Fat White Family

It’s a distorted, swaggering ‘90s britpop doozy, doused in Amsterdam’s red light district sleaze, narcotised pop-rock and dude anus. Saoudi snarls like a man possessed, drenched in sweat from either the tobacco-clogged atmosphere or withdrawal. To describe it as skeevy would be an understatement – where were the Fat Whites when Trainspotting came out? They live and breathe the excess of urban poverty, with outlets from The Quietus to The Guardian being simultaneously impressed and set on edge by the band’s sound: “[It’s] like a mix of Bong Water, Charles Manson, the Butthole Surfers round a campfire, the most smacked out and slowest Birthday Party and Cramps numbers.” ​

Saoudi’s earning himself a reputation as this generation’s GG Allin, faeces ‘n’ all. So, with that picture firmly in our minds, we were utterly taken aback by the Northern charm from the well-read ex-bohemian raised on Bruce Springsteen. ​

So just as a quick introduction, how did the band form?

We all lived in Peckham a few years back… we were in other bits and pieces like pub-rock stuff, and we started doing an acoustic night in the area, starting with folk and country. We just kept adding more and more until it got a bit loud for an acoustic night. That’s about it, it just grew out of nothing.

What non-music things influence you?

I read a lot. I like Steinbeck. I love the Grapes Of Wrath… but there’s loads of stuff y’know? It’s all across the board. I particularly like 20th century fiction, especially all the bloody stuff.

Did you always want to pursue a career in music?

I didn’t even get a guitar until I was like 17. I grew up in northern Holland, there were no bands, it didn’t occur to me it was even a faint possibility. I moved to London at 18, and even then I didn’t take it seriously. I was in art school. Music wasn’t something that came naturally; it probably shows still. Did I always envision it? Maybe not. I just kinda go with the flow.

What music did you grow up listening to?

When I were growing up my parents weren’t musical, there wasn’t much around. There were big guys that’d seep down, but there was no-one around that was into stuff that was properly out there. It would’ve been like Dylan, Cash, The Doors, Springsteen. They were just always there, y’know? It wasn’t until later I got into more alternative stuff, getting down into a particular style.

I guess these days I’m into outsiders that keep it weird. That complete lack of professionalism is great.

How did you write/record “Touch The Leather”?

With Alex Sibley. It came from another song called “Mud On The Road”... I can’t really remember how, but the lyrics shifted and changed when we were singing it at parties. Its’ a collection of those early ideas.

To me it sounds like a new direction for you guys – it’s a little more polished, a little more poppy – is it representative of where your sound is going?

We put out “Wet Hot Beef”, which is really weird, not playable by any radio stations… I think we thought it’d be funny to do something that was more of a pop single after that. It’ll be a return to weirdness soon though. Something that’s less blatant and interruptive.

Can we expect to see a follow up to Champagne Holocaust this year?

We’ve been working on it a while. We’ve been doing lots a lot of touring and festivals, and we’ve had lots on our plate, but we’ll be recording at the end of this year and hopefully release it ealy next year. I guess we’re sorta two thirds done. We’ll do some work on it over the summer, record for a month at end of the year and then release it at the beginning of 2015. Hopefully.

There’s been a lot of talk surrounding the band, around the fact that you’re saving rock. Do you think that’s true? Did it need saving?

Oh, people just like to bandy that around, don’t they? It’s sensationalist journalism. If someone wants to say it then they can, but I don’t feel like the saviour of anything. I’m trying to have a good a time as possible before I shuffle of this mortal coil. I’m bloody happy with the way things are going, but saviour? No. It’s faintly ridiculous if you ask me.

What does rock’n’roll mean to you?

Before I was into music and I was into painting, when I came to London and I was disillusioned with art school, being in a band suddenly occurred. We were the worst band bar none… the second gig we ever played was in someone’s bedroom, and it was like the biggest buzz ever. It all started from there.

For me, rock is immediately accessible and provokes an immediate interaction. You don’t need anything to do it. Its an art form which is a truly democratic medium. In its own way. The tone is ridiculous and yet serious, and I enjoy that it’s all over in 2/3 minutes. It doesn’t demand much. So for me, you can be more free than in rock than in anything else.

Today there’s been lots of rumours and talk of Oasis reuniting, the new Pixies record is released, as well as the Libertines reunion – what do you make of this wave of heritage acts returning? Is it good or bad?

The fact that it gets so much coverage is weird. Look at the line-up of Reading 1990 and then this year; there’s no real comparison. It’s a depressing affirmation of the calibre of live rock in general today. Anything that’s really genuinely good ends up brief and marginalised on the ground. It’s all just safe game players – y’know, polite music.

We want to take a shit on that if possible.

Your live sets are famously hectic. What’s your goal heading into a performance?

I don’t have one at all. I guess some people develop a method, how to approach shows and get into the right state of mind, but I don’t really. I want people to have a good time. So I guess that’s the goal, really.

Do you ever get nervous?

Yeah? Nervous or excited, maybe? I dunno if its nervousness or just over excitement but there’s definitely something there.

Are you disappointed about the Somerset House ruling?

I don’t know who runs the shop there, but it was Franz Ferdinand who asked us, and then Somerset intervened. I’m guessing ‘the board’ had something to say. If I bought tickets I’d feel patronised by the snobbery of those people telling me who I can and can’t see. I was more surprised to be offered it in the first place than getting dropped. Its just snobbery though, isn’t it?

What can we expect from the band for the rest of the year? Will we be seeing you at any festivals?

Expect loads! Pretty much all the festivals. Starting in the next few weeks. We’ve got Great Escape, Glastonbury and Reading and all of them. Then a bit more touring by ourselves. A new single in the summer, maybe another towards the end of the year, then we’ll get the record out early next year.

What’s going to be the summer highlight?

Glastonbury for sure. The only the time I’ve ever been is when I broke in a few years ago, so it’ll be nice to go and get paid, y’know?

Fat White Family play this year’s Field Day Festival - on the Shacklewell Arms / Best Fit stage. Tickets are still available here.