ENGLISH DOGS

I have interviewed English Dogs, once a punk band from Grantham, UK. English Dogs evolved into a metal band by their second full-length Forward Into Battle. The band released their classic Crossover/ Thrash-album Where Legend Began in 1986. And by 1994's Bow To None, English Dogs returned to their punk roots.

As we speak there are actually two English Dogs around with various members dating back to the old days in both bands. I've interviewed the more metal sounding English Dogs here today who recently released the album; "The Thing With Two Heads" a few months ago.

English Dogs - Craig Christy - Pinch - Adie Bailey - Gizz Butt - Ryan Christy

So first of all, there are two bands that uses the name English Dogs right now, One fronted with vocalist Wakey. And another with Gizz Butt, Pinch and Adie Bailey. Can you tell us how that happened?

It's very complicated. We toured with our line up in the states in 2012 and then the other singer decided he wanted to get together with three imposters and call themselves ENGLISH dogs.

Is there a name struggle going on or is everybody fine with the situation?

Erm yes but that is hopefully going to get resolved very soon.

The other English Dogs feels more like a hardcore punk band while your English Dogs are more of the metal version. Is that correct?

Yeah totally. They are 100% street punk. Ours is more of a punk/metal crossover.

You released The Thing With Two Heads this summer, how has it been received by your fans? And are you satisfied with it?

Yeah very satisfied and very proud how it has turned out after such a long time away.

It has been received very well with a lot of radio play in the states and also making it into the metal charts over there.

Where Legend Began (1985)

What led up to this comeback?

There were rumblings coming from the USA for a good couple of years from promoters and agents wanting us to do a USA tour and we were unsure at first we really did'nt know if anybody cared. We managed to get the three of us together with the two new members and the 2012 tour turned out to be a magical experience which in turn got the creative juices flowing and we decided to write the album.

In the early years the band was more of a punk band, but on your excellent "Forward Into Battle" the band's sound evolved into a more typical metal sound. How come you went in that direction? I guess it wasn't that easy back then to jump from punk to metal?

Well at that time we were all out of the uk82 scene and were heavily influenced by GBH and Discharge but then we started hearing this new brand of metal coming out of the states. We were listening to Metallica, Slayer, Exodus and we loved it That in itself is going to influence your music but we still had that punk edge and the two combined just seemed to work perfectly.

You were signed to Music For Nations back then, how did you get in contact with them? And did they support you well enough?

Our contract was up with Rot records so we sent out demos of the new stuff out to various record companies. The had just formed the subsidiary "under one flag" and offered us a deal.

Where Legend Began, was perhaps your thrashiest album. Any thoughts on that album?

Yeah I would agree but I think we took it too far. The production was terrible on that album due to the engineer being more concerned with chemicals. There are some great songs on that album though.

Where Legend Began (1986)

You did shows with Possessed and Voivod back in 1986, that must have been special?

Yeah that was a very special night and them two bands were great with us. We were on fire that night.

English thrashers Sabbat was from Nottingham which is close to Grantham. Did you play with them back in the days?

Not that I am aware of. I think Gizz has worked with them at some point.

One thing about British metal that I have reflected over is that almost all bands from the NWOBHM-era are hailed as great metal bands while the English thrash metal scene was quite anonymous at least abroad. Any reflections to that?

Well that's just the way it was. I don't think the Uk embraced it like the USA did.

Can't really put my finger on it.

What bands are you inspired by?

Personally (Adie) I was inspired by The Ruts right at the beginning but then along came Discharge, GBH, they were the bands that made me want to be in a band. I knew that if they could do it then I could.

Any plans of recording another album?

It has been talked about but nothing concrete at the moment. We will just see where the latest album takes us.

What's the highlight of your career?

To be honest I really think it was the 2012 "forward into battle" tour.

It was such a fantastic experience playing fantastic bands and meeting great people along the way.

What's your plans for the near future?

We are looking to go back to the USA in early spring and then maybe play some European metal festivals.

Have you got any funny story to tell, if anything weird has happened while touring or so?

One time during a house party in Baltimore a guy walked in covered in a serious amount of blood. He had been robbed and stabbed in the house next door and came round for help. The cops turned up and wanted to interview everybody but we were too out of it to speak.

Also on the first USA tour we got free booze all the flight from London to LA. I had travelled with my skateboard and went through immigration on it, bearing in mind I could only just walk. They were'nt very happy to say the least. I don't know how I got through . I don't think I would these days.

Any last words for our readers?

Yeah get out and by "the thing with two heads" and when we come to a town near you I will see you down the front

By/Ruthless

(12-11-2014)