INTERVIEWS: Russ Gregory of Footprints in the Custard Chats to Mucka!

What was the last album you purchased?

Whoa, straight in with the questions then? Not dinner or at least a hello first? Technically the last album I acquired was ‘Psychostick - Revenge of the Vengeance’, which an absolutely cracking album (Bruce fucking Campbell). But I didn’t actually purchase it, I swapped it with Matty their bassist for a copy of our album ‘Every Hole is a Goal’ after a show we played with them (PLUG!). I felt mean taking money off him so I just asked for one of their CDs instead (actually he’d have been financially better off buying ours and selling me theirs because of the price difference but don’t tell him that)….. The last album I actually bought was ‘Gehtika - A Monster in Mourning’. I often feel like a monster in the morning so I felt I could relate somewhat…. Actually, we played with Gehtika a little while back at Lostock Festival (beast of a festival - so much fun!) and I’ve been pretty transfixed with them since. Really sinister and atmospheric melodic death metal but really fun and energetic at the same time. Love me a bit of that.

If your music could be used in an advert on TV, what would you most like it to be advertising?

Condoms I expect. I mean, teaching young (and old) people to have lots of fun but stay safe - that’s a pretty decent motto right? Also we play songs about STDs and Blue Waffles so… Actually I would love to see a condom advert with Blue Waffle played over it! Can we do that? Does anyone know anyone that would do that? Footprints in the Custard condoms - It may stink but you can totally still hit that if you need to. Comes with free beer goggles.

If you were to do a cover of a song, what would it be and why?

Well we already cover ‘It’s Raining Men’ by The Weather Girls. It needs to be something you can dance to I guess - we recently had a circle pit open up to that song. It was brutal…. If we were to do another cover though… Maybe ‘Man, I feel like a Woman’ by Shania Twain? That’s got really groovy guitar and bass parts and I’d love to scream along to that.

Dead or alive, which band would you most like to co-headline with?

I think Psychostick were probably the best fit we’ve ever been teamed up with. I would love to go on tour with them and play a load of shows, the two we just did with them and Dog Fashion Disco in Manchester and Huddersfield were intense! We’ve got a similar sense of humour and the crowd are on the same wavelength as us, which can’t be said for a lot of bands we play with! A lot of people just see the tutus and mankinis and are like “what the actual hell?”. Whereas with Psychostick it was more “What the actual hell?… This is ace!” Other honourable mentions who would be awesome to tour with: Evil Scarecrow, Municiple Waste, Andrew WK, The Wildhearts, Devin Townsend.

What has been the most memorable moment in your musical career so far?

Wow that’s a difficult one. Just a massive shout out to everyone that enjoys what we do, because seriously the best part of this job is people coming up to us after the shows, calling me a ‘crazy fucker’ and having a beer with me…. If I have to pick one moment though it’s the aforementioned circle pit to It’s Raining Men at Sound Control in Manchester. Packed out room, supporting one of my favourite bands, and a fucking circle pit to The Weather Girls. People are weird man…

If you had the opportunity to change something about the music industry, what would it be?

It takes itself too fucking seriously. Everyone’s concerned about image and what’s going to make the most money. Fuck that, get lubed up and slide onto stage flailing around like a lunatic and having a good time…. The best bands I’ve ever seen have been having a blast whilst they’re doing it. Record labels need to stop shafting bands and bands need to stop shafting their fans. We’re all in this together - let’s party and fucking dance already!

Man, I want a beer now. Thanks for the questions!