The Dead 60s Interview

EXCLUSIVE: Hear all about the scouse group's new album and get a FREE DOWNLOAD

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 14:42

Back in 2005 The Dead 60s joined The Coral and The Zutons in a renaissance for Merseyside bands.

While their counterparts showed their heritage in jangly rock The Dead 60s debut LP revelled in a brooding dub landscape heavily influenced by The Clash and The Specials.

But for their forthcoming second album its all change. We still like ska, frontman Matt McManamon told MTV. But we didnt want replicate the first album. We got into melodies more and wrote it on acoustic guitars.

Thats not to say that their earlier work didnt gain them fans. The four-piece had a monster hit with skanking Riot On The Radio- which did exactly what it said on the tin.

Across the pond they had even more success signing with the same management as The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and taking over radio stations with that big debut single.

Drummer Bryan Johnson recalls: Its more gruelling over there- we did five months in a camper van! We had to do a session on a breakfast show in Kansas which involved us going to a pub at 7 in the morning with guitars. Everyone in there was really pissed.

It was great that we made a splash and got noticed in America, says 25 year old Matt. Our fans in this country are more important to us though. We would never lose sight that we are a British band.

The group recorded their second album Time To Take Sides in the States though with The Strokes knob-twiddler David Kahne.

Its the first time weve worked with a proper producer, singer Matt revealed. He got to know us and brought the best out of us. It opened up a lot- we did listen to more Rockabilly and 60s Rock n Roll but it was never pre-thought out.

New single Stand Up is certainly a departure to more traditional indie territory. McManamon told MTV its his favourite track on the album: Its got a simple sentiment about self pride- dont be kicked down. Its like stand up and be counted!

Bryan points to their second single Start A War (due in January) as their best new work: It began as a cover and we just liked this song and put our own verses on it. The chorus just screams out of you.

Matt adds: We can imagine it being sung on a football terrace. And you certainly couldnt say that about anything on their first album!