brit

The DUKE SPIRIT



Now i have been lucky enough to have been in on what was a little secret called The Duke Spirit even before they were called The Duke Spirit, but increasingly they are anything but hush-hush nowadays. Miffed though I am at having to share them, with venues under their belt like Trash, The Isle of Wight and Glastonbury and with Reading/Leeds festival on the horizon, the British public are being let into the genius that is The Duke Spirit. Publications such as the Independent and NME have been lining up to lick the bands toes and are desperate to have been the ones seen to discover what at least, most of London was already aware of.

This band know they are on the way to a scary level of success. The queues to get into their homecoming gig at the Buffalo Bar last month proved as much, but live they show the same level of respect to their audience they did when they started out, and portray the same air of seduction and captivation they always will. The music presents itself as a complete character in its own right - additional to the parts of the band put together, a wall of sound with gut-wrenching consequences, echoing and brooding, licking around the lyrics. If you want a bite of the Velvet Underground, Hendrix and Joy Division with its own style and persona wrapped in an incredibly attractive-without-effort package, this is what you want. Go get them. Theyll be ready for you.

BRIT: You have just Played Glastonbury festival, was that a big deal to you?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: It was one of those things that, before you are actually there, seems ridiculously good - magical even- maybe because previously it has seemed so inaccessible. Once you are actually behind the scenes, watching your familiar gear get loaded onto a massive stage, well, you just smile and get on with it. By the last song, with people waving their arms in the air, we felt fucking rocking. Then I didnt want to stop...

BRIT: After the two UK tours supporting British Sea Power and The Vines plus the festival gigs have you had much time to relax?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: a few days of lazy nothingness, hangovers, comedowns, and meetings in the local caff for incessant chatter on every aspect of what we do as a band...kind of narcissistic fun. Then its time to go off and play or rehearse or meet important people and get overtired again. The drinking never stops which is a PROBLEM!

BRIT: The British press has become hungry for you, how have you found this >relatively new fame?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: Honestly does not feel like fame...Perhaps after a gig, when people come rushing up to us at the bar, then yeah, you feel a bit special, but otherwise, the press just gives you a good feeling, a mild sense of pride...but never satiates the desire to be better and reach more people and conquer more hearts...

BRIT: You have recently changed labels, how is that working out?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: much better indeed as our label boss is proving to be a great drinking buddy who also gives us presents like Charles Mingus albums

BRIT: What does the second half of 2004 hold for you? More gigs? More recording?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: next single out September, then album released October. Touring lots I expect = beers and hotels and talking total shit for hours in the van

BRIT: You are known for your effortless styling, would you ever get to the point of having stylists in for gigs and TV interviews?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: FUCK that. We had a shoot for Paris vogue yesterday actually! We just tell them this is how we look and thats final. We all like each others hair styles so why would we ask vacuous style whores to turn us around into their image of cool?? Absolutely nauseating...

BRIT: If you were going to make a mix tape for someone who would you have on it?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: nice...well, maybe...THE DELGADOS, SLY & FAMILY STONE, DEXY'S, THE SPECIALS, CANDI STATON, THE BEACH BOYS, DIRTY THREE, LIFT TO EXPERIENCE, IRMA THOMAS, M Y BLOODY VALENTINE, THE GUN CLUB, MODERN LOVERS, PIXIES, DEFENDERS OF THE HEART, THE BREEDERS, MUDDY WATERS, THE STONES, THE CONGOS, MINNIE RIPERTON, THE FLYING BURRITO BROS, ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT, BO DIDDLEY, PRIMAL SCREAM, SPRITUALIZED.

BRIT: Have you had any strange fan experiences yet?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: I met a guy who was really really young and had never been to a gig before, and he was so excited cos his ears hurt from the noise. That was funny. We met some older Dutch men who were quite intense and boringly serious.

BRIT: In typical SG style name 5 things you couldnt live without.

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: my radio next to my bed, my hairdryer, my Dexy's album (young soul rebels), my boots and wine.

BRIT: Finally, what do you think of Suicide Girls?

LIELA, DUKE SPIRIT: its a bit weird... a softish porn or tantalising flirty site, right? I dont think its wrong, but I dont quite get it. Is that fair enough? You dirty bitches rrrrrrrgggghhh.


go see them at their website HERE - www.dukespirit.com