{"id":41311,"date":"2018-10-22T17:42:54","date_gmt":"2018-10-22T16:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=41311"},"modified":"2018-10-24T19:31:21","modified_gmt":"2018-10-24T18:31:21","slug":"a-change-is-on-its-way-northside-frontman-dermo-returns-with-aggressive-new-punk-quartet-time-for-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2018\/10\/a-change-is-on-its-way-northside-frontman-dermo-returns-with-aggressive-new-punk-quartet-time-for-action\/","title":{"rendered":"A CHANGE IS ON ITS WAY – Northside Frontman Dermo Returns With Aggressive New Punk Quartet Time For Action"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hailed for their explosive live shows, Northside<\/strong> were an intrinsic part of the Madchester\/baggy<\/strong> scene, which fused indie rock guitars with the dance beats of a flourishing underground rave culture.<\/h4>\n

Signed to iconic Manchester label Factory, the band’s first single\u00a0Shall We Take A<\/strong> Trip\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>was promptly banned by the BBC, after the corporation took\u00a0exception to its frank references to illicit drug-taking, particularly LSD.<\/h4>\n

They would go on to break the Top 40 with\u00a0My Rising Star\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>and with Take 5\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>became one of the few bands to be asked to play\u00a0Top of the Pops<\/strong>, before the single had reached the charts.<\/p>\n

The band split after just one album,\u00a0Chicken<\/strong> Rhyth<\/strong>ms<\/strong><\/em>, <\/strong>their demise coinciding with the collapse of Factory – owners of the Hacienda<\/strong> club, which had played such a part in spawning and nurturing the Madchester movement.<\/p>\n

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Despite their relatively short life, the group are remembered fondly and reformed for a successful tour in 2014.<\/p>\n

But\u00a0for frontman Warren “Dermo” Dermody<\/strong>,\u00a0Northside was a rollercoaster ride of triumph and tragedy.<\/p>\n

At the height of their success, and unbeknownst even to many of those closest to him, the singer\/lyricist was battling to overcome the double blows of the deaths of his closest friend Robo and brother Steven, both aged just 21.<\/p>\n

Now, back with a vengeance with new band Time For Action,<\/strong>\u00a0Dermo tells Matt Catchpole<\/strong> about his struggle to mask his inner turmoil from his loved ones and fans.<\/p>\n

Thankfully in a much better place emotionally, he talks with great pride about returning to his punk rock roots on TFA\u2019s abrasive debut album Turn it Up!<\/strong><\/em> and teases details about his upcoming eclectic solo record.<\/p>\n

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What made you first decide you wanted to get involved in music?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

After listening to and being aware of music in the house and on the radio, from as early as I can remember. I then started listening to more music while at school and from older friends. The next stage was going to see these bands live and thinking, ‘I love what they’re doing, I want to do that too.’\u200b<\/p>\n

TFA has a heavier\/punkier sound than Northside was that a conscious decision?<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n

Yes. When me and Si (TFA guitarist) started writing the songs together, we decided right from the off that we wanted an high energy, guitar driven sound that was laced with melody and big catchy choruses. Songs that you can sing along to while you’re being smacked in the face by the music. \u200b<\/p>\n

You\u2019re a punk fan \u2013 who were your \u2018must see\u2019 bands back in the day?<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n

The actual ‘must see’ punk bands that I did see back in the day were, SLF<\/strong>, Charged GBH<\/strong>, Anti Nowhere League<\/strong>, One Way System<\/strong>, Dead Kennedys<\/strong>, Discharge<\/strong>, Abrasive Wheels<\/strong>. It was mainly the second wave of punk bands as I was too young for the earlier stuff. If we’re talking any punk bands that I could’ve seen then you can add The Clash<\/strong>, Sex Pistols<\/strong>, The Ruts<\/strong> and The Damned<\/strong> to that list.\u200b<\/p>\n

Mod band Secret Affair had a song called Time for Action<\/em> \u2013 is that where the name comes from? Were you a fan of theirs\u200b?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, the name comes from how I feel about life today. There is so much wrong with the world and it is, time for action. We do what we can by trying to make people aware of how we feel through the lyrics and the music we make and play. Was I a fan of Secret Affair?, no, not really. They were a mod band at the time and I was into punk. I loved their song My World<\/strong><\/em> though, and I still do. Great single.\u200b<\/p>\n

What inspired the songs on <\/strong>Turn It Up<\/strong>?\u200b
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s usually a mix of feeling pissed off about something or someone. Anybody who tries to put you down or who pretends to be what they’re not. People driven by money and fame. Oppressors, liars, fakes, ego maniacs, arrogant fools, death, grieving, sadness, good times, observations of injustices of all kinds, suffering. All the usual stuff.\u200b<\/p>\n

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Punkasuals – TFA are Dermo (vocals), Simon Burton (guitars), Neil Pleasant (bass) and Keith Pleasant (drums)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s your writing process? Do you find it easy to come up with a good lyric?<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n

Sometimes I can almost write the lyrics to a song in one go, just flows out of my pen. Or, I have a few good lines that I like that I gradually add to, or I just have a great title and then base the words around that. Or it can be something I overheard or something I read and that gets me thinking. It depends really, all sorts. If I just try and sit down and write something, it very rarely happens, I just get bored and forget about it. I think if you’re an observer like me, you’re constantly gathering material for the juke box in your head and it stores itself away in little files and comes out when it decides it wants to.\u200b<\/p>\n

I gather you met Simon the guitarist through Facebook \u2013 were you aware of him at all before that?<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n

Yes I did and no I wasn’t. He was a fan of Northside and wanted to work with me. He sent me some ideas and eventually I was ready to do something with him.\u200b<\/p>\n

It must have taken some balls for him to approach you like that?\u200b
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah. I wouldn’t have. Respect to the lad though. I’m glad he did.\u200b<\/p>\n