Interviews: E.B & THE DEADLIGHTS

We have had the opportunity to interview the Metal band E.B & THE DEADLIGHTS from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Ethan: This originally started as a solo project for me, then when Matt and I started writing for a new release it just seemed to good not to become a full-fledged band. I'm a big Stephen King fan so anyone familiar with his work will know The Deadlights are the true form of Pennywise The clown. Just being called The Deadlights looked a bit bare so we threw my initials in front of it and it just flowed nicely off the tongue.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Ethan: I've never wanted to do anything else honestly. My mum showed me Alice Cooper’s scene in Wayne's World when I was four and that was me set on my way, rock and metal music has always spoken to me in a way other genres haven't.

Matt: Didn’t have a choice really, from the moment i heard it and just knew it was what i was meant to do.

Alex: The raw energy of this genre is unmatched compared to any other in my opinion and it has gave so much to me, so from my early teens I've always wanted to be in a band that makes this kind of music.

Andy: To tell you the truth I had no intentions of playing in this genre. At heart I'm a classic rock man, but when Ethan approached me with the idea it seemed an interesting experiment, mixing my taste with all the others and it ended up turning out pretty damn well.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Ethan: Myself and Alex use to play ice hockey so through that we have known each other about 6 years I think. But apart from that we've all only really known each other around a year, which is funny considering how good of friends we have become.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Ethan: Alice Cooper without a doubt. There's plenty of other bands/artists I could say (and you'd probably be right if you guessed who they are) but if it wasn't for Coop they wouldn't exist in the first place, the man is 100% the reason I am a musician!

Andy: Has to be Gary Moore. The man's playing was in my opinion the absolute best in the world and he wrote incredibly powerful songs with amazing guitar work to back them up. Hands down the biggest inspiration to my playing style. The Beatles have to have an honourable mention also!

Matt: Danzig, One man created so many different genres and mastered them into three amazing bands that sound nothing alike. Everything he has done has greatly impacted me, the misfits, samhain and the band danzig, so better just to say Glenn as he is in pretty much all of my favourite bands.

Alex: Mine at the moment is a rapper by the name of Bones, his combination of trap, metal and hip hop is refreshing and like nothing I've ever heard before.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Ethan: As far as the lyrics go I would have to say Stephen King has had a big effect on how I approach writing. He just has such a creative mind and since I started reading books I have taken a much more serious approach to writing lyrics. Band wise I would say most recently Creeper always make me feel very inspired, their most recent album Sex Death & The Infinite Void is a masterpiece in my opinion.

Matt: For me, it’s all about the challenge of trying to create something exciting from nothing, trying to break away from standard song structures and the same 4 chords everyone else has beaten to death.

6. Where was your last gig?

Ethan: We haven't played one yet! Joys of being a band in the age of covid haha! Our first is set to take place on Halloween opening for local Horror rock band So Long Until The Sèance in voodoo Belfast, tickets are available now!

7. Where would you like to play?

Ethan: Ulster Hall probably, it’s such an iconic venue and I've seen some of my favourite bands play there. It would be a dream come true to get on that stage someday!

Alex: I would've loved to have played in CBGBs in New York if it was still there just for the sheer history of the place, stepping on the same stage that legends like The Damned and Bad Brains did on their way up would be amazing.

Andy: Honestly? Wembley arena. But if I'm picking something local the Ulster Hall, great venue that's hosted a really wide range of acts over the years.

Matt: Madison Square Garden, it doesn’t get much bigger than the big apple, countless legends have sold the place out and thus making the garden legendary with it, it’s for sure on the bucket list.

8. Who would you like to support?

Ethan: There's so many but I think if the opportunity ever arose to open for Alice Cooper I would probably just faint upon being told haha!

Matt: Too many of my personal picks are either 1. Dead 2. Broken Up or 3. Too Old. However in saying that, if I could get them in their prime it would be the misfits or my chemical romance.

Andy: I'd be down for supporting any big names, but really I think I'd soil my munks at the opportunity to open for someone really big like ACDC, proper OG's. 

Alex: I'd love to open for Creeper, they're a very theatrical band and I think we would fit very nicely into a show with them in that sense.

9. Who not?

Ethan: Probably Kanye West, he just seems like a bit of a ballroot to be honest. 

Alex: Machine Gun Kelly, would rather crap in my hands and clap.

Matt: Muse, Just aren't my cup of tea honestly.

Andy: Jake Bugg. Can't stick the man's vocals, fine guitarist though

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Ethan: Honestly a bit of nerves are good. I think once your onstage most of the nerves go anyway so it's better to just get up there have a wee walk about and realise everything is going to be fine haha!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Ethan: Alice Cooper and the various other shock rock acts he's inspired. Apart from that I'd say Meat Loaf, Creeper and Biffy Clyro. The list goes on but this interview would be way to long to read if I kept going!

Matt: I feel like a broken record at this point, obviously Danzig and everything he’s done, alot of nu metal, post punk, hardcore, emo, classic rock, I’m a fan of a lot of types of music only thing I don't really vibe with is country honestly.

Andy: It's gonna be a struggle keeping this one at a reasonable length, but my big inspirations are The Beatles, Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher, Horslips and Blue Öyster Cult. All fantastic musicians/bands and have helped shape me to be the musician I am today.

Alex: System of a Down, Slipknot, Korn and Creeper would have to be the bands that have inspired me the most, each of them in my eyes created a sound so unique to themselves that you can't mistake their songs for any other band

12. What do you think of our site?

Great honestly! It's really good to see websites like yourselves shining a light on smaller bands like ourselves that are just starting out!

13. Something to add?

You can follow us on Instagram & Facebook @e.b.andthedeadlightsband then on twitter @DeadlightsNI! Our ep Still See Ghosts is released on December 3rd along with our first single Empty Frames on October 1st. Thanks for talking to us!