The Others
"If I ruin it all now I only have myself to blame, I am in control of my own destiny" : Lucy Adams catches up with Dominic Masters from The Others at their recent Cockpit show...
Soon however, the band's future is set to be decided, not by Dominic Masters the band's hyperactive front man, but by the record-buying public. With the release of the band's self-titled debut album scheduled for January 31st, 27 year old Masters is well aware of 'The Mans' expectations "I have to sell 40,000 records or I'm dropped, that's it. That's pressure. I know I say this in every interview but without 40,000 records I will be back selling advertising space or working in an abattoir. One in ten bands achieve their second album so our chance is 10%"
At the moment The Others are working incredibly hard to ensure their release doesn't go unnoticed. Tonight Dominic has had to sit through several interviews with major national newspapers and endured many, as he refers to them "loaded questions", this man is not impressed:
"Almost every interview I come across now seems to be like 'right you want a boxing match?' lets go for it". I'm not a punch bag, I have got emotions and feelings too... You saw from the interview earlier (I was indeed witness to one of Dominic's now infamous verbal confrontations) that he was trying to get an angle from every question. Sometimes you will get interviews like that but it is usually because they are disgruntled Journalists or failed musicians. They go 'Ohhh I could have done it better than that... your guitarist doesn't sounds like Slash' and I just say, no, he doesn't he is not Slash!"
If you have seen some of the recent press focusing on Dominic's alleged drug-habits you will be able to sympathise with his rants to some extent. Recent features in a certain national weekly music magazine he claims, presented him in a false light: "It had a nice little picture of my head but my head had been cut off (a larger picture) so it looks as though I'm pretty fucked, when really I'm jumping up and down. They put some bubbles above my head and those bubbles had a few quotes taken out of context. One said 'If you do crack 4 times a week you won't get addicted' and then there was another quote which was pretty evil too".
In our interview Masters few comments on drug taking were to the point and played it safe. Perhaps as a reaction to the many Journalists portraying his frank, open conversational style in a biased light he had decided to stick with the generic white washed answers he knows can do little to entice the rat-pack. "Never start... that way you will keep your health and you will not die young"
This man knows that he has to play the game and although a little controversy can do wonders for your appeal (The Others were founders of the 'Guerrilla gigging' phenomenon, famously stopping traffic on Abbey Road and invading the reception of BBC Radio 1 with their micro-set-up) he has learnt when _not_ to speak out.
Rumours have been spreading for a while now over tensions between The Others and Urchin-Rock band of the moment Razorlight. Masters was reluctant to comment:
"It's a tricky scenario because obviously it would be easier for me to comment once I've sold enough records to guarantee me my second and third album. Record companies can be very cruel if they wish to be and if you're seen to be hurting one of their favourite artists... they might take offence so it's best at this stage in my career for me to be humble and quiet. It is just too difficult a question really".
Obligatory unspoken band rivalry aside you will, without a doubt, be hearing a lot more from Mr Masters over the course of this year... that is as long as you help the band reach their all important target of 40,000 record sales by purchasing their forthcoming album debut... otherwise I'm afraid you will be more likely to spot Dom wrestling with a dead pig in Tesco than with young Mr Borrell in NME.
Go on, buy it... you know what you want to see.
