The Playmates
Playmates in deep throat shocker!
It was a lovely sunny summer afternoon when I caught up with Neil Hanson and Ali Valium of The Playmates to talk about, well, not a lot really.
So, easy question first - why The Playmates?
NH: In about April last year we were all getting pretty ruined and were trying to come up with a name for the band and I became convinced that The Tabloid Playmates was the best band name ever... I really wanted us to be Mr Neil and The Tabloid Playmates but in the end we just shortened it and went with The Playmates.
If you had to, Whiskas - would you?
AV: I already have.
NH: If my life depended on it I'd fuck anyone, wouldn't you? He's only about one up from Bin Laden mind...
Why is it better up North?
AV: Up here it's all about community, there's nowhere else where you get the same kind of support from other bands and there's no back stabbing. Actually while we're at it can I say a special thanks to Wu from This Et Al and his girlfriend.
NH: Yeah, and you've got the unseen Leeds mafia like Jethro keeping things moving.
Which of you guys'd win in a fight?
NH: Well we've had a few...
AV: Me, I'd sit on them.
Where's your favourite place to play in Leeds and which is the best gig you've ever had?
NH: There's a wealth of good places around here - The Mixing Tin, The Cardigan Arms, Joseph's Well... Our best gig fun-wise was probably the Moor Music Festival.
AV: Or our single launch March 18th this year, 2 months before our single actually came out...
If you could write the band's future, what would it look like?
AV: Retirement.
NH: Just having fun probably.
AV: It'd be nice to make some cash... but this is probably the first time we wouldn't give up our other jobs if the band took off, I've got the best job in the world, and I'm sure you feel the same.
NH: Yeah definitely, it's really nice as well to be on a small label [The Playmates are signed to Wrath Records] that give you the freedom to do what you want. It would be nice not to worry about money as far as putting other bands on goes though - then I could put on the bands that I think are good without worrying about making money on the night.
Describe yourselves in 3 words.
AV: Reckless stupid awesome.
NH: Fit as fuck.
And Geoff?
NH: Baby sized milkman.
Any showbiz gossip?
AV: Simon from the Kaisers bought me two pints... and I saw Kate Moss and Keanu Reeves at Wireless in London, see, I've got a picture of them on my phone!
NH: Showbiz gossip is day to day life for The Playmates... Whiskas has got three nipples though.
Who's gonna win Big Brother?
NH: Gotta be Pete.
AV: Is Orlaith in it this year?
NH: John Tickle.
AV: They're all nonces.
Who's the new you?
AV: The Pigeon Detectives, I taught them everything they know...
What's the best gig you've been to recently?
AV: The Howling Bells... Yess Boss at the Packhorse...
NH: ... Shut Your Eyes And Burst Into Flames at Nasty Fest... And The Kaiser Chiefs at Millennium Square really impressed me actually.
Dance To The Radio - Discuss.
AV: We've got a new stereo... And if anyone has a go and says that it's not DIY.
NH: Or that we only get good gigs because of it.
AV: Then that's total rubbish, everything's totally done by hand and done ourselves.
What do you do to relax?
AV: Ask me in 3 weeks... [Ali's currently moving house, gigging and has a broken finger - aah]
NH: Having a night in - bit sad that isn't it?
Anything you want to say about Geoff, given he's not here?
AV: Yeah he's a rubbish drummer but he's ace.
NH: Yeah he's been in it since the beginning - he's my boy.
Thanks chaps, it's been a pleasure.
The Playmates single "Smash Hits" / "Jackie Wright" is out now.
