PipemanRadio Interviews Root Zero About Bloodstock 2024

0:04 Hey, you have done to censure? Wow cray you. Young why become America. It's time for the Adventures of pipe Man. I'll you four C why dot Com West pomp Beach is number one Internet radio station. Here's your host, the pipe Man.

0:54 This is the pipe Man here on the Adventures pipe Man W four c Y Radio and I'm here with our next guest. I'm very excited about. I'm kind of pissed about too, because they're going to be playing at Bloodstock, which is one of my favorite festivals to cover on the Pipe Man Radio tour. I won't be there in person because you know, my daughter had to ruin everything by getting married and now I can't go to the festival. But we still get to talk to this band who has some badass music and it's a cool story how to ending up at Bloodstock. So let's welcome to a show Root zero. How are you? Thanks? Yeah with for doing point. Thank you so. One of the things I really do love about Bloodstock is that they really promote local UK music and the surrounding area and they do that with doing these like Battle of Band type of things going on.

1:48 And that's how you got there. So tell us a little bit about that journey. Yeah, so I mean, I'm trying to think with the start really so I guess. So we actually did this competition in the past. We did it for the first time back in twenty twenty two, which was the first our first year of actually playing as a band. It's our third ever gig as well. Yeah, we ever played. So we we were shipped basically as the Long Ashore. We weren't very good. Yeah, we didn't get past the first heat, but you know, like we we kind of took some lessons from that and you know, we've kind of you know developed and I guess like honed our our live show ever since then.

2:31 And you know, we came back this year didn't really know what to expect, but you know, we just went in, you know, continue just to do what we do. And yeah, we progressed the reach of the heats, got to the quarter final and then the semi final and eventually the final, which was a bigger on a bigger stage than we played all the other heats that It was at the Patti Pavilion in Swansea, which was exciting in and of itself. You know, like we were excited just to play a bigger at a bigger venue. But it was a you know, it was it was six competing, so you know, the chances of us winning. We kind of assume we wouldn't win because like all the other bands were so good, you know, like there was a really fiers competition, but the judges decided unanimously that we, you know, our performance was the best, which was obviously a really surprise for all of us. And yeah, that's that's how we ended up playing at Bloodstock.

3:21 So my first question is, if you were to have an opinion of why they picked you, what would you think it was. It's a good question because I don't like shooting myself up to the moon too much. I guess probably, Well, the thing that they said was mostly to do with like stage presents. So I mean, it's just two of us here, but we're pretty big bands. We're a six piece, so you know, like playing in small venues can be quite challenging, especially because I've got two keyboards, so it's quite a big you know, our stage presence can be quite cramped right stage, but we really tried to sort of utilize that going into a bigger stage, and I guess that's kind of one of the things that we really focused on when you know, because like musically speaking, we've been we've been playing the songs that we have on our set for you know, a good sort of two years now. But yeah, it was kind of like the stage prisons that we really wanted to work on.

4:19 I guess, I don't know if you've got anything. I'd say, like, we're excited to just be able to have the space to move around a bit more. I know, right, Yeah, it kind of inhibits you because you want to do more, but it's not possible. Yeah. Yeah, Like, and like we we have a frequent we have a fairly frequent online magazine called Mucipedia of Metal shout outs, and they're great guys, but yeah, they they they often do reviews of of you know, gigs that we play out, whether it be the Metals to the Masses competitions or just gigs we play in Cardiff. And yeah, one of the things that they do, they did say a lot of our performances was oh, you know, these guys don't really move around much. And I response to that is always, well, you know, you try moving around with all of our shit on stage, and you know, in my case, you know, trying to get your hair caught in your guitarist ted stock and then half of it gets ripped off or whatever.

5:16 So I think we did move around a bit more to begin with as well, but getting coughtant things. Yeah, Well, as you're painting the visual to me, I think about back in nineteen ninety nine, I saw a Slipknot played a third stage of oz Fest, which that stage is about the size of I can't even It's smaller than any club stage. I can tell you that, I don't even know how they fit nine people on that stage. Okay, So I think back to that, I'm like, it is kind of amazing where they've come, because there's no way they could put on the show that they put on now on that little stage. Like you, they probably couldn't move at all.

6:03 Yeah, I will say they're getting a chance to see Slipknot that that early on in their career. I'm definitely envious with you with that. Well you know who else played third stage that year? Go on, mud Vein. Oh, Oh that's just maybe even more envious. Mudvein, like one of my favorite email buns. See, now you're gonna get really jealous and then right after covid first mud Vein show ever since, like way back, and it was at a Danny Wimmer festival here in the States and it was mud Vein and Slipknot headlining that festival. Nice. Yeah, it's like they need to come over to the UK at some point.

6:45 No, right, And I was like, wow, this is really cool. The last time I saw these two bands together they were on a third stage of an oz fest and now they're headlining like one of the biggest United States festivals there is. So that's what you have to look forward to then, because now you'll play at Bloodstock this year, but then then you'll go to headlining. Well one step at a time, but yeah, we'll see. Obviously I'll be nice to headline at some point. But yeah, I love your persistence too, because it's like, yeah, it was rough for you to have to try out when you first started as a band, third gig ever, but the fact that you decided, because like, even with that, as an artist, it's kind of a letdown when you don't even though you think you're not going to win, it's still let down not to win. So I think it takes a lot more courage to go back and try again.

7:41 Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean I guess like, oh there was It's weird because I'm not a fan of I'm not into like wrestling at all, but there was a wrestling quite I heard from I think it was from Paul Hayman where he says, like, you know, like when you get knocked down, you'd kind of learn about your mistakes. It probably gets beaten, but then you come back and you're just a little bit more dangerous. And that's kind of how I thought of it, you know, like, you know, at the end of the day, I mean, I'm not going to sit here and say that I didn't you know, we as a band didn't sort of have like a collective you know, they call it imposter syndrome. After you you know, like after that, you sort of go through the motions of you know, thinking like, you know, am I just doing you know, like am I actually good enough to be doing this?

8:24 You know, all that kind of stuff. But you know, like we just at the end of the day, like music is a passion for all of us, you know, like I've been doing it personally since I was about three years old and my mum put me in front of a piano for the first time as soon as enough to walk, you know, So you know, like it's it's not something that it's not like you know, like if you if you kind of do a job application and then like you don't get it. You know, for a lot of people, that would be pretty a pretty big let down. But you know, when it's something that's like you know that like music, which we all have like a drive and passion for, it's not like something that you know, we're not just going to give up after losing one competition, you know, not been doing this. You know, I've been doing this as a solo project since twenty sixteen. So you know, like it's it's not like it's it's not like it's a new thing.

9:08 You know. Yeah, we would just do it. And you know what they say, They say it takes twenty years to become an overnight success, you know. And people think of bands like Metallic as an example. I was at their first gig ever, okay really and to me to imagine, like this year they headlined Hellfest they've had I was there when they headlined Download a couple of years ago. To me, back then, the idea of them ever headlining festivals like that just didn't even enter my mind. Yeah, it's funny. Right before the interview, I was talking with somebody I was thumbing through my album collection and there were and it brings back memories because there was a bunch of albums of bands that I loved back in the eighties that never made it out of the eighties, Like nobody would even know who they are in the nineties, much less today, you know, So it is kind of amazing.

10:05 You never just you never really know where things are going to go. But like with them, everybody thinks they were an overnight success, but for ten years they starved, shared a floor and eight blowney sandwiches with no bread. But nobody really knows that part of the journey of being a musician, you know. They just think you wake up and pick up this guitar or whatever and you're a rock star, like and it's like, that's so far from what it is. It's funny. You've got a fairly similar story with Ghosts, haven't you. Oh yeah, I saw one of their own earlier gigs back in twenty thirteen. They were supporting Alison Chains and like they were fairly poppedlar at the time, but it's quite surprised to see like how massive they've become since then.

10:57 I know they have like a cult following. Yeah, where was it, I think it was. I don't think it was Bloodstock. I think it was download where they had these like photo boosts and you put like a It was just like last year, I think. And man, everybody, there were more people lining up at this photo booth than at a stage to put these ghost masks on and take pictures. Oh well, so yeah, it's you just never really know what's gonna happen. And I think a true musician is just decade the craft and doesn't even think about that part of it. I think the ones that make it big like that, that's really what it is.

11:40 They never set out to make it big. They were just really true to their craft and really passionate about it and didn't care about being a rock star or any of that stuff. They just wanted to make their music. And I think that's what makes a true artist. Yeah, yeah, I think that's the approach that we you know, like at the end of the day, you know, the most important thing to us is being able to play on stages and also maintain some level of professionalism with you know, with the crew and also given the audience, whether it's one person or one hundred people or a thousand people who are seeing us, you know, a good show. You know, like at the end of the day, like I said, this is you know, this is this is always passion project for us. It's not you know, like we we don't really you know, we don't sort of you know, we don't wake up every day and sort of think like, oh, we're not you know, we're not playing headline stadiums. This is a waste of time, you know.

12:30 And some bands never even make that. You know. There's bands that I listen to that I have been going for, you know, twenty thirty forty years, and they're you know, they've remained, you know, remained in the underground, you know, like maintaining from cult color cult followings in some cases. But you know, like I've seen, you know, like these bands, they still put on kick ass shows and and. Yeah, because that at the end of the day, that's what this is all about. Isn't it. Oh yeah, And and same for me too, Like there's I remember back in the eighties, my dream was to come to the UK because I was not only a metal head, I was a punk too, and that was where the cool punk scene was. And now bands that I loved back then, i've seen them at festivals nowadays, but they're, like you said, they're still basically a small punk band, like bands like The Exploited and GBH and Discharge.

13:26 You know, like they're iconic, but they were never big. And there is a big difference there because they are iconic, but you know, they were never headlining a stadium. But they still keep going. Wa he keeps having heart attacks and still keeps going. I think it could be so cathartic, like performing live, but also like the songwriting aspects, like I guess some bands just don't run out of things to say and don't run out of new ideas. With Well, that's what's wild too, because I always think about, you know, how do you after thirty four years still come up with things to say, especially when you start off as a teenager with a lot of angst. And yet with the world the way it is now, I think there's more things for metal and punk bands to say than even in the eighties. Like it blows my mind, you think we would have progressed beyond that bullshit that we've lived most of my life and here we are still talking about You could substitute names and songs and it still would be a relevant song.

14:39 Yeah, well, I mean yeah, Like a classic example of that we would be Warpicks by Black Sabbath. You know, that song was written in the nineteen seventies and here we are, you know, fifty years later, and the lyrics to that is still just as rovant now as. They were back right exactly, you know. And so I think that's where music's really important too, because you know, one thing that's been happening lately is I don't know about the UK, but here in the States, and I think you guys are going through the same stuff as us is, you know, get all these people because they're so political nowadays that they get mad at artists for expressing their opinion. You stay with music, you don't. That's the biggest stupidest thing I've ever heard. Like, first of all, if you're an artist, especially somebody that has a following, why wouldn't you use that pulpit? I think you should.

15:30 Why does one group of people have more to say than another group of people just because you have a different job. I think that's the stupidest thing I ever heard. And yeah, music's all about expressing all that stuff. Like whoever's saying that doesn't even know what music is, because that's sorry. So I find it fundy how people who they who express opinions like that, they'll always say, like, you know, keep politics out of music. When it comes to that, I don't know, we'll talk about things like, you know, like obviously, I know in the US a big thing is healthcare, you know, like you know, healthcare rights for people, or you know, like supporting you know, things like abortion, all things like LGBT rights, you know, And it's never like, you know, when you get people like Kid Rock, for example, who drops album, you know, drops an album where it's all about like oh the libs and you know, fake news and all this other bullshit, and then those same people are completely silent, you know, they won't say a word about people like that. It's just you know, it's just, oh, you're not allowed to speak about things when you want the world to be a better place for you know, more people. It's always funny about you know, when you notice things like.

16:42 That, Well, you know what I find funny and interesting. All right, ready for this. First of all, the hippies of the sixties are now the boomers, So how did that happen? And then and then okay, so a lot of punk bands, I know, our pro government, which kind of freaks me out, like that is the antithesis of being a punk band, Like when did punk music become pro government? Yeah, yeah, it's And see, it's just weird to me because the whole purpose of some genres is is for a certain type of way of making the world better, I say, working and making the world better, because they're just speaking out against against things that are done to human beings around the world. And why would you not want people speaking out to make things better for human beings?

17:46 I think at the end of the day as well, like music has always been, you know, it's always been an expression for you know, for things like that. You know I just said, you know, like the you know, like ever since like one of the very first metal albums with With Power a Black Sabbath, you know, like war Pigs is so clearly an anti war song. So to say that it's like a new development is just completely it's such a bullshit. But you know, like, yeah, you're an artist, you're expressing yourself. And like how many artists in history have wrote songs because it had some meaning to them or something that is going on in the world, or something going on with their mental health, or something going on with any of these subjects that these people you're talking about before say you shouldn't talk about. Like that is why you're writing these songs. You know, it's the best therapy there is, I think for both you the artists and me the listener, because you know, you the artists get things out of your system and me the listener, I can relate to that and I get it out of my system.

18:54 Yeah. Yeah, and that's the you know, that's that's ultimately what you know, that's the thing I hope that our music, and I'm sure other bands would say their music does as well, you know, like you know, we you know, the songs that we write, they come out of difficult times, whether it be difficult times in our. Personal life or in our personal lives. Or maybe like you know, the sort of tumultuous times that we are we seem to be living in at the moment. You know, like that's you know, it's it's something that it's like you say, it's a form of catharsis for us, and hopefully, you know, it can be an equal form of catharsis for whoever comes across and listens to our. Music, no doubt. And you know that's why I love your playing that Bloodstock because I was just talking about Bloodstock to somebody earlier. One of the coolest things about that festival is it does create that community, family atmosphere.

19:43 Because we were talking about a lot of European festivals that used to be like that that aren't like that anymore. They've become more American, I'll put it that way, you know, and you know, Bloodstock is still that community family and even the thing of with Lancaster. You know, I didn't even know about that until I started covering Bloodstock, you know, And I think it's so cool what they do because there has to be awareness like that, and you know, it just creates us to be more of a community and more of a family. So I think Bloodstock is way more than just a festival. I think it's like the best way I could describe it is like going home.

20:28 Yeah. Yeah, and again, you know, like we always we always strive to, you know, ensure that the you know, the our gigs whether you know, obviously Bloodstock is a different story because it's a festival. But yeah, like, you know, it's really important to us that everyone you know, our you know, who comes to our gigs feels like they're part of, you know, an extended family and you know, like they feel welcome and accepted because you know, like, at the end of the day, the reason that we play this music is because it's a form of art that's not necessarily accepted by the outside world. And you know, like it's a place for you know, for lack of a bit, So it's a place for misfits to come together and enjoy being misfits together. And you know, that's that's what's important to us as well for sure.

21:09 Sometimes I call it the Land of misfit Toys. Yeah, yeah, what's cool about Okay, So everybody I ever explained to you that's never been to a metal festival or a metal concert for that matter, is they have this viewpoint of what metal heads are. And I'm like, you need to go into this environment before you start talking. You'll find out what it's really about. Funny story, so I had to because I go onto he and I'd cover lots of festivals, and one weekend I had two festivals same weekend, so obviously I can't be at both. So and they were in my same state here in Florida, so I had somebody at work for me. I'm like, you're going to cover this other festival. She had never been to a rock show ever, much less a metal show or a metal festival. She was a country girl, and so I said to her, I'm like, listen, you're gonna have the best time ever. What you're gonna find out is everything you thought about metal is wrong. And I'm like, you go to these country shows and all that ever happens is these i'll say it, rednecks. They get drunk and get into fights, and yet they're the one saying about the metal shows with the pits and stuff like that. I'm like, what you're gonna find out is the pit ain't about that, It's not about fighting.

22:33 In fact, what you'll find out you'll go to show there probably won't be any fights at all. You'll find out that you'll make a whole new family of people and how there's togetherness and there are no outsiders at all because we're all the outsiders in one place. And she came back after that weekend and she's like, oh my god, you were right. That was the best time ever. And uh, you know, I made a bunch of new friends, and I have a new boyfriend now, and I have a new favorite band. I don't know if you know them. They're called Bring Me the Horizon. And see, I think if we would just expose everybody to that experience, it would be good in one way, bad and another. Like I taught in band friends of mine, we talk about this and it's like, yeah, let's let them keep thinking that we're some scary people, because then we could keep it the way we have instead of them all invading it.

23:38 And so yeah, I mean and Bloodstock is just that. And so now you're going to be on the new Blood stage, So you're gonna have a lot of room now to move around. Yeah, apparently even more room than we had it our last you know, the final, which was a big stage already. So yeah, like you know, I'm not really sure how big we're talking, but you know, like all, you know, more space is always good for us, because, like I said, we're six peks back with a lot of equipment on stage. So you guys brainstorming about like doing like a show like you've never done before, and you'll be having that room and be at Bloodstock and you know, give us the show your life, right. Yeah, well we'll we'll we'll hopefully come up with some you know, some sort of new stage antics and you know just kind of you know, try and get as many people as we can do to come down to watch us as well. You know, like you know, it's you know, that's one of the one of the things about going to Bloodstock as a young band, as a new band. Rather it's not just kind of like playing on a big stage, is also like you know, letting everyone know who you are, what kind of music you play, you know, what your music could be, you know, what kind of bands you sound like, and all that kind of stuff, because at the end of the day, you know, a lot of people they go to these festivals for the big bands, which is fine, you know, there's nothing wrong with that, but you know, like it's it's kind of an added, an added little bonus of you know, kind of just getting your name out there and it's to a bigger audience that you know, and at a more sort of like widespread audience as well, because it's not just within our local scene, you know, it's it's

25:09 it's in a big festival. We've got people coming, not even necessarily from over the from from over the country, but even just from different countries. Like like like you said yourself, you you come over here from from America, you know. So it's it's like, you know, just get you know, just kind of getting our music out there to you know, to a wider audiences is also really important as well. And that's wake up to come and. See us early, yeah, trying to get people, trying to get people to wait, you know, who have been breaking before to wake up with a hangover and come and see us as well. So I think you'll be shocked. I think you'll have a much bigger crowd than you're gonna expect because that's what I see happen at Bloodstock. And I think a lot of new bands. I think they're really good about the new band and giving them exposure, and that is what, you know, that is the thing for me. Festivals are where I find my new favorite band that I like, especially when I go over to UK and Europe, because there's some bands I may not even know from being in America and I go over there and it happens every year, like there's a whole bunch of bands. I'm like, I didn't even know they existed, and they've been around for a while, you know, and wow they're good, you know type of things. So I think everybody listening now should definitely check out your music because your music is badass.

26:30 And if there can get the bloodstock, they need to get the bloodstock just to see your set. So how do we tell people to reach out to you? Check out your new music, check out your merge, everything that has to do with you, guys. Yeah, So I guess the best way to find us is obviously on social media. So you can find us at zero official on Facebook and Instagram. We're not on Twitter. I don't give a ship what it's called. Now, but I know stupid, I can't call it that other thing. Yeah, but yeah, and then you can also find us on band camp at we are roots zero dot band camp dot com. That's where you find all of our music.

27:17 In terms of yeah, we're on YouTube, just type in root zero band, specifically the word band because otherwise you'll just get a load of adds about some about a potato brand. No affiliation with us at all, although if they want to do some do some collaborations with us, then you know, feel free to. You can do like an Eddy type mask and it's just a big potato. Yeah. So if you're interested, hit us up, just send us a message on socials. That'll be awesome. But but yeah, that's that's where you can find us. If you like sort of moody, progressive gothic metal, that's.

27:58 What we sound like. You know, like, if you like, if you're into anything like the Gathering, Anafthema, any sort of like with intentation, Lacuna Coil, any of that kind of stuff. That's that's what we play. The last one right there, that's the vibe I got when I was listening to one of your songs was Lacuna Coil and and I love Lacuona Coil and I think the voice matched Christina. Oh thanks, no, there you go. So one of my one of my personal favorites. I'm half Italian, so so. And they are so cool too, Like they're not just great artists, they're just so down to earth cool.

28:39 Yeah, Like I've watched a couple of it. Their interviews in the past, and they seem like super super chill. We're actually seeing them later this year in October, isn't it. Yeah. Yeah, so we're going to see them in October. So we're married. What's that like. I've been a fan of them since I was a teenager, and you know, I'm twenty eight or so. You know, it's it's it's been a long time coming to see them, so I'm pretty excited for it. Yeah. So I think people love you guys because that it did. I got the Lacuna Coil vibe from your music, so and I and I might not have said that, but since you mentioned it, because I don't like the compare bands, but since you mentioned it, Yeah, definitely the vibe I was getting so nice. Yeah, Well, if you want to come and see Welshlacuna Coil, then come and watch us.

29:24 There you go. Any other things you want to let the listeners know about that we haven't covered array, I know last year you released your debut EP. They can check out anything else you want to share with them. Yeah, like, yeah, we've we've got an EP out called The Weight of What I Started. I don't know real too much about it at the moment because it's still kind of in the works, but we are working on an album. We dropped a. Song recently which will be on the album. But yeah, I don't really want to go into music video. Yeah, it's got an animated music video that was done by our friend Rob Robin Michel's so who is Legends all round? Did it in that sort of like ps one stock graphics.

30:05 It's awesome. Yeah, that's that's pretty much all we have really, I think unless there's anything that you can think of cool. All right, Well you guys rock. I'm bummed I'm not gonna see you at Bloodstock, but you are going to rock that festival and I can't wait till I have another opportunity to see you. Guys. Thanks for giving us great music and thanks for being on the Adventures of pipe Man. Yeah, thanks very much for having us. Man means a lot my pleasure. Thank you for listening to the Adventures. Of pipe Man. I'm w for c u I Radio.