Awake Answers Fan-Submitted Questions

U.K. metallers Awake have issued the following response to a series of fan-submitted questions:

"Hi there! Hope you have been enjoying the good weather we have been having. It's been great to see a lot of you at the gigs and festivals the band has played recently. Awesome support from you guys. While AWAKE are putting the finishing touches to the album, I thought it was time to have a bit of fun.

"I have been receiving a few questions from you asking, well, a whole range of random things really. So, mixed in with one or two of my own, I have put them to a few band members. Chris Le Mottée very kindly went first, up for almost anything this one! So for part one, I started with some of your very random questions.

Q-Who or what got you started on the bass & when?
A-I was about 14, all my mates were picking up instruments so I guess it was positive peer pressure!

Q-Do you come from a musical background?
A-No!

Q-What's your very first musical memory
A-Dancing to the London Boys in my Mum's car as a kid!

Q-When & where was your very first concert? what was it like?
A-A school concert in 1998/9 with Alex on drums, we played Sepultura's refuse/resist and territory! Lets just say that it had a mixed response! In fact I've got it on VHS so perhaps there will be a snippet up in the future! My first public gig was with a band called Librium, strawberry fair Cambridge 1999, got that one on DVD somewhere!

Q-Whats the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on or off stage?
A-I once fell off the side of the stage onto Alex's girlfriend (at the time)! It wasn't my fault, they were using slippery beer crates as steps! I was fine by the way!

Q-Is there anything you know about your bands mates, you really wish you didn't? what is it?
A-O Christ! Too many that are too sordid to mention... yet!

Q-When your not working, what's your favorite way to chill and have some fun?
A-If I'm not with the band, then I like to just relax at home, stick a DVD on and vegitate.

Q-What's the worst piece of advice you were ever given?
A-Save your virginity for someone you love! Ba-humbug! get it done ASAP (whilst playing safe) and then when you meet someone you love you'll be an fooking adonis in bed!

Q-You have been in the band for 10 yrs now.... (a) name one high point (b) name one low point
A-I've been in the band 9 years now, high points would include the first bloodstock we played as Humanity, it was indoors on the second stage and the Darwin suite was packed, there was a real buzz and we played a stonker! Another would be The matrix in Bocham Germany on the Evergrey tour. In the UK the audience tend to stand back for the support bands but over there they are ready to rock as soon as the doors open! Hum... there's been a couple of stinkers... I remember a gig in Melbourn (Cambridgeshire!), a marque gig, can't remember what it was in aid of but the highlight was getting a case of beer!

Q-What was the very first gig you went to?
A-Erm... Magic, a tribute to Queen, the Cambridge corn exchange (a venue I'm still dying to play!) in 1998.

Q-When was the first time you got drunk?
A-On christ's piece in Cambridge city centre. On special brew, not something I'm particularly proud of but hey - it was cheap and quick! I was about 14 I guess.

Q-Anything you would like to add?
A-Perhaps an official welcome to Lisa Perkins who has stepped up to deal with PR for AWAKE. She is doing a sterling job and is really helping this band forward with professionalism and dedication!

"Next week is part 2 of the interview, read Chris's thoughts on the new album, the recording process and almost 10 years in the band. If you have any questions for any band members, email me and I will get them answered for you. Our next gig is August 12th Peterborough, see ya there!"