ABOUT THE BAND - BAND PROFILES
Jeremy Cunningham
Birthday?
2nd June
SIBLINGS?
1 SISTER CALLED REBECCA
BIRTHPLACE AND BEYOND?
BORN IN CUCKFIELD HOSPITAL, SUSSEX, BROUGHT UP IN CRAWLEY - MOVED TO BRIGHTON AT 18 AND STAYED
FOOTBALL TEAM?
NONE REALLY ALTHOUGH I DID GO TO SEE CRAWLEY PLAY BRIGHTON ONCE - CRAWLEY LOST 5-0!
FIRST RECORD BOUGHT?
THE FIRST ONE I REMEMBER WAS THE CLASH ‘ENGLISH CIVIL WAR’ I HAD OTHER EMBARRASSING ONES BEFORE THAT BUT I DIDNT ACTUALLY BUY THEM!
INSTRUMENTS?
I PLAY BASS GUITAR, MANDOLA (BIG MANDOLIN THING) AND A BIT OF GUITAR VERY BADLY!
FIRST BAND JOINED?
A BAND CALLED ‘THE LOWLIFE’ WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL
MUSICAL HEROES?
JOE STRUMMER, NEIL YOUNG, BOB MARLEY, CHRISTY MOORE
FIRST GIG YOU WENT TO?
THE CLASH AT CRAWLEY LEISURE CENTRE IN 1979
FAVOURITE LEVELLERS GIG?
TOO MANY TO MENTION
FAVOURITE LEVELLERS SONG?
PROBABLY ‘ENGLAND MY HOME’
NEW AMBITIONS?
DONE ALL THE MUSICAL THINGS YOU COULD EVER WANT TO DO SO MY NEW AMBITIONS ARE PROBABLY TO DO WITH PAINTING AND ARTWORK
Is your fan base: a) getting older (like me!) b) staying at about the same age c) can't remember what age they are! (Francis Baring)
Both-we have the old fans but the young ones keep turning up luckily…gotta have new people coming along!
Do you have a ritual that you always do, before to go on stage? (David Anne)
Drinking…smoking…masturbation!
My question to the Levellers would be "Do you do weddings, and if so, will you do mine for free next year?" (Paul Beattie)
No
If you were to meet George Bush, what would you tell him? (Minou and Xander)
I would probably advise him as to the names of 3 other world leaders-good start cos then I’d tell him to overhaul US foreign policy top to bottom…
Which one of you now sells the "Big Issue"? (Shaun)
We take it in turns – helps subsidies our outrageous rock and roll lifestyles!
Over the last 15 years your lyrics have been an inspiration to people like me who want to help create a peaceful, happy world again. In spite of all the hope, evil appears to be at its zenith with the rising tide of violence, moral corruption and materialism. Do you still have a role to play in addressing the urgent need of our times or have you said all that needs to be said? Do you think we want a better world badly enough? (Mick)
Oh yeah, we got plenty to say. Funny how the old global powers collapse the USSR for instance – a new “enemy” arises, Global terrorism! And this “new” enemy is allowing our government – with our consent (cos its new and scary and were scared of new things) to erode more personal liberty than at the height of the cold war. Now I’m not a conspiracy theorist – but it does look mighty fishy!
If you had to choose a new name for the band what would it be and why? (Jeni)
I wouldn’t. The name is the band and the band is the name!
The Fish Brothers next LP....Fishy Fingers.... Goes quadruple platinum. You are asked to support them at their own festival.... Fishy Days. How do you feel about it? (Anon - probably one of the Fish!!)
Gutted!
Have you ever considered blistering heat and the opportunity to wrestle crocodiles a good enough reason to do a pub tour in Australia? If not, why not? (Steve)
It’s the 24-hour flight that puts me off a little.
I'd like to ask if there have ever been any Spinal-Tap sort of moments on tour? Has anything really amazing and embarrassing ever happened? (Matthew Rowland)
Too many to mention!
A few years back, you guys did a Drunk in Public gig at Kelly's Bar in Leamington Spa (I think it was '99 or 2000). I was a student journalist at the time and, under the pretence of doing a very shoddy interview with Simon, I managed to gatecrash the lock-in after the show.
It would have been a great night, but unfortunately I was too smashed and stoned and ended up passing out on a bench in the middle of the bar for nearly two hours.
Is this the most unprofessional performance by a member of the press at one of your shows, or have there been worse examples throughout the years? (Adrian Mather)
That’s pretty good… George Berger of ‘Sounds’/’NME’ etc. etc. was pretty good at that too…usually journalists come to our shows wide awake then write reviews as if they were blind, deaf and asleep!! But I’m not bitter!
Over the years do you recognise faces in the crowd from previous concerts? I like to think that you do. (Kim Terris)
Yes, especially Corin from Australia, Richey and Daisy-Claire
Which character in ‘finding Nemo’ is most like you? (Andy Mitchell)
Si is definitely Willem Defoe’s character! I’m like the big old stingray that takes the little fish to the reef edge!
What was the most rebellious thing you did at school? (Andy Mitchell)
Everything up until I was expelled!
One evening after having a heavy night of being mashed, we all got the munchies, a regular occurrence; only being poor there was no proper food in the fridge or cupboards. The food that was available was mainly covered in mould, this didn’t put a mate of mine off. We made him a bowl of food which consisted of: cereals, beer, whiskey, Tabasco sauce, ketchup, mouldy bread, coffee granules, rice, mouldy jam, gone off milk, fag ash, salt, pepper, tikka sauce, mouldy cheese and what ever else we could find in the cupboards, it was then mircowaved and he was given a small amount of money to eat five table spoons full. He was then sick. My boyfriend, Tim paid him 9 pence to eat his sick and we now have video footage.
My question is, a) if u were that mashed would u do that? b) Would u need to be paid more than 9 pence (not that I want to make a deal)? And c) have u done anything like this before. (Karina Bowden)
Well I’d rather do that than eat our chef’s food! 9p sounds a bit steep though!
Do you get approached in the street much by fans and asked to sign autographs and pose for pics etc and do you mind? Or do you take it all in your stride as international music stars? (Dick (Richard) Bennett)
It doesn’t happen as much as it used to. Mostly I get European students studying in Brighton who can’t believe you actually live there too!
If u weren't in the Levellers would u be a fan? (Daisy Chain)
Of course, especially of the bass player! (I’m a fan of yours anyway! It took me days to get that nail varnish off – ooer!)
In your opinion, what makes for a truly great Festival experience? (Rob Monfea)
See www.beautifuldays.org!
What are the band’s thoughts on Kazaa etc? Does the notion of people getting Levellers songs for nothing piss you off or make you satisfied that simply more people are hearing your material? (Ally)
I have no problems with it. Back in the analogue age we all used to tape stuff off the radio anyway…the more people who hear our stuff the better I think.
If a movie were to be made of The Levellers whom would you most like to play your part and why? (Or who do the other band members think would best play your part and why?) (Liz Woof)
It would probably be computer animated
If the situation were to arise, would you ever play a gig before the royal family? (Craig)
No
Of the caricature drawings done has anyone been offended or thought "yep that's them down to a tea" offending other band members. (Bob Davidson)
Charlie’s missus (Jill) got a bit upset about his snout – but she still went out with him anyway! Aaaah cupid me!
What’s your fav type of cheese? (Mig)
Really stinky Brie and Blue cheese
Do you find your views of the worlds political problems have changed with time? (Andy Parkin) Of course! The only people who refuse to learn from experience - who never U-turn, remember? Are fucking politicians themselves! Yeah I’ve changed over some verses but the song remains the same.
If you could cook any 'celebrity' who would it be, how would you cook them and which 'celebrity' would you serve them to? (Leanne)
Being a Veggie I can’t think of any celebrity plants…have to think about it!
If any of the band were flicking through an adult magazine!! And saw a pic of another Levellers mum, in the readers wives section, would they tell that person that they had seen their mum in said mag? (Karl Liszewski)
Of course! With great relish and no doubt exaggeration! No, actually most of the times it’s happened we’ve been most supportive!