The Black Tears

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The Black Tears © Artsin

The Black Tears are a new generation Grunge band. With all their own material and strong individual sound, created by four very different sets of influences, personalities and musical tastes.

The Black Tears were formed in February 2010 by founding members Barnaby Such and Rob Hanley. At the end of February they had found the help of managers Live Band Jam and became The Black Tears.

The band performed their first warm up gig at The Shoulder of Mutton in Ashby de la Zouch on 25th March, with the bands original lead singer and playing gigs as a three piece with Barnaby Such on Drums and Rob Hanley Guitar.

They had no bass player but felt the only way to get out there was to perform without one and gain the interest of a potential bassist. By April 2010 The Black Tears had managed to successfully audition for the Glastonbudget Festival 2010.

The Black Tears completed their line up with bass player, Amy Smith for whom Glastonbudget was her first performance with the band. By the end of August 2010, the band has put in some 21 performances.

In 2010 Rob Handley and Amy Smith left the band and Ollie Clemerson joined as the new bassist and Jacob Beaumont, guitar.

Introducing the members of The Black Tears:

The Black Tears © Artsin

Lishana Lane - Vocals
My name is Lischana Lane. My mum once said I could sing before I could talk and dance before I could walk. I've been in lots of bands including Blame It On The Alcohol at the tender age of thirteen, which only ever amounted to one song. At 15 there was Crossfire, in which I really cut my teeth on the music scene. In 2008 my third band, The Red Light Rebels, released an E.P., before going bust. Eventually I had the good fortune of being found by The Black Tears in May 2010. My ultimate dream is to have a thousand people sing my lyrics back at me and to never have to do a mundane job again! I am also about to go to Birmingham University to study photography and we will worm our way into the brum rock scene. I am influenced by The Now Volumes! [laughs] ... I am the pop influence of TBT!

The Black Tears © Artsin

Jacob Beaumont - guitar
I first picked up a guitar at the age of 10 after borrowing my cousin's. At 12 years old I was given my own guitar and started to take lessons at school. Within six months myself and a group of friends formed my first band called The Sound of Silence. We gigged local venues for three years until splitting up. I then moved into a band called Firebound gigging a little further afield but seeking a new sound. I left the band in 2009. It was not until January 2011 I was told by a friend of mine (and a fan of The Black Tears) Liz Harrison, that The Black Tears were auditioning for a new guitarist. Listening to them, this was the sound I had been looking for and I knew I could add something the band. I was soon contacted by Live Band Jam after posting on the TBT Facebook, meeting Barney and Lisch and the newest recruit KD, I wanted in even more. We instantly hit it off in personality and sound. I am now the lead guitarist of The Black Tears, being Influenced by Steve Vai - Yngwie Malmseen, Frank Zappa - The Doors.

Ollie Clemerson - Bass
I started playing guitar when I was 11 but it wasn't a serious thing until a friend started to learn as well. I started teaching myself chords and scales from the Internet and listening to bands like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Muse but it was the Bass Lines that were drawing me in and not long after my 13th birthday I purchased a bass guitar. Since then I've played in lots of bands playing different styles of music from rock with Firebound (my first band which I played alongside Jacob Beaumont) to Ska/punk with Stained Glass Alice. I attended a BTEC National Diploma where I furthered my skills on the bass guitar and playing live. Whilst gigging with SGA I felt the need to push myself further in the musical scene. And if you believe in fate I was approached by Live Band Jam to join 'The Black Tears.' Bass Influences: Flea - RHCP, Chris Wolstenholme - MUSE, Justin Chancellor - Tool, Tim Commerford - RATM

Barney Such - Drums
I started playing the drums three years ago, after being given an old drum kit. After two years of playing the cornet, I soon realised that this was not the instrument for me and started to tinker with the drums. It was not long after that I realised my passion for drumming and began by being coached by the well known Jazz session drummer James Nordon, who I continue to be coached by due to his amazing talent and we have become great friends.

I have played in lots of musical projects, including Indian Drum Fusion tracks and The Access To Music band camps, where I had the opportunity to play with many talented young musicians in various genres. In 2009 I was one of the founding members of a band called She Can't Fly, leaving in February 2010 when I felt I needed a more serious project.

I had chosen music and drumming to be my full time career. In December 2009 I was accepted at Birmingham's A.T.M. College on a level 3 performing musicians course. Soon after, I left She Can't Fly and met musician Rob Hanley and after our first rehearsal, we realised we had a musical connection and wanted to pursue a new project. Rob had also chosen music as his main career path, he was attending a music college on a sound engineering course. It was not long after forming, we wanted to make the best solid foundation we could for the band (un-named at this point). We approached Live Band Jam. After hearing us they agreed to manage us and soon after we became The Black Tears. I am influenced by The Rev, Avenged Sevenfold, Biffy Clyro, Motley Crew and Smashing Pumpkins.

The Black Tears © Artsin

Our interview with the (original) members of The Black Tears

Artsin:  I am here with The Black Tears.  Great to see you again!  You'r all looking bright and sparky this morning! What are the names of the band members and what do they do in the band?

Barney Such:   Hi. My name's Barney, I play the drums and I structure all the songs cause Rob's crap at it. Well, most of the songs.

Rob Hanley: Jog on! Rob. Guitar.

Amy Smith: I drop the basslines!

Lischana Lane: I sing and write the lyrics that the boys don't bother listening to!

Rob: We have lyrics?

Artsin: How did the band get its name?

Barney: Originally, Rob wanted to call the band 'The Black Sheep Family'.

Rob: But there was loads of them.

Barney: Our manager suggested it and we thought it sounded pretty cool. It was at our first gig and it stuck.

Artsin: Tell me about The Black Tears. How long have you been together and when did the band start playing with it's current lineup?: When did you play your first gig and how did it go?

Barney: Well it was a plug in and play gig at the Shoulder of Mutton in Ashby, two days before we played Glastonbudget! Was a bit of a last minute live practise.

Amy: I was scared.

Rob: it was bloody interesting.

Lischana: It went quite well though, got some good reactions and it prepared us at least a little bit for the festival to come!

Artsin: Which towns have you played in?

Barney: Leicester, Nuneaton, Leicester, Ashby, Hinckley, Leicester.

Amy: Stratford!

Barney: Swadlincote.

Lischana: Birmingham

Amy: Jupiter!

Barney: No Amy!

Artsin:  What is the most memorable gig you have played? What was the best one?

Barney: The one on the back of the lorry!

Rob: Aw, that was memorable. The bouncy castle man! Arse.

Lischana: He unplugged the one power socket that all of our kit was running through, cause it was in the same extension as his bouncy castle! We thought we'd blown a fuse, but it wasn't that rock n roll.

Amy: A few children got lost that day, we had to stop midsong to announce it!

Barney: And then the same child ran over the wire and unplugged us, AGAIN!

Amy: He may have been Damion.

Barney: Our best gig was probably, I dunno?

Amy: I liked Glastonbudget? And the last one at Cox's Yard when Barney and Lisch had to run onstage cause they were late!

Lischana: We've had a lot of 'memorable' gigs, but not as many really 'good' ones [laughs]

Artsin:  Which was the worst gig?

Amy: probably a charity one we did at the Fluer de Lys. it was midday and no one watched us, apart form a few kids with their faces painted

Lischana: Who wandered off after about 10 seconds. We were playing inbetween R 'nB music.

Barney: There was always that gig we never actually got to play, in Hinckley. We turned up with all our kit and were told it was cancelled at the last minute. Lisch - you were fuming!

Lischana: Don't even talk to me about that! I was gonna cause a scene!

Artsin: Which gig stands out in your mind most over say the last year or so?

Rob: All of the above.

Artsin: Have you supported any bigger bands?  Which bands would you most like to perform with?

Amy: Well we will be supporting Sons of Beaches and New Device soon, but no one really bigger yet. But personally, Id like to be aside Dave Grohl.

Barney: Well I'd like to stand next to The Rev, but, you know [he let's out a small sob].

Rob: Man up! And the answer's Muse.

Barney: That'll never happen.

Rob: Oh, such the optimist!

Lischana: If you two are done, I'd love to support ....

Rob and Barney : Anybody or anything off the now albums! [hey both laugh].

Lischana: Shut the hell up! That is a malicous lie. Pulp, probably, but they are no longer.

Artsin: Moving swiftly on ... what have you got planned for next year?  Have you got your sights on any festivals?

Rob: Yeah.

Amy: The EP is out soon, but next year, the Rocket Bird Album will arise

Barney: ROCKET BIRD!

Lischana: He's obsessed with that damn thing. We wanna do as many festivals as possible, we've got our eye on the secret garden party.

Barney: I wanna drown in a pedalo, shaped like a huge swan, or even a duck if I cant afford that ...

Rob: Yeah, you'll be sat on the bank growing a beard, building a raft, like castaway. And filling it with bricks. Speaking to a beach ball.

Artsin:  What do you like most about playing in Leicester?

Amy: It's flattering that some bands wanna support us now, rather than the other way round.

Barney: And cause we get to see you Trev!

Lischana: [in a sing-song voice] Everyone loves magical Trevor, 'caus the tricks that he does are ever so clever, look at him now dissapearing a cow, where is the cow? hidden right now! [they all laugh a lot].

Barney: I now have an image of trevor in a magicians hat! [Trevor blushes].

Artsin:  Which venue in Leicester do you like the most?

Rob: The Shed, cause it's dark and it's got a bar.

Amy: I actually quite like the Sumo bar, it's dark and has a good atmosphere.

Barney: I'm looking forward to playing the Soundhouse, but I'd love to play at the Demontford Hall!

Artsin: So what would you say is your current style of music?

Lischana: I describe it as a sort of new, grunge rock, but we've always struggled with labelling it

Barney: It's open to interpretation really.

Artsin: How do you write songs? Which comes first - the lyrics or the music?

Barney: Well, basically, what happens is me and rob go in the practice room. We start to jam out for half hour or so, I then decide that the song actually does need a structure, so then I baffle Rob with long complicated words, then eventually I calm down and talk sense.

Rob: And eventually I start to understand what the hell you are saying.

Amy: I just stroll in dont I [laughs]

Lischana: For the lyrics and melody, I'm the last part of the proccess, and probably the slowest! I have to wait for inspiration to come you see...

Barney: Does it have to take a month?

Lischana: You cant rush these things Barn.

Artsin:   Are all your songs original or do you ever play any covers?

Rob: They're all original, because I can't play covers. It doesn't make sense, I want to play it my own way but it just doesn't happen.

Amy: I actually enjoy playing covers, as I can pick them up quite easily.

Lischana: Yeah but it'd never happen cause there is no song that we could all agree on! Our taste is just too different.

Artsin: If you had one wish, which big band would you most like to play with?

Barney: AVENGED.

Amy: Led zeppelin, I'm obsessed.

Rob: Rolling Stones or the Doors.

Lischana: The Gorillaz I guess, though they're quite a different style.

Artsin:  What other bands have had the most influence on the music style of The Black Tears?

Amy: The Smashing Pumpkins [everyone agrees].

Lischana: We all take influences from the really different bands we like, and all that coming together is what gives us such a different sound I think.

Barney: Phineas and Ferb! And Spongebob! And the Mighty Boosh. And, and ... Alice in Wonderland!

Artsin: Do you have any new music projects in the pipeline?  Recordings, new songs?

Rob: Yeah we're always writing new songs.

Barney: And the Rocket bird E.P. ...

Lischana: It's gonna be available on iTunes for preorder on the 29th of October, but at our BOTM showcase at the soundhouse on the 29th October, the CD will be on sale from us!

Artsin: Have any of the band members played in other bands, before?

Barney: I played in She Can't Fly, we were together for almost a year and we played around Leicester a lot, but it never really got anywhere. The day I left, I met Mister Hanley for the first time!

Amy: I was in a band called Bless The Child from Stratford for six months or so, and also in a band called TSP from Birmingham for a year. We didnt do many gigs, just practised a lot [laughs]

Rob: Yes. Russian Girlfriend. Well known around Coventry and Warwickshire, but the singer left for America so we split.

Lischana: Ive been in a few little bands when I was school age, but the only one that was any good was The Red Light Rebels, we gigged a lot but always in the same places, so it got pretty stagnant.

Artsin: Finally, the question we always ask, what do you think of Kasabian?

Lischana: Is that relevant?

Barney: I know they were discovered at the Shed and all.

Rob: Yeah, Kasabian are cool.

Amy: Yeah, I like them.

The Black Tears on Myspace

The Black Tears © Artsin

Our band of the month - October 2010

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