Interview: The Little Shocks

By Tom Groom

The Little Shocks are a teenage band incarnated in the heart of Chichester, the outcome of shifting line-ups in an already-existent band. A bombastic, guitar-driven, post-alternative indie sound gives this band it’s edge, and reminds you in part of a young Arctic Monkeys, with a little bit of Fratelli’s thrown in. The band consists of frontman Tom Herrington, Lead Guitarist Rob Brown, Bassist and backup vocalist Harry Caiger and manic drummer Elliot Jones, who I caught up with to interview about his band’s promising rise of success.

TG: What made you initially decide you wanted to be a musician?

EJ: I used to go to gigs all the time from the age of 11 after playing football from an early age. I picked up a bass first, but I was no good, so I got a cheap drum kit instead. It was all a bit random really.

TG: Who are your idols as drum players?

EJ: Chad Smith, Dave Weckl, Mike Portnoy, Dave Grohl and a bit of Travis Barker, people compare my style to him sometimes.

TG: How long have you known your fellow band members? And how did you meet them?

EJ: I’ve known Rob since I was about 5 years old and I was in a band with him a few years ago, we gig’d around Bognor. I met Tom and Harry in November last year on a music course at college.

TG: How did you guys decide you wanted to be in a band?

EJ: They (Rob and Tom) were already in a band for around a year, but the line-up always changed, and they never wrote much music. They asked me in November last year and Harry joined us in February after a couple more changes.

TG: So how long have Rob and Tom been doing it?

EJ: Since about February last year together

TG: Where do you see yourself and the band in 6 months/ a year?

EJ: Hopefully if everything pulls through we are looking to play some reputable Brighton venues over the next six months or so. We are looking to book a tour for the summer next year, but we’ve got lots planned in between the two, but that’s secret!

TG: That sounds awesome. Your Facebook page, facebook.com/TheLittleShocks, tells me you’re unsigned, have you had any offers yet?

EJ: We haven’t as of yet, but playing at Coalition turned some heads in the right direction. We have things to work on and get better at, it’s something to look forward to as and when it happens. We need to show everyone what we’ve got over the next year.

TG: I, regrettably, couldn’t make it to your Coalition performance, but I saw it on YouTube, you were ace. When’s the next gig?

EJ: It was nuts man, we are doing a minibus every time we go for a fiver each. We are at the Exchange in Hove on the 17^th of November and we are waiting for dates from the Prince Albert and the Hope in Brighton.

TG: Who, in your opinion, are the main influences on the band?

EJ: It’s hard to say really, but others say Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, The Strokes; these are the main ones people compare our sound to. People say a lot of different artists, we all like different stuff so the music and songs are influenced by lots of music.

TG: It’s good that way because you can get the best of everything. What would be your dream gig?

EJ: Yeah man we’ve got some hard-hitting tunes, some have grooves and funky melodies, it’s a nice mixture. Our dream gig would be without a doubt supporting the Arctic Monkeys! Realistically, if we work hard we want to try and get on one of the big festivals next year.

TG: Either of those would be awesome. What’s the best gig you’ve played to date?

EJ: Coalition without a doubt, we blew the roof off and got a good reaction from the judges and other Brighton venues afterwards. Looking back on it, that’s one gig we will remember forever, no matter what happens.

TG: It looked pretty manic from what I saw! You hear a lot of crazy stories about rock and roll guys doing stupid stuff, what’s the craziest time you’ve had personally or with the band in the time you’ve been playing?

EJ: (chuckles) The most rock and roll moment of my life was playing in a mankini with a former band for our last gig. I think as a band, the funniest one was Rob’s birthday, we had a gig that night and he was trollied. We need to have a big night out together when my passport arrives.

TG: I saw pictures of that gig. How difficult has it been to get gigs and attention in a music scene dominated by pop groups?

EJ: Round here we have done well because there’s not much music that’s like ours. At Coalition we were the only band of our kind, so we just have to keep writing massive tunes like we have been, still lots to come over the next few months.

TG: In my opinion, you should keep doing what you’re doing. You have nearly 500 fans on Facebook now, that’s quite a landmark! How useful has the internet been in promoting what you’re doing?

EJ: The main thing is going to bigger places and writing bigger and better songs, it’s all in the name of fun. Facebook especially helps massively – we are looking into other methods including a website in the new year.

TG: I guess half of it is not losing sight of who you are as a band. Do you have any pre-gig rituals?

EJ: The boys are fat fuckers, they get as many kebabs as possible, I just chain smoke! Other than that we just get as pumped as possible.

TG: One more thing, if you could meet any one of your musical heroes, who would it be?

EJ: I want to meet Chad Smith, then my life would be complete. From the band’s perspective, it would be the Arctic Monkeys or Alex Turner for sure.

An Insight into the Life of an Amputee

By Samuel Peace

“Two steps forward, one step to the side, and one step back,” is a description of how amputee John Tarrant made his way home on crutches after a drunken night out. In an interview given earlier today, John, 69, from Peacehaven told of the ups and downs of having only one leg, and how it has shaped his life over the years. With modern technology and the Paralympics showcasing the incredible abilities of disabled people, and what they can achieve these days, there is no lack of inspiration to behold. However, not everyone is able to afford the latest advancements, or enter the games. Most folks like John just don’t have enough money, or don’t have enough time to commit. This is why John’s story is so interesting to hear because he’s an everyday person doing everyday things.

John, a retired senior medical technician, lost his leg at the age of 18 following a motorbike accident which nearly cost him his life. The crash happened roughly six months after his birthday on the new Royal Enfield 250cc Crusader Sports he was given. The collision was caused by the negligence of a driver coming from the opposite direction. John said: “A yellow Ford Anglia hit the right side of me when it tried to overtake a car. It was a clear day on a straight road, there was no need for it.” The contact temporarily impaired his vision as he struggled to stay on the bike “having no control is terrifying,” John said as he recalled the heart stopping moment. The last thing he can remember before losing consciousness was: “God I hope nothing hits me in the face.”

It was June 3, 1961, when John’s life changed forever. The clanging bell of a Red Cross ambulance acted like a wake up alarm as he came around from his slumber. He was suffering from shock and blood loss, but witnesses wouldn’t let him move because of the serious injuries he had sustained. At the hospital he was told there was no circulation in his right leg where he was initially hit, and it was unlikely they could save it. Gangrene had begun to set in fast, so they needed to ensure it wouldn’t spread any further. Despite having an amputation however, John was out of hospital within three weeks, yet he had to go back every other day for check-ups. Taking off the dressing was “incredibly painful,” John said. He also remembered his mother’s initial reaction when she saw the injury, he said as he laughed: “It looks like something out of a butcher’s shop.”

What about the emotions he went through after the realisation he had lost a limb? He replied that it was quite upsetting to begin with, but overall he was “just happy to be alive”. John was faced with a long road to normality; it was like stepping into a “whole new world”. Although he likes to remain optimistic he describes how he was at first in a “dark place,” after enduring the harrowing experience. Things didn’t improve when he eventually came face to face with the culprit of the crash who simply said: “No hard feelings.” Not fazed by the lack of remorse however, he managed to get justice by winning the court case and was determined to get back to work as soon as possible.

Having to adjust to moving around on one leg with the support of crutches John was often confronted with difficulties. He didn’t let this deter him however, as he tried to lead a normal life. This involved doing things himself, and going out to get intoxicated with his friends. How he managed to drunkenly get home with only one leg (when most can’t with two) no one will ever know. It took just over two years to get his first prosthetic limb, in which time John was in and out of hospital for about five months. Constant checkups were needed to make sure the stump didn’t get infected, yet unfortunately ulcers started appearing. After the amputation the surgeons had put a skin graft on the wound, but consistent rubbing made it sore, and caused it to swell up. Therefore it was decided he should get some plastic surgery in order to create a ‘smooth round off’ at the end.

John was sent to Odstock Hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he not only sorted out this stump, but also met the love of his life, Mabel, a trainee nurse. He got to know her quite well throughout his stay, and they became very attached. Their happiness was short lived however, when she had to fly back to her home in Hong Kong at the start of 1963. He wouldn’t see her again until 1965 by which time he finally had his first prosthetic leg, at the age of 20. The prosthetics back in those days were a lot more basic and cumbersome he recalled. He had to: “adjust the foot angle to match the height of the heel.” Luckily John’s amputation was below the knee, which means he had his own joint allowing him more control over the new leg. He could just “plug in,” and use his upper leg muscles, and knee joint to fling the leg forwards.

With this he was able to go back to work and do most of the things a fully abled person can do (eventually), which even includes the ability to run! To begin with “it was frustrating,” he said as he was unable to ride his bike again until he passed a new test. While still getting used to normal life a huge surprise came when he found out that Mabel had managed to find a way back to England. She wrote a letter to his house hoping he was still living there. When he received it he went straight up to the hospital where they originally met to try and find her. Once they were reunited he proposed by saying: “I think we better get engaged don’t you?” John laughs: “There was no ring and I was standing up,” but he said he “knew it was meant to be”.

Over the years of being disabled John has made the most out of life. Not once has he let his disability get in the way of what he wants to do. In fact he made light of the defect and recalls more funny moments than troubled ones. One such time he was setting up an operating theatre (putting out the equipment and sterilizing them) when he decided to stick a metal spike through a hole in his prosthetic leg as a joke. Unluckily the student nurse he was with thought it was real and fainted. John also worked on giant industrial chimneys at one point. He reminisces about a day where he was quite high up a ladder when suddenly his knee strap came loose causing his prosthetic leg to slip down his jeans. Once it got to the bottom it got caught, so it ended up looking like he had a double length leg, which got a lot of passer bys chuckling. A few of the other highlights include one of his mates accidentally stepping on his fake foot on a lad’s night out, which consequentially pulled his leg off when he stepped forward causing them both to fall over. There was also a comical occasion when one of his more recent prosthetic legs would come off with a press of a button. His mischievous granddaughter therefore took advantage of this, and decided it would be funny to run off with his leg while he was sitting down. Lastly there was one moment where he was lifting a heavy object when all of a sudden his prosthetic leg collapsed. The ankle bit broke and twisted upwards causing him to become lopsided, and immobile. This made it look like a horrific injury causing passer bys to be in a state of shock. John has now had over 14 legs, but his current one has lasted a lot longer due to it being an improved build.

Wrapping up the interview I asked him about his thoughts on modern, and near future prosthetics which connects to the body’s nervous system. He told me how even though he thinks the technology is great he is more than happy with his current leg: “I have no complaints about my leg, why would I want to move my toes?” To finish off I asked if he missed his real leg, John responded by saying: “I have no regrets because I met the nurse who I married. I’ve never felt disabled because I’ve always been able to do what I want to do.” Many people suffer from some sort of disability, John has been lucky, but he wants people to know that a bit of optimism can go a long way. Don’t give up and live life to the limit.

An interview with Denis Healey

By Lucette Davies

I felt very much in awe as I approached the door of Denis Healey’s home in Alfriston.  was I really going to be spending the next hour with the best Prime Minister that Britain never had? I knocked on the door and smiled as I heard him singing loudly: “I am on my way, I am coming”

Denis Healey was born on 30 August 1917 in Mottingham, Kent but moved to Yorkshire when he was five.  He went to Bradford Grammer School and by 1936 had started at Balliol College, Oxford.  At this time Denis Healey did not have any ambition to move into politics for a career although joined the Communist Party and the Labour Party; at this time it was possible to do both.

After leaving Oxford, Denis Healey fought in the Second World War with the Royal Engineers, reaching the rank of Major before he left and decided to rejoin the Labour Party.

When asked about what it was that drove this man in his political career he said: “I was born during the First World War ad fought in the Second World War.  Wars  happen because of governments and I did not want there to be a third world war.”

Initially working as the International Secretary for the Labour Party, travelling was a huge part of Denis Healey’s life.  As a lover of photography, his travel brought the opportunity to take over 5000 photographs. The walls in the room where we sat had both photographs and paintings, all by this great politician. He pointed to one painting that certainly did not look like an amateur’s painting and said:  “I painted that when I was 16 years old.”  We talked for a while about his love of art and his admiration for Picasso.

Clearly Denis Healey has many skills but I was interested to know what he felt was his greatest achievement.  Without hesitating to think, he told me: “In the Vietnam War America bombed large areas of land resulting in millions of civilian deaths.  I would not allow the British Air Force to drop a single bomb in Indonesia.  The whole battle was fought and won with fewer deaths than there would be on British roads on a bank holiday.”  There were in fact just 123 deaths during that battle.

Originally a supporter of CND and very opposed to nuclear weapons; Denis Healey now is someone who feels that: “Nuclear weapons are preventing wars.” Although believing that nuclear weapons are a deterrent he does feel concern over the current threat from North Korea.

Elected to the House of Commons in 1952 as MP for Leeds East; Denis Healey began the forty years that he would eventually serve as an MP.  Over his years in the Commons he held the positions of Shadow Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Defence and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

Denis Healey said that he feels: “David Cameron is a good leader of the Conservatives, better than William Hague and is quite charismatic but I feel they are getting the economics completely wrong.”  When asked about the Labour leaders he said he felt:  “The first three years of Tony Blair were good but then he started to make some disastrous mistakes.   The Iraq War was the worst mistake but the ‘cash for peerages’ was also a mistake. I like Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah very much indeed.”

Now at 95 years old Denis Healey told me he spends a lot of his time now with his books and his art.  He is a Member of the House of Lords which he attends about 12 times a year.  His wife Edna died three years ago and he has three children.  With such a sharp mind Denis Healey is a fascinating man to talk to.  He has a gentle humour and his reply when I asked about his feelings relative to the death of Margaret Thatcher did not surprise me at all.  He told me:  “When she was in office I did not agree with anything she did but five years ago, I was walking around Wakehurst Place with my daughter when we saw Margaret Thatcher.  She was very frail in both body and mind so I  just gave her a big hug.”

I felt a little sad as I said goodbye to this amazing man.  As well as being enormously interesting his gentlemanly charm left me feeling very privileged to have had this interview.  I quietly hoped we would meet again one day as he kissed my hand goodbye.

Interview: Dan Denis

By Alex Easthope

Dan Denis is a promising young racing driver raised in the quiet West Sussex town of Midhurst. Having had a successful karting career, winning the Caterham Superlight R400 Championship and tackling the Ginetta G50 Cup, he now has his sights set firmly on the British GT4 title. We caught up with Dan to talk about racing – past, present and future.

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Brighton Lite Interviews Local Comedienne Hannah Brackenbury

By Kayleigh Rose Lewis

Hannah Brackenbury is a Brighton-based musical-comedienne. Her hilarious songs and parodies have made her a regular fixture on Brighton’s comedy scene. She has been compared to Victoria Wood and Tim Minchin thanks to her hilarious and intelligent songs. Whilst her comedic talents will have you laughing her musical ability will make sure the infectious songs get stuck in your head long after her sets are finished. Brighton-Lite caught up with her to find out more.

The rise of Rinse according to Jamie George

By Kayleigh Lewis

The golden girl of underground music, Katy B, is bringing her much anticipated ‘On a Mission’ tour to Brighton this Monday.

She’ll be bringing an exciting collection of up-and-coming talent along for the party, including the vibrant and up-beat artist Jamie George.

“Without fans you do not have a club,” says lifelong Brighton and Hove Albion supporter

By Naomi Wilcock

Brighton and Hove Albion are riding a wave of success at the moment. With Falmer as their new stadium, Gus Poyet as manager and the team riding high in the Championship, the future certainly looks bright.

However, there have been significant transport issues at the new stadium with delayed trains in and out of Falmer around match-time together with problems with the park and ride system.

We talk to David Wilcock, a former co-presenter for the football phone-in on BBC Radio Sussex, about how Falmer has changed the club and how he views the future of Brighton and Hove Albion.