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Ralph Myerz and Jack Herren Band
Manefestivalen 2006 – Frerickstad, Norway
Between 1997 to 2000 this dynamic trio were just experimenting with various musical ideas and then all of a sudden they decided to quit their day jobs take it seriously.
‘We started seriously working on the music in 2001. We got signed by an American record label and released two albums with them. This year we’re signed with Virgin Records in Norway, were releasing our third album in September.’
It seems
that the band have grown since starting out seriously in 2001; ‘our show has kind of evolved over the
years. Back in 2001 we were just three shy guys on the stage.’
The Ralph
Myerz Band has been doing quite a few gigs all over, including in London.
‘We did a tour with the Big Chill and played
at that festival. We did Glastonbury last year. We’ve been really luck in the UK. In 2004 we opened
the main stage at Glastonbury. Outside of Norway we’ve been touring
most of Europe. France and the UK have been particularly welcoming. We were hoping to do the Benicassim
festival in Spain this year but hopefully it will work out next year.’
Like a
number of upcoming artists these days, the band manage themselves for the most
part; ‘We have a road crew who does all
the production, and booking agents who find us the gigs but in the studio we do everything ourselves. We
play it all live and write ourselves. We have our own studio in Bergen. We also have a small
home studio where we make demos. Plus we take a small studio with us on tour.’
‘We do some work on the side – Djing and
session work. But there’s a lot or work now as a manager. When we had a
management we were always checking up on everything anyways so now we just do
it our selves.. We separate the work; live stuff, business, and promo’
The band
has just released an EP – ‘Kill the DJ’ and are releasing an album in
September.
‘Once it’s released we’re going to do a huge
Norwegian tour.’
What about
the name of the band; The Ralph Myerz and Jack Herren Band… that’s a long name!
Ralph Myerz was one of our favourite
film-makers. He made a lot of movies in the 60s and 70s and we were big fans.
Jack Herren was his camera man. Its cool coz on the posters we have a whole
line to ourselves – it is a very long name but we love it.’
What advice
would you give to upcoming artists?
‘It’s really important to work really hard and
take it seriously- it’s a full time job. You can’t just ‘play music’. It‘s
really easy these days to be your own master. You can just put it out there.
Getting a record deal is not absolutely necessary. When we did the major deal
we made sure that everything was decided before hand. We just sold our
project/product as one option.’
It’s also important to have fun and do what
you enjoy. Do it thoroughly, and take care of yourself’
What about
in 5 years from now, where do you see yourselves?
Doing the same thing probably.. A bit slimmer
maybe? Or fatter? A reunion album? Maybe we’ll have a fall out!’
One thing
the band are looking to develop seriously over the next few years are concerts
for children:
‘We try to do kids concerts for inspiration. We
would love to do that in London.
We want to do a tour when we only do kids shows
– so they know it’s only for them, in a real venue. I remember every show I saw
as a kid and how much it meant to me.’
And why was
one of you wearing a wrestling mask today?
‘We did an interview with BBC a while ago and
the girl interviewing felt that I needed a new outfit. This summer we went
touring in Canada and before we left we saw Nacho Libra – the wrestling movie. When we
got home I had this wrestling suit sent to me from the BBC girl. So I have to
wear it!!’
‘There was also a furry hat we wore, that was
thrown up at Norwich. And today there was a white hat thrown up and we took that as well. So
we just tend to take everything that comes our way.’
And have
you done much work in England?
‘We had a UK label last year, they
released out album in Europe so we used to go to London a lot. I love going
shopping in Camden. We played 93 feet east, Cargo and a show with the go town project in Somerset House. We’ve also
played the Mean Fiddler and did a show at the wireless festival in Hyde Park.’
‘The reason we tour so much is because it’s
such a great live show. England and France has probably been the best reception. Leeds and Reading was the best. The Big
Chill as well – people bring out their families and kids.
Last year we did two shows for school kids.
There were maybe 3000 kids. They were so happy to be there and really getting
into it. They spread the word like mad and market really well. They’re a really
tough crowd too so you really have to project to them. It’s easy with adults;
when drunk they’re happy. But with the kids you could have 80% into it and the
hip hop kids in the back – not too sure, but by the end of the show they are
all really digging it’
Look out
for the bands new album out in September, we are sure to see them in the UK soon!
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