“We hadn’t asked permission...we had no idea if it was going to get shut down immediately.”
This became the backdrop to my discovery of the post-punk, London-based outfit, Famous - stumbling upon an alarmingly similar rooftop session shoulder-to-shoulder with The Beatles’ heralded version 51 years ago.
“It was a tribute to their rooftop concert, George and I grew up as devotees”, claims frontman and singer Jack speaking on behalf of the group’s bassist whilst meticulously rolling his first cigarette of the interview. You know you’ve stumbled upon something enticingly unique when the band recites the particular experience with descriptors such as “urgency” and “anxiety-inducing” - yet it seemed to ultimately pay off. “If you type into YouTube ‘Beatles rooftop concert’, we’re third down”, coming to the natural conclusion by drummer Danny that “we’re the third best band after The Beatles” which proves an impressive feat for a band with a single mini-LP to their name.
Having solidified the band’s lineup 4 years ago, as well as signing to the independent record label Untitled (Recs) a year and a half ago, Famous now find themselves geographically stretched during the pandemic: from Greater London to the Scottish Borders. In spite of the distance and time apart, they seem more than comfortable in their own company even if some of the lonelier nights induce bouts of paranoia. “I didn’t see a human being for a whole 7 days” recites Jack, in which he contemplated harnessing a pen knife in self defence and gawking at the very thought of it. Continuing this trope of defensive weaponry, Danny throws in his two cents with using “a sock and filling it with change” to which George utilises a weapon closer to his instrumental nature, “I could use a guitar lead to strangle!”.
With the niceties completed, Famous’ influences and current listenings took an even more varied approach: from the recent trimmings of Grimes and The Strokes’ latest LPs, to the late Little Richard. Whilst Danny confessed his music taste had “transformed into somewhat of a 48 year-old woman” in lieu with the 80’s new wave band Japan, Jack proudly defines David Bowie’s Blackstar as the band’s origin album. Pulling from a myriad of sonic directions within their own multifarious repertoire, Jack seems the one to pursue a more perilous route venturing into “post-1987 Bowie” merely stating that “there’s some weird fucking albums.”
When it comes to Famous’ image, portraying stark images of London’s skyscrapers against picturesque landscapes of the English countryside, Jack cites New Jersey’s Bruce Springsteen as his main personal muse. Claiming The Boss portrayed his hometown to be “so beautiful and full of romance” while eliciting a certain escapism, Jack duly ties this to his own personal experience of living in London “feeling like you’re a million miles above this.”
“The idea of getting the best people in one room to make the best song possible is very liberating.”
Fitting this number of influences into Famous’ writing process deems seamless, with the affirmation of a more collaborative, collective effort between all 3 band members. The slight caveat to this is added by Jack, “it’s closer to having a think-tank approach that hip-hop albums have”, enlisting the filmmaker of the rooftop session to record synth on some tracks as well as regularly turning to other musicians, such as Jerskin Fendrix, and Tiernan Banks of Deathcrash. Ultimately, Jack beams with passionate, wide-eyed excitement at the very thought of returning to this collaborative writing process post-lockdown, “the idea of getting the best people in one room to make the best song possible is very liberating”.
While the supporting role for Black Country, New Road’s UK tour last year proved “a wicked experience”, Jack defiantly claims that he’s “currently thinking to 2023...we’ve got a whole plan”. Evidently full of pride and ambition, the eagerness of wanting to announce a slightly premature piece of news is palpable if a little ambiguous, yet one thing proves concrete for Famous - whichever direction they choose to go in, they won’t need to ask permission from anyone.
Famous' debut mini-LP, England, is out now and can be found here.
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