Auuuuu Fanzine features one of the most emblematic figures of the undergroud punk/DIY circuit of the late ‘70s. The musical diary of Ralph Mitchard begins with a local Rhythm & Blues band called Bad Detectives until he met Geoff Norcott and Nigel House. They went to form Psychotic Reaction, and this gave way to what ended up being Animals & Men, in relative obscurity. Find out what was going on with this musician before he met and started sharing his life with the wonderful Susan Wells and a series of other facts.
Por DAno y E. Ángeles
Traducción Mich Mancilla
Si quieres leer la versión en español de esta entrevista entra aquí
-What were you doing before Animals & Men?
I was singing in a local rhythm and blues band (Bad Detectives) and playing harmonica around the local pubs in Frome, a small market town in rural Somerset. Doing Dr Feelgood covers, Chuck Berry and so on. Then I started a punk band with Geoff Norcott on drums and Nigel House on bass called Psychotic Reaction doing 60s punk and then this band became Animals & Men when Susan started singing and songwriting became more of a thing.
-How did the story of Ralph Mitchard and Susan Wells begin?
In 1978 – when I was 17 – I was at printing college in the city of Bristol and Susan came for gigs and things we met up and then saw each other. We had seen each other in Frome but had never spoken before some friends introduced us. We then became a couple. Took a month or so and then got engaged on my 18th birthday. Our parents considered it too young.
-Take us back to 1979, when you recorded your first single ‘Don’t Misbehave in the New Age’
It was a shed in a garden – a 4 track studio – was very cheap – there were better studios out there but we didn’t use them. Took only a couple of hours. We took a young punk singer along to sit in and learn the ropes. I was 19. It was 40 years ago this September so we will probably do something to mark that occasion.
-How was it that Animals & Men mutated into The Terraplanes?
Nigel House the bass player left which was pretty devastating for us. He was our London contact (he was a student in London at the time) and we used to practice at his farm. He was a big part of our band. Then Puddle the drummer left to form Silent Guests. So we decided a fresh start was in order. We quickly recruited two young punks – Dave Mackay 17 and Andy Payne 16 years old to be the new bass and drums but with a new sound and a new name. We got offered a John Peel session (as Animals & Men) but we had already split up and Peel didn’t like The Terraplanes stuff we sent him.
-The Terraplanes recorded great covers such as the one for Slim Harpo’s “Baby Scratch My Back”. What can you say about the influences that led you to that blues punk sound and those recordings?
Well we have always liked old blues and rock and roll records. We wanted to mix punk and blues up but I don’t think it worked too well. But it’s fun to try. We all have record collections that span the decades and we try to do songs that reflect that. We recorded a version of Charlie Patton’s ‘Oh Death!’ which was from the 20s but we liked it.
-Is today’s punk connected to the one that was occurring during those years at the end of the 70s?
Very different now. Before the Internet you had the radio and fanzines only and now you have all manner of means of hearing. For example if you choose a band name now you can search online and see if it’s taken but then you would have to hope no one was called The Terraplanes or something.
-In your opinion, were the Sex Pistols are great influence that birthed the British punk movement?
I suppose they were the first UK punk band. I like the New York bands mostly. Our favourite first wave punk band was the Subway Sect – their early material is superb.
-How does Animal & Men end up at Danger Records in 2014?
We met Jeremy in 2011 when we did a gig in Paris and we stayed at his place. We didn’t know he ran a label then. He worked at this great record shop Born Bad, He liked New Age and asked us – of course we said yes. Incidentally we have a few copies left of that release.
-Which are your favourite punk albums/singles from 1979 to 1983?
Monochrome Set-‘ He’s Frank’, Joy Division -‘Atmosphere’, The Fall – ‘How I Wrote “Elastic Man”’, The Birthday Party – ‘Release the Bats’, Adam and The Ants – ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’, Bow wow wow – ‘W.O.R.K’, Cramps early stuff, Pop Group early Human League, Metal Urbain.
-Which record labels are on your watchlist lately?
Water Wings from Portland Oregon are good. As well as Danger.
-We know you like fanzines. What are your some of your favourite ones currently on?
Well there is Deviation Street – a Bath punk zine, Making Waves a female punk zine is cool. Daughter Celia runs a hair salon where she sells comics and fanzines so that’s fun. There’s a good scene for fanzines here. GRIPE is good – an art zine. Nack in the day we used to like Ripped and Torn.
-What does Ralph Mitchard do in his spare time?
I am interested in history and I write and draw things for historical projects and blogs, If you Google Ralph Mitchard you will see some of my artwork. We don’t really watch television but listen to shows on online radio.
-What’s next for Ralph Mitchard?
Recently we got together with Dave and Andy and released a CD by the Terraplanes of some new songs and some covers. About half and half. Recorded in the last year. All Good For the High Street . Getting good airplay pm WFMU and places that are cool.. Kind of punky but also rock and roll. Took us a year to record but we worked away in our spare time to make a collection. I think we will do that for this year too. Rehearse write record in batches of 4-5 songs at a time. There is one of the songs we recorded this year ‘Little Johnny Guitar’ on Youtube – it’s a song we wrote about Johnny Thunders. We don’t expect to sell loads but we like doing it and that is the main reason we are doing it. We added our daughter Celia in to help with the vocals. I am also going to write another book – I did one on local history about the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 and I need to follow that up.
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