The Grammers

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Interview : Andy from The Grammers

When and how was your band created?
Band was created on the ruins of grunge cover band(,which was founded at 1996,( also named as The Grammers)) at the year 1999.There are three founding members left in the band, drummer Jussi Vuola, guitarist Hannu Huitu and singer Hannu Vainionpää.Later these two fantastic guys, guitarist Ville Vesalainen and basist Saku"love machine"Kujala, filled vacuum in our band and we started to make our own hardrocking songs.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
Band name...hmmm...We all are bastard sons of comedian Kelsey Grammer.He´s been around...a lot

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Personally, I have to say names like Bon Scott, Layne Staley, Rob Halford...Bands that influenced our may be The Cult, AC/DC, Alice in Chains, Iron Maiden etc

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
We could have more rock clubs or other places to play in here.But what can you do.We come from the small military town (5000 people), so it´s quite hard to get a gig from bigger cities for example Helsinki.We are underdogs in here but it suits for us.People try to put us down, but that just makes to create even greater songs.Kind of lame thing to say but it´s true.

How could you define your style of music?
We play Hard Rock with a taste jurtti(you can only guess).It´s a raunchy personal mix.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
At first years we too much in hurry.Too fast with too low skills(?).And the style was lost in the haze of grungyactionrockypunk.During the years found this exact beat to play and we know what to do with it.How to play the stormy riffs on it, how to sing how to do EVERYTHING with it.How to play Hard rock that we all love.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
Topics goddamn.We cherish the things like personal freedom and how to remain sane in this beautiful but insane world.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Favorite song changes almost everyday and now it feels that is song called Hard Time Mother.It´s in our forthcoming album.I can feel the chills and my blood is running fast in my veins when this songs starts even after an hour and a half of rocking on stage.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
Definetily in live shows.Our music is as it´s best on stage.We have a good reputation as a live band.But we don´t suck in studio either,hee hee.

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
Everytime some part finds its place and big picture is starting to get its shape.It sure feels good when you know that you have something amazing in your hands.And of course when the "child" has born you just got to love it and you will.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
I can´t say what is THE best ´cause it changes.So I have to say the song that i listened this morning and it made me smile reeeeaaally wide. AC/DC´s Touch too much.(absolutely great warm up song for the night out)

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
That´s a tough one.In my opinion you it´s ok to spread music in the internet.Big companies just cannot just stop it, no one can.I trust that fans who really likes/loves the music will buy the record.Not everyone has the money to buy new CD´s (about 21 euros in Finland), so to me it¨s ok to get it from the internet.There has been illegal copying before, from LP´s to cassettes and there was no fuss.But now when big record labels are loosing money big time it´s so fucking big thing.But it´s really unfair to the artist when his music can be founded from the internet when it´s not ready or published yet, that sucks ass really deep.There´s so many problems and many more to come so...I hope that it will turn out right.

What are your projects?
There´s enough project in The Grammers to me and i LOVE it.

What "image" do you have of French music?
I have to admit that I don´t know nothing about french music scene.I know this band called Phoenix, i heard one song(and i didn´t liked it)Of course i know these computer/machine/techno music dudes but they are out of my range.Sorry to say i don´t know nothing.

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
There´s this one song that´s been going round and round in my head but i don¨t it´s name.I think it´s from the sixties but i can´t remember it´s goddamn name. I´ll let you know when i know.

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006