Thanks so much to Des for the interview! Des contacted me not too long ago as I had written about another band he had been in, The Cherry Brogues! The cool thing is that This Certain Kind, his later band, had just released a retrospective album on Firestation Records called “Inspire” on vinyl LP. It is a favourite record of mine already and I really hope you discover them now as there are only a few copies left of their record!
++ Hi Des! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Still making music?
Im really good thanks .. yes im still making music I took the decision a few years ago to set up my own home recording studio called Parkwood Studios and that keeps me busy and still very much involved.
++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?
My first music memory that I can recall that would have prompted me to want to play music was probably me standing on the couch playing air guitar on my old tennis racket to the song “Love is like Oxygen” by The Sweet when it came on Top of the Pops I must have only been 9 or 10. First Instrument: an old Spanish guitar that a kind neighbour gave us.
Music at home: we all sat around the television every Thurdsay evening to watch Top of The Pops like so many families did back then and tape the songs from the telly to play them during the week.
++ I know you’d been in The Cherry Brogues and I hope we can do an interview about the band. But had you been in other bands before This Certain Kind? What about the rest of the members? If so, how did all of these bands sound like? Are there any recordings?
I was playing bass in a band called Par Excellence at the same time This Certain Kind had started around 1987 both bands had a healthy rivalry and worked alongside each other. Our guitarist Gary Dillon was selected from the crowd at a U2 concert in Dublin and he played on stage with them it was the Joshua Tree tour and that got us a write up in the national newspapers the next gig we did. I never got to record anything with them but they were a great band I think there is a song or two and a video of us on youtube if I’m not mistaken. Most of the bands at that time had a distinct Indie vibe going on ..plenty of guitar riffs!!
++ Where were you from originally?
I was born in Ilford, Essex, London. My parents both Irish, moved to Tallaght, Dublin when I was 7 and I’ve lived here ever since. Its a good place to live.
++ How was Dublin at the time of This Certain Kind? Were there any bands that you liked? Were there any good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?
Dublin was in a recession at that time so being in a band gave you a sense of hope and belief.
I suppose there were some really good bands that I liked: A-House, Hey Paulette, Stars of Heaven and Guernica. We all played in an Indie Pub called The Dublin Underground that was where you made your name then onto The Rock Garden which was bigger. We had good record shops in the city: Golden Discs, Freebird Records Abbey Discs and The Basement for the hard to finds and rarities.
++ When and how did the band start? How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?
We all knew one another from either school or the area or because the pool of musicians at that time was so small f you were involved in music then most people had heard about you. I had written two songs with Anthony our vocalist even though I was with Par Excellence, that may have been the start of my recruiting process.
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
My Mother had allowed me and my younger brother Steve to convert our garage into a rehearsal room. We did this and sound proofed it with large full length cork panels which gave the room a real pro studio feel to it. We rehearsed and wrote lots of songs there then we moved into the larger rehearsal rooms in the Dublin like Temple Lane and Apple Studios.
++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?
I think some of the original members of the band thought it up after a few pints in The Dublin Underground. Im not 100% on that one but I think that’s what I heard !!
++ And who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?
If I had to narrow it down I would have to say 5 bands: The Stone Roses, The Jam, The Cure, The Smiths, and New Order.
++ What about Irish bands? Are there any great Irish bands that for some reason or another remain in obscurity but you loved at the time?
Hummmm, Guernica were great and The Fat Lady Sings. They released a few records but never made it big unfortunately.
++ From what I see in Discogs you recorded your first demo the “Inspire” tape in 1989. Where was it recorded? Was it easy to pick the three songs that were going to be in it?
It was recorded in Sun Studios, Dublin. There was another song from that demo which didn’t make it onto that session and that was called” Better Than None” but they it made it onto the album instead so that’s alright I guess !!
++ Who is on the photo on the cover of this tape?
My Brother Steve did the design work on that cassette cover. The image he used was from a Clip-art book that anyone was free to use. It has a kind of Smiths album cover feel to it really but it looks well. Or should have I just said I don’t know !!
++ And aside from this tape, are there any other demos that were released? How many?
We tried to go into the recording studio as much as we could afford as it was expensive at that tim.e I think through the years we recorded 5 or 6 times each time we would record 3 tracks per session. Nearly all of those recordings were cleaned up and remastered and are on the album.
++ Were these demo cassettes mostly for promo? To send to labels or radio stations? Or were these sold at gigs as well?
They were primarily for promotional purposes. We sent them into local radio stations and into Hot Press and various other music magazines to be reviewed in the hope that we would get some air play.
++ And many years later, Firestation finds you and includes you in the “The Sound of Leamington Spa Vol. 9”. How did they find you?
Our Bass player Mark had put some of our songs up on YouTube a few years ago. Then out of the blue. Uwe from Firestation left a message on the comment section asking about us and I guess one thing led to another. We ended up putting two tracks onto that album: “Unfortunate” and then another secret hidden track at the end of side 4 a swell.
++ After being included Firestation Records notices that your songs are amazing and offers to release a compilation of all your previously recordings, right? Are there more still unreleased?
The songs and recordings are all our own no question. But as we were sifting through our old session and Demo tapes we did discover 3 songs that we had never recorded. We have since recorded one of them songs which was written in 1990 called ” Here Comes a Love Song and its due out for release this summer.
++ This new album is called just like the first demo tape, “Inspire”. Why?
We thought it was a good omen as it would have been 30yrs ago it was made when Firestation would release our album of the same name in 2019. We had given up on it ever being made to be honest so I guess that’s why 🙂
++ For people that have never heard your songs before what would you say they can expect?
They can expect to hear a lot of catchy riffs and interwoven bass lines which cover an array of Indie styles together with solid melodic vocal lines and meaningful lyrics which I hope leave the listener humming at least one of our tunes !!
++ One thing I noticed in the credits is that someone with your last name arranged “Better than None”. Is it family? Tell me a bit more!
Yes thats my younger Brother Steve who did that arrangement .. its different to all the other tracks as he went a bit electro on it it still has guitars and drums and stuff but with Bass synth and Keyboards it took on a real dance vibe which works well on it. Steve and two of the other members of The Cherry Brogues would then later go on to form Polyteen.
++ And do tell me too about the photos on the sleeve. Where were they taken?
That photo was taken from the upstairs balcony in Whelans which is a great gig venue in Dublin and still draws in a good crowd. It was taken by our drummers father Mick Shortt ..cheers Mick we owe you big time for that one !!!!
++ I think my favourite song of yours might as well be “Make Your Heart Bleed”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?
I could be wrong but I think its about a female narcissist .. someone with a hidden agenda perhaps. The lyrics would definitely steer me in that direction to think so. Nonetheless its also a song about realisation and knowing when your being played !
++ If you were to choose your favorite This Certain Kind song, which one would that be and why?
This is the toughest question of the lot but if I had to I would pick “I Like You There” as it was one of the first songs I wrote with This Certain Kind and Anthony’s lyrics speaking out about people who are self obsessed and their projected self image is probably more relevant in today’s world and especially among our young people.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many?
Yes we played lots of them throughout our time, its hard to say how many though.
++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?
The nights we played in The Dublin Underground will always stand out. The stage was tiny but the atmosphere in the place was electric and welcoming and the crowd was definitely alternative, goths, mods, punks you name it. I think we have some pictures on our Facebook page of us playing in there if anyone wants to look.
++ And were there any bad ones?
Thankfully I have to say no. I can’t remember there being any catastrophes. We were lucky maybe I guess.
++ When and why did This Certain Kind stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?
We stopped around 1997 or 1998. The reason we stopped was because we had been together for a good number of years and life was also making its own separate demands on us, work, mortgages, kids, etc.
I’ve always believed if something hasnt happened within four years then its unlikely that it will at all ..
++ What about the rest of the band, had they been in other bands afterwards?
No, not after we finished in 98. We did you a reunion gig a few years after that. But that was it then it was a wrap !
++ But recently you are playing again, right? Are there any future plans for the band?
The release of the album has certainly sparked a new found interest in the band but I guess we shall have to see how our single release goes later this year before we start to go tuning up again to quickly lol.
++ Did you get much attention from the radio? TV?
Dave Fanning did a radio interview with Anthony after the release of “The Sound of Leamington Spa volume 9” that interview went well and its up on our Youtube page its not to long but its funny !!
++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?
The press have been very interested in our story. They covered it twice once when our songs were released on the compilation album in 2018 and then also last year with the release of our very own album as well so that was cool .
++ What about from fanzines?
Errr, not really I doubt if they would have us on their radar to be honest !!
++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
I think it would have to be the making of this album after all this time. Its such a nice feeling to have all your recordings in one collection and see it pressed into vinyl and to see it in the record shops. The past coming flying back to greet you again in such a good way is unreal .
++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
I’m big into the outdoors and switching off my phone and heading out with my German shepherd for a long walk is where I’m at. I do a bit of cycling too. Nothing too crazy tho !!
++ I was in Dublin two years ago and I really loved but I’ll take the opportunity to ask a local for any recommendations you’d have for a future visit! Like sights one shouldn’t miss? Food and drinks one should try?
Well the open top tour of Dublin is very good and a visit to the Guiness hop store is a must. Try Bruxxelles for a good pint and food you wont go wrong plus the music in there is always spot on !!
++ Anything else you’d like to add?
Just like to give a big shout out to Uwe from Firestation records Berlin for making this happen and also to you and your readers for taking the time to read this. Cheers folks !!
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