Q&A with Alan (Guitar & Vocals):

Why the drums?

According to the above I don’t play drums.
[fixed that-ed]

Who’s the greatest drummer (living or dead)?

Don’t really know any drummers, or in fact anything about drums, I just play them - full stop.

What are you listening to most at the moment?

David Bowie – Heathen, Best of Blondie, The Frames.

What music/album/artist would you say has had the greatest influence on you?

No single answer to this one, I listen to a wide variety of music, I like complex arrangements whether they be orchestral or computer generated.

A desert island moment : what 5 albums would you most want with you if you were stranded and why?

1. The Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs – should need no explanation!
2. The Pixies – Doolittle or Bosa Nova - hard to call
3. The Beatles – Abbey Road
4. Bruce Springsteen – The Wild The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle (for New York City Serenade)
5. Matthew Sweet – Time Capsule

How much do you think your musical influences have impacted on divebomb’s music?

Ask the other two!

Seen any good gigs recently?

No!

What live performance has had the greatest impact on you?

The Magnetic Fields – close call between the HQ & Olympia gigs.

Of divebomb’s music, which songs are you proudest of?

Not sure yet

What divebomb moments to date stick in your mind as being most satisfying?

See above

What excites you more; gigging or recording?

Hard one: Recording varies from downright boring to really enjoyable and often hilarious – especially those that go on all night – there’s nothing like trying to nail a take at 5:30am having consumed vast quantities of beer and wine.
Gigs vary hugely depending on the sound and the crowd on the night – 9 out of 10 times it’s a good result and often it’s a very good buzz on stage.

How do you find the live music scene in Dublin?

Too many bands chasing too few venues together with a reluctance on behalf of the general public to go see live bands.

The new divebomb album is nearing completion, what are you hopes and plans for this release?

I hope that it will in fact be completed.

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Q&A with Rob (Bass & Vocals):

Why the bass?

When I was 15, I played in a band with a drummer and 4 guitarists. Something had to give. And I was such a good guitarist, I needed a new challenge.

Who’s the greatest bassist (living or dead)?

Dead I’d say Sid Vicious, more for attitude than ability. Living I’d go for JJ Burnel (Stranglers) for attitude and ability. Great nasty bass sound. Quite fond of Hookie from New Order too. In a musical way.

What are you listening to most at the moment?

The new Mull Historical Society and Stephen Jones (Babybird) albums quite a lot. And for some reason a lot of old Sonic Youth stuff in the car. And eh, Lyric FM.

What music/album/artist would you say has had the greatest influence on you?

The Psychedelics Furs (who?) have had the biggest impact on me. Buy 1982’s Talk Talk Talk. Class. Got into them in my early teens and still listen to them lots. And The Beatles (everything but particularly Abbey Road). And Punk (Pistols and Clash). I could go on and on. I usually do.

A desert island moment : what 5 albums would you most want with you if you were stranded and why?

1. Astronauts by The Lilac Time. A beautiful album. Makes me cry like a little girl. Don’t look for it in the shops. It’s not there anymore.
2. Pink Moon by Nick Drake. Another wonderful album. Makes me whimper like a lost puppy. The sound of a man drifting into insanity. Nick, that is, not me.
3. Abbey Road by The Beatles. Its been scientifically proven by NASA that this is the most perfect album ever made and is virtually impossible to grow tired of. Plus, it makes me smile. (Disclaimer: may not actually have been proved, but should be).
4. I should say 69 Love Songs by Magnetic Fields but I just knooooow one of the other two will bring it (We’re stranded together, aren’t we??) so instead I’ll go for Lloyd Cole by Lloyd Cole. I never go on holidays without this album anyway. Sunny day music but very depressing at the same time, like all good music should be.
5. Dammit, I want to bring more than 5. Eh, a toss up between Space Oddity (Bowie), Forever Changes (Love) and Never Mind the Bollocks (Pistols) or the first divebomb album (snigger). Fuck it I’ll go for the Pistols. Still great energy in that album. I’ll probably change my mind tomorrow. When are we going?

How much do you think you musical influences have impacted on divebomb’s music?

We once played a gig and this Australian guy told me that we reminded him of the Psychedelic Furs. I took this as a compliment. But other than that, I don’t really know. I find it hard to judge my own stuff in that way to be honest and am constantly surprised by some of the comparsions we get. I hear Dave’s influences come through probably more than mine. This also should be taken as a compliment Dave!

Seen any good gigs recently?

Last gig I saw was 2 weeks ago. Hugh Cornwell (Stranglers) in The Helix. He was thrown out for smoking!! Horrible venue for live rock music. Nice place to read a book. Before that, the Fannies in the Ambassador was great. Looking forward to Mull Historical, Love and of course, Sir Paul.

What live performance has had the greatest impact on you?

Iggy in the Mean Fiddler was amazing. I was terrified. Don’t remember much about the music, just this 50 year old guy wrecking the place and stage-diving with his pants down. Very few gigs I see don’t affect me in some way and I’ve rarely seen bands that I can truly say were truly awful truly.

Of divebomb’s music, which songs are you proudest of?

All of my ones. I hate Dave’s songs. But don’t tell him.
Actually, I find the tracks that we really experiment on the most fun. A lot of the stuff we record comes from songs we play live and then try to recapture in a recording. With the experimental stuff, there’s no boundaries like that.

What divebomb moments to date stick in your mind as being most satisfying?

Too many to mention. Time spent recording in Wicklow is a gas. Particularly when we’re experimenting and usually at 5 in the morning. That’s when the magic happens!

What excites you more; gigging or recording?

Recording live gigs. Actually, that’s something we must do. If I’d to choose, I’d go for recording. It’s more creative and ultimately more rewarding.

How do you find the live music scene in Dublin?

Well you’ve to look very hard but its there. There’s only really a handful of venues around for bands at our level and all of this ‘pay to play’ stuff is bullshit. Bands in Dublin put a lot of time and effort in. I understand the problem is that few people go to see live music anymore. There seems to be a bit more interest around at the moment which is nice so fingers crossed……

The new divebomb album is nearing completion, what are you hopes and plans for this release?

We just hope that it touches the hearts of our fans and joins the whole world together in a bond of peace and love. Failing that, some interest from somewhere would be nice. We have absolutely no problem with selling out!

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Q&A with dave (Guitar & Vocals) :

Why the guitar?

Why the attitude?

Who’s the greatest guitarist (living or dead)?

Mick Ronson

What are you listening to most at the moment?

The voices – they never go away

What music/album/artist would you say has had the greatest influence on you?

Punk/Tupelo Honey/Bowie (I know it doesn’t make sense)

A desert island moment: what 5 albums would you most want with you if you were stranded and why?

1. Pet Sounds
2. The Stone Roses
3. Station to Station
4. Tupelo Honey
5. 69 Love Songs (it’s a bit like the “…and three more wishes” thing)

How much do you think your musical influences have impacted on divebomb’s music?

I feel somehow responsible for the Jam reference that we often get. It could be the Van Morrison rhythms combining with SLF’s punk-tasticness in my head. Or maybe its just Rob. Or Alan.

Seen any good gigs recently?

Yes, BRMC, what ever happened to our rockin’ roll?

What live performance has had the greatest impact on you?

Well it’s got to be Iggy at the Mean Fiddler hasn’t it?

Of divebomb’s music, which songs are you proudest of?

Overboard because it’s only 2 chords and 2 minutes, 54 seconds and it still sounds good and Dark Love because its 53 chords (4 of which were previously undiscovered) and 12 minutes, 28 seconds

What divebomb moments to date stick in your mind as being most satisfying?

No one big moment. Just the little things: doing a good gig or writing a good song. That time we did Madison Square Gardens was good I suppose. *

What excites you more; gigging or recording?

At it’s best - gigging

How do you find the live music scene in Dublin?

Awful, and not showing any signs of improvement. How thousands of people will pay €70 to go and see Robby Williams or Gareth Fucking Gates when good Irish bands can’t fill Doran’s charging €5 on a Saturday night – I despair.

The new divebomb album is nearing completion, what are your hopes and plans for this release?

Just for it to be good and to have nothing on it that we regret later.

*Ahem.

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