ABOUT THE BAND - BAND PROFILES
Stephen Boakes
STEPHEN BOAKES
BIRTHDAY
30 something at the time of writing this.
SIBLINGS?
Brother and sister both younger and in needs of my wise guidance.
BIRTHPLACE AND BEYOND?
BRIGHTON Helmston
FOOTBALL TEAM?
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION FC
FIRST RECORD BOUGHT?
Shawaddywaddy – under the moon of love
INSTRUMENTS?
’wooden trumpet’ and bass guitar at home and out of tune
FIRST BAND JOINED?
’Klanger and the Soupdragons’, then the ‘Soupdragons’ but we couldn’t keep that so then the ‘Sweatdragons’.
MUSICAL HEROES?
Steve Sevrin, Dave Grohl and loads more
FIRST GIG YOU WENT TO?
Souixsie and the Banshees or local punk band not sure.
FAVOURITE LEVELLERS GIG?
Glastonbury Jazz stage a few years ago 2004?
FAVOURITE LEVELLERS SONG?
Carry me
NEW AMBITIONS?
To finally finish my electrical qualifications that seem to drag on and on and new hurdles come along just as I think I am getting there 4 yrs later… oh and build a totem pole in my garden so my sculpture degree can be put to some use.
Do you have a ritual that you always do, before to go on stage? (David Anne)
Putting on me make up etc – I get a bit stuck into pre gig rituals sometimes and when I realise that is the case I stop them. I had a necklace I always wore that I bought prior to one of my first gigs and got a bit superstitious (15 years) and realised that I was being silly.
Do you do weddings, and if so, will you do mine for free next year? (Paul Beattie)
As a free lance didge playing I have played a few –they were for very rich posh people and I was very much a servant, I bit my lip and thought of how much I disliked them. I do love the didge for the weird and wonderful jobs it has got me though. Playing Rolf Harris on a welsh TV show, loads of school workshops, launches for breakfast cereals, newspaper barbecues, Ozzy theme nights in odd venues etc…all surreal which I love.
If you were to meet George Bush, what would you tell him? (Minou and Xander)
Jon’s answer is perfect – A good rant about what an irresponsible twat he is but I doubt anyone could really get the chance.
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)
I like opinions in lyrics rather than pulp but I don’t think they have a big effect on there own, as part of greater push they work. I read that musicians and politicians were considered to be as in insincere as each other in the public’s opinion.
If you had to choose a new name for the band what would it be and why? (Jeni)
Drunkellers
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!!)
‘MARTIN FISH…. WAKE UP…. YOURE DREAMING AGAIN!’
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)
I so badly want to go to Oz with the levellers – I have been there quite a few times (as have rellies there) and I think they would love it and visa versa.
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)
It’s all spinal tap – have you seen ‘Some Kind of Monster’ about metallica?
Over the years do you recognise faces in the crowd from previous concerts? I like to think that you do. (Kim Terris)
Yes – but aged a bit.
Which character in ‘finding Nemo’ is most like you? (Andy Mitchell)
I didn’t pay attention enough.
What was the most rebellious thing you did at school? (Andy Mitchell)
I seemed to be on report permanently at school so too many to mention. Nasty time the 80’s for schooling under Thatcher, football casuals and skinheads (I wasn’t one of these). I had a 2 coloured Mohican, took crap drugs at lunch time. For cringe factor I stopped someone putting out a hill fire so that it would spread and then said that he was lying when he tried to pin it on me. We did have the fire brigade up regularly in the summer for hill fires and it was a sort of school hobby.
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)
No – I only wear drag on stage.
If u weren't in the Levellers would u be a fan? (Daisy Chain)
I was, sort off, sadly. Yes.
In your opinion, what makes for a truly great Festival experience? (Rob Monfea)
Beautiful Days etc
No corporate sponsorship and decent food and beer available.
What are their 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 work sometime for a record company and it has had a big effect on record shops. All the independant record shops I used to deal with have pretty much all shut down due to copying and down loads etc which is a pity but it is a bit of Karma in the larger picture for record companies etc being so greedy and wasteful in the past.
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)
Minny Me
If the situation were to arise, would you ever play a gig before the royal family? (Craig)
I would be unavailable.
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)
Jeremy comes off too well in them.
What’s your fav type of cheese? (Mig)
Proper tangy cheddar.
Do you find your views of the worlds political problems have changed with time? (Andy Parkin)
Of course
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)
We are older and our mum’s are older so I would be traumatised for life and to deal with it would do the same as Jon.