Issue 10. July 2001
Hello there. It's been a while since we last met and you may be wondering what we've been up to. Well, while Paul was being spotted munching 'Percy Pigs' in a rented Volvo, Roj was slipping into his open-toed sandals and sipping no-nonsense real ales whilst expanding his Rod Stewart repertoire at a Vietnamese karaoke.
Welcome to issue 10.
Bookmark this page 'cos you know you can't live without us.
This month sees the release of our long-anticipated video. It was shot on 10th May during a gig at Glen Studios by Shakey Hand-Man Productions. The audience were uncharacteristically subdued during the performance which only serves to enhance the dynamic, soul-searingly quality of the vocals and the wall-throbbing beat of synchronistic guitars.
Beer or spirits?
Definitely spirits - Pernod. Well, sometimes I drink beer and fall over.
Steps or S Club 7?
Who?
Do you have any pets?
Not anymore. I have a large appetite.
Kylie or Danni Minogue?
Like there's any contest, Kylie!
What's the hardest thing about being in a band?
How can you say anything is hard when it's something you've always wanted to do?
If anything, I hate photo sessions, stuff where you have to sit around all day,
but how can I complain?
Who is your guitar hero?
Jimmy Page
Are the Beatles the best band of all time?
No.
Who are?
Led Zeppelin
If you had to emigrate where would you go?
New Zealand
SCARY is a rock band based in York, England. The band currently consists of two full-time members; lead guitarist Paul "Noodler" Martin and rhythm guitarist Roger "Sorry" Butler-Ellis. They both double up on vocals.
No band can exist in isolation, and even musical minimalists such as SCARY need a back-up team to provide vital assistance. So here are the folks that help make us rock:-
At last the long-awaited SCARY video has been released. Culled from a recent gig at Glen Studios and tastefully edited, it shows a complete live set and also features "It'll be alright on the night" -type cock-up footage.
Rumours are now rife that SCARY will be making a festival appearance this year, probably at "T in the Dark", a special low-key gathering taking place in Edinburgh on 4th August.
Granite Rock Productions are currently in talks with Dark Sun Records for what is expected to be the first gig of the year outside of Glen Studios. Both Paul and Roj are said to be very excited at the prospect and promise "A day to remember..."
In keeping with their current "no charge" policy, SCARY continue to offer free admission to their micro-gigs.
It's probably been quite a typical day. A few hours learning the long lost language of the angels. Further study of the magickal properties of the human anatomy. A shift at the animation studio investing emotion into some fire-damaged marionettes and a slug-shaped, flesh tinged lump of plasticine. And for a spot of light relief, two hours of absurdly intense rock nonsense courtesy of SCARY.
It must be said, SCARY are never knowingly unpretentious. "There's a war going on," announces Roj, "and the creative people are losing." As one of the dark architects of rock's grinding cover faction, Roj plainly sees his York-based band as the antidote to the fratboy bluster of Limp Bizkit.
Totally wired from the start - nerves, maybe, or pure adrenaline. Roj leans into the mic and his legs spasm in anticipation. The fuse is lit, sonic mayhem ensues. Words vomit across the audience. This is visceral, this is open-heart, blue intestine in-your-face noise.
The stage is puritanically minimal, foregrounding SCARY's keep-it-real rawk agenda. The gamble pays off, mainly because they play with guts and masses of hits. The set list is well known to some, but then, after ten songs, the rabbit from the hat. "Seven Day's in the Sun", a recent minor hit for Feeder, delivered tonight in an rousing, incandescent performance. The audience is stunned and while they stare frog-eyed, the band have left the stage. There is a pregnant pause then the crowd go mad, baying for more.
SCARY take to the stage again and Paul beams with delight at the reaction. Then, we're off again on the rock 'n' roller-coaster ride that is their encore. Four more blistering tunes and then, the piece de resistance, a awesome rendition of Oasis's "Rock 'n' Roll Star". And when Roj bellows, "you're all in my hands/tonight." they truly were.
Hashish Brown