We caught up with SAVAGE MESSIAH before they played at DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL....
We caught up with Dave, Mira and Sam from SAVAGE MESSIAH and laughed lots as we found out much more than we anticipated about these fine, fast-rocking fellows, here's how we got on....
Great to meet you guys, it's two hours before you’re onstage, how are you feeling?
We're all feeling great!
You’ve played Download before, so what are you expecting from your 2018 appearance?
Sam - I hope it rains so the Dogtooth stage will then be packed!
Dave I hope it doesn’t rain but we love big crowds. We played the second biggest indoor arena in the world (35,000 in Tokyo) so we can do the Dogtooth (laughs)
When you play big gigs do feel the magnitude then or does it come later?
Sam - A week after Tokyo, I was like “F**k! we did that.
Dave - Before the Tokyo gig we’d been playing to a few thousand in a festival in Atlanta so we’re cool with bigger gigs.
You’ve just finished your 'Hands of Fate' UK Tour, did it go well?
Sam - It went well as people turned up (laughs)
Dave - It did go well. We went into it confidently as we could see ticket sales going up week on week!
You've just released your fourth album and your releases seem to come every three years, is this due to your creative process?
Dave - No it was to do with no real management structure behind us. We sorted that in 2016 but prior to that deal with them, it was like being blindfolded and pushed into a room full of knives.
Sam - Three years is too long but that’s cos Dave’s always on holiday! (laughs).
How did you guys meet?
Dave - Over a period of time in London. When I was in my early 20's we had a recording studio and Sam was about 12 and would come and hang out. He became my guitar tech but he was the worst guitar tech ever. He forgot stuff and leave amps behind, terrible! After gigs we’d go to meet fans and he’d already be there hanging out with them!
Sam - I accept I probably was the worst guitar tech ever. I had some licks and wanted to play in this band but I had to play in others first which is where I met Mira.
Dave - Mira had come to London from Prague following a dream and lived on mouldy bread and water for months.
Mira (laughs) True!
What are you most pleased with and what was the biggest challenge with Hands of Fate?
Dave - Getting the record deal done was the most pleasing as we voluntarily severed our previous bad contract and self-funded the album. Fortunately we got five very good offers as the music was great. So, taking that big risk really paid off and I like that. If it hadn’t we’d have been screwed, I guess that was also the biggest challenge.
Sam (who’s suddenly gone quite pale) - Can I ask, is it ok to eat one day old sushi?
What was the best before date? we asked....
Don’t know as it was hand-made by a Japanese person!
We laughingly decided that despite his earlier bravado is was pre-gig nerves.
Once you’ve finished your set, who are you looking forward to seeing?
Bullet for my Valentine, Avenged Sevenfold, The Struts and Temperance Movement for all. Sam grew up listening to Slash and Zakk Wylde so was keen to see them.
What do you get up to away from music?
Dave lives in Italy and is a Dad. Mira juggles but doesn’t give lessons. Sam plays tennis and skateboards and has considered doing both at the same time as a fall-back plan from his music career.
What an absolute pleasure to meet these guys. We hope they go from strength to strength!
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