DEVIL’S ISLAND featuring Lost Velvet
Welcome to this weeks edition of Devil’s Island! Every week we maroon a band or artist on the island and see what they get up to, how they cope with being all alone on a small island in the middle of the ocean. It’s not your average desert island and we’ll see just how each person copes with the extreme conditions.
This week when we arrived at Devil’s Island we find Lost Velvet sat on the beach. The island is far from their home, so how did they end up here and how did they cope with life on Devil’s Island?
Find out now…
Welcome to The Razors’e Edge and our somewhat lovely, warm desert island. Don’t worry about it’s name I’m sure it’s not as bad as that would suggest.
You’re marooned here on this island, but before you ended up shipwrecked you chose one album that you couldn’t live without. Which album did you each chose and why?
Rob: Rachmaninoff – Preludes (Complete) – performed by Alexis Weissenberg.
Perfection. These interpretations were originally released in 1970 and have still not been surpassed in my opinion. It was between his or Chopin’s 24 preludes for the piano. Rachmaninoff wins out through the variety between the pieces. I feel I would tire of any one of my favourite rock albums, but I can’t see myself tiring of Rach’s preludes.
Melissa: A Perfect Circle – Thirteenth Step
Difficult to choose between APC and Tool but the variety and melodic journey found on this album have fulfilled me for so many years I definitely couldn’t be without it! I can’t fault it. I am a massive fan of Billy Howerdel’s guitars, and Maynard’s voice is the right balance where too much listening doesn’t grate on me! There is space in the music to breathe and so much to explore with each listen.
Just behind that palm tree is a shack for each of you to sleep in, with enough space for you to put up a poster on the wall of one album cover. What album cover do you each chose and why?
Rob: Ok computer, for the Stanley Donwood artwork. It’s my favourite album cover of all time. The album itself isn’t bad either!
Melissa: Tool: Lateralus – big fan of Alex Grey’s work, I devoted a whole project during my fine art studies at college to his work! Massively into spiritual anatomy so this poster would be a good reminder for self discovery on a desert island.
There’s also a bar on this here island. But alas each of you only get to choose one drink for the entirety of your stay. What’s your tipple of choice?
Rob: Beer. Easiest question ever.
Melissa: Some blend of fresh coconut and rum
Your suitcases were lost when your ship sank, but you each managed to salvage one item of band merch. What’s the merch and for what band?
Rob: Do any bands make sleeping bags? Or tents? That’s given me an idea for some Lost Velvet merch… Probably just my Aphex Twin t-shirt but I’m sure there must be something more practical for a desert island…
Melissa: I would grab my ‘Dark Cells’ sweater as I just love it. It’s warm, super soft and cosy for cold evenings. If the question rules out our own production, I will take my Fleetwood Mac cap for added shade.
You’re sat on the island thinking “I’m stuck here on this island with my bandmates for eternity”… who would you rather have been shipwrecked with?
Rob: Bear Grylls. Not exactly a fan of his but I’m sure he’d come in handy.
Melissa: Brian Cox. Rob and Bear Grylls can worry about keeping us alive. I’ll be on the other side of the island having the universe explained whilst waiting to be rescued.
There’s a walkman in your pocket, on the tape inside is the recording of the one live show that stands out for you. It could be any show, from any band, anywhere in the world. What show is on that walkman?
Rob: Radiohead at Glastonbury (1997) Or (guilty pleasure) An Evening of Fourplay (1994)
Melissa: Family Values Tour, 1998. That entire era of music all in one show.
You’re getting desperate, you decide the only course of action is to put a message in a bottle and hope someone finds it. Your message could be to any member of any band, but should be the most suitable for a rescue attempt. Who is it?
Rob: Maybe Taylor Swift, she’d be able to utilise the budget of a small country to launch a rescue attempt. I’ll just leave my thoughts on her music out of the message…
Melissa: Well she won’t rescue you now will she Rob lol! I think Keanu Reeves as I believe he has done some incredible rescue missions in film, I reckon he has a kind heart so would care enough to rescue us, and he is a musician too isn’t he.
You’ve been stuck here a while and food supplies are running low. There’s only one thing for it… which fellow band member gets sacrificed to help the others survive?
Rob: Well, there’s only two of us so that would be a battle to the death! My money’s on me (Rob) being sacrificed.
Melissa: Rob hasn’t got that much meat on him so not sure it’s worth the sacrifice – although I survive on very little food to be fair so…
Finally, when the ship sank you each managed to save one person from the wreckage. That person is the one musician that has influenced your career the most, shaped your way of thinking and your outlook on life. Who did you save?
Rob: My good friend and long-time collaborator Sean Gallagher. Without his tutelage, I wouldn’t be a songwriter at all. His music is not famous but can be found under the projects: Waxwork Figurine, Gonol, The Snarks and Sean E Gallagher.
Melissa: Mikee Goodman. A great friend who encouraged me to try again with music at a point when I’d pretty much given up on it. He has had a huge influence on where I am now in many aspects of my life so I owe him the rescue! He also makes me laugh, so island life would instantly become a lot more interesting.
Thanks for your time. We hope you get back to dry land before you’re next due out on tour!
Cheers, hopefully Taytay organises that rescue mission soon.
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