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Dub Pistols Interview
Other | Tuesday 21st August 2012 | Osh
Since their big breakthrough in the late 1990’s The Dub Pistols have taken the music industry by storm, releasing six studio albums and becoming infamous for their live shows which has helped them accumulate a strong army of passionate followers. Working closely with the likes of Rodney P, Dub Pistols have made a name for themselves by continuously producing brilliant dub and big beat tracks. Ahead of playing at The Book Club presents Bookstock Festival in Shoreditch on 26th August and several parties over the Bank Holiday Weekend, we caught up with frontman Barry Ashworth.
How’s life?
Yeah good mate, good – just starting work on the new album.
What, a new one?
Another new one yeah!
Wow you don’t mess around?
No choice is there, you know what I mean? It’s like either tour for two years and don’t have an album out or you keep the pressure on.
Nice, loving it. So the last album that people might just be getting to grips with now – Worshipping The Dollar, How’s that, can you sum that up for me?
It’s like we’ve gone full circle – we’ve gone kinda back to where we started, trying a more sort of edgy, clubby sound. We upped the tempo a bit!
Are you feeling a little bit different going into this next album?
I am at the moment after the Olympics, we were are all on a high for a couple of weeks then reality kicks back in.
It’s a nice time to make some music while we’re all on that high?
Yeah man, I mean it’s been a shit summer so far. So at least we have something to be positive about and it’s just left everyone on a high.
Yes exactly. There are some good things going on – you’re gonna be doing Bookstock Festival soon, right?
We are indeed – bringing it out into the streets of London which is nice. It’s gonna be a big one, so looking forward to that
Nice one mate – you are famous for your live shows so that’s probably gonna be a bit of mental one, right?
It’s gonna be insane without a doubt. It’s the only way we know how to play – stick the overdrive on and fucking have it.
You’re doing some carnival parties, right?
Yeah we’re doing 25 years of acid house on the Sunday and then we’re gonna play live in an old pub, a gig off the roof of the pub on the Monday so yeah that’s gonna be insane.
Where is that Sunday party gonna be?
Gonna be at Masons Arms which is opposite Kensal Green Station. We’ve got a lot of older house pioneers and things like that down there as well so it’s gonna be awesome.
Man that sounds amazing – I’m definitely gonna try and sneak my way in there. So one of my favourite tunes of yours is Rapture. That’s my kind of thing – it’s unbelievable. I know you’ve done quite a bit with Rodney P too?
Yeah we work with Rodney P a lot. We don’t like being pigeon-holed, we don’t like barking up one alley, we just gotta keep moving.
In doing that and never being pigeonholed, it must give you a real loyal fanbase?
Well that’s what you have to do and that’s the whole thing about getting out and just touring and touring and touring. We’re not a radio-friendly band, we build up our fanbase by literally just performing live – they either like what you do or they don’t and those that do stick with you and it’s as simple as that. Our game was to not go down the commercial route, to keep playing and to keep it real.
You used to be club promoters. How long did you do that for?
Yeah for many, many years. Still doing it now, still going on. I promoted from about 1987 well into the new millenium. That’s always what I’ve done. You know back in the day you put on parties literally 4/5 days a week and people would be out every night of the week having it.
Nice, well I’m sure now when you do a party it’s a road block but it can’t always have been that easy for you though, right?
No, basically you start putting on parties for your mates and you start playing for your mates, word spreads and you just build it and it just takes time. The thing with being a promoter is you can lose the shirt off your back – one day everything’s going well and you’re flavour of the month, next thing you aren’t. It’s a big part of being a promoter, I respect anyone who does it.
Yeah it’s hard work right?
It’s fantastic when it’s going well and you’re the darling, it’s horrible when it goes tits up!
So the last time we spoke you said your ritual before a gig is to get your hands on two bottles of vodka or Jack Daniels. Is that still working for you?
It’s still working for me, I don’t think my kidney would agree. When I start looking at a drink at the moment I’m feeling I’ve gone like 20 rounds with Ali and he’s been working my body but you know, it’s the only way I roll.
It gets harder as you get older doesn’t it?
It does, with touring so much this year it’s been like every night – that’s when it hurts. A couple of days off drinking a bit of water but it’s just not my style.
So how many years has your life been that relentless, like non-stop touring?
The touring, it’s been relentless since like ’87 since I went to Ibiza to recover from sports injuries and never came home. That was when it all went mad. The touring bit, I think the last 15 years I’ve been relentlessly touring.
And it’s paid off – you’re nominated for Best Live Act of 2012 in the second annual AIM Awards?
Yeah, we won best UK Live act last year, we’re just on and on and on!
If there was one law that you could change what would it be?
If there was one law that I could change? Smoke weed everyday.
Nice one. It’s been really nice to catch up. Wicked catching up, you have a good day.
Respect brother, see you soon.
Catch the guys playing at Bookstock Street Party 2012 at The Book Club for FREE wristbands go to
https://www.facebook.com/TheBookClubEC2/app_212097992149339
Keep up to date with the band at http://dubpistolsmusic.co.uk/
