Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with London band Stone Thieves to find out more…
Who is in the band and how did you meet?
The band is a 4 piece at its core and has been the same lineup for nearly ten years! Myself (Aaron) on guitars and vocals, Mike on second guitar, Tom on bass and Archie on the pots and pans. We have just brought in Fin on third guitar and backing vocals after making our next record. We decided that we needed to replicate the album sound a bit closer, and there is more than two guitars on most tracks!
Myself and Tom played in a band many moons ago, and prior to that Tom played in a band with Archie. The very initial line up was a three piece, that fell together after past projects folded. We met Mike maybe a few years later when we shared a bill with his band – quickly pinched him!
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
As the main songwriter, I have a vivid memory of starting out playing guitar and my dad giving me two CD’s. The first was “The Kids Are Alright” a WHO compilation, and the second was Bruce Springsteen’s – Born In The USA. I quickly got into all the usual guitar player stuff, learning a lot of Slash’s guitar parts and nearly all of The Who’s back catalogue. Later I got really into a lot of 60s stuff, and 70s singer/songwriters.
We’re all still heavily influenced by the sound of the 60s and 70s, a touch of 90s Brit-rock probably deserves a fair mention here too. Also the lure of Americana music. As a songwriter, I find the honesty and romanticism of that genre very inspiring.
There are a few bands who we’d probably say are our biggest influences.
The Rolling Stones, as they took aspects of Americana and wrapped it up in a quintessentially British parcel.
Blackberry Smoke. The biggest revelation when discovering those guys was that it is totally possible to have many influences, tie them all together, wear them on your sleeve, and still sound like yourselves.
Black Crowes – never a finer Rock N Roll band!
How would you describe your sound?
Well… I would call it Americana infused Rock ‘n’ Roll! Sometimes it’s got a Creedence Clearwater vibe, then in the next breath it could have a Charlatans style groove! Transatlantic maybe?
I’ll let the listener describe it for themselves.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
We have a single out now called “Stubborn Man”. It’s taken from our forthcoming album. When we were making the record, we were really missing a punchy, foot-tappin, barn-burning tune. I knew it had to be up tempo to start with.
We had our struggles getting the album made, due to all the pandemic stuff happening, changing studios, studios closing. One studio’s roof even collapsed!!! Felt like we were never going to get it done. The song was probably me subconsciously flipping the bird to all that and saying “yes we can!”
What’s your local music scene like?
Great! Could play every night of the week in London if you wanted to!
There is a whole scene in the UK kind of tailored to new bands who are doing anything “classic rock” sounding too. So lots of events that cater for our sound. Maybe not so local, but a strong scene.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
We have some more music to come, including a full length album. So we’ll be getting that out and doing some gigs!
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
Open to ideas!
On a grander scale, the dream would be to make an album with Dave Cobb or get a Rolling Stone on a song hahaha!
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
We’ve been doing this for nearly 10 years now…. There are hundreds! Some that shall stay folklore, and some that can’t go to print!
Maybe the time we played a festival in France. A group of lads dressed as pirates decided to carry out a stage invasion. No swashbuckling, just danced to the last song. You should see the photos!
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
We’re not actual thieves.
You can find out more about Stone Thieves via Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, X (Twitter) or YouTube.
Merryn 