exuberance
and energy is like a drug that the crowds cant seem
to get enough of and the pit destroys most have you
been excited about your response so far?
Man I tell you what we are SO thankful for all the
support we have received so far as a band. It's not
something we expected and everyone's been so awesome!
Thank you to everyone who's put us on shows and
encouraged us. It means so much to us honestly. As far
as being "UK scene leaders" haha that's real nice of
you to say but I think knuckledust will always be the
leaders of this scene as well they should be. We're a
long way off anything like that.
Speaking of drugs are any of you Straight Edge? What
influenced your decision? (If youre not what do you
respect most about the movement)
No none of us are edge but none of us take drugs. Some
of us drink but try not to more than would be
healthy.I have alot of respect for the principles
behind what straight edge is all about.
Have you been around many people with drug addictions?
What are your thoughts on the fact that more people
die each year from the effects of smoking & drinking
that any other causes?
I think it's horrible. I have had and am having to
deal with the consequences of drug addiction and
severe chemical dependancy in someone I loved very
dearly. It's not something I take lightly at all as I
don't think any of us would.
From what I know of you guys, your singer Simon is
Canadian? How long have you lived over here? Was there
a specific reason you wanted to live in the UK?
I'm actually English I just lived in Canada for nine
years. I've been back for 2 1/2 years now.
What was the Canadian scene like when you left where
you lived?
Pretty good. We had some good bands from my town
(Winnipeg) like Comeback Kid, Rogue Nation and Figure
Four. More bills were mixed with punk, metal,
rockabilly and other types of bands playing compared
with over here though.
Where did you all grow up and at what age did you get
into hardcore? It must mean the world to you to be
able to give something back? Thats what drives me,
irrespective of the fact that I am not in a band, just
being able to contribute to something that has given
me so much fills me with pride and leaves me content
We all got into it at different points. It means
tonnes to us to be doing what we're doing. I've been
into hardcore since I was about 16 and I'm 23 now.
Taking Names are a Christian band right? How is the
band effected by Christianity and how did you all come
to find religion?
Yes we are a Christian band. How are we effected? We
all have a relationship with God which not only drives
our everyday lives but gives us purpose and focus.
Clarity and meaning. Knowing God is not something I
can really give adequate answer to in a short
interview like this. It's a lifelong journey. Needless
to say it effects us greatly! As for how we all came
to know God...ask us in person! That's five very
different and involved stories!
Would you encourage others to follow that path? Do you
have any favourite passages or religious websites we
could check out? (For those that are interested) (Id
recommend you check out www.interviewwithgod.com)
Absolutely I would encourage other people to seek God.
Although I would never make the decision for them that
they must. It isn't my place to tell people they must
do anything. I will say this though. Since having a
real relationship with Christ my life has completely
changed for the better and I've seen the same happen
with countless others when they've placed their lives
before Jesus. God wants to prosper people, He loves
people, He wants you to live the life you were created
to live...life at it's best. That's something I would
always encourage people to go for.
How did you find watching the Passion Of The Christ?
Were you into it and the way it was portrayed? I think
the film helped a lot of people
I found it very moving and thought it was a great
film.
What makes you all happy and what are your interests
outside of hardcore?
Well serveral of us are very involved in our
respective churches so that I guess you could say that
is an "interest".
We're pretty chilled out guys who just like spending
time with friends & family, other than work the band
takes up all our time! haha we have no other
interests!
Your CD is due out on the UKs own Rucktion Records,
how did you hook up with those guys? What are your
hopes for the CD?
Rucktion are great friends and have been very
supportive of us from the beginning despite our
obvious differences in subject matter most of their
bands. We're super thankful for the chance they've
taken on us.
As far as the cd goes we're hoping people like it
first and foremost! haha I guess we're hoping it
starts to do what we have set out to do. Bring
something positive to the table in UKHC and encourage
people to be open and honest with who they are in the
scene. That and of course we hope it smacks you in the
face!
Tell us whats going on with the London scene nowadays
& what you know the UK scene in general? Who should we
look out for?
Man UKHC is no joke my favourite hardcore in the
world! With all the amazing bands out at the moment I
wouldn't even want to try and list them all. I'd
encourage people to check out everything on the
following labels..Rucktion, Burial, Staunch, Zone 6,
Dead & Gone and Go-Team. All are releasing great stuff
and deserve to be more well known than they are! New
london bands to check out are Hellbent Diehard, Beg
for Mercy and Injury Time...some great new talent
right there!
Youve also just announced a full US West Coast Tour
with Brutal Fight, you guys most be stoked on that?
Itll also be great for a UK band to represent whats
happening over here to the kids over there!
Yeah we're pretty pumped man! We hope we represent
what's going on over here well and get to do exactly
the same thing over there...have some great shows,
show a little positivity and encourage people!
The future seems bright for you all anyway what are
your plans after the US tour?
We're heading to europe for a few short trips later in
the year and of course as many shows around the UK
that we can fit in! We're pretty excited about what
the future holds but are trying not to expect
anything. Just take things as they come.
hope this is what you were looking for man. thanks
again.
Simon TN
photos thanxxx to...
