GOLDSMITH - Pez Talk

Hi Pez, I hope everything is fine with you

First question; What happened in Bitches Sin when you left?
Its so long ago its hard to remember, I turned up to a band practice & was told I was no longer in the band which was a bit of a shock! Obviously I would have liked to do the radio 1 session but it was not to be. I always enjoyed being in the band but as a lead guitarist it was a bit limiting musically to be playing bass especially in the studio where you were finished once the basic track was down. Playing live was the best thing for me in the band and I was pleased to have written one of the songs (Always ready) although with hindsight it was totally the wrong kind of song for the band and should not have been the single. The guy who ran Neat records probably thought it was a commercial sounding song but the B-side (sign of the times) was a better track. There was some bad feeling toward me from the other band members who wrongly thought I was criticizing them after I was sacked. Its nice to see BITCHES SIN have released "The First Temptation" and I wish them well whatever they think of me these days. "Strangers on the Shore" & "Ice Angels" were classics whatever anyone says.

GOLDSMITH was a pretty swift mover, how fast did things really happen in the band? Having no band I found the drummer Mike Henderson first and then Glen on bass, I may have written some songs for GOLDSMITH by then but we rehearsed pretty quickly, got a set together & from memory went into the studio rapidly and cut the demo cassette with "No Way Out", "Everybody Needs It", "Evil Woman" & "Give Me Your Love". The cassette sold well & we went back to the studio & did Life is killing me and music man. It was released on our own Bedlam label as Neat showed no interest in it. A third studio visit included Pete Adams who joined on guitar & we did "You Won't Catch Me", "Fly Away", "Please Don't" and I think "Pretty Dancer" was a separate session. I personally hated my vocal on "Pretty Dancer" so much that I wanted to throw the master tape out of the van on to the motorway on the way back and I still don't like it.
I see a lot of wrong info on the band regarding releases. All that was ever released was the single "Life Is Killing Me".
A 12" EP with "You Won't Catch Me" as the main track got as far as an acetate but we ran out of money.
The only unreleased tracks now are "Shoot to Kill" which I have on a 4-track cassette unmixed and a second song with no title. These were recorded in Barrow in Furness on fairly primitive gear but sound ok. "Shoot to Kill" is a favourite of mine but I don't think we ever played it live.

How did GOLDSMITH differ from BITCHES SIN, influences, the order of things, everything?

BITCHES SIN were much more focussed as a band. The Toomey brothers had a vision & were obviously hungry for success and had the tenacity to see it through that only blood relatives can have. Given the choice GOLDSMITH would always go down the pub for a beer rather than rehearse. Musically BITCHES SIN were your classic NWOBHM band & Goldsmith were more a heavy rock band than pure heavy metal. Influences were every good band from LED ZEPPELIN downwards.

What was life like in a NWOBHM band in Cumbria?
BITCHES SIN & GOLDSMITH both had trouble getting gigs due to the attitude of promoters toward heavy metal & the so-called violence that surrounded it. Both bands had to do gigs well away from Cumbria to get our messages across. If either band had been based in London I reckon they would have got further in the music business as Cumbria is too isolated. Also if the internet had existed things would have been easier to make contacts and get new fans. I don't remember any competitors if there were any. Both bands played the usual places like Newcastle etc. We even played in Sheffield and Derby neither of which I remember at all! I only know we played them because Mike said we did & they are in my old diary. There is also a really embarrassing cassette of me doing an interview for radio Salford where I sound like a right cretin.

How did fans and media receive the 7" "Life Is Killing Me"?
Really well as it sold copies all over the world & still does today. Kerrang! gave it a ritual slagging off but Sounds magazine liked it as did various fanzines. I have done quite a few interviews over the last 5 years & it shows there is still an interest particularly in Europe and the States. Apparently there is a Brazilian bootleg of Life is killing me on coloured vinyl as well. And before anyone asks AGAIN I do not know anything about a yellow vinyl copy of the BITCHES SIN single.

What did the future look like before you decided to split up?
Bleak, very few gigs and no record company interest so it felt like time to call it a day and move on. I moved to London after SMALL IN A BIG WAY and moved to Manchester six years ago and it's only because of cheap digital recording gear that I am doing music again which you can hear at www.hodthegod.com if you want a listen.

What caused you to take part in SMALL IN A BIG WAY?
Johnny Duffin was an old school friend and we had played together before. I liked Johnny's music even though it was different to heavy metal. He is still doing some great tunes & has a more mainstream sound. You should check him out at http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?AID=153260&T=87470 as EMPEROR JONES & THE DEMOLITION CREW and his album "Heart & Soul".

How did the 20th Anniversary disc come about?
I had wanted to release a Goldsmith CD but never had the time so I was pleased that George Arvanitakis contacted me & offered to put it out. I think he has done a great job.

The rest of the band, do you know what they are doing today? Are you still in contact? Any chance of reunion gigs?
I'm still in touch with Mike & the rest are still in Cumbria but I haven't seen them in a long time. I'm not personally up for any kind of long term reunion but would be happy to do a one off farewell gig if it does not cost a fortune.

Cheers for your time

Miggo