Blacklisters are the band who fit into May's up-and-coming-band slot nicely. Formed in 2008, Blacklisters have been destroying venues and eardrums with their aggressive, confrontational gigs which has rightly earned them a reputation as a band to keep an eye on. Add their excellent debut album, BLKLSTRS, to the mix (which we reviewed here at What Culture) and you'll understand why they're the band we chose for our May feature. Blacklisters is made up of Billy (vocals), Owen (bass), Dan (guitar) and Alistair (drums). WebsiteFacebook http://youtu.be/wh0IJDb3KBY WC: For people who might not have heard about you guys before, can you give us some history about the band? How did you first have the idea of forming Blacklisters? And how long have you been together as a band? It is a boring story whereby there was a plane crash and we were the only survivors. We kept each other warm by playing the instruments that had belonged to a now deceased mariachi band. We were lost for 4 weeks and by the end of it we had eaten sixteen passengers, and written an album. That was 4 or 5 years ago and we have been going from strength to strength ever since. WC:How many releases have you got out there? Are you signed? We have three other releases: Swords out on Best Enemies, a local label that puts out some really cool Leeds bands like Double Muscle. That was our first recording and was a 7 that has a couple of early versions of two of the songs on our album and a couple of others on it that dont get played anymore. Then we did a split with an amazing band from Australia called Scul Hazzards with both bands doing a cover of an Albini tune, we did Super Pussy by Rape Man, that was fun. And we had an EP out on Lee Vincent from Pulled Apart By Horses label Childhood Sweetheart Records Called Belt Party which was inspired by the old Drummer of Hawk Eyes and a game we used to play of the same name. We Signed to Brew Records last year and then went and recorded our album BLKLSTRS, there have been a couple of singles off that too. God that was a lot of words for a very simple question, soz. WC:Whats next for you guys? Any tours planned? Well that is always the forty million dollar question for bands, we are up for some stuff and confirmed for some stuff that we cant announce yet so keep an eye out for news on that stuff. We can say we are playing Hevy Fest and Beacons Festival, we are playing Off The Cuff in Birmingham and Long Division Festival in Wakefield and hopefully well have a couple of other things to announce shortly. WC: Who are your favourite bands? Main influences? Favourite bands and main influences are different and the same. There's definitely a cross over. Shellac, The Jesus Lizard, the Melvins, Kong are all favourites and all influences but I would say that my favourite bands are those I watch the most, those I know or have met, 'cause you get to put a personality to the music. I saw this band from Glasgow the other month, Divorce, I cant say more about them, they are fucking amazing. Bands from Leeds like These Monsters, Hawk Eyes, Humanfly, and False Flags are all amazing and all influence in different ways and at different times. WC: If you could describe your sound, what would it be? The closest thing I guess is Noise Rock, we happily wear our influences on our sleeves. Elton John, Brian May, Robbie Williams, Gareth Gates' early work. WC: Do you have any funny band stories? There is absolutely nothing funny about being in a band. It is all totally serious and we have a zero fun/laughter/smiling policy. WC: Favourite gig youve played so far? Favourite bands to play with? There are a bunch for a bunch of different reasons. The last Live At Leeds was insane, it was like being in Pulled Apart By Horses for the night; the audience went mental. Playing with Scratch Acid was unbelievable and an absolute honour. Dream fulfilled. The last Leeds Festival was big, we played to thousands of people, and that is a weird thing to do. I think the ones that have mattered the most to me are the ones where I have felt like I am part of the Leeds Scene, when I have been playing with my best friends in their amazing bands and people have come and watched and loved it. Its a great place to come from Leeds, we are very lucky. WC: Do you drink on stage? Or do you prefer to play sober, and get shitfaced after the gig? Pretty much always drink on stage, before stage and after stage. Its not a matter of getting shit faced, that is a dangerous game to play, I have on occasion drunk so much that I have played the gig, done pretty well considering, then literally passed out. I missed all the fun after. Lame. Drinking is not cool kids. WC: What do you guys do outside of Blacklisters? We build model airplanes and talk about Space Raider's crisps. Do the guys a favour and add them on Facebook, or buy their records, or just buy a T-shirt. If you don't, they won't be able to afford conversation about Space Raider's crisps.