Charlotte, NC

Okay, CrownTowners, here it is: the interview with the greatest band to hit the UK stage in forty-plus years! Excited fans are crowding into every venue to see their faves — Spencer Hannabuss (bass, vocals, songwriter, founding member), Luke Bentley (rhythm, vocals), Simon Thompson (drums, vocals) and Matt Hardy (lead, vocals) — as they turn up the amps and crank out the best rock and roll to tempt dancin’ feet and anxious ears since The Beatles!

Now, Charlotte’s known for its love of the UK beat ala Beatles, Hollies, DC5 and such (a lot of fine bands played this area during the Invasion) and soon, The Fore’s gonna be hittin’ the stage (and winnin’ the hearts of millions of fans) worldwide! That includes Charlotte, troops! Natch, to quench your thirst for their awesome Mersey/Hamburg sound, just go here and click on their widget. And check out their performance vids on YouTube® (just type The Fore in the search box)!

Now, I had a chance to get up with the band recently — with your questions in hand (hey … I printed ‘em out exactly as you wrote ‘em! No changes; didn’t wanna leave anything out!) — and they were happy to answer!! (Note: Matt couldn’t make it to the “meeting of the minds” for this, but he had the others answer on his behalf). Now, remember: I had your questions just like you wrote ‘em – and that’s how I’m writin’ ‘em here!

The lads’ answers are in bold type:

“Did any of you know each other well (as friends or schoolmates) before coming together as a band?”
LUKE: We all met through a dating site! haha
SIMON: We could have been a great boy band. lol
SPENCER: Whilst Simon, Matt and I all live in and around London, we all went to different schools and only met through adverts posted on the internet/music magazines/shops (Luke’s from Manchester)

“How did you come up with your unique sound? You sound so much like the Beatles and the famous groups its awesome. Plus your vocals sound like Beatles The Everleys (sic) and The Hollies.”
SPENCER: It must be in our blood! I think you’ve hit the nail on the head; the sound has a mixture of all those great bands and more. The Beatles were the band that first got us hooked on music, but, without doubt, the music and the harmonies of The Everlys, The Hollies and The Searchers (to name just four) has had a profound effect on our music.
LUKE: Spencer and myself are huge fans of The Everlys.

“Who decides who sings the lead part of a song?”
LUKE: Spencer asks us if we want the particular song, then we say “yes” or “no”.
SPENCER: When I’ve written a song I tend to know straight away whose voice it suits the best. Maybe it’s just pure luck? But could you really imagine Luke not singing I Got A Girl or Simon not singing Man of Few Words? It just wouldn’t feel right!

Spencer, this one’s for you: “how long does it normaly (sic) take u to write a song and do u do the music as well?”
SPENCER: Not an easy question to answer. Some songs come very easy. For example, I Want To Be With You took one evening to write, but Love For Sale was hanging around for a month until I worked out the riff, which is pretty key to the whole song. Nearly without exception I’ll come up with the melody before the lyrics. I’ll start off with the melody “hook” or riff and take it from there.
Often a song will come quite quickly, but I’ll be stuck on the last verse.

“Matt sounds like George (Harrison) with his guitar but does not seem to talk to (sic) much. Why is he so quite?” (I think she means “quiet”, guys.)
SPENCER: When Matt has something important to say, he’ll say it. I guess he does all his talking through his guitar!

“What’s the biggest show you have ever played?”
SPENCER: Good question! Biggest, in terms of audience, was undoubtedly in Kent, when we provided the live show at Danson Fireworks Display in Bexley. The organisers told us that 35,000 were expected that evening, although we would never have known it — we couldn’t see anything past the first 5 rows due to the darkness!
And, of course, everytime we play a live show on a High Street, we must play to literally thousands of passers-by. I guess we don’t really ever take a stock of that (ie: count of exactly how many).

“Luke is so cuddly looking. (NOTE: here, imagine the others chuckling and kidding Luker, who’s blushing a bit — Relic) i saw him sing on i’ve got a girl. does he have one? and is he the one singing on the record of it?”
LUKE: Thanks. I sing it live and on the album. Its my fav song at the mo! And, yes, I do have one.”

“What is it like to play the Cavern where the Beatles started? (followup question, same reader:) How did you get the job there to start?”
LUKE: Playing The Cavern is the best experience I have ever had! Words cannot describe how wonderful it is … Come next time we play! Find out!
SIMON: As soon as you’re onstage you feel the energy creeping out of the walls and you feel that all the great 60’s bands that have played there are watching over you! It’s a huge thrill!!
SPENCER: It’s amazing! Technically it’s not the real Cavern (the old one was blocked up as it was waterlogged and unsafe); it actually is a replica of the old venue (which is next door. Legend has it that you can still access the old Cavern via the womens’ toilets), but it has the same magic as the place that the Beatles played. I recommend everyone to get a chance to visit it and take in the atmosphere. To hear a live band playing the old 60s stuff as you’re coming down the spiral staircase is pretty mind-blowing!
SIMON: I believe we emailed the promoter direct who puts on an event called Sounds of the 60s on a Sunday night and, as we do, turned up, played, and they wanted more!

Okay, QC’ers … I’m gonna give the lads a break for a few hours, but remember: more of “The fab FORE Interview” will continue in TOMORROW’S ish! If you’ve got questions for the band, send ‘em on in to me here, and just maybe we can include them in the next post!

But, for now, it’s time for this ol’ Pineville boy to take a litter … er, bathroom break (I knew these cats were gettin’ to me!) and then get Pt. I also onto a coupla other sites, where fans there are waitin’ for it!

Then, I’m gonna find that pack of unopened zzzzzz’s and use ‘em to get a few hours’ shuteye, k? So, until tomorrow’s edition, remember The Relic’s words:

Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music … and I’ll see ya on the flip side!