SPiT Like THiS is a band like no other. Sure they have come a long way since they sold Vikki Spit's used panties on eBay to fund their first EP. After years of relentless DIY-ing recognition has come for the UK Glam Punk band with the release of their second full-length album "Normalityville Horror", with the contribution of Grammy-nominated producer Chris Tsangarides - does Painkiller ring any bells to you? - who also happens to play Vampire Balowsky from The Young Ones in their new hilarius video clip. Rock Overdose had the honour to talk with a Lord for this interview. Don't get us wrong, it is Lord Zion, their witty frontman. Make sure you check them out!
Rockoverdose.gr: Hello Lord Zion, welcome to Rock Overdose! Well that's a very cool name!
Z: Thanks for having me, and thanks for the comment about my name. Zion is the name given to me at birth and it is the name that caused me much ridicule during my school days. Thankfully, people tend to remember it, even if they do pronounce it wrong.
Rockoverdose.gr: “Normalityville Horror”, your second full-length is out. Is it true after all these years you're on the scene you feel like you just started?
Z: It does feel like a new beginning, for sure. I see albums in the same way a filmmaker might see their movies. They are an entity by themselves and not necessarily a continuation of what came before, although there might be a familiar style that runs through them. As a result, whenever something new comes out, it feels like the start of something rather than more of the same. Probably quite good, stops me from getting bored.
Rockoverdose.gr: Won't you give us a sneak peek of the album?
Z: It's the heaviest thing we have done, it is the most honest thing we have done, it is the most live sounding thing we have done. There is no filler, every single song is killer. We spared no expense in the recording of it and have packaged it in a really nice way too. You will not be disappointed when you hear it – that is a promise!
Rockoverdose.gr: The video clip is absolutely genius! Who came up with the concept? And how did you talk Chris Tsangarides into it?
Z: I am afraid that would be me! I have quite an elaborate sense of humour and my brain seems erratic in its thought processes. Mashing The Young Ones (classic British comedy) with the Anvil movie seemed quite logical to me. The director had a nightmare though trying to visualise what I wanted. We got there in the end though. And CT took no persuading at all – he is quite a ham!
Rockoverdose.gr: Are you as funny all the time in your personal life too? Must be exhausting...!
Z: I like to think I have a healthy sense of humour. People that follow me on Facebook seem to like my daft comments. I got bullied a lot growing up and developed my humour then, as a way of deflecting the bullies. It just kind of stuck. I have an idea for a sitcom that I would like to shoot someday.
Rockoverdose.gr: Good luck with that! Nevertheless, the “Zombie Women of Satan 2” movie sounds like fitting you well! Any weird behind-the-scenes stories?
Z: That was quite an experience. Our first film! Our acting skills weren't stretched though, as we were playing ourselves. It was enjoyable though and cannot wait for the film to be released. No weird stories, I'm afraid, but the filming process was an odd one. The scene we are in is a disco and, quite often, we all had to rock hard and the audience had to dance away but all in complete silence so the dialogue could be picked up. It was surreal!
Rockoverdose.gr: You were going DIY far before it was in fashion! Was it intimidating at any point?
Z: I think, if we knew at the beginning where we had to get to, it would have been. But, as you take each day as it comes and the changes tend to be small increments rather than big leaps, it wasn't really. At the start, we didn't much know what we were doing. We just did it and learnt as we went along. I am proud of what we have achieved though – our DIY ethic has taken us a long way. Further than a lot of bands achieve that are signed from the start.
Rockoverdose.gr: Did the “Smell Your Mum” line help in having a very dedicated crowd too? And how do you keep coming up with new T-shirts all the time?
Z: Most definitely, although that was by design rather than chance. After all, the kind of people that like obnoxious, sweary, offensive slogan T-shirts are exactly the kind of people that like obnoxious, sweary, offensive music! At the start, we didn't push the band on the T-Shirt customers so much but, as time went on and we realised that the customers LIKED the fact that they were supporting and helping a band, we pushed it more and more. Now most people that like the band like the T-Shirts and vice versa. And coming up with new designs all the time is quite easy: I have one of those brains that just works in slogan form.
Rockoverdose.gr: Saw a post of yours, you know bands leaving after their sets has always been an issue in the Greek metal scene too...
Z: It just seems rude to me, especially if that band has used your backline, to leave once their own set is complete. It shows a lack of respect and any band that does that to us won't be supporting us again. I don't enjoy all of the bands that we play with, but I make an effort to watch them and be involved. I support the scene and encourage young bands where I can; it all starts with respect, though.
Rockoverdose.gr: You look really good on stage, you run your own fitness blog?
Z: Since I was 18 I have worked out and watched what I eat. I was a fat kid, you see, so need to keep myself in check. Over the years, people have asked me for diet or exercise tips so, eventually, I thought I would collate a lot of the most common questions and started www.fitlikethis.co.uk – it seems popular. Obesity and poor health is an important issue and I am always struck by how ignorant people are to what things are good for them and what things are bad. With small lifestyle changes, most people could improve their health and fitness levels which should lead to a longer, healthier lifespan. And who doesn't want that?
Rockoverdose.gr: So how easy is it to keep up with a program during tours?
Z: I am so used to it now, I don't think about it. For so many years now, I have simply refused to eat certain foods and avoid certain restaurants. Riders are notoriously bad so, were possibly, we ask for a buy-out so we can go to a local shop and buy our own stuff. I am always prepared and travel everywhere with my own packed lunch!
Rockoverdose.gr: What about SluTz?
Z: That was the name for our old fan club. We don't really run that any more as things like Facebook have really taken over from that kind of thing. Our community has shifted to a new location so we interact with them there. I like to call our fans SPiTHEADS now. Sounds much more fun.
Rockoverdose.gr: Sure does! Thank you for this nice chitchat we had Lord Z, hope you visit us soon! Is there anything you'd like to add?
Z: Thanks for having me. I really hope we get a chance to visit Greece soon. I would like to encourage your readers to view our “Zero To Sixty” video on our site at www.spitlikethis.com. There is a Greek language site too at www.spitlikethis.gr and find us on www.facebook.com/spitlikethis.
For Rockoverdose.gr: Stella Tsolakou
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