20 Questions with....Chumbawamba

Band Name? Chumbawamba
Where from? Leeds UK
Members? Jude Neil Lou Phil and me
Going since? 1982
Other names considered? None
Influences? Wire, The Fall, Crass, Duke Ellington, The Beatles, Martin Carthy, Orange Juice, Frank Zappa, Conflict, Green Day, Count Basie, Bonzo Dog Band, Sex Pistols, Dave Clark Five, The Clash, Philip Glass, Ludovico Einaudi, Randy Newman, Crosby Stills & Nash, Patrik Fitzgerald, etc etc
1st song written? ‘You’re Not A Punk’.
Last song written? A celebratory song about Margaret Thatcher dying. Called ‘ So Long, So Long’.
Favourite cover by you or other band? Favourite cover by any band, ever? Probably Joe Cocker doing ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ – for resurrecting a great song about working together from the death-throes of Ringo Starr’s voice.
CD, tape or vinyl? Vinyl. Brian Patten’s album of poetry put to music still hasn’t materialised on CD.
Favourite take-out food? Indian. Absolutely Indian. We live in West Yorkshire, it’s our traditional dish.
Favourite drink? Tea.
Tattoos or piercings? Both.
Favourite live band? Mik Artistik, of this parish.
Favourite place to play? City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds.
If you could form your ultimate super-group from people, living or dead, musicians or not, who would be in it and why? Lenny Bruce on vocals, for saying what needs to be said. Bettina Schelker on backing vocals because she has the best voice. Joe Strummer writing the band’s manifesto. Harry Hamer and Neil Ferguson (Chumbawamba) on drums and bass, cos they can play with anyone and make it sound tight. Martin Bramah of the first incarnation of The Fall on guitar. Or Terri from The Ex. Amazing guitarists who never played solos.
Meat or two veg? Two veg, no meat.
Best question ever asked, and what did you answer? Is it true that you all sleep together? Answer: of course. Always.
Any advice for people just starting bands? It’s not a career, it’s for love. Do it for ten years, with no money at all, before you’re convinced you really mean it, before you know you really want to do this with your life. If you’re still doing it after ten years, you’ll make it.
A short message to the masses….the world according to you? The world is a mess. Rock n Roll alone won’t save it. In fact, Rock n Roll will probably help the world along towards its destruction. Unless you get involved, use music to change things. xxxxx

Chumbawamba
PO Box TR 666
Leeds
LS12 3XJ
UK
www.chumba.com
www.myspace.com/acoustichumbawamba
chumba@chumba.com