PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Rowdy punk rockers crew PIRATE COPY unveil their forthcoming album, Swashbuckle & Swagger, out on Friday 26th October, via Black Sail Records. We nailed the pirate punks down for a chat over a glass of rum….
What is the full band line-up, who plays what?
Captain Kernow – Vocals; Johnny ‘Danger’ Danger – Guitar & Vocals;
The Admiral – Bass; Ashtiki The Caveman – Drums.
How and when did the band form? Tell us anything interesting about your hometown.
Down in our homeland of Cornwall, we have a phenomenal music scene, supported by dedicated individuals who are passionate about live music, but due to the rural character of the Duchy, we don’t get the range of nightlife options you do in cities, so a night in the pub led us to form a band and start putting on the kind of debauched, chaotic nights we wanted to go to ourselves. The kind of night where you make a whole bunch of unforgettable friends you can’t remember in the morning. We wanted to bring together as many people as possible, and even the most bitter sceptic enjoys pirates on some secret level, so it seemed like a no-brainer given Cornwall’s rich history in the the piratical trades.
When and how did the band really start gelling and solidifying?
The line up has remained fairly steady following the early departure of guitarist ‘Mad Dog’ Andy Walsh, who wrote ‘The Crew’ at the first practice in the local village hall, before departing for foreign shores. Captain Kernow (Vocals), Johnny ‘Danger’ Danger (Guitar & Vocals), ‘Finger’ The Cabin Boy (Guitar), Scarlett Van Dyke (Ukulele), and Ashtiki The Caveman (Drums) took the band forward, releasing their debut EP ‘The Shape Of Piracy To Come’ before devouring Finger while marooned upon a desert island, and follow up EP ‘Goin’ Down A Storm’ before Scarlett absconded on what appeared to be a laser-armed manatee during a missing rum investigation. Battling bravely forward, The Captain, Johnny D, The Admiral and Ashtiki bring you the debut album, along with a chestload of Swashbuckle & Swagger.
Who are your musical influences?
Each member brings a different set of influences to the band which define the different elements of our sound. The Captain enjoys melodic hardcore and skate-punk, while Jonny D is a britpop and indie man. The Admiral loves a bit of thrash punk, while Ashtiki can be found blasting anarcho. It all comes together in a big clash of styles that we somehow work out into something we all enjoy!
Where have you played or toured? Please name all countries / regions and recognised bands that you have played with.
Ah, we’ve had some great nights – played in Plymouth, Exeter, London, and Bristol, as well as all across Cornwall. We’ve played some incredible festivals like Boardmasters, Leopallooza, and 3Chords. And we’ve gotten to play with some incredible bands like The Computers, Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons, and Professor Elemental.
If a deaf person were to ask you to describe the sound of your music, how would you describe it?
By getting them drunk, putting on a playlist of videos from the old P-Rock channel on a big screen, and jumping around with them.
Do you have a tour on the horizon?
We do! Well, a weekender. Well, we haven’t booked it yet. But the album launch party is gonna be at the end of October, we’re gonna do a few South West gigs before the end of the year, and then we’re planning a three-date weekender around the South in early 2019, followed by one up North later that year. The thing we really live for is festivals though – we love to get out in the campsite, make some new mates, and bring them all together to blow the roof off the tent – so we’re hoping to hit some new fests next year as well!
Where can we find your social media sites?
We’re on all the usual music and video streaming/download sites, and all the social media channels that aren’t used exclusively by hipsters and posers. So, no, we don’t have a page on that new, ultra-niche platform that launched two days ago, even if it is ‘definitely going to be as big as Facebook’. We’re busy doing stuff. Look us up on Twitter or Instagram or something.
