Interview with Apes With Hobbies

Apes With Hobbies is the solo project of London-based composer and guitarist Jason Gorman.
Jason started playing guitar in 1988 at the age of 17, and served his time as an axe-man in an eclectic range of college and local Rock/Metal bands.

MER: How did you come up with the band name?

Jason: It’s a statement of fact. I’m an ape, and this is my hobby.

MER: What are 3 bands that you feel were most influential to your band, and why?

Jason: Frank Zappa, Devin Townsend, Tangerine Dream

MER: What are the 5 best Metal/Hard Rock albums of all times, and why?

Jason:

  • Strapping Young Lad – City -> heaviest album of all time
  • Frank Zappa – Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch -> nobody does it better
  • Meshuggah – Destroy Erase Improve -> that exact moment when metal changed forever
  • Devin Townsend – Terria -> for teaching us that heavy can be beautiful
  • Igor Stravinsky – The Rite Of Spring -> as far as I’m concerned, this is metal. Got a problem with that?

MER: What is the best concert you’ve ever attended, and why?

Jason: Frank Zappa – Birmingham NEC, 1988. The best live band I’m probably ever going to see in my short, miserable life.

MER: What was the most memorable gig your band ever played, and why?

Jason: If I played a gig, I’m sure I’d remember.

MER: What is the craziest thing any member of your band has ever done for the sake of Metal/Hard Rock?

Jason: Put my underpants on my head, shoved two pencils up my nostrils and said “wibble”

MER: If your band was appointed Rulers of the Metal World, what is the first law you’d make?

Jason: I’d invade Sweden. They’ve got too many of the best musicians. They need to share.

MER: If you could tour with any band, who would that be, and why?

Jason: The Spice Girls. I fancy my chances with the mad ginger one. Is her name Gerald? Whatever.

MER: What do you think your fans and the music industry will say about your band in 10 years?

Jason: “I want my money back”

MER: If you could have any wish fulfilled for the band, what would it be?

Jason: Did I mention the ginger one from the Spice Girls?

Author

  • Dan Skiba

    Dan is a former partner at Metal Express Radio, and also served as a reviewer, photographer and interviewer on occasions. Based out of Indianapolis, USA he was first turned on to Hard Rock music in the mid-1970s when he purchased Deep Purple's Machine Head as his first album. He was immediately enthralled with the powerful guitar sound and pronounced drumbeat, and had to get more! His collection quickly expanded to include as many of Heavy Rock bands of the time that he could get his hands on, such as Ted Nugent, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath, to name just a few.

    View all posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.