Fei Comodo

Interview: Robert Clemson (drummer) | Written by: Juan de Lange.

 

JDL: What is your name? and what do you do in the band?

Rob: My name is Robert Flasheart Clemson and my role in the band is to annoy everyone as much as possible, & to occasionally play drums.

JDL: How long has the band been going for?

Rob: Altogether it’s been going for about 5 & a half years, but with the current line up it’s been about 3 & a half.

JDL: How did the band come about?

Rob: Marc & Will started it originally, with Rich the old drummer. Marc met Rich through work, and then Marc & Will met Jay & Mike in college. I don’t know why they bothered though to be honest because they were fucking terrible, but then I stepped in and showed them all the error of their ways and now it’s going pretty well. =D

JDL: ‘Fei Comodo’, what does this mean and how did you come up with the name?

Rob: It means ‘best thing to happen to the music industry since Iron Maiden’ in italian musical terms. I think that also answers why we went for it in the end. What could be better than being the best band since Iron Maiden?? Nothing. Although I’m not a big fan myself but I’ve heard they’re doing well. That ’st.anger’ album they did was pretty terrible though… mega lolz.

JDL: Describe your music in 4 words?

Rob: Melodic, hardcore, passionate, sexual.

JDL: What would you say is your bands main influences?

Rob: In terms of other bands influencing us, I reckon the top 5 are; Reuben (best band in the world), Sikth, Coheed & Cambria, Thrice, & errrr August Burns Red. There’s loads more but I can’t be arsed to list them all. Other than that I’d say we’re influenced a lot by what happens around us. Personal experiences etc, credit crunch!

JDL: Name all members and what they do in the band?

Rob: Oh bloody hell they’re only my business colleagues, I don’t actually know their names! Oh ok I do really.

Marc Halls is the singing sensation in the band. Possibly the nicest guy on the planet.

Jay Styler gets the bass out as much as possible. He is also the mastermind behind everything we do!

Mike Curtis plays the guitar, and records all of our stuff @ CDS Studios.

Will Philipson also plays guitar and is quite literally a riff machine.

JDL: What was your favorite show? and why?

Rob: My favourite TV shows are Office, Extras, Peep Show, Family Guy & South Park. And because they’re all so damn funny! Ricky Gervais is god.

JDL:  Being in a band is hard work and it ain’t all fun and games. What can you advise up and coming bands to help them on their way forward?

Rob: Just work as hard as you can, as much as you can. At first you just need to gig as much as possible, and play to anyone that will listen! Back in the day we put together our own little tours, and we pretty much played to no one everynight, but those tours were so important for our progression as a band, and I think they really helped get us where we are now. You have to play to crowds of 5-10 people most nights for ages before you’ll start to see any change so don’t be disheartened!

JDL: Any plans to head overseas to do a USA Tour?

Rob: We haven’t got ‘plans’ to go over there just yet, I mean obviously we’d really like to, but unless we got a big support tour, I can’t see it happening this year. Depending on what happens this year, hopefully we’ll be going over in 2010.

JDL:  So you guys are now busy writing songs for your Debut Album, is this correct? What could we expect from the album and do you guys have any secret weapon that’s going to set this album on fire and make it different to every other band that releases an album?

Rob: Yeah we’re spending a hell of a lot of time in the studio at the moment, writing & recording demos etc. It’s going really well too. We’ve got some awesome stuff down & can’t wait for everyone to hear it. I think if you bought an album that could actually spontaniously catch on fire, that would definitely make it different from everyone elses! I’ll have to look into that. Health & safety may well be an issue though.

JDL: Release date for album?

Rob: We haven’t even finished recording the demos for the album yet you shit! Hopefully this year sometime if that helps?!

JDL: In a few words for people who haven’t had the chance to watch you guys live, describe your live shows from an onstage performance?

Rob: I like to think we’re a fairly solid live band, well, as solid as we can be considering we all go mental! I think our live show is very energetic and entertaining. If not, then that sucks, but I think it is. haha

JDL: If you were a super hero, what would you like to be and why?

Rob: I think being superman would do me just fine. Being a damn sexy bastard, being built like a brick shithouse, AND being able to fly?! Perfect. Although I have always had my doubts about supermans’ abilities in the bedroom… I think I’d name myself Superperforma Man, just to get rid of any queries about stuff like that.

JDL: Did the band have any highlights for 2008, if so what was it?

Rob: We had quite a few actually! Finishing the album, releasing the album, touring Europe for the first time & touring with the likes of Fightstar and August Burns Red! It was wicked! Hopefully this year we’ll hit up a few festivals etc.

JDL: Who gets the most picked on in the band? and why?

Rob: We all get the sh*t ripped out of us by each other constantly. If it’s not at Marc for being a mug / a judgemental twat, it’s at Will for apparently not having a penis / being gay, and if it’s not at Mike for pretty much having bi-polar / being a midget, it’s at Jay for needing anger management / having an eating disorder. And if it’s not at any of them, it’s at me for having a good eye / bad teeth / horrible personality. So yeah we’re all pretty fucked. MEGA lolz.

JDL:  2 years from now where do you see the band and its future?

Rob: Hopefully doing big tours, selling out bigger venues, maybe having our second full length out, touring more overseas, playing big festivals! That’s what I’m hoping for anyways! But you never know what could happen. I thought Mike had bloody quit the band this morning and I was devastated for about 5 minutes, then I found out it was an April fools. Bastards.

JDL:  If you had one dream tour to go on, what bands would you like to be on the tour with Fei?

Rob: REUBEN! Sikth & Dillinger Escape Plan. Seriously though, Reuben are the best band I’ve ever heard. I still get goosebumps listening to them, and I must have listened to all 3 albums all the way through over a billion zilllion times. You need to check them out if you haven’t done already. They split up recently, which sucks, as they are/were the best band to come out of the UK for sure.

JDL: Favorite color?

Rob: It can be whatever you want it to be baby.

JDL: Where can people listen, view, learn more about you guys?

Rob: The internet of course! Myspace.com/feicomodo. Check that stuff out. You can also find Mikes recording studio, Marcs solo stuff, and my drum space all in our top friends! And go get the album!