Thanks so much to Peter Martin for the interview! Recently their classic single “Yesterday” got reissued by Optic Nerve Recordings and some years ago Firestation did a fantastic retrospective compilation called “From A Northumbrian Mining Village Comes The Sound Of Summer”. The Nivens, during their time, released 2 7″s and a split flexi, all of them on the great Newcastle label Woosh Records. So yes, probably you have heard their music, like me, but maybe, like me too, want to know more details about them?! Well, sit back, read and enjoy!

++ Hi Peter! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?

I’m fine, thank-you. No. Not since the Niven’s split in 1990. We did get back together once in 2006 for my 40th birthday but that’s it.

++ The Nivens just got a little more attention as of late with the reissue of the “Yesterday” 7″ on Optic Nerve Recordings. How did their interest in The Nivens happen? Was it a surprise for you?

I cheekily sent them a tweet asking if they were going to put Yesterday out in the next series. Surprisingly they had heard of us and were keen to do so. The rest, as they say, is history.

++ And has this gained a renewed interest in the band? I saw you even made some posters and t-shirts for the occasion, right?

Yes, quite a bit of interest from magazines & online etc. Lots of people on twitter the day it came out. All very positive and all much appreciated.

The poster was an idea I’d had for a while. I’m friends with a photographer/artist called Eugene Schlumburger who makes these works of art using song lyrics with his pictures in the form of a book. I got him to design one for Yesterday when I knew it was going to be re-issued. (See photo) My plan was to do the posters after the release. Then Optic Nerve wanted an image to use for the free postcard and it made sense to use Eugene’s design. So all 800 copies contained the design. Since then I’ve had posters and t-shirts made with this design. Most of the posters have been given away as promos for the release.

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

My first memories were taping the top 40 off the radio on a Sunday tea time. Then listening to the tapes in the car.

My dad was a big fan of Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison & Bob Dylan so they were my early favourites. Then the Police and The Jam came along and I became slightly obsessed with them.

I cannot play any instruments. I sang in the Nivens and put words to Belly’s tunes.

After the Police and the Jam I got into “indie” music. My first indie gig was Aztec Camera in 83.

++ Had you been in other bands before The Nivens? If so, how did all of these bands sound? Are there any recordings?

No my sole band was the Nivens.

++ What about the other members?

Wally used to drum in several bands. Mainly Mod ones. Wilk was in a hip hop ensemble called INL Punk who appeared on the “Zcheisch” album with us. This is how we met him and he eventually left them and joined us.

++ Where were you from originally?

Most of the band lived in Cramlington in Northumberland (about 10 miles north of Newcastle). We used to

Practise in my old house in Beacon Lane.

Timlin was from Ashington. Home to the Charlton brothers and place of our first gig. (Ashington Institute Feb 1987) Wilk was also from there so when he joined he made up the name for our demo (Recorded in the Summer of 1988) which subsequently was used by Firestation records for our CD collection…..

“From a Northumbrian mining village comes the sound of summer………..” Ashington having been the biggest pit village in Europe at one time.

++ How was your town at the time of The Nivens?

Nothing really happened in Cramlington. Huge unemployment meant there was plenty of time on our hands and people to hang about with.

++ Were there any bands that you liked?

Crane from Ashington were good and we played lots of gigs with them. St James Infirmary are still going today. Releasing tapes and records still.

++ Were there any good record stores?

You had to go to Newcastle where there were plenty. Volume being my favourite.

++ Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?

Again Newcastle was the place to go. We were very much part of the Woosh Club at the Broken Doll. The gigs there lead onto the Flexi and record releases. Played there with some great bands like My Bloody Valentine, McCarthy, Jesse Garon & the Desperadoes, the Brilliant Corners etc etc

++ How did you all meet? I read that it happened in 1987 at the Institute at Ashington. But the band didn’t come together until 1990? Or am I wrong? And how was the recruiting process?

You are wrong. We mainly met at school and our first gig was at Ashington institute in early 1987. We split up In 1990.

Me, Belly & Timlin formed the band at school in 1985. We recruited Wally in 86 as he lived on my estate (Beacon Lane) Then we met Wilk in 1988 and the band was complete.

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

We practised at my house in Beacon Lane, Cramlington or at St Robert’s Church in Morpeth. We would pool ideas for songs but most of the actual tunes were written by Belly. I did a lot of the early lyrics but later Belly did the most.

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?

From an article about David Niven I read his book the Moons a Balloon. This lead us to choose his name as our moniker.

++ This would later be an issue for the band. There was another band in Norwich with the same name that made it difficult for you to keep your name. What happened with them?

We had never heard of them until we released our second single. They were on a bigger French label and threatened to sue. Woosh then withdrew the single and we split not long after. Still not heard anything they’ve done or if they’re still going.

++ I read you considered changing your name to The Nevins?

Yes it was a consideration. I’ve just bought his autobiography. Great footballer and great taste in music.

++ Who came up first with the name? did you like their music at all? If I am 100% honest, I like yours better! And don’t see what’s the big deal of having the same name… people in the end would like the better band 🙂

Not sure. As I said we’d been played on Peel, made the indie top 10. No one had even heard of them till they got in touch. It’s all history now.

++ Who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?

Lots of indie stuff at the time The Smiths, Bodines, Housemartins, Orange Juice, the Jam, Primal Scream…..

++ You only released records on the Woosh label. How did you end up working with them? How was the relationship with the Newscastle label?

We got involved right at the beginning  by supporting everyone who came to play the Woosh club. So we were the obvious choice, with the Holidaymakers, for the first flexi and then the first vinyls. We had a great relationship with Steven Joyce and I saw him not long ago. Great fella.

++ Did you appear on many Woosh nights?

Yes all the early ones. Jesse Garon, MBV, RAZORCUTS, McCarthy, The Clouds……

++ Was there interest from any other labels?

No. None at all. Which was the same for lots of bands like us so we did our own thing. Which worked out well in the end.

++Your first release was a split flexi with the band The Holiday Makers. This was also the first release on the Woosh label. There were blue and green sleeves as far as I know. No more colors? And how was this split put together? Were you familiar with The Holiday Makers?

Yes we’d played with them a few times at the Woosh Club. There was the original blue sleeve then done in green. No other colours.

I’m still in touch with the drummer who now lives in Canada.

++ Then came the “Yesterday” 7″. I have always wondered about the sleeve. Who is the girl on it? I feel I should know, but forgive my ignorance!

The lady on the sleeve was Steven Joyce’s mum. It was a bit of a joke. The Smiths had Yootha Joyce. We had Mrs Joyce. It led to a lot of conversations on who she was. We thought it was funny. The music press less so. There’s talk of re-releasing the flexi on vinyl and putting a different picture of her on the cover. One for the future.

++ The songs on the 7″ were recorded at Art Care in Gateshead? Did you work with a producer? How was that experience? Did you feel more of a recording band or a live band?

No producers. Again Newcastle was a bit of back water so you just worked with the people in the studio. The lads at Art Care were great. Probably our best recordings. I think we were more of a live band.

++ Your last release was the “Dialect Drug” 7″. I read that the record ended up being withdrawn because of the other Nivens issue, but I believe there are copies around, no? 

Yes, Steven Joyce has a few boxes at home so we’re going to put it up on the Nivens new Bandcamp site.

++ One thing that I notice is that you usually got some very nice art for your records. Who was in charge of that?

The first single was done in house by Woosh and was a bit of a joke on our behalf. The Dialect Drug EP was done by Wilk. A bit of a homage to Start by The Jam. Wilk has then done all the stuff for the compilation CD & LP.

++ And do tell me, how come there were no more releases by the band? Was anything planned? An album perhaps?

We packed in and there was only the demo tape (mentioned earlier) that hadn’t been released. It would take until 2006 before that surfaced to the world.

++ Many years later, in 2006, you and Firestation Records put together a fantastic compilation titled “From A Northumbrian Mining Village Comes The Sound Of Summer” that included all your released tracks. How did this compilation come together?

I knew Uwe from back in the day as I said and he asked to put Yesterday on one of the Sounds of Leamington Spa compilations. This led to the whole CD album and then vinyl.

++ Are there more songs that weren’t included?

Only a few from our first demo which were included on the Firestation compilation box set. They’re pretty poor recordings so best hidden away.

++ I think my favourite song of yours might as well be “Yesterday”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it? It even got high numbers on the indie chart, right?

It reached number 10. Belly wrote it. The usual girl running away leaving him broken hearted.

++ If you were to choose your favorite The Nivens song, which one would that be and why?

Not sure. Probably Tidal Waves as I wrote the words and always thought they were cool. I do

Like Summertime as well.

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

About 100 in the end. Mainly in Newcastle & Ashington. A few trips down south but never to London.

++ You supported many top bands including My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, The Brilliant Corners, McCarthy and more. How was your favourite band you played with and why>?

The Brilliant Corners were great lads. Most of the bands we played with were good. As far as I can remember as we did used to drink a fair amount before playing!!!!!

++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

Brilliant Corners in Stockton on the day Pete DeFrietas died. It was a great gig tinged with a lot of sadness.

++ And were there any bad ones?

A few. Usually poor sound or too much drink.

++ When and why did The Nivens stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?

No. I think the others carried on for a while afterwards but to no real attention.

++ What about the rest of the band, had they been in other bands afterwards?

Wally has carried on drumming with a few groups and Wilk does an electronic thing.

++ Has there been any The Nivens reunions?

Just the one in 2006 for my 40th birthday. It was good fun but lots of effort that none of us could really be bothered with. I think Belly summed it up best when he said he’d reform the band if he could mime. To someone else’s songs. Class.

++ Was there any interest from the radio?

A few indie stations have played Yesterday and done interviews etc; C86 radio being one.

++ On TV you appeared on the “Out of Our Heads” programme on BBC2 North. There you played “I Love Me“. How was it? Was it all recorded in one take?!

Yes it was a great day and a great video. Proper BBC recording and because we mimed it sounds good as well.

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

Not much. NME, MM etc hated us. Especially Bob Stanley. We haven’t forgotten. Or forgiven.

++ What about fanzines?

They were always great. Real fans and always positive.

++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

Yesterday making the indie top ten. The I Love Me video. Our first few gigs and the reaction we got from them. More recently I was really excited about the re-issue on Optic Nerve.

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?

Football. Following Super Leeds.

++ Never been so far north in England, so I’d like to ask a local about what you would suggest an indiepop tourist to do. I want to know what would you suggest them doing here, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

Not many really. Newcastle was never a hot bed of bands. Most of the venues have closed so not sure what you would show people. Maybe take them to 63 Evesham Place!!!!!

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

Just to say thanks for the interest in the band. It’s quite strange that 30 years later people still buy our records and are interested in the band.

All the best Peter.

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Listen
The Nivens – Yesterday