The Ray Summers will give Fifefest 2010
a kick start into a month long festival of music.
Starting at PJ Molloys Friday 6th August,
Fifefest will also see The Law at PJ Molloys
on Saturday 7th August.
Fifefest will run all through August and will host
a huge variety of different bands and musical styles.
The highlight for me will be the Stiff Little Fingers gig
at Velocity on Saturday 7th August,
support comes from The Delaneys and a surprise re-union
by Dunfermline band Honk.
I managed to ask Billy George the singer with Honk a few questions about the SLF gig and their recent reformation.
Billy, you are reforming Honk for a gig with Stiff Little Fingers on the 7th August, I have a few questions about the band I hope you can answer for me.
Me: Can you tell me when the band was originally formed and what or who inspired you to start writing and making music?
Billy: The band was formed in Somewhere Else in 1989 immediately after the demise of my previous band Ten Tall Men. The original line up consisted of Myself on vocals, Mike McNeil on Lead guitar, Leroy Bedborough (rythmn guitar), Tippy Paton (bass) and Fluff Aitken on drums.I had been in bands since the age of 17 inspired by the likes of The Jam, The Clash, Buzzcocks etc
Me: Were there any highlights in the bands early career, where about and what venues did you gig?
Billy: We mostly played locally in the early days but it was tough because guitar music was not in vogue. There were not too many venues willing to put live music on in those days either. Highlights included a wee tour of Holland in 1992..that was a lot of fun and we played some wierd venues including a barge in the middle of a canal.
Me: What were the reasons behind the band splitting up?
Billy: The band just kind of ran it’s course. Boots and I had become bored and the band was heading towards doing more and more covers which is not what we ever wanted to do. My last gig with Honk was a bloody wedding in Bowhill. Sod that!
Me: Can you tell me a little bit about the band members in Honk and what their roles are within the band?
Billy: The line up for the gig with SLF is the same one that split up 8 years ago. As well as me it is Boots Mowat (guitar and vocals) Tippy (bass) , Kenny Maccallum (guitar) and Kev Guthrie on drums. Boots and I are the main writing team and have done most of the music and lyrics on the songs we will be playing on the 7th.
Me: Are the band members all local, do you all still keep in touch and how hard or easy was it to get everyone back together again?
Billy: Yes most of us still live local and we are all still pretty friendly. Over the years we have changed line up several times. Mike was replaced by Boots and then Fluff by Davy Briggs. Unfortunately both Leroy and Fluff tragically died at a young age. Other people who played in Honk were Pete Baillie (drums) and Tom Kirkwood (guitar).
Me: Who are Honk as a band entity, where did the name come from and what type of music would you say the band play?
Billy: The name was Leroy’s baby..he had been in a band called that before who didn’t actually play any gigs. I initially hated it but grew to love the name.
Me: You have decided to reform Honk, can I ask the reason for reforming and is this a one off gig or are there any plans for future gigs?
Billy: We had a wee jam before Christmas and it went pretty well. The opportunity arose to play with SLF who were one of my favourite bands back in the day. Who knows what the future will bring but I’d really like to do some studio work. Writing and performing was such a large part of my life and I didn’t realise how much I missed it.
Me: Its just over a week to go until you share the stage with Stiff Little Fingers, can you tell me how rehearsals are going and are the band members looking forward to the gig?
Billy: Rehearsals have been getting better and better and all the boys are well fired up for it! Cant wait!
Me: You have an allocated support slot and a limited time on stage, who chose the songs you will be playing and were the choice of songs influenced by Stiff Little Fingers being the main act?
Billy: Yes we have a such a large back catalogue (over 90 songs) it was not an easy choice to make getting it down to 8 or 9 but it was definitely influenced by SLF being the main act.
Me: So what will people expect at the Velocity gig and have you any last words?
Billy: They can expect an energetic and tuneful display of perfect power pop! Honk is dead long live Honk…the abominable showmen are back in town!
