#it's gonna be when he finds out who the frontman is isn't it

[taivascat]

[your-divine-ribs]

Kinktober 💖 Truth

"I actually think a lot of girls can do it but they don't realise it... they've just never had someone make them come hard enough before."

Words: 1.6k // I’m With the Band Van // squirting

Kinktober Masterlist Main Masterlist

💖 You'd thought that being on tour was going to be non-stop excitement, a never-ending run of shows and wild after-parties that would leave your head spinning and your thirst for hedonistic pleasures sated. Turns out that the sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle that you'd been expecting was a big misconception on your part where the Catfish boys were concerned though.

💖 You'd been on the road for four days with them and the wildest moment so far had been a messy night where you'd sunk shots and played Truth or Dare at some dive bar after a show. It'd been great fun until you'd all got thrown out when Bondy had been dared to re-enact the Coyote Ugly bar dance scene but had fallen off spectacularly and taken a dive into a table full of drinks.

💖 You'd giggled to yourself as you'd heard the scathing lectures the tour manager had handed out the following day, tucked away in your hiding spot on Van's bunk. "I told you it was a bad move bringing her on tour, she's nothing but a bad influence. This isn't the nineties anymore... despite what you might think it's not good publicity to be out getting fucked up in public. You're not Liam bloody Gallagher!"

💖 You're still smiling to yourself when Van appears twenty minutes later with a spliff in his hand and a giant frown on his face. He flops down on his back on the bunk, blowing a plume of smoke upwards. "Christ... it's like having me dad on tour, except even he doesn't lecture me like that!"

💖 "So... you gotta behave yourself from now on then? Got your orders?" You lean forward, plucking the spliff from between his fingers and taking a deep drag. "Heard Dan say that apparently I'm the bad influence... the cheek of it!"

💖 Van hauls his body upwards to sit facing you. "As I remember it was you who suggested playing Truth or Dare, which is exactly what got us into all that trouble in the first place... so I guess he was right... and you never even had your turn..." He pauses, grinning as he watches you with hooded eyes. "So... what'll it be then?"

💖 "Huh? What'll what be?" You shrug, confused as to what he's asking, passing the spliff back in exchange for a can of Red Stripe which you pop open, taking a swig. Van's smile widens. "Truth or Dare?"

💖 An hour later you're laughing so hard you're in tears, both feeling a little buzzed from the weed and the lager you've consumed. You've been exchanging silly dares and shocking truths back and forth, each turn getting more and more daring, and the mood has shifted from lightly flirtatious to downright blatantly sexual.

💖 "So... truth... how many virgins have you deflowered then?" You giggle, reaching for another can. Van practically sprays his mouthful of lager all over you as he stifles a hearty laugh. "Deflowered?" He echoes, clearly amused. "You make it sound so poetic!"

💖 "Isn't it then? Aren't the girlies all swooning and walking on clouds after spending a night with the hot frontman of their dreams?" He smirks back at you in a way that makes heat bloom between your thighs. Damn! Why does he have to be so bloody attractive? "Maybe you'll find out for yourself one day... and hey! It's not your turn, it's my go. C'mon what's it gonna be this time?"

💖 You roll your eyes at him, announcing "truth" before sitting back in the bunk, stretching out your legs in front of you, draping them over Van's lap. His eyes dart down to run over the smoothness of your bare legs as he ponders your question. When he looks back up at you his smile is mischievous. "Has a guy ever made you squirt?"

💖 "What the fuck?" You squeal, cheeks flaming as you clap a hand over your mouth, laughing to hide your embarrassment. "What kind of question is that? Not all girls can do it you know. If you think they can you've obviously been watching far too many pornos!"

💖 "I take it that's a no then," he says, placing his can down and resting his hands on your legs whilst you try not to react to his unexpected but welcome touch. "I actually think a lot of girls can do it but they don't realise it... they've just never had someone make them come hard enough before."

💖 Your cheeks grow redder and that's not the only part of you ready to combust. The atmosphere in the cramped bunk space has definitely changed from light-hearted and playful to heavy and charged. You swallow down a gulp. "And I suppose you're the expert in that area then are you?"

💖 You just look at each other, gauging the other's reactions, your gaze slipping down to his mouth as you see his tongue dart out to swipe over his plump bottom lip. Fuck... how you've wondered what that mouth might be capable of... and those long dexterous fingers that are currently moving down your legs to wrap around your ankles, gently tugging you towards him so you slip down until you're propped on your elbows. "Uh-huh," he confirms self-assuredly. "Wanna find out if you can?"

💖 You find yourself lost for words, an unusual occurrence, so you just nod, muttering out a mumbled assent of sorts, pushing your body even further down the bed so you're lying flat on your back. You can hardly believe what you're doing as Van eases your legs apart, settling down on to his belly between your spread thighs, lips brushing your skin. "Fuck Y/N, I've always wanted to do this..."

💖 Twenty minutes later you're writhing on the bunk whilst Van works you into a frenzy, kissing and licking at your now tender clit, sucking it between his plush lips whilst two of his long slender fingers fuck deeply into you in a way that makes your toes curl. You've had to clamp your hand over your mouth again to stifle the pornographic moans that still somehow manage to seep out.

💖 You're pretty sure at this point the whole tour bus including all the crew and even the driver knows you're having the time of your life back here but you can't even begin to worry about the dirty comments and Van's smug face that'll haunt you for the rest of the tour. He's a fucking magician and he's already pulled several orgasms from you, each one increasing in intensity until you're sure you're going to pass out if he keeps it up.

💖 "Shit Van," you groan as his seeking fingers hook upwards to catch a spot that has your legs nearly snapping shut around his head. "I dunno if I can take any more. I'm feeling kinda faint... ohhhh.... oh fuck that feels... uhhhh..."

💖 "Just one more darlin', you taste so fucking good," he murmurs, his words sending vibrations through your core that have you fisting at the bedsheets, your head pressed back so hard against the pillow you feel like you might melt into it.

💖 "Oh my fucking god," you whimper out, clenching helplessly around his skilled fingers as he starts to pump them in and out of you in a fast motion, his tongue circling your clit relentlessly until you feel like you might explode. "I... I... I can't..." you stutter.

💖 "C'mon love just let it go," he whispers into your slickness and then he puckers his lips around your clit, sucking a blissful pressure in tandem with his pistoning fingers. "Give it to me... I want it all."

💖 Your nerves are singing with overstimulation and you're caught between pushing Van's head away or tugging his hair by the roots to press him even closer. You decide on the latter and he increases his efforts. You almost draw blood you're biting down on your bottom lip so hard. "Uhhhh..." you moan in a voice that doesn't even sound like your own.

💖 Everything is winding up tight and fiery again except this time something feels different. You lift your head up off the mattress, mildly panicking. There's a blinding pressure low down that feels so overwhelmingly intense you'd probably feel scared if Van wasn't situated between your thighs, looking up at you with those captivating blue eyes.

💖 "Fuck... fuck... fuck... Van... I... I..." you babble, frantic fingers gripping his hair so tight he hisses in pain. He doesn't falter though, determined to give you that final push over the precipice... and then it explodes...

💖 The pressure suddenly gives way in an all-encompassing rush that sees your vision blur and a strangled cry tear from your throat. You come so hard you lose all sense of reality and you're not absolutely sure but it feels like you might actually black out for a few seconds. Your body tenses up then immediately slackens like you're boneless...and then there's the wetness.

💖 Your thighs are soaked, the bedding's drenched and to your horror you blink up, stunned, to see Van rising up to hover over you, the lower half of his face and neck dripping. The front of his shirt's wet through too and you start to blather, absolutely mortified. "Oh my god... did I... is that... oh shit, I'm so sor..."

💖 "Hey..." he cuts you off firmly, wiping his glossy lips on the back of his hand, seemingly completely unbothered about being soaked through. "Don't you dare apologise, that was the hottest fucking experience of my life... I'm not kidding." Then his mouth curves into a toothy grin, a little smug, a little over-awed, and definitely ecstatic. "Guess that answers our question then about whether or not you can! Are you okay?"

💖 "I... errr.... I... think so," you mumble uncertainly, your embarrassment starting to fade as Van cups your face in his hands and leans in close. "So how about a dare next?"

[back-alley-bardblog]

HEYY I've got a question: what instruments does everyone play? also who usually writes the songs 👀

A hyperactive imp runs into frame, grabbing the camera and raising it up before exploding into a greeting 

“The people asked so the people will receive!! Don’t look at the gap between the posts, it isn't real and it can’t hurt me!!”

“Gonna just use this as a way to let you all know about the others. Just for funzies!! You’re gonna love em, I promise!” Tobi places the camera down and begins to rummage around his room, tail wagging around in the air as he does. “But FIRST… I’ll show you what I do!!” Loud clashing fills the room as things are flung around as Tobi searches for their instrument, eventually he resurfaces after noticing it was leaned up against the wall in broad daylight. He promptly grabs it and holds it up as if it were a cool fish he just caught.

“I play lead guitar!! I’m not the best vocalist or anything but our frontman lets me tag in whenever he needs a rougher voice and doesn’t want to talk to our bassist! So like, usually.”

They smile, but in the way a child who just saw their parents who are desperately in need of a divorce argue for the 5th time that day would.

“I really like playing guitar. I sorta got into it thanks to one of my uncles, he had an old one lying around from his old rocker days and let me play it when I was a kid and eventually my parents got me one as a gift when I turned 13 and I've been doing it ever since! I'm pretty sure if you look around you can find some old covers of mine. Don't listen to them, they suck!"

They put their guitar down and get closer to the camera once again

“That’s enough on me though, I’ll go grab the others! Cedar’s on the couch right now so I’ll go get him first! Be right back!"

The imp comes back a few moments later, dragging a somewhat groggy looking human into the room by the sleeve of his hoodie. His square glasses seemingly just frantically adjusted and his hair shaggy and messy, the type of existence you can only really achieve after being suddenly awoken from an accidental couch nap. 

“Are you sure they asked for me specifically?” His voice was tired and monotone - but not angry. More just bewildered.

“Well they asked for the whole band but one person asked about who writes for us plus you’re like, the easiest person to find usually considering the fact you just kind of rot on the couch-” “I get it Tobi- You don’t have to-” “I'm not saying that's bad or anything, don't worry! I know the job market’s hard for you Cece!!”

He stands there in silence, biting his tongue a little bit before deciding to change the subject “What did you need me to do again?”

“Just say your name, what you do and maybe a few things about yourself if you feel like it!” “So… basic introduction?” “Yeh!” “Alright…”

He looks to the camera, raising a hand to lazily wave at it

“Hi. I’m Cedar, I mostly handle the vocals for us… plus generally act as the songwriter for us all since some people never bothered to learn basic music theory” “Jasper knows it. He keeps rewriting your basslines, remember? He says you aren’t good at writing them.” “What does he know about that stuff-” “The actual instrument.” “Yea well- he can- he can fuckin…” Cedar’s face regresses into sour frustration as he struggles to think of a response to that. Tobi pipes up again after a prolonged awkward silence

"y'know there's still a bonus bit of info you can give... how'd you get into what you do?"

Cedar seems to be snapped out of his bubbling fit of rage by the question. He takes a moment to think before answering "I don't know... bunch of stuff, really. Mostly an old friend. He showed me how to pirate music and some bands from over here and I thought it was pretty cool. Tried making my own stuff and that's what got me into songwriting." "What about the singing though" "I did uh... what's the word.... that thing where people sing... in like, a big group and uh..." "Choir?" "Yea. Yea Choir." "Huh... I can kinda see it honestly!! Dunno how you forgot the word choir though." "Tobi." "Oh. yea, right, sorry..." He clicks his tongue as a sense of embarrassment forms within him from his blunder before making a sudden recovery, "Anything else you wanna say before you go?" “Don’t listen to anything that blue haired dickhead says about me.” “Cool… cool cool cool… You gonna go back to the couch?” “Nah, bed. Night.” “Cedar it's 2pm…” “I know.”

He walks away, leaving Tobi alone in the room once again. He remembers the camera is still rolling and to get back on with entertaining “SO! That was Cedar! I promise he’s cool to be around aha- Great at what he does though! Don’t think we’d be able to function without him!”

They put their hands on their hips and make popping sounds with their lips as they think of what to do next, eventually remembering a pretty important bit of information "So uh... I'm pretty sure the others aren't home right now. One's at work and the other one just kinda wanders sometimes? He'll probably be back in like, an hour or something. My phones about to die soon too so I'll just make this one a 2-parter!"

He throws up a peace sign before ending the recording

[black-arcana]

Watch: EVANESCENCE Joined By P.O.D.'s SONNY SANDOVAL For 'Bring Me To Life' Performance At 2024 SONIC TEMPLE Festival

P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval joined EVANESCENCE on stage Thursday (May 16) at the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio to perform the latter band's breakthrough 2003 hit "Bring Me To Life". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Canada's iHeart Radio, EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee reflected on "Bring Me To Life", which featured guest vocals from Paul McCoy of 12 STONES. She said: "When we first did the song, I didn't wanna do the rap. That was like a concession kind of a thing with the label, trying to find a place for us. And LINKIN PARK was hot on the radio at the time. That was part of their [the label's] calculation of what was gonna help break a female through. And it was hard for me, actually. I got to write it. I was a part of it, like all of it, Paul was wonderful — still wonderful. But it was something that I like had an internal struggle with. But all these years later, with just — I don't want to use the word 'success', 'cause it's deeper than that, but the life that that song has had and all of these live shows, now that we're at this point now, 20 years later, and playing festivals with so many… It's just really, really, really an amazing gift to have our big song be a duet, because whenever we're out with somebody who's even remotely kind of in the realm of that would fit that voice, we get to have them up on our set. So that's been this really fun guest finale moment a lot. And even if the person isn't like the most famous person — it's cool when that happens — but when it's not, too, it just changes the energy of the song and is this easy, plug-in, really fun… I don't know. I don't know if that's the answer you were looking for, but I've gotten to a point where I'm super grateful that we have that song for that reason. The crowd goes nuts and everybody knows it, so it's super fun to have it be a collab."

Back in February 2022, EVANESCENCE's music video for "Bring Me To Life" surpassed one billion views on YouTube. The Philipp Stölzl-directed clip, which was uploaded to YouTube in December of 2009, was filmed in Romania in January 2003. It features Amy in a night gown and barefoot, in her room, inside a tall building in the city at night. The rest of the band is playing on a higher floor of the building.

The album version of "Bring Me to Life" was included on the soundtrack of superhero film "Daredevil".

In 2021, Amy spoke to Germany's Sonic Seducer about the lyrical inspiration for "Bring Me To Life". The song reached No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was EVANESCENCE's first U.K. No. 1 single.

"I remember what I wrote 'Bring Me To Life' about, because I wrote it about my current husband before we were married," she said. "There was this moment — I was in a tough place and in a bad relationship. And my husband now, Josh, at the time was just a friend and a person that I barely knew; it was maybe the third or fourth time we'd ever met. And we went in to go grab a seat at a restaurant while our friends parked the car. And we sat across from each other, and he looked at me and he just said, 'So, are you happy?' And it took me so off guard, and I just felt like it pierced my heart, because I felt like I had been pretending really well, and it was, like, somebody could see through me. And then that whole first verse came out of it: 'How can you see into my eyes, like open doors.' It really made me feel and recognize the sense of yearning that I had to get to a better place. And it really kind of set me out on a journey. And it's amazing that that became the song, the first song that broke us on to the scene and made everyone hear of us, because it was about something — I don't know — something so personal that I was recognizing in my life."

In March 2021, Lee told Alternative Press that EVANESCENCE's original record label Wind Up threatened not to release the group's debut album, "Fallen", if she and her bandmates didn't add a male voice to lead single "Bring Me To Life" to make it more palatable for radio.

"Fallen" sold 17 million copies and won two Grammys, including "Best Rock Performance" for "Bring Me To Life".

EVANESCENCE's latest album, "The Bitter Truth", arrived in March 2021 via BMG. It was EVANESCENCE's first album of original music in ten years.

[punkscowardschampions]

Zelda & Zach

ihatemyguts: [Ready for a flimsy excuse to talk lmao] ihatemyguts: Question, would Lauren actually be 👍 or 👎 if I turn up to her stream? ihatemyguts: Couldn't tell inandout: ecstatic inandout: her 👚👕👖🧦 could come off inandout: it's hard to tell if she's joking ihatemyguts: I will 🏃 to 🧼 my 👀 ihatemyguts: and time my tip really well before that potential eventuality inandout: smart move inandout: people pleasing ihatemyguts: She was nice, funny ihatemyguts: no 💩 nosing but yeah, I'm not in a position to be picky inandout: she's good at the "older sister away at uni partying but still there for you" role ihatemyguts: do you have a real one? inandout: I've got a brother, he's older than her and less of a party animal ihatemyguts: Mine too ihatemyguts: he's not as old as her but first date @ 18 isn't far off the vibe inandout: Robbie would call that hella awkward inandout: but I don't think mine has had one yet at 21 inandout: unless it's with a 🤖 he created ihatemyguts: that would be as impressive as it is 😢 inandout: he only likes to flex academically impressive muscles inandout: and believes no girls are interested in that inandout: despite being at uni ihatemyguts: 💔 ihatemyguts: Bless inandout: Lauren would knock his head together with every dream girl of his he's surrounded by until it fell off inandout: I'm a pacifist though ihatemyguts: Brothers are stupid ihatemyguts: his 💭👸 might be the stereotype of a cheerleader that doesn't even exist ihatemyguts: just ⏳⌛️ inandout: wouldn't leave me shooketh to find out you're onto something inandout: he does watch Love Island ihatemyguts: 🧠 representation, man ihatemyguts: you do not always get the girl at the end and if you do, you'll have so little in common you should just put her back inandout: I had a mental image of him just forcing a girl back up onto these high shelves we have in our kitchen inandout: not today, honey ihatemyguts: 😂 ihatemyguts: if only people were shelvable ihatemyguts: keep 'em in storage 'til you're feeling 💯 inandout: + if I'm heroically expected to get her down, the stumbling block is that the 🍪🍬🍭 are kept up there ihatemyguts: she'll have to eat it all to save you right back inandout: a love story inandout: we need to pitch it to Netflix ihatemyguts: I have done so much research for this ihatemyguts: Robyn can write it ihatemyguts: Rich can DEMAND actually disabled actors, and Rosie can ask nicely inandout: you have to be the lead, then the viewers will be on edge of their seats when you eat the 🍪🍬🍭 ihatemyguts: Lauren might 👊 me for it inandout: the spotlight would give her a seizure ihatemyguts: Awh ihatemyguts: lucky teen dramas are so moodily lit ihatemyguts: think twilight not spring breakers inandout: so dark that everyone has to squint and give themselves a headache inandout: dizzying camera angles inandout: getting our own back one symptom at a time ihatemyguts: may have to 🔪🔪 someone to make 'em shit their pants ihatemyguts: but you can nominate your brother, that's cool inandout: let him come back as a 🤖 at the end ihatemyguts: how's his Arnie? inandout: hmmm inandout: borderline racist? inandout: but we're Jewish and he's Austrian, I don't think he'll come for us ihatemyguts: not gonna go zombie for that ihatemyguts: definitely free pass for life on all the racial jokes @ their expense inandout: the shortened life span will help make up for it too ihatemyguts: no 🤖 ending? ihatemyguts: 👎 inandout: abrupt fade to black inandout: hopefully ihatemyguts: Iconic ihatemyguts: see your vision inandout: much as lingering death rattle would be an epic punk band or album name ihatemyguts: 🤔 ihatemyguts: you're a frontman, right? inandout: self nominated ihatemyguts: I see it inandout: you're drums ihatemyguts: only if I get to be on a dramatic raised platform above you all at the back inandout: if you swear not to 🚿 us with 💩 ihatemyguts: it would bring the horror ihatemyguts: very Carrie ihatemyguts: but 🤞 inandout: very Slipknot ihatemyguts: I'm down for a mask situation inandout: I'm not 🥵 ihatemyguts: Valid ihatemyguts: but you're cute, people will wanna see you inandout: cute is 🐕🐩🐈 or 🐖🐑🐐🐄 inandout: we can't start an animal band unless you can talk to them and ask if they really want inandout: ...some kind of rockstar life ihatemyguts: True, Ozzy was NOT asking those 🦇 if they were about the fame inandout: and they became another casualty of inandout: sickening ihatemyguts: is that the deal ihatemyguts: my bowel has decided not to work so I get to speak to animals? ihatemyguts: 🤙 inandout: that's a 10 episode series pitch ihatemyguts: god knows there has to be a redeeming feature of a sick kid ihatemyguts: can't be an arsehole who's suffering, not relatable and not enjoyable -10/10 inandout: you can only be an arsehole if yours works inandout: hooray for me ihatemyguts: lucky ihatemyguts: don't wanna flex on you by sparking up, really inandout: can you drink? It's a no for me ihatemyguts: it's iffy ihatemyguts: like it's not great ihatemyguts: but if I don't get big sister at Uni levels, technically inandout: technically same, but who wouldn't wanna get to that level inandout: who's doing it for the taste? ihatemyguts: I personally LOVE the taste of rotting fruit inandout: I have no sense of smell and barely any of taste and even I know wine and beer are both bad inandout: maybe the first sip of spirits will change my life ihatemyguts: that's a dangerous game ihatemyguts: it's already supposedly scentless a lot of the time ihatemyguts: you'd get wasted real fast inandout: not a date then ihatemyguts: not for long ihatemyguts: 🏥 is a fave haunt obviously but not ideal, even for a 2nd date inandout: 3rd? ihatemyguts: s'one way to end up in bed ihatemyguts: sure inandout: kids at my school do keep asking me if I've ever hooked up in hospital inandout: that being my number 1 priority each time ihatemyguts: 🙄 ihatemyguts: like it's some cringy show mums would watch ihatemyguts: with the staff or with all the random hottie in their prime that are just roaming the corridors, yeah, alright inandout: + 🏥 = PICC  in case there weren't a high enough risk of getting caught or mild peril ihatemyguts: the thrill of it all ihatemyguts: worth being sick for all the steamy romance, honestly inandout: don't forget the nurses inandout: another fave topic of everyone in class ihatemyguts: yeah, the stress eating and shift work makes 'em 🔥🔥🔥 inandout: no 💐 allowed to keep the atmosphere romantic either ihatemyguts: 💔💔💔 ihatemyguts: sure your class is not concerned about the vibe inandout: well read inandout: they just wanna touch a boob inandout: which is a good song title ihatemyguts: with potential to make a b-side literally about ���� ihatemyguts: high🖐 inandout: hi-hat, drummer girl ihatemyguts: badumtss inandout: 🎤 drop ihatemyguts: 🙇👏 inandout: Lauren swears she'll keep her clothes on to play Breath of the Wild ihatemyguts: I'm honoured ihatemyguts: and not at all disappointed ihatemyguts: 😉 inandout: her wardrobe of onesies are incredible inandout: they'll cheer you back up inandout: 👽🤖🐛🐲🦕🦑 + more animals than you'd have time to chinwag with ihatemyguts: obviously, I need to see this to believe 🖖 inandout: like a 🦄 she has one of those too ihatemyguts: thanks for the inside scoop ihatemyguts: can pretend I'm fully psychic now ihatemyguts: get all those oddly specific requests out inandout: that'll spook her inandout: I'm for it ihatemyguts: 🔮🗣🐒 ihatemyguts: not trying too hard to compensate, AT ALL inandout: I hadn't seen the others before today inandout: that was cool ihatemyguts: For real? ihatemyguts: It seems like you all hang like all the time, from the outside creepin' in inandout: you heard the commander, we're not supposed to post pics or personal stuff ihatemyguts: still a weird rule ihatemyguts: like, I get it, online predators, poor defenseless baby disableds, not ideal ihatemyguts: if it was an IRL group, we wouldn't be going by quippy puns on our name badges inandout: [gives her his socials and Lauren is of course in his friends so she can add her too] inandout: I was gonna suggest a meet up but didn't wanna get shot down inandout: the point is, some of us can't get out and about inandout: hasn't passed me by ihatemyguts: that's true ihatemyguts: there has to be a way we can include everybody though, everybody that would possibly want to ihatemyguts: Christ, if we as a group can't think of accessibility solutions ihatemyguts: but my point is, drop you a 💬 if I have any 💡 inandout: @ Rich inandout: he'd figure it out ihatemyguts: right? ihatemyguts: not that I'm desperate for company but frankly ihatemyguts: no, it could be cool inandout: and she won't say, despite what I said about trading on her fame, but Lauren's anniversary is coming up inandout: she'll want company for that ihatemyguts: I don't know if I should know, and I know I'm not gonna ask her ihatemyguts: but it can't be a fun anniversary, anything we could do to make it less of a shit time ihatemyguts: why not inandout: you're in inandout: cool ihatemyguts: 👍 ihatemyguts: the social engagements I won't need to turn down for this ihatemyguts: busy 🐝 I ain't inandout: I wanna ask if you had loads of friends before inandout: it seems like you would ihatemyguts: Kinda ihatemyguts: and not everyone turned into total cunts either, not trying to be that tragic heroine ihatemyguts: awkward adjustment, mainly for me, I know but ihatemyguts: wish I had a cool illness, you know ihatemyguts: can't make 💩 work for me inandout: what's a cool one? ihatemyguts: there's no cool one to have, I know that, like, intelligently, I get it ihatemyguts: but at least if you've got a decent story or you aren't essentially shitting yourself to death as your quirky symptom, people are more into it ihatemyguts: it's stupid but inandout: something that makes you faint dramatically inandout: that'd be netflix worthy inandout: the harder the name is to pronounce, the better ihatemyguts: exactly, providing I do it gracefully and look pretty whilst doing it ihatemyguts: 'cos what's the point in this pain if I can't peddle it to the masses inandout: you could look pretty doing it ihatemyguts: oh yeah ihatemyguts: the glamour would be unreal 😂 inandout: 🍃 ihatemyguts: 📽 ihatemyguts: cinematic inandout: American Beauty and you're the plastic bag ihatemyguts: that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me ihatemyguts: okay, Katy Perry inandout: leave Robbie to do the 🐯 roar ihatemyguts: she's cute ihatemyguts: no offense to you but inandout: how many dates are you two going on? ihatemyguts: do her parents let her out of her house, legit ihatemyguts: 'cos that will change the answer a lot inandout: only for 🏥 inandout: but she'll wanna come to the meet up ihatemyguts: then, we'll have to go on loads of dates ihatemyguts: so I can convince them I'm very respectable and not at all contagious inandout: I know JRA sucks but they'd put her in a bubble if they could ihatemyguts: I get it but also ihatemyguts: stop ihatemyguts: actual case of how it's being dealt with making it worse, when I was in hospital, the first time ihatemyguts: there was this tiny kid, and his ma was like...just insane, which is understandable but, it weren't helping her or him inandout: she could outgrow it when she's 16, that'll shake them up ihatemyguts: serious? ihatemyguts: damn inandout: it happens inandout: that's the J inandout: for being a kid ihatemyguts: I had no idea ihatemyguts: like you stop growing and it stops fucking with you, basically? ihatemyguts: that's cool ihatemyguts: if it happens ihatemyguts: worst fucking false hope if it doesn't inandout: yep inandout: sweet or bittersweet 16 ihatemyguts: like 5 months, she said? inandout: I'm gonna go to the party inandout: you should come ihatemyguts: Yeah? ihatemyguts: you think she meant it ihatemyguts: you can tell me if it was just politeness 'cos she is inandout: loneliness inandout: but she likes us too ihatemyguts: how long have you been in the group? inandout: they gave me the info when I was 12 inandout: I didn't wanna use it then though inandout: last summer I decided to ihatemyguts: I feel you ihatemyguts: like, what should we have in common ihatemyguts: but that's actually like any friendship, you got sat next to them one day in class or they shared with you at break ihatemyguts: I was just being a dick about it inandout: there are those inandout: like fibro inandout: but the core group are cool ihatemyguts: Everyone was decent ihatemyguts: if you're a dick you just are, regardless of our shared experiences ihatemyguts: but that is more than I've got with some of my old friends, that's just facts, whether you wanna accept it or nah, you know inandout: yep, me and my 🤖 brother have nothing shared inandout: his DNA is fine ihatemyguts: how was that ihatemyguts: like, was he mad guilty and did you wanna stomp on his lungs a 🤏 bit inandout: some days inandout: but Lauren says I'm better looking than him so what else matters ihatemyguts: 😂 inandout: how's your brother doing with your 💩 life? ihatemyguts: He doesn't say a whole lot ihatemyguts: that was a thing pre 💩 life too so ihatemyguts: guess he gets to keep being mysterious and my illness feels the least invisible when I'm the only kid let out to the 🚽 multiple times a lesson ihatemyguts: 🤷 inandout: you could suggest home school inandout: Robbie's an expert, she'd do you a pro slideshow ihatemyguts: I already miss people inandout: okay, okay, we'll bring the first date forward inandout: I'll escort you to the party ihatemyguts: what's the dresscode? this is vital and I know she's already said inandout: 👑💎 ihatemyguts: Oh good, you'll look extra adorable ihatemyguts: it'll be the usual trial picking which tiara to wear but think I'll survive inandout: Maybe you can take her shopping for your first date ihatemyguts: 💡 idea I'll have to claim as my own inandout: 🙇 ihatemyguts: do any of you go to the same schools ihatemyguts: or are you meant to not know that, either inandout: I don't know where either R goes inandout: and I'd remember Lauren or Rich if they'd been at my school, I think ihatemyguts: I reckon ihatemyguts: shame ihatemyguts: not that I reckoned there'd be an underground network of secret disabled kids at mine but oh well inandout: there could be inandout: you didn't need to find out before ihatemyguts: True ihatemyguts: ⭐ not being the one though ihatemyguts: have to do some more subtle digging inandout: my school has some invisible and visibles besides me ihatemyguts: statistically, there's no chance I'm the only one inandout: most of the ones in our camp have mental health stuff though inandout: or dyslexia, ADHD etc ihatemyguts: hadn't even considered those kinds ihatemyguts: got a lot of studying to do ihatemyguts: that's how it feels ihatemyguts: I barely get what I've got, never mind the endless possibilities of how a human can be slightly fucked inandout: they tend to have their own forums anyway inandout: not that Rosie wouldn't welcome them with a sleepy hug ihatemyguts: ☺️ inandout: it's less 🏥💉🩸 I guess? inandout: sort of 💊 and 🗪 ihatemyguts: Definite crossovers but not fully the same deal ihatemyguts: I see my pharmacist so often we're on date ... ihatemyguts: dread to think inandout: people don't wanna feel like others don't understand them somewhere where they're going for solidarity inandout: or that they can't get a sentence in over all the rest that are being typed ihatemyguts: it is pretty nervewracking ihatemyguts: even if yours is decent inandout: I used to be a big lurker inandout: some days I still am inandout: Lauren will always fill up the gaps ihatemyguts: you need all types, I reckon inandout: same ihatemyguts: like families ihatemyguts: even the creepy uncle inandout: if I don't have one does that mean I'm destined to become him? ihatemyguts: only if your brother finds a cheerleader ihatemyguts: you're probably alright inandout: he could adopt Robbie and let her live cage free ihatemyguts: that was a bit creepy ihatemyguts: oh my god, it's started ihatemyguts: 👹 inandout: damn inandout: much to think about inandout: a life to reassess ihatemyguts: if you're actually going ihatemyguts: thanks ihatemyguts: for being cool inandout: you were cool first inandout: I didn't lead a revolution ihatemyguts: you had to be cool enough not to shoot it down inandout: I'm so cool I've fallen at the creepy uncle fashion hurdle inandout: can't get a 🧢 on without a haircut inandout: it's all about the 🧦 now ihatemyguts: you know how to paint a picture ihatemyguts: even though I can now stalk your socials in my own time inandout: easier to explain you than Lauren inandout: my friends at school were shook by her ihatemyguts: I can imagine ihatemyguts: she'd be happy with that though 😏 inandout: she was inandout: [posts a selfie with his best attempt at a creepy uncle aesthetic because I doubt I'm finding a gem like that from Finn] ihatemyguts: oh my god ihatemyguts: 👏 ihatemyguts: that would be fully #triggering, top marks inandout: ♟ your move inandout: wine mum or vodka aunt ihatemyguts: Oh, I have perfect wine mum clothes ihatemyguts: had very bad taste a few years back and the 👻 are hanging about ihatemyguts: hold on inandout: I can't make the baited breath comment twice in a day, that's too much inandout: and I know I did in group ihatemyguts: 💔 I'm not special enough inandout: come back tomorrow for new puns ihatemyguts: [selfie in Amma's weird little girl/suburban mom clothing 'cos was not a mood] ihatemyguts: are you sure? inandout: damn inandout: come back tomorrow for a new photo challenge ihatemyguts: alright ihatemyguts: you're on inandout: cool

[sftswigan]

Manchester gutter punks, The Battery Farm, talk to us about horrific crime inspiring a song and how they just had to form this band...

We’ve got frontman/guitarist Ben from the band.

Alright Ben, can you tell us about the band. Who plays what and how the band got together?

Hallo! We are The Battery Farm, four gutter bastards from Manchester playing gnarly, seething punk rock music.

Ben Corry on Vocals and Guitar, Dominic Corry on Guitar, Paul Worrall on Bass, Sam Parkinson on Drums. Me and Dom formed this band from the ashes of a band we'd previously been in together for 8 years. At the point we formed The Battery Farm we were in a low place, feeling like failures, feeling defeated by this thing that we'd built for years just imploding, feeling angry and scared and hopeless at the utter state of the world. We basically decided to do this in the pub one night when we felt like we had absolutely nothing to lose. It was formed as a desperate reaction to two lives and minds spiralling out of control in a hostile, hateful world.

That must have been tough but, seems like it’s worked out well and the band from what I can tell is going from strength to strength. How soon did you find the remaining members, Paul and Sam? What have they brought to the band?

It has actually. Helpfully, it was a fertile environment from which to create. The first wave of songs - stuff like I Am a Man - are the purest distillation of that sense of lashing out, that sense of desperation we were feeling at the time.

We found Paul pretty much straight away. I'd known him for years through Manchester's Fringe theatre scene, having been in a couple of plays with him. He'd come to see me in a play, I knew he was a musician as well as an actor (although I don't think I'd grasped just how good he is), so I asked if he fancied playing bass for our new band. Sam we actually didn't know before the band, and it took a little longer to get him in. He works for the same company i do and I'd heard he was a drummer, so I got his contact details, asked him if he fancied coming for a rehearsal with us. It all clicked, and the rest is history.

Paul and Sam bring a massive amount to the band. They lift the songs me and Dom write and add a very particular combination of power and melody which you'll be hard pressed to come by very often. They're fucking ace and they know what is good for the song. No ego, no fucking about. They know what's important.

Sounds like you needed that new band to form quickly and to find drummer and bassist when you did you was very fortunate. I watched an interview of you and Dom recently and you talked about inspiration for songwriting and I was interested in where 97/91 came from. When it comes to writing where do you first look to for ideas?

Yeah we did, finding a drummer was comparitively difficult and I think if we'd have really struggled then we honestly would have just given up on it. 97/91 came about after I read an article about the murder of Suzanne Capper in Moston, north Manchester, which is where me and Dom grew up. I'm not going to go into details but if you look it up you'll see that it's the most horrific thing you've ever read. It stuck with me for weeks afterwards, and part of that was because I knew the streets where it had taken place and the community in which it had taken place. The houses it happened in - numbers 97 and 91 - are still there to this day. I got to thinking about why I reacted so viscerally to that story in particular; atrocities happen every day and we don't bat an eyelid, not really. It had such an impact because I was so familiar with the setting, so familiar with the type of person involved. It was too real. 97/91 explores the idea that we make a trade-off in our lives, one which enables cognitive dissonance that shields us from the impact the mass, relentless violence of the world. It also means that when something evil happens in a familiar setting the impact is much greater.

How can it only be real when you can see it? 97/91 isn't necessarily about the Capper murder itself, but the murder is a jumping off point to explore the faustian pact at the heart of the human condition, the one that keeps us sane but also ebbs away at our souls.

Our ideas just literally come from trying to explain our perspective on the world, we don't necessarily make a conscious effort to look in one place for ideas. We just write about whatever moves us. That can be mental illness, corrupt political systems, or the fact that I've never been to Gorton, which is literally the title of one of our new songs.

I find reading about crime stories really interesting, it’s madness what goes on in this world! This is one I’m not aware of but this must have been difficult to write about with it being so close to home? I love the anger and aggression in your music and lyrics.

You mentioned being an actor earlier, do you think this has an influence on your performance as a front man?

Yeah I went through a short phase of listening to true crime podcasts earlier this year but i had to stop bec it was all too grim. It was difficult to explore the ideas that particular incident led me onto but the endgame wasn't to just write about the murder itself, so I suppose keeping that in mind kept my head clear and made things easier.

Honestly, i try to keep any ideas of acting and theatre separate from the band. The actor thing can be frustrating at times because people conflate that with what I do in the band and think that everything must be a performance of some kind, which it isn't. The whole idea of putting The Battery Farm together was that it could give us an outlet to express ourselves honestly, and to me the stuff I do as a frontman is just an honest reaction to what I'm singing and what it makes me feel. I try not to overthink that aspect of it because I feel like to do so would water it down. It needs to be raw, it needs to be stark, it needs to be reality. If it's an actor's performance I'm not really getting anything out of it.

It’s amazing how reading/listening to one can lead on to another one. But yeah hard to shake off once you’ve learned about them.

You’re performance on stage seems very honest and I love to see in a frontman.

Moving on to the music scene...Manchester in particular is buzzing at the minute. Did the band find it easy to slot in? What’s been your favourite gig up to now?

We did actually. We knew a couple of people anyway from being in previous bands but until now I'd always found the Manchester scene a little unfriendly. It's totally different now. Not only is it overflowing with incredible, original, exciting new bands but it's also full of amazing people, and in the year we've been gigging we've made some wonderful friends. There's a proper sense of inclusivity and community, a lack of ego and aloofness that wasn't there before.

My favourite, and I think the others would agree with me, is our first headline set which was at The Peer Hat last November. It was an Abattoir Blues night and they're always amazing. The venue was packed to capacity and the atmosphere was electric. It was the kind of big, simmering sweatbox that seems impossible to imagine in the current climate. I want every gig we play to be like that one.

Yeah it’s great to see bands appreciating each other’s music and plugging their stuff on social media etc. I love going to Manchester for a gig. It’s a great time for guitar music in the UK at the minute with bands like Idles, Fontaines DC and Sports Team doing really well. And also The Blinders bringing album 2 out very soon!

That gig sounds like a great night!

When all this is over and we get some normality back...what are the bands plans?

Well, we're heading into the studio later this summer to begin work on... something. Beyond that it's hard to say because like everyone else we can't really make plans at the moment. Like everyone else we're pretty much having to make it up as we go along. We do have gigs booked for November and December but whether they'll happen or not remains up to fate. Everything going to plan, we may be in for an exciting end to the year. Maybe.

Gonna be very exciting for all bands and music once gigs/recording etc can happen again isn’t it.

Got so many new bands I want to see. Have you discovered any new bands during lockdown? If not, what have you been listening to?

Lockdown's actually been really fruitful in terms of new bands releasing amazing stuff. I've been listening to a lot of Tinfoils recently, they're a delight! Also been loving new stuff from Cold Water Swimmers, The Red Stains, Richard Carlson Band, The Maitlands, loads of stuff. I've also recently discovered John Shuttleworth, a comedy singer from Sheffield who does weird Phoenix Club-type songs about stuff like margerine and vans. I love stuff like that, real end of the pier nonsense.

I love Tinfoils and down to have them on here in Wigan but then lockdown came. The other bands I’m aware of too but not the solo artists you’ve mentioned.

Yeah Tinfoils are great. John Shuttleworth has been around for years i think. I can imagine he won't be to everyone's taste. Richard Carlson Band are actually named after the actor Richard Carlson, who was in The Creatire From the Black Lagoon. There is no Richard Carlson in that band! They're absolutely ace, they released their debut single a few weeks ago and I've had it on repeat.

I’ll be sure to listen to your recommendations, love finding new music to listen to.

We’re coming to the end of the interview now, I’ve just got a couple of questions. You’ll get two options, you pick one answer...

Winter or summer?

Sex Pistols or The Clash?

Roast dinner or Chinese?

Film or Book?

Winter

The Clash

Roast Dinner

Book

Thanks for having me! Hopefully see you soon

Thanks Ben for taking the time to chat to us. Hopefully we’ll cross paths at a gig soon.

If you want to listen to the band please go and follow them on social media and their music is on Spotify etc.