We’ve covered Piston a couple of times over the years and with their new single now gracing the airwaves, it’s only right we got to know them a little better so guitarist Jack Edwards has furnished us answers to our burning questions.
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
We are from Cannock, Staffordshire. It’s the birthplace of Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes. Our frontman, Rob, is based a little further down south and we will get to how we met him in the next question!
How did you meet?
Well, Brad Newlands (drums) and Luke Allatt (guitar) have been playing together since they were in high school. They have always had a solid groove and connection. Iggy (bass) was brought in much later on. It’s a strange story but Brad was walking through Wolverhampton and spotted a long haired fella wearing a W.A.S.P. t-shirt. He ran over and shouted, “Hey, do you play bass?” Iggy said: “No? But I can if you want me to?” The rest is history! I was brought in when the band needed a second guitar player and weirdly, my mother used to teach Brad and Luke in high school. In 2014, Rob Angelico replaced Steve Nunn as the vocalist. We found Rob through social media and that leads us up to the current line-up.
How long have you been playing as a band?
We have been actively gigging since 2012. We have played with each other in various bands over the years and if you name it we’ve done it – hardcore metal, tribute acts, covers — we’ve smashed them all.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
It doesn’t come from anywhere interesting! We needed a name and we needed to start playing shows. We threw a bunch of names in a hat and picked one out at random and that was Piston. We liked it at the time but damn, it was hard coming up with any artwork to represent it until recently! Collectively, we have warmed to it — it’s punchy and memorable and exactly what we needed.
What are your influences?
We all come from slightly different backgrounds… Influences from AC/DC to The Small Faces and everything else in between. For us, our best songs come out of simple ideas, one or two at the most and we then squeeze every bit of musical juice out of them!
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We are a real, rock ‘n’ roll band. There’s no playing around here, we are ready to grab you by the balls and hit you with our noise! It’s hard hitting, it’s uplifting, it has light and shade, it’s the last of a dying breed.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Rob writes all the melodies and lyrics. Everything he writes is based upon an element of truth or a personal experience. It’s the journey of moving through the dark to the light, a positive message! We aren’t here to complain in our music, we want to move you and make you feel better!
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
It’s sweaty, lively; a true rock band. There’s great guitar parts, heavy drums and searing vocals. There’s mistakes and everything that makes us human. Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t perfect and neither are we!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
The live shows are sweaty and dirty but it’s more about what happens before or after the shows! I was arrested at an airport on the way to a show, that’s a whole story in itself! Band member fights, hotel rooms completely obliterated which often ends up in us paying for the damage — sorry, !
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
We are your standard rock ‘n’ roll five piece. Luke and I use a combination of Gibson Les Pauls, a Gretsch White Falcon and a Fender Telecaster. Iggy is a Fender Precision and Gibson Thunderbird guy and Brad will play any kit you want, his main go to is his Tama Star Classic.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Our brand new single “One More Day” is a giant wrecking ball of The Cult meets Foo Fighters! It’s now available on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music.
What are your plans for 2019?
We are back active again and we are going to gig the hell out of this band! We have a new record coming out in September and between that and live shows that is our primary focus!
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be ing and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
Wow, that’s tough. Piston, The Temperance Movement and Rival Sons.
Tour Dates:
- The Big Red, London – Thursday 14 March
- Gifford Arms, Wolverhampton – Saturday 16 March
- Redrum, Stafford – Friday 22 March
- The Patriot, Crumlin – Friday 29 March
Piston: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube
