Love Amongst Ruin was formed by former Placebo drummer Steve Hewitt following his departure from that particular band in 2007. Taking the opportunity to move out from behind the drum kit and become the band’s frontman, Hewitt set about writing a set of rock songs which eventually formed the band’s eponymous debut album, released last year via Ancient B Records. They also completed their debut headline tour late last year, rounding off 2010 supporting Feeder at a Kerrang! sponsored Christmas show. Now gearing up for 2011, we caught up with Steve to find out more.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I saw Philthy Animal Taylor, the drummer from Motörhead, on ‘Top Of The Pops’ playing ‘Ace Of Spades’. It looked like an exciting thing to do. From then on I hassled my parents every day to get me a drum kit, eventually they relinquished and the rest is, as they say, history. History which we are still making…
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
I found myself suddenly and unexpectedly out of a job for reasons that were never explained to me. Basically, it was the feeling of betrayal that motivated me to write 80% of the tracks on ‘Love Amongst Ruin’. The other tracks concern true love and strange fruit.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It varies, there isn’t really one process. Sometimes I just have a beat that I have laid down and we build off that in the studio. Or, it could be, that I have an almost completed song that I have worked on in my home studio. That could include drums, bass, guitar, some keyboards and guide vocals. Then I share what I have with Donneye and/or other members of the band and we see where that takes us.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
All the greats, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Cure and, of course, Radiohead.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Play loud, play often.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and the future?
Right now I just want to get out and play this album for as many people as possible. Once we have done that I’m taking the whole band back in the studio to start writing and recording the next album. We already have three tracks almost complete.
MORE>> www.loveamongstruin.com
Sections: Q&A L | Tags: Love Amongst Ruin, Placebo
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