Three's a crowd

FORENZIC, Markus and Bluey - three Lancaster-based bands without an ego or a hidden agenda between them. After going down a storm playing together at venues in Lancaster the three bands have now decided that, as they get on so well, they'll go on on tour together. Under the collective FMB, these rock kids will he taking their music to new audiences and most probably having the best laugh of their lives at the same time. Although obviously serious about their music, I get the impression that all the band members are keen to tour together for one main reason' because they enjoy it. I also get the impression that Markus are in it for the booze-fuelled debauched rock'n'roll lifestyle, but that story can wait. In fact, I arrange to meet the three bands at the Lancaster flat shared by several of the band members but, at the request of Markus, we meet in a pub. Pints are knocked back, cigarettes are chain-smoked and most of the conversation is unprintable in a family newspaper

Censored    What you are about to read is a heavily censored version of our interview.. Starting at the beginning, three three bands are all guitar driven rock- bands who met at The Alex and have been mates ever since. Forenzic are Mare Walker on vocals and rhythm guitar, Matt Green on drums, Ewan Robinson on bass and James Briggs on lead guitar. Markus are Toby Bradshaw on vocals, Dan Baines on guitar, Andi Wild on bass and Ant Nixon on drums. And Bluey are Loz ibbs on guitar/vocals. Ben Short on bass and 'cockney' Dave Chaston on drums. Toby takes it upon himself to act as spokesman and says: "The idea for this came about in a drunken state. "We decided that we all want to take our music out of Lancaster and that the best idea would be for us to pool our resources. "We all play different types of music, in fact we are probably the three most different bands in this area. "'Markus has a definite structure to the songs but the words can change depending on the alcohol consumption. We like to describe our style as 'beer- corps' and Betti from The Alex gave us the accolade of 'most drunken band'." Forenzic describe themselves as alternative grunge and three-piece out-fit Bluey also describe themselves as grunge, drawing influences from the likes of The Pixies but at the same time sounding nothing like them. Toby says: "Every single member of the bands has very different musical tastes. That's one of the reasons why all three bands work so well as a threesome." Mare of Forenzic adds: "We did our first ever gig as FMB at The Alex and played to a big crowd. We all have our own followings and when we all come together it's massive." FMB have recently had successful gigs at The, Yorkshire House and they're due to play The Bobbin this Friday (February 28) and March 16. After that they're planning on spending three months on the road together, playing venues all over the country.  

People    Toby says: "We've seen so many bands 1,0 out of Lancaster and 90 and do well and we want to do that. "We are taking our music out of Lancaster so we can get our music to different People rather than wait for people to come to us. "There's a large-degree Of musical admiration between the bands. When we play together we're all getting to play ourselves and when we're not on stage we are getting to watch bands that we like. it helps that we're all mates as well." "There are no big egos with us," Mare says. "There's no problems about who headlines Or anything. "I think that it comes across in all of us that we are doing it for ourselves. We have so much fun and have such a laugh that when people come to see us they enjoy themselves too.,, To find out more about the bands visit the web- sites WWW.SCumrock.com, www.forenzic.com and www.thealex.com Demos will be available at a@U future gigs including The Bobbin on Friday