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Gothic Rock touched by the Hand of God

Passion Play are a fabulous gothic rock band from England so we wanted to put them in the spotlight now when they've just released their second album, "Dreaming Spikes".

Tell something about Passion Play for those sorry bastards who haven't heard ya.
- (Justin) I've been asked this question a hundred times, but I still never really know how to answer it! We're a guitar band, we're into music that makes you feel something (laugh, cry, dance, sit in a dark corner - whatever, so long as you feel something) and we rely on writing good songs. We're not heavy metal and we're not techno - that means we sometimes get described as "old-fashioned" or "traditional", but then I'm an old fashioned kind of guy! I can only write music that inspires me, so that means tunes that stick in your head and lyrics that mean something to me.

How come you people started creating music?
- (Lin) I always wanted to be in a band and I took up classical guitar when I was very young. About 10 years ago I got together with some friends and formed a band called Death By Crimpers. We did a lot of gigs round the UK and released a single, and then all fell out with each other and split up! Then I got together with a bass player, Mark Bosley, and we started playing music together. I knew Justin as a friend and since we were looking for a guitarist, I asked him if he wanted to come along to a rehearsal, and Passion Play were born. Mark left a couple of years later and Mike, who I knew as a husband, took over as bassist.
- (Justin) This is all I've ever wanted to do - it was fortunate timing, as well as Lin and I already being friends that meant we got together as a band. Nevertheless, when Mark left (before we'd ever. actually done anything) and Mike joined, we effectively started again as a new band. Whilst I'd wanted to get a band together for a while, I didn't know where to start and I'd never done it before - the first time I picked up an electric guitar or sang into a microphone was our first rehearsal. Things have improved a lot since then!

What kind of music do you listen to? Favourite bands?
- (Justin) Originally, I got into bands like Southern Death Cult, Bauhaus, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Gene Loves Jezebel and a whole lot of others. I rarely listen to them now though. Rosetta Stone were my band of the 90's and I still listen to them. Looking forward to Porl King's new stuff! One of my all-time favourites are The Chameleons. Our last gig was supporting The Chameleons on their German tour in Bielefeld last month, so I was a very happy man that night. In the last couple of years I've been impressed by Faith & The Muse, Breath Of Life, This Burning Effigy and a new German band I've listened to a lot recently are New Days Delay.
- (Lin) I like old, traditional goth stuff, like X Mal Deutschland, The Cure, Altered States, Sex Gang Children, etc. I also love Cranes, and a while ago, we went to see Queen Adreena, who were fantastic.
- (Mike) I listen to alternative rock bands like The Breeders, The Amps, P J Harvey, Queen Adreena and such stuff.

Major inspiration, both musically and otherwise?
- (Lin) Musically, it has to be dreams and alcohol. I don't write many songs, but when I do, I tend to write the lyrics when I'm drunk, and they tend to be about strange dreams I've had. Otherwise, I guess the people and atmosphere around me inspire me in different ways.
- (Mike) People who have integrity inspire me. Musically, I'm more inspired by songs than specific types of music.
- (Justin) Hmmmm - what inspires me? I think the biggest inspiration has been playing live, particularly in Germany. As we do everything ourselves, there are times when I get so tired and frustrated from working so hard and never having enough money to do what I want to do that I wonder if I should carry on. Then we go and play in Germany and hundreds of people who've never seen us before show up, love what we do, create the most amazing atmosphere and treat us like kings - that's when I remember why we do it. The gigs we played this year in Leipzig at the Wave Gotik Treffen festival and Bielefeld with The Chameleons were nights I'll never forget - the audiences were just amazing - so those memories will keep inspiring me for a long time to come.

Yeah, the gig in Leipzig. I suppose you noticed the two tall drunken Swedes who danced like crazy the entire concert. Well, it was a great concert and we surely had the greatest time! Tell me about the new album - is it still gothic rock touched by the hand of god? ;)
- (Justin) It's sounding much better than "Stress Fractures" and I think the songs show that we've matured as a band, but our sound will always be based on guitars rather than electronics. So yes, we'll continue delivering "gothic rock touched by the hand of god", only better!
- (Lin) We've recorded two songs for it so far, and I'm really pleased with how it sounds. I wouldn't say it's more electronic than "Stress Fractures", but you'll have to judge that when you listen to it! I've written one of the songs that will be on the album, and it's actually not about demons this time, which is a bit of a daring variation for me.
- (Mike) The album is sounding better than the previous one because of better equipment in the studio and our greater experience in using it, also the songs are stronger.

Any touring plans?
- (Justin) Yes, our main priority is Europe. A proper tour of Germany is the first thing I want to sort out, hopefully around May next year, but we'd also like to venture elsewhere in Europe - it will depend on time and money as it always does, but we'll do as much as we can.

So, what do you do when you are not working with Passion Play? If you have any such time, that is.
- (Lin) I really enjoy my job, working as an editor for students' history magazines. The rest of my spare time I spend squelching around a muddy field looking after my horse, and drinking cider with our friends in Oxford, or drinking cider with Mike at home, or drinking cider at home alone, or drinking cider...
- (Mike) I spend my spare time wandering around the countryside taking photographs. I like to read a lot, my favourite book recently was by Tibor Fischer. I also listen to music, collect antique cameras and work in IT for my sins.
- (Justin) Well on the rare occasions I have any spare time, I try to get some sleep! Apart from that, I go and watch Lin after she's drank too much cider - she's very entertaining, you know... ;-)

What do you think about the goth scene regarding bands in UK? Personally, I think it has been going downwards for quite some time.
- (Lin) In terms of bands, there are a few I like - I don't think the scene is as bad as all that - and Whitby is brilliant. Although, there are quite a lot of people who go there just to dress up and look cool. I must admit though, that when we have played abroad we have had an excellent reception, and everyone is really enthusiastic and friendly.
- (Justin) Well, the UK goth scene is very small - if it weren't for a handful of promoters who work very hard to put on gigs and events, we'd have nothing at all. Getting established in the UK is very hard work and there are very few bands that I rate at the moment - the goth scene here might not be too great, but there are still some talented people around. I think half the problem is that because the scene is so small, there is a tendency for some people to develop egos and self-importance way beyond their stature. Trying purely to be a bigger fish in a very small pond just results in setting low standards, when concentrating on your own content and quality would be much more productive and relevant. I don't pay too much attention to what's happening specifically in the UK scene, anyway - we just get on with doing what we're doing, getting better at it and working as hard as we can to give a wider audience the chance to decide for themselves. The UK is part of that, but Europe is a whole lot bigger...

That ego thing seem to be like some kind of goth plague - I hope those foul creatures get a grip of reality soon. Anyhow, what do you think about the goth scene in general? Anything positive to say about any 90's bands?
- (Justin) Well the goth scene is a very strange thing - the emphasis changes from country to country and although there is a lot of crap around, there's also some really good stuff if you're prepared to go out and discover it. I do find it a little depressing at times when it feels like everywhere is being taken over by lazy, soulless techno, which I really don't like. Hearing yet another carbon-copy of the Sisters is just as bad. It all comes down to personal taste at the end - but so long as there are still bands that can be creative, memorable and write great songs, then there's hope... Given the amount of 80's bands that are reappearing, they can obviously see that there's still an appetite for what they do - although some lost their sparkle and energy long ago, other bands like The Chameleons still have it and are as relevant now as they were then. The cream rises to the top in the end, so the more bands that can be inspired by quality instead of cliché, the better.
- (Lin) There are a few 90's goth bands that I listen to - I mentioned Cranes earlier, I also used to like the Marionettes. Although both of these started in the 80's. On the whole, it's the 80's bands I keep coming back to.

Any final words?
- (Justin) Good to talk to you again, Johan - I hope we'll get the opportunity to include Scandinavia in our touring plans at some point. See you...

/JA

Photos from Wave Gotik Treffen 2000, by Sami Sinervä.

Passion Play:
Justin Stephens (lead vocals, guitar, programming etc.) Linda Lloyd (guitar, vocals) Mike Watkins (bass)

Discography:
Name No Names EP MCD 1999
Stress Fractures CD 1999
Dreaming Spikes CD 2001

PASSION PLAY
PO BOX 269
KIDLINGTON
OX5 1GS
UK

http://www.passionplay.co.uk/
info@passionplay.co.uk

Passion Play live at Wave Gotik Treffen. Photo by Sami Sinervä.