Interview with the Vocalist, Gordon "Spook" Stoker.

    I just thought I'd take a short cut through the local graveyard when I heard a moan by one of the tomb stones, as the hair raised on the scruff of my neck a familiar voice said, "'ere Sherlock's Dog fancy a chat?" 

S.D So Spook, what equipment do you fiddle with in the band?

G.S I use a Shure Super 55 dynamic microphone, you know the "Elvis" type....looks and sounds good.

S.D So when you're not barking at an audience what do you like to do?

G.S I read a lot, classics like H.G Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker and modern fiction by folks like George Mann, Mark Hodder and Jonathan Green. I also enjoy history books, mainly social history of the 18th and 19th centuries, I've just finished a book on the London mob.....fascinating! 

S.D What has been you're favourite Steampunk event to date?

G.S Hhhhmmm that's difficult as I've been to some cracking places, playing at Steampunk Central at the Whitby Goth Weekend was a milestone for us and very exciting, also seeing Abney Park and Ghostfire in Oswestry then the November Nocturne the next day was incredible. Going to Steampunk events is, for me, like going out to meet old friends, every one is special and everyone is so friendly.

S.D What bands have influenced you?

G.S Well!! My favourite band of all time is The Damned, I was about 12 when I first heard them and I was blown away...and I still am! Other bands that have influenced me are Bauhaus, Stranglers, Hawkwind, The Doors, 13th Floor Elevators and the Velvet Underground, the list could go on...and on.....

S.D How about Steampunk bands?

G.S The first Steampunk band I got into was The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, I saw them in Birmingham and was very impressed indeed, BB Blackdog are a great band and a very friendly band, we've played with them 3 times now and enjoyed every one. I love seeing Ghostfire and I'm pleased Birthrite are back on track and gigging, it's good to see new bands emerging, I really enjoyed seeing Crimson Clocks recently. I take a lot of inspiration from singers like Paul Roland who I think is a genius and is quite rightly seen as a progenitor of Steampunk music, his lyrics are like stories that transport you to his world....superb.

S.D What got you interested in Steampunk?

G.S I first saw Steampunks at the Whitby Goth Weekend in 2010, I was there with my son Richard and was intrigued, so I went home and "Googled" it, I've never looked back! It is odd that I seem to have always been a Steampunk but I didn't know there was a name for the interests I had in the Victorian era but after speaking to other Steampunks they tell the same story, it's as if there was a scene just waiting to happen.

S.D Right! I'm tired of hanging around in this graveyard I'm going home, what would you say to someone just starting out as a vocalist?

G.S Just do it, you don't know what you can do until you try. It doesn't really matter if you're not an opera singer if your voice fits the music and you're having fun then just go with it and see what happens. In the words of the Rocky Horror Picture Show "Don't dream it, be it."

S.D Thanks Gordon, good night Gladstonians........

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Steampunk Summer Solstice

Steampunk Summer Solstice

The Lime Kilns, Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

Saturday 16th June 2012.

    After an early start Sherlock's Dog headed north to the beautiful scenery of Derbyshire and in particular the rock face behind the Lime Kilns pub in Wirksworth. There I was greeted to pats on the head and tickles behind the ears from many of my good friends.
    The event was organised by Andie Brazewell, Dale Rowles and Demolitia Tribal and it included stalls selling everything from clothes to ray guns to cakes, everything a discerning Steampunk would want...including a new frock coat (thanks Donna and Mark!). 
    As  for entertainment....what a treat! During the afternoon we had Mark Haworth II, Stuart Robinson, Harriet McDonnell, the great Whiskey Bob Shaker, John Ferguson's band Beeker, D H Lawrence & the Vauderville Skiffle Show and dance demonstrations from the very talented Boudica Revival.

Crimson Clocks.

    From 6 o'clock onwards we had heavy metal band 3 Second Fuse who's explosive set blasted away the rain (briefly!), then came Birmingham's own Crimson Clocks on only their second performance! They played a fantastic set, with original songs about such things as evil genius's (nice cat Linzi! tick tock, tick tock)

    Then it was our turn and Gladstone were on! We went through our usual set and got a great reaction from the crowd with songs like "Night Creatures" and "Twisted Lip" especially when Dave Evil invaded the crowd and played his triangle! "Jack Hall" had everyone clapping in time and during Hall of the Mountain King our good friend Xander Wood came on stage and did what could only be described as a "Dick Van Dyke chimney sweep dance from Mary Poppins", this led nicely into "The Curse of Tutankhamun" and our last songs.

Cloud delivers the fifth element.

We ended on TMTWNBBFN Boilerplate Dan and the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen much to the audience's delight, we had a great time but all too soon it was our turn to leave the stage to the headliners BB Blackdog. It was the first time I had met the new bassist Mike and he definitely gets the thumbs up, and so with Dale sporting a new pith helmet the boys delivered a great set which was well received by all. 

BB Blackdog.

    The day was a great success despite the rain, it was so good to see so many friends old and new, thanks to Molly Sanders for taking soooo many photos and thanks to Linzi Cooke for allowing me to use some of hers, we'll see you all again soon until then stay safe and keep well.    

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sleep well boys and girls!

                                      

Interview with the guitarist, Cloud Gingeris McBuggerballs V.

    It's strange the things you find lurking on the sofa after a friendly late night get together, I was just about to go for my morning walk when a voice hailed me from the living room...."hey! Sherlock's Dog....let me tell you a thing or two...."  
so here goes;

S.D Hello Cloud what instrument do you play in the band?

C.G.M.V She is an Ibinez EP 700 called Kate and she is like a typical woman...occasionally she is moody and picky as to what she will play, but in general she is like most women, she is reliable and we experienced great things together...we are quite intimate.

S.D When you're not entertaining Kate what do you like to do?

C.G.M.V I do like to watch South Park and explore the meanderings of the Homo sapien brain. I do like cultural pursuits such as literature and politics.

S.D What has been your best Steampunk event so far?

C.G.M.V It must be playing at Steampunk Central at the Whitby Goth Weekend it was this that made it really special, it was a while since I'd been to the sea side and as a seaman at heart I cherish being near the sea. I love the colour black and there were the most amazing people dressed in black I've ever met on top of which the architecture was breath taking.

S.D What bands influenced you to take up the guitar?

C.G.M.V Aaahh well.....Vader, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Megadeath, Queen, Guns and Roses, Pink Floyd and obviously Jimi Hendrix.

S.D Do you enjoy many Steampunk bands?

C.G.M.V Indeed I do....TMTWNBBFN, Abney Park, BB Blackdog and Ghostfire.

S.D  What got you into Steampunk?

C.G.M.V I always felt drawn to the style and literature of the Victorian era but I did not know there was a name for it, then I heard of Steampunk. When I was first introduced to Steampunk I thought the whole movement was there to extol the intellectual and technological merits of the Victorian era, which in my opinion have advanced some members of human kind to a level of great humanity and kindness and those people are Steampunks....and there is always lace up corsets and cleavages!!

S.D Thanks for taking the time for this interview, what would you say to someone just picking up the guitar for the first time?

C.G.M.V Don't put yourself under pressure and make sure you love what you're doing, an art form comes from the heart.

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