Dirty Money 13/08/23
MM: Can you tell us about your Band and whos your biggest influences
We're an originals rock band from south Oxfordshire consisting of John Hudson (Spud) on vocals, Mark Walker on guitar, Ross Hutton on bass and Luis Silver on drums. Mark and Ross had a band together for a lot of years and around that time Ross also was a pub landlord. I (John), lived in LA at the time and had come home for Christmas and was staying with my mum who lived in the same village as Ross' pub. So being a grown man staying with parents I did the only sensible thing and went to check out the locals and happened to walk into the Cherry Tree, (Ross' pub) which had various guitars and bass' adorning the walls and met them both. We all just hit it off and I think I didn't leave for about 3 days. Anyway I went back to the states but we kept in touch and when I moved back 3 years later my wife and I stayed with Ross and his wife while we were looking for a place to live. Mark lived down the street so we just picked up where we left off. Then when their band broke up just before lockdown Mark called me and said they were looking to put another band together, would I like to be the vocalist and I jumped at the chance. I'd got up with their old band a couple of times and we'd gelled and we'd talked about putting something together before but it took a while. Trying to find a drummer was a different story altogether. I think we had about 5 sit in with us that either we didn't feel fitted or they just disappeared off the face of the earth so we really struggled and it was like trying to find rocking horse shit if you'll excuse the expression. Then Ross, being the salesman that he is, struck upon the ingenious idea that he'd look through the classifieds for people looking to sell their drums and that was how we happened to find Silver, (or hiho as we affectionately call him) . Poor guy was trying to sell his drums and instead Ross convinced him to keep them and join the band. Thankfully his mrs is still talking to him.
We're influenced by all sorts but our main band influences are GnR, The Stooges and Blackstone Cherry
MM: Where do you draw your inspirations and ideas from
Life. I don't think any music has the ability to resonate with a listener unless there's the truth behind it that they can connect with. So it really does depend on what we're feeling at the time. Themes and topics are almost always too contrived and an audience will always pick up on that. You really need to be able to make yourself vulnerable and expose that element of your own emotions in your music for people to connect with. That's the beautiful thing about music, it has an honesty you don't get in every day life.
MM: What would you say is your Bands favourite song ?
Would have to be Ego. It’s just such a lively and venomous tune that always the crowd going and we just get to really cut loose live. It’s a lot of fun
MM: Plans tour and festival wise for 2023
We're just finishing up running up and down the country for the Summer and then its into the studio 2nd week of September. We're putting together a little xmas mini tour so watch this space and then it'll be on to the festivals for next summer
MM: What can we expect from your band live
Carnage and electricity! I really believe our live performance is our strong point and we dont believe in separation between us and the audience. The one thing with all of our gigs is that you are definitely guaranteed a show
MM: What do you like best and worst abt touring
Being on the road is great for seeing places you wouldn't normally end up going to. We love performing in front of different crowds every night and each one reacts differently. Worst would have to be the actual driving. After a while it can be a massive pain in the arse
MM: Which three Bands would be your ultimate touring buddies
In their heyday? GnR, Motley Crue & Ozzie. Would certianly be guaranteed a party.
MM: What's the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your own) and why
Think it would have to be The Who at The Roundhouse in Camden. They still had it and the energy they had on stage was phenomenal. Great to see them at such an intimate venue as well
MM: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
We're still very early days as a band but playing with The Foxies was a highlight. They're a great band. Hearing our single on the radio was pretty epic too
MM: Which are your Two favourite Albums of all time
That's an impossible question. I think the least I could give you is a top 20. In that mix would have to be things like Zeppelin II, Master of Puppets, Dark of side of The Moon, Fun House, Sabbath's Vol 4, AFD, the list goes on and on
MM: Can you remember the first time you ever played live and how it felt to have people watching you?
We love being in front of a crowd and always have. At the core of it though, we're just four guys who love playing together so when we're up there all we really concentrate on his enjoying it and having fun.
MM: Growing up which Bands posters did you have on your bedroom wall.
Had a massive Hendrix poster on my wall growing up.
MM - Who do you think influenced the world of Metal / Rock more than any other person
Its got to be Ozzie really hasn't it? That period he had with Randy Rhodes as his gutarist was just epic and really you can here that influence everywhere
MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?
In terms of what we consider important right now its getting the EP done and out there
MM:If you could do a cover of any song which one would it be and why?
Not really one for covers. I think the key to a cover is to take a song that's not particularly well known and make it yours. If you're covering a great song, you'll never measure up. That being said, I'd love to do I gotta right by The Stooges
MM: Tell us why we should buy and listen to your Band
Because you'll want to be able to tell everyone you were there at the beginning before anyone else knew
MM: Four words to describe Dirty Money
Bold, Brash, Brilliant and Ballsy
Final Words for your fans and our readers
We're the greatest band you've never heard of...but you will
