Charlotte, NC

Well, this is the last segment of the innerview with Spencer Hannabuss (bass, vocals, songwriter, founding member), Luke Bentley (rhythm, vocals), Simon Thompson (drums, vocals) and Matt Hardy (lead, vocals) — collectively, THE FORE! (no, it’s not a misspelling! You’re reading the “interview” that gives you an “inner view” of the popular lads!)
Now, I’ve had a few e-mails that have asked “What does this have to do with Charlotte?” The answer’s in three parts: (1) Some of the questions were asked by CrownTowners; (2) the lads love NC and its people, and (3) with growing national interest in our SpongeTones comes an interest in the British Invasion and bands that are carryin’ that sound into the 21st Century! Besides, the band definitely wants to play Charlotte when they get over here!
That being said, here we go with Pt. 3 of The Fab FORE Interview!

(Now, one more time, troops: remember … I printed the questions out exactly as you wrote ‘em! No changes; didn’t wanna leave anything out! And, like I said before, Matt couldn’t make it to the “meeting of the minds” for this, but he had the others answer on his behalf).

The lads’ answers are in bold type:

“My son Chris wants to start a rock band he hopes will be sucessful (sic). Since the fore is so good and sucessful (sic) can you give him some advice on what he will have to do and what he needs to look out for?”

SIMON: A good drummer!! I’m sure Spencer will fill in the rest — he’s been there! lol

DAVID (co-manager): Well crafted songs are your biggest asset, along with practice, practice and then more practice! Play everywhere, one minute the Fore are playing with the Bootleg Beatles or at the Cavern and the next they are pushing trolleys full of equipment to play in the High Street! Keep moving forward and never give in. Be positive! Oh … and did I mention practice?

SPENCER: I’ll add to that - The first thing is to enjoy what you’re doing. Full stop. It sounds simple but if you’re playing music in a band that isn’t what you’re looking to do it’ll never work. We all love playing the style of music that we do and that’s so important - in the past we have had musicians in the band who weren’t 100% into the sound. It’s that love for what you do that gets you through the ‘dark’ times - it’s that that gets you by when you’re playing at gig miles from home, waiting 4 hours to play and then it’s only to a handful of people. The good times will come - but it’s often a long, long road (as the Hollies would say!)

“I know you played a big tv show for bbc. Is playing on tv any different than paying (sic) for a live show in front of fans? If so how?””

SPENCER: Very different. This is mainly because at a live show you can interact with the audience. The audience applause tends to ‘book-end’ a song whereas on TV there was … nothing!! We had to make sure we were speaking straight after the last chord was ringing to avoid those uncomfortable silences.
The BBC experience was unlike anything we had been through before. We were filmed constantly for 6 hours and the pressure to always be ‘performing’ was immense. We were pretty much presenting our own show which was something that we’ve never done before. Actually, by the end of the second, I think we had gotten a lot better at it and whilst I don’t know whether I’d like to do that particular show again, I think we’d all like to get more exposure on TV. We had a great time!

SIMON: When you play in front of an audience you feed off their energy, but, when it’s just us 4 and a camera man, we have to learn to feed off each other’s which is totally different. The BBC show we did was playing constant for 6 hours so, by the second day, there wasn’t much energy left.

“Have any of u ever met the beatles i mean paul or ringo? u sound so much like them and some even better.”

SIMON: I personally haven’t, though I’ve done the Liverpool tour and visited their original houses.

SPENCER: Well it’s an honour to be even compared to The Beatles, let alone someone saying we sound BETTER than them! Thank you!!!!
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet Paul McCartney in person. A good friend of mine worked as a radio reporter, working specifically on entertainment. He managed to get me an access to all areas pass at one of Paul’s ‘Back In The World’ tour in 2003. I was lucky enough to watch his sound check and then sit in on his interview with my friend. I even gave him a copy of 3 of my songs on CD!! He seemed a genuine kind of guy and I was really pleased to meet him!

“Do you ever get butterflys (sic) before going on stage?”

SPENCER: Not all that often these days, although there’s always a keenness to just get on stage and play. I’m often pacing around before a gig, just ‘cos I get impatient from not getting up there and doing what we do best!

SIMON: I think I did on my first gig but since then being on stage in front of people just feel right it’s where I belong.

“Do any of you have brothers or sisters who play too. I mean not with the fore but play.”

SPENCER: My sister is more arty than musical. Some of her drawings are amazing. My dad used to play semi-professionally years back, in the late 60s, so I guess that’s where I get my musical talent from. His guitar and bass were the first instruments I picked up.

SIMON: I have 2 older sisters but neither of them play — though my nephew has started to play drums now …don’t think his mum ever forgive me for that! lol

“A question for Simon if he doesntmind. I heard your song “Someone New” and LOVE it. How do you get the drum sound like the triple tom in there? Ive tried and tried because Im adrummer too.”

SIMON: During my little solo I’m playing the kick and both toms pretty much at the same time on different beats. But then I do the triple beat on just the floor tom and quickly move back to the original beat. Its difficult to explain but I’ll try and get a close up video of it to show you. (Rockiteers, if he can do it, I promise to put it on the very next post [and send a copy to you, Eric!])

SPENCER: I remember the first time that Si put the triplet in the drum fill. We were rehearsing in Croydon, Surrey (just me and him actually) and we were running over material for Black & White. It’s a great song, particularly live, and Si’s not really given credit for the part he plays in it, or many of our other songs. Good ol’ Si!!

I wanna thank all 4 (and Neil and David) of The Fore for taking a few minutes of their time to answer your questions! I gotta tell ya that, in thirty+ years in the biz of writin’ and rockin’, this is the best band I’ve ever had the pleasure to promote! And this is proof that you won’t find a more “fan-oriented”, harder-workin’ band in the known world than these FORE!!
But, for now, let’s get on to a coupla other thingz, okay?

SWINGIN’ OF A DIFFERENT TYPE

With summer comin’ up, a few extra days off (especially for you high schoolers), it’s time to think about relaxin’ in the shade while sippin’ a tall, cold glass of tea or lemonade.
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