THE SORDID DETAILS are Johnny Spoz (guitar and vocals), Mickey Couch (bass and vocals), Ricky Cox (drums) and Pete Spoz (keyboards and vocals). I first came across them some time ago when visiting a local recording studio, where I saw them record two excellent songs, "Jump Into The Sea" and "Gatecrasher". Suitably impressed, I bought a copy of their six track tape "Pop-O-Matic EP" (from which the two Sordid Details tracks on "Peacock Blue" are taken). Since the release of "Pop-O-Matic EP", The Sordid Details have put out a new tape, with the slightly perverted title of "Cop-U-Later EP". It's even better, and has four tracks, two of which appear on "Burnt Sienna".

We're now pleased to present an interview with Mickey himself.

How would you describe your music?
Journalists tend to put us in the Indie Pop category but we don't know really - powerful pop songs inspired by bands who can play - Stranglers, Jam, Killing Joke etc is how we like to be known as.

You were supposed to be having a single and album released by London label, Bah! Records. What happened?
Bah! Records totally ripped off TSD's fans. Basically, the mailing list at that time was run by Bah! - so any correspondence was to Bah!, directly in London - totally by-passing TSD. Bah! released a newsletter stating TSD's debut single was being released and you can save money by buying direct from Bah! Many people wrote cheques for the single, the cheques were cashed and nothing was ever distributed or despatched to the people who had paid for our product. As soon as TSD found this out, we pulled out from Bah! and other legal matters were addressed. Eventually a member of Bah! Records was put behind bars for fraud - he is currently serving a year and a half at Her Majesty's Pleasure. We would like to stress that TSD's mailing list is now run by us and if any product is advertised it is definitely available and good quality.

Will any other labels be putting the LP out instead?
TSD have just signed a small indie deal with Holier Than Thou Records and a release should be available this year - it will be distributed through Our Price Records.

Are there any plans for a new EP?
We've only just finished the Cop-U-Later EP, which is now finally available. We have just written four new songs but these will need to be re-arranged and played-in a lot before we record them. Realistically it will be early next year when another EP will be released.

What is your next EP going to be called?
We will decide that nearer the time. It will probably be a phrase that all the band will be using at the time. For instance, "Cop-U-Later" has the double meaning of obviously shagging but it is also a phrase we use when saying goodbye to each other - in that we will cop you later.

Tell us a bit about your other bands, D-Runk and The Dillengers.
The Dillengers' line up is: Andy Thomas (guitar and vocals), Mickey Couch (bass and vocals), Simon Bristoll (guitar and vocals) and Stu Brindley (drums). D-Runk are Ash (vocals), Martin Byfield (guitar), Gel (keyboards and vocals), Pete Spoz (bass) and Moley (drums). Both bands are all TSD followers (except Simon Bristoll, who is the promoter for the Hibernian, and he is also TSD's agent). It is really good that two bands have formed from people getting to know each other purely by coming to see TSD. It is inspiring for TSD when talented people get together and form a band and they've done it through TSD - top hole. The Dillengers play new wave pop classics such as Mighty Lemon Drops covers, Buzzcocks, Thousand Yard Stare, The Ruts etc. We're just thoroughly enjoying playing all our favourite songs, a cross between punk and new wave, but we are very oriented around the 60's, dress wise. D-Runk are again mainly a cover band although they have a few of their own songs, but mainly they enjoy playing PWEI, Wonderstuff and Neds songs. Both bands usually play together at gigs and what a great time we all have!

Were any of you in a band before The Sordid Details?
All of us were in other bands before TSD. Johnny and Pete were in Raging Bullfrog - a good time social club type outfit but they managed to support Edwin Starr once kids!!! I was in a band called Newland (with Stu from The Dillengers). Newland really thought they were The Jam. We even started hanging around London and speaking in Cockney accents - sad lads. Top band though - well hard. Ricky was in The Watchmen - really good band - inspired again by The Jam, The Who etc. They got a publishing deal at one point but it all went very wrong. Now we are one happy family collectively as TSD.

Have you had many people sending you naked photos of themselves?
We've had a few, they are mainly of us though that other people have taken. Rick's photo collection of himself is definitely the best. When we toured Hungary last year, needless to say we consumed ridiculous amounts of alcohol and we took lots of photos of Rick naked!!! Who knows what will happen in the States this year!

Write to The Sordid Details c/o 6 St Chad's Road, Rubery, Birmingham B45 9DJ, enclosing an SAE.

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