What is your full name?
Andy Wiles
Do you have any aliases?
Have performed as a surfing zombie pirate in the past….
If you had an alias what might it be?
… never got around to to working a name out for mr pirate ☺ maybe captain more-gone
What bands are you actively involved with?
Currently concentrating on Percy and the new album but the Surf band ‘Wax Phantoms’ is still bubbling in the background.
What was the first instrument that you played?
My old maths teacher used to say he played the Linoleum, slapping my hands down on the floor. It was probably mine too.
Seriously, begged my parents for a guitar at age 11 – and got a classical one. Not what I had intended but they did get me a basic electric from the kays catalog when I was 13.
Tell me about one of your first musical memories?
The first transformative musical memory was going to see Iron Maiden live in Nov 1980, told my parents we were going round to a friend's house to hang out…. I had never heard anything that loud and, well there was no going back. I wanted to experience that feeling again and again
What was the name of the first band you were in?
That was the Shithouse Blues band – a band made up for a 6 form music marathon doing Hendrix covers. No drummer, we were bad.
Tell me about the genesis of Percy.
Colin Howard placed a small ad in a local music shop looking for a bass player. I had taken the bass up about 2 months previously, I was an average guitarist but reckoned I could be a good bass player – and there were lots of adverts for bassist needed.
Scrawny ginger kid turned up at the house with an impressive demo tape and I thought, he was not a full of himself rockstar so if I was a bit crap on the bass he probably wouldn’t have the balls to tell me to go.
We were a 4 piece at that time and worked up a 9 song set of originals and got a gig at the renowned York Fibbers venue in May 1996, at that time no fixed name as we were constantly arguing with the other guitar player.
At that time the lodger in my spare room was Tim Wright (now renowned DJ and composer of ambient electronic and game music) – he had access to a recording studio and we agreed to pay him to record a first demo. That 4 track tape and the lead track ‘Settled’ got us our first set of decent reviews and onwards to better gigs.
At the time of starting that recording we still had no name though
What inspired the name Percy?
When doing that recording we broke for lunch in the pub next door and decided once and for all to name the band. At that time the indie scene was full of one name bands – blur, oasis, suede etc so it had to be short.
I don’t know where PERCY came from but it gelled to us in different ways. It sounded cheeky, maybe deviant, the film Percy has a kinks soundtrack and it was Robert Plant’s nickname. More importantly no one else had it so it was ours!
How long did it take you to write and record Monorail?
We have always recorded the base tracks to the songs live in the rehearsal room. So between August 21 and December 21 we set up a full 16 track mike up of drums and room every time we practiced. In that way we collected versions of the songs over 5 or 6 sessions as they got tighter until we had ‘the one take’ – where we all look at each other and know that was it (and press save).
Colin Howard will always turn up to each rehearsal with 3 or 4 ideas to try out and in some cases a track just gels with the whole band and the first or second run through is just ‘magic’. The base track ‘Bellhouse Way’ for instance was the first run through of the song after agreeing the structure. You can not get more ‘live’ and teetering on the edge than that.
For Colin and Jason that would definitely be the Fall with Mark E Smith – any era – probably for the challenge of creating music in that cauldron of creativity.
For me probably Killing Joke, just for the whole visceral and magical energy.
Paula would probably love to join in with the Doors – to just be in the room with Jim Morrision, well, who wouldn’t
Have you ever heard a song and immediately wished you had written it? If so… What was the song and artist?
Recently totally inspired by Wolf Alice, their song ‘Visions of a Life’ has everything from moody post punk and goth to proggy king crimson and a bit of Math rock. Would love to have been part of that.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
As a bass player I always loved the twang and drive of the Jam’s Bruce Foxton and his Rickenbacker. Probably the main reason that I wanted to get one, although, when you sling a Ricenbacker round your neck and crank the amp up that it is not long until you are subconsciously hammering out Overkill or Ace of Spades… gotta love a bit of Lemmy
What’s a metal song that you'd like to do a cover of?
We have only ever covered one song and that was ‘Final Solution’ by Per Ubu (it is on bandcamp). We did start jamming ‘Symptoms of the Universe’ the other week though. Sludge tastic
What band have you played with that has really impressed you with their live show?
Played on an all dayer headlined by young band “Naked Six” with Biff from Saxon’s son on guitar. Really really impressive.
Do you have a favorite venue to play at?
We like the Fulford Arms in York, cracking set up and sound and as it is only 5 minutes walk away and we can leave the gear there, have a drink and go back to the gear in the morning!
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
Telling the guitarist not to turn up the amp seconds before the set starts…
What is your favorite thing about touring?
Rocking up to a brand new venue and the gamble and anticipation of seeing the stage and the set up. Seeing if it is a decent stage riser or a couple of beer crates in the room corner.
Packing up afterwards, o for a roadie!
Is there a city that you love to hit while on tour?
Manchester – amazing vibe
What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had on the road?
Being offered overnight accommodation in Edinburgh by a band contact one winter and it turning out to be a squat with no beds and a couple of blankets. Jeez I have never been so cold. They have a massive telly and it was the first time I encountered Eddie Izzard and the ‘star wars canteen’ sketch.
The year is 1995. Where are you at and what are you listening to?
Probably Pearl Jam and Neil Young
What advice would you give young musicians that are just starting out in the music business?
Just do your own thing and don’t try and be popular. Keep faith with your band mates and good will out.
What is an absolute band killer?
Leaving college in another town and the band having to disperse to get jobs where their parents live as can't afford to live in the college town. Seen that so many times.
Have you ever recorded a song that you really didn’t like, but somebody else in the band really did?
Maybe, I think in a good band dynamic you can tell if someone is not on board with a track and it soon gets dropped.
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
That I am also really, really good at my day job!
Is the Fistful of DOOM show in the top 10 of your favorite music podcasts?
Of course!
Do unicorns sleep standing up?
Must do
You’re driving cross-country and you can only listen to one album the whole time. What album will it be?
Born on the Bayou by Creedence
You are writing a book about your life thus far. What is the title of that book?
Next year we will be famous
They passed me by unfortunately – I was around at the start of Metallica though! Cliff Burton another famous Rickenbacker player
Mercyful Fate or King Crimson (if you had to choose)?
King Crimson
Doobies or Boobies (if you had to pick one)?
Aww not fair
Waffles or Pancakes (if you had to pick one)?
pancakes
Star Wars or Star Trek (if you had to choose)?
Controversial – Star Trek
Favorite band t-shirt you own?
Killing Joke tour from 1990, falling to bits now
Favorite meal?
Curry
Favorite book?
Count Zero by William Gibson
Favorite movie?
Fight Club
Favorite album?
Songs for the Deaf by QOTSA
Favorite video game?
Old skool - Defender
Big thanks to Andy for taking the time to answer my questions. I appreciate it. And Songs for the Deaf is one of my favorite albums, as well. Run. Do not walk. And check out Percy’s latest release Monorail. It’s not a style that I normally recommend, but you’ll be satisfied none-the-less.
~El Pedo Caliente (aka Uncle Jameson from the Fistful of DOOM show)
https://tenfootrecords.bandcamp.com/album/monorail-album-2022
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