Here we go again… Last year we covered every band on the Hobgoblin New Blood and Jagermeister stages in the run-up to Bloodstock 2015. This year, we’re going one better and aim to have interviews from all the bands on those two stages as well as all of those on the SOPHIE stage prior to the event kicking off on August 11th. That’s almost 100 interviews to get online for you lucky people over the course of the next couple of weeks. I bloody love this job, but you lot owe me a beer at Catton Hall, right?
Thanks to all the bands who’ve taken the time to respond!
Poseidon – Hobgoblin New Blood Stage, Saturday
Drummer Raza did the honours on this one…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
East London. Well, we had Roland who lives in East London, but he’s from West London. We’re the right end of the river, but we never go south!
How did you meet?
Myself and Matt Norris were in a band together around 1990-91 – proper garage band, Mudhoney/Dinosaur Jr. We bumped into each other at a Red Fang gig a while ago and got talking. He’s been a great guitarist for a long time – a prodigy if you will. I asked him if he wanted to start a band and he did.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
About two and a half years since Matt Norris and I started it up. It’s all been very Spinal Tap with coming and going. Thankfully the drummer hasn’t exploded yet, because I’m the drummer! Roland had to leave as he’s in Serpent Venom as well and couldn’t juggle two sets of rehearsals and so on.
Where does the name of the band come from?
I’m half Pakistani / half Greek and of the whole Greek pantheon, Poseidon is my favourite God. I had Poseidon in my head for years and it kind of fit with the music – just heaviness. It was the heaviest thing I could think of.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
Myself and Matt… it’s Melvins, Dinosaur Jr., Mudhoney. That’s the things I grew up listening to in the 1990’s. Screaming Trees, Afghan Wigs, Electric Wizard…. just really good heavy shit. The first band I ever saw was Dinosaur Jr. in 1991. It blew my mind! The same week I saw My Bloody Valentine. I listening to a lot of sub-pop bands then getting into metal. I think the first of those bands was Slayer.
Describe your music – What makes you unique?
I can’t describe ourselves as being unique. I think we’re doing something right, though. We did DesertFest then got the Orange Goblin tour then all of a sudden Bloodstock where we’re headlining!
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
I think the beautiful thing about Bloodstock is that people are listening to new bands and discovering stuff. As a 41 year old man who’s been going to festivals for years, that’s what Bloodstock’s about. Where you’ve got bullshit like , the beautiful thing about Bloodstock is that people are more open to discovering something new. Come along and find out!
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
It was quite a while ago. We got the call from Bloodstock late last year where they said that they wanted us to play – no Metal 2 the Masses, just play. We were a little bit upset that there were these bands who went through the whole competition and we didn’t have to, but Simon said that he liked what we do. That was a nice gee-up for us as a band when someone like Simon who’s done so much for metal in the UK says something like that. When he offered it, we took it!
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
By all s we’re on just before Mastodon. I’d like think we’ll be off stage, packing down and legging it to catch those guys.
What are you working on at the moment?
We are recording in September with Sam at the Crow’s Nest. We’ve got Bloodstock, then a slot with Hark. Then some time to record and then on the road with Orange Goblin and Electric Citizen. We’re doing an album, but we’re looking at four songs on a double vinyl as the songs are pretty long! Take a break over new year then hit it hard in 2017!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
I can’t tell you. You the original Ghostbusters? The black guy has a quote – “Man, I’ve seen things that would turn your shit white.” That’s all I’m going to say! Put it this way – I’ve toured with Orange Goblin. There’s nothing I’ve not seen!
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Make friends with as many local promoters as you can. Giving a cassette to a record exec are gone. The MySpace days are gone. Get yourself out there and build a fan base.
If you could be part of any 3-band line-up who else would you have on the bill? One band above you and one below – a chance to plug a smaller, unsigned act!
The major act would definitely be Sleep! Serpent Venom to open, such an underrated band.
