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DeadFire are a hard-rocking, riff-slinging four-piece from Aberdeen, Scotland. The band have just released their first new music of 2022: the rollicking new single ‘Anxiety Society’, and the guys in the band (Tunk (drums), Charlie (vocals), Rich (guitar), and Boothy (bass), were on hand to talk us through everything that you wanted to know about DeadFire but were too afraid to ask…
What are the origins of Deadfire, how long have you been playing together? And total sidebar but where does Tunk get his nickname from?!
DeadFire originally formed 10 years ago this year! From what started as a covers band, we started to dip our toes into original material. Now, 2 albums, an EP, and a few line-up changes, we are still going and it only feels like we’re just getting started!
Tunk – I got this nickname through being a goalkeeper. My manager when I was 12 said when I was coming for a ball I used to go through players like a ‘Tunk’, which is local dialect for Tank, as in an army tank.
What should people expect when they check DeadFire out? How would you describe yourself?
Boothy – A high-octane musical assault that kicks you in the face and leaves you with a smile on your face and ringing in your ears.
Rich – If you like that hard rock, metal, classic rock sorta sound, then we believe our music will be for you! When we play live, Charlie (vocals) is on another level! He is like a caged animal that’s been set free on stage, you won’t know what to expect…we don’t know what to expect! What we will guarantee though, is a high-energy show from first note, until last note!
New single ‘Anxiety Society’ is the first new DeadFire music of 2022, what was it about this one that made you choose it as the lead single for what will hopefully be a big year for the band?
Charlie – Now more than ever, I think anxiety affects more people. It affects everyone differently and its often ignored or held inside. I think most don’t admit it or seek help through fear of not being understood or believed. The track is a reminder that being yourself, whatever that may be, is the most mentally healthy thing we can do. You don’t have to “fit in” to prove your worth.
Will nerves kick in just before the track goes live on all the streaming sites on February 11th?
Rich – Yeah probably a little. Like most bands/artists, you want to see your work get a positive response and translate well with the audience. Everything from the video, to the marketing, etc, has been a complete DIY job from us and it will be amazing to see that on the 11th of February, all our work has paid off! But whatever happens, we’re very happy with what we’ve done.
The artwork for the single is pretty damn cool, as is the incredible video that accompanies it, it seems having a strong visual presence is important to the band? Also, who created the video, and what was the creative process behind it like? Lastly, without giving too much away to anyone who hasn’t yet caught the video, where did the van come from!
Charlie – For me, the visuals, videos, etc are all part of the package. Inspired by the bands we all love. The videos and artwork were a part of the appeal as well as the track. Can’t tell you about the van because it’ll spoil the surprise. Let’s just say we know a man, who knows a man…
Rich – The video was the brainchild of our good mate Kev Smith over @kev_infocus. Believe it or not, this is only the 2nd music video that he’s made! As this was all a DIY job on a tight budget, we had to make do with what we could gain access to. We told Kev the location we could get and he made magic happen!
As for the artwork, that was all Charlie’s brainchild. He’s a brilliant artist, so we left that in his capable hands.
I believe that the plan is to release a new single every 8 weeks this year then release a hard copy cd at the end of the year?
Rich – Yeah, that’s the plan for this year. I came into the band in July last year (2021) and we didn’t want to hang about getting this new iteration of DeadFire out there. We really wanted to get going and really build our fanbase up. Releasing our tracks as singles gives us a chance to give ourselves a push with every release, with the hopes of getting our music into the ears of new people and building up our fanbase. It also lets us give every track a shot in the spotlight.
Later this year, DeadFire are competing in a local heat of ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ for the chance to appear at Bloodstock Festival, that will be pretty special, plus, are you familiar with the other bands appearing?
Charlie – We actually got to the final 3 years ago. We were on the lighter side of the bands competing and I think that helped us in some way. Standing out has never been a thing we struggle with. Not seen any of our competitors this year, but we look forward to seeing them!
DeadFire have supported Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Hawkwind, Sham 69, and Sister Sin, but in terms of a similar audience, what band out there at the minute do you feel that the band would be best suited to open for?
Charlie – We definitely suit the Phil Campbell and NWOCR style stuff. Bluesy riff-based rock. We wanna gig as much as possible so if anyone wants us, just shout!
Boothy – Steel Panther
Rich – I’d love to open for Black Stone Cherry, I think our music would resonate well with their audience.
What are your own first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
Charlie – Finding out how hard it is to play guitar and how easy it is to prance around a stage doing the “easy job”. My old mentor Beefy Robertson heard me sing once and told me to never pick up a guitar again, so I listened.
Tunk – It was when my brother took me to see Thrum at the Aberdeen Lemon Tree in 1992, although I’d been playing drums for a few years before that, it was the first time I’d heard a kick drum through a PA, and that sealed it for me, I needed to be in a gigging band.
Boothy – Jumping all around my house playing guitar on my plastic swingball racket to Chuck Berry’s ‘No Particular Place To Go’ is probably my first musical memory. My lightbulb moment was probably moshing in my mates’ garage with the two of them playing guitar and drums and realising they were missing a bass player.
Rich – The first time I watched AC/DC live at Donington. That opening shot where Angus is standing with his arm raised in front of a sea of people playing ‘Thunderstruck’. When I saw that for the first time, I told myself, that’s what I want to do!
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Charlie – Stone Sour in Glasgow
Rich and Tunk – Airbourne at the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom
Boothy – The Ruckus at Kraktoa, Aberdeen. Although my memory is very hazy of the whole gig.
What current issue are you particularly passionate about?
Charlie – Individuality and supporting/encouraging people to be who they are.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
Charlie – Lady Gaga – The Fame
Rich – I have a whole Spotify playlist dedicated to country music that I play A LOT!
Although 2021 was another year to forget, there were some amazing new albums released, what would be your album of last year?
Rich – It’s difficult to pick only one, so I’m gonna cheat and pick a few. I really liked The Dust Coda – Mojo Skyline, Mason Hill – Against The Wall, Dirty Honey – Dirty Honey, The L.A. Maybe – Dirty Damn Tricks…to name a few…
What has DeadFire got planned for 2022?
Rich – As mentioned earlier, we are gonna release new music every 6-8 weeks following our release of ‘Anxiety Society’. In August we head over to play a few shows in the Czech Republic and Germany. As well as that though, we want to end 2022 telling ourselves that that was our biggest year yet and keep the momentum going into 2023!
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
Rich – We are very active on social media. You can follow us over on our
Instagram – @deadfire4.0
Facebook – facebook.com/Deadfire1
