From left to right..'Curly' Wallace, Lawrie 'Def' Doyle and Mel 'The Barnett' Church

If you enjoy the Blues, then you'll love our feature this month on a band humorously named 'Off Yer Trolley'. Having recently released a debut album entitled 'Still Crazy After All These Beers', band members 'Lawrie 'Def' Doyle, Mel 'The Barnett' Church and 'Curly' Wallace were spilling beers all the way to the Bank after the success of their release in the Rock Of Gibraltar.

The album was, Lawrie tells us, recorded in three hours flat by the gifted hands of Engineer 'Charlie Moore' (who also worked with artist Carla on some of her own material). 'Off Yer Trolley' established a niche market for themselves, having nearly every one of their tracks played by Dave Raven's 'Raven And The Blues' Show, going out internationally on British Forces Broadcasting Station (BFBS) and they successfully recorded programmes for their local television network GBC TV.

This interview was provided by Lawrie 'Def' Doyle, and Mel 'The Barnett' Church. We regret to mention that percussionist 'Curly' Wallace (real name Barry) sadly passed away in February of this year from Cancer.

The Interview

1. Location

Gibraltar

2. How did the Band meet/form?

Lawrie: From meeting and jamming in Bars around Gibraltar. It was decided we would jam in Barbie's flat (Lawrie's girlfriend) , and slowly a band was formed.
Mel: Out on the piss.

3. Musical Style/Genre?

Lawrie: Mostly original early blues, although now with Barry Wallace sadly not with us, Mel and I are attempting other styles of music.
Mel: Blues/Folk.

4. How long have you been together?

Lawrie: About a year.
Mel: 15 months.

5. What is your favourite music gear/equipment?

Lawrie: Guitars - Any guitars. One day I would love to have a Dobro.
Mel: Lee Oscar Harmonicas

6. What is the best Album/Single you ever bought?

Lawrie: 'Still Crazy After All These Beers'
Mel: God Knows!. I own more CD's by the Ozric Tentacles than anyone else. But the album that had most influence on me when it was released is 'The Stone Roses'.

7. What is the best band you ever heard?

Lawrie: "Off Yer Trolley"....nah!
Mel: Don't know. It was all live music.

8. If you were suddenly the most influential people in the music industry what would you change about it?

Lawrie: Campaign for the right to play in clubs, Bars, Cafe's, Parks without so much Government interference, and anti-entertainment laws.
Mel: More places to play.

9. What's your philosophy in life?

Lawrie: Live and let live, but with total personal responsibility for your own actions.
Mel: Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and have a good time while at it.

10. What do you think is important for a band to stay together?

Lawrie: Respect.
Mel: Having fun.

11. What's your most treasured possessions?

Lawrie: My life, at the moment.
Mel: My Harmonicas.

12.What would you like to achieve in 2004?

Lawrie: Buy a Dobro.
Mel: A holiday next xmas.

13. Where was your most memorable performance?

Lawrie: An ANC, Free Nelson Mandela fund raising gig in a shed, somewhere in West Wales. A Real log raiser!
Mel: Playing in the Royal Albert Hall, in a young marching band competition years ago.

14. What are your biggest fears?

Lawrie: Cockroaches - lots of em!!
Mel: Heights.

15. Who do you admire and why?

Lawrie: Bob Geldof, for his talent as a musician, his achievement as a caring human and his under-inflated modesty.
Mel: Anyone that puts up with me.

16. What is your worst or funniest experience whilst performing?

Lawrie: Falling off a bar stool, dead drunk, during a solo performance, and snapping the neck of my new guitar.
Mel: As a youngster, fainting whilst wearing a marching bass drum.

17. What/who influences your music the most?

Lawrie: Too many to mention.
Mel: Originally, whatever my father brainwashed me with. Now, anything I hear.

18. What does 'success' mean to you?

Lawrie: The last good gig.
Mel: Getting up in the morning.

19. What would you like to be remembered for?

Lawrie: Being nice.
Mel: Being me.

20. What advice would you give newcomers to the music industry?

Lawrie: Play for the music. If the big money comes. Wahay!!
Mel: Have fun.

IF YOU would like the chance to be a featured artist on Melodrift Productions, just send your answers to the above questions, plus a pic of yourself, to contact@melodrift.com

 

 

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