Interview with Achtung Baby

On 28 January before the gig at the Swan the band sportingly agreed to be interviewed by the delightful Helen Love

1. Are any of the band single?

All of us, we like to keep the fans warm and moist!

2. How long have you been playing together?

Andy - this is my 10^th year this year, the band is 13 years old

Dave – I’ve been with the band for about a year

Richard – 4 years

Pete – 4 years

3. Do you still enjoy the gigging?

Richard – yeah!

Dave – Its my release from everything else. It’s the only time 400 people look at me!

Andy – I’ve always liked gigging, it’s a paid hobby. Its like being paid for shagging! We      are musical prostitutes!

Peter – yeah!

4. What’s the funniest thing that’s happened during a gig?

Pete – whilst gigging fell off my chair and off the back of the stage!

Andy – We won’t dwell on it cos he’s only the drummer! I fell off stage 3 times when England lost against Germany in ’96. I were that drunk and we didn’t get paid. Needless to say we weren’t asked back!

5. Do you get groupies throwing themselves at you during performances?

Richard – Only at gigs, after ….. nothing!!!

Dave – last time at the Swan in Stockwell a woman jumped on stage and kissed me, I was very surprised!

6. What colour under wear do you have on?

Dave – don’t wear any! Only for gigs, I’m very clean and punctual!

Andy – Blue boxers

Pete – Black shorts

Richard – I have another pair of jeans under my jeans

7. Do you ever write your own stuff?

Andy – Yeah but its shit! Richard writes the music and I do the lyrics – the writing is great, it’s the music that’s shit!

8. What’s the worst gig you have ever done?

Dave – In the audience we had 2 drunks, 1 tramp 4 chavs and a dog! It was a gig in Oldham and was the worst night ever!

Richard – When I  had a nose bleed really badly while I was playing ‘Pride’

9. Does anyone in the band have any pets?

Andy – 2 cats called Ozzy and Jack

Dave – 1 dog called Jessie – she is a large poodle who gets more attractive as the night goes on!

Richard - I have a shetland pony !

10. What do you like wearing the most when you gig?

Dave – something black and slimming – or maybe a little Laura Ashley number with Cuban sling backs!!

Pete – Short sleeved shirt with camp bottoms!

Andy – my happy expression and a toupee!

11. Do you gig full time or do you all have day jobs?

Dave – We all have day jobs. If we tell you anymore we’d have to kill you!!

12. What do you look for in a woman?

Dave – A pulse and a full set of limbs!!

Andy – Must have their own teeth!

Richard – But Pete’s a man!

Pete – Don’t really look anymore (aaaagh)

13.What is each band members favourite food?

Pete – Chicken Tikka Masala

Richard – the same as Pete

Andy – Shephards Pie

Dave – Bulga caviar with a couple of oysters washed down with Chablis and Dom Perignon. Or if I’m on my own a McDonalds!

14. If you were a desert what would you be?

Richard – A knicker bocker glory, cos there’s lots of layers

Pete – A tart, a big Manchester tart

Andy – anything you want me to be! (Pete – a cheesecake cos he’s cheesy as fuck!)

Dave – Apple strudel or possibly arctic roll

15. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Richard – in a mirror!

Andy – in the Daily Star!

Pete – not much different to what I’m doing now

Dave – 5 years older in a Level 42 tribute band!

16. What is your favourite U2 song?

Richard – Red Red Wine

Pete – Bad, cos I enjoy playin it

Andy – Crumbs From Your Table (at the moment), One (all time favourite)

Dave – Pride, cos its the last one of the night!

17. Which song do you think you perform best?

Pete – With or without you

Richard – Vertigo – cos its raw and new

Andy – I’m sick of with or without you, its comin out my ass!

Dave - One

18. Other than U2 who is your favourite performer?

Dave – Franci Dunnery and Jacko Pastorius

Pete – Jim Morrison, The Doors

Andy – Elvis – Thank you very much!

Richard – Paul Daniels and Jon Anderson

19 Have you ever considered covering other bands songs in U2 format?

Andy – We once considered doing a Simple Minds song but we couldn’t be arsed

20. If you were another tribute band who would you be?

Andy – Simple Minds

Pete – The Doors – I would like to join an Irish folk band

Richard – ‘Yes’

Dave – Weather Report or was it the Weather Girls?

21. Is Dave going to dye his hair like Adam?

Dave – I did once but it rained!. Yes I will by April 1^st.

22. What is the bands musical background?

Andy – My father was a singer in the 1950’s. As a 4 year old child I would sit at the side of the stage and fall asleep. People used to throw me money, I made more than him!! True story I swear!

Dave – As a young man (in a Galaxy far far away) I yearned to tread the boards. After several failed attempts of public streaking, I decided to pursue a record deal with various original bands. It never worked out and I was dragged from obscurity recently (Andy – he was the cheapest we could get!) by the best U2 tribute band in Oswoldtwistle.

Pete – Always been drummin in original bands. Then reached a point when I felt I wasn’t marketable item, so I decided to take another avenue and this is the next best thing to a record deal.

Richard – Played with many bands for years. Toured with shows and done session work. Also played in a jazz quartet. I am a mediaeval jazz specialist.

23. Do you have a message for your fans?

Andy – Its gonna be a good year ( 3 chords and the truth)

Dave – Yes, be curful

Pete – Thank you

Richard – I dedicate each and every chord to you all.

A few words from Helen

"As the interviewer I felt I would just like to say a few words. This was one of the funniest things I’ve ever done. Unfortunately most of the interview has been edited out for being unprintable! These were the best bits! This is only the second time I have met the band but was a fan from the first song. I love them all and feel very lucky to know them, thanks for doing the interview guys. Be jealous girls, be very jealous!!!"