England’s Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats are at the forefront of the psych revival that includes bands like Tame Impala and fellow Englishmen, Temples. However, unlike their contemporaries, Uncle Acid have fully embraced the dark side.
Taking their cues from ‘70s hard rock and heavy metal acts like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Blue Öyster Cult, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats draw from the same influences that inspired the previous generation of stoner rock bands like Fu Manchu, The Melvins, and Kyuss.
There’s beauty in the mirth and muck, though, and behind the band’s slow, rolling fuzz are pop melodies, albeit blood-splattered ones. With their latest album, The Night Creeper, with its bloody lyrics and slasher flick-inspired imagery, the band seems determined to put the “psycho” back in psych music.
Westender tracked down Uncle Acid ringleader Kevin Starrs somewhere in the American midwest to find out just who, exactly, is The Night Creeper.
You’ve stated that your last album, Mind Control, was essentially a concept album, a fictional story about a cult leader that comes down from the hills and brainwashes his disciples. What is the narrative behind The Night Creeper?
It's about a fake serial killer created by the media to cover up police murders. Obviously not something that would ever happen...
You recorded The Night Creeper at Toe Rag in London with Liam Watson who’s worked with Tame Impala and Electric Wizard. Why did you choose to work with Liam at Toe Rag?
It's the only studio like it in the world. The old equipment they have is very unusual and Liam has the best knowledge of that gear so it made sense.
Some of the songs on the album sound like they could be straight from the score of a horror movie (“Yellow Moon”, and “Slow Death” for example). When you’re writing these songs, are visualizing a movie in your head? Is that something you see yourself doing in the future, scoring a movie?
Yeah, I would love to score a movie one day. I have to visualize each album in its entirety before I start writing. I find it easier to see the bigger picture before working on the details.
There’s a very Dario Argento feel to the aesthetics of the album. What draws you the world of pulp and horror?
It's just something that I've always been interested in from a young age.
Underneath the sludgy guitars and bludgeoning drums, your music is quite melodic. Tell me about the importance of that juxtaposition in your music; the pop and the doom.
To me, melody is the most important aspect of music so it's important that it's always at the forefront of what we do. I always liked the idea of contrasting violent lyrics with sugary melodies and two part harmonies.
You’re just starting out on a pretty epic three-and-a-half month tour across North America, Europe, and Australia. How do you stay sane on the road for that long?
We've never toured for that long before, so I guess we'll find out! You have to pace yourself though... Watching movies always helps!
What have you been listening to in the tour van?
John Lennon and Grand Funk Railroad.
You were here in Vancouver a year ago at the Rickshaw Theatre. How was the response?
It was incredible. There was a lot of younger people there which gave it a really great atmosphere.
• Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats perform at the Commodore Ballroom this Friday, Sept. 25. Doors at 8pm. Tickets available online at TicketMaster.ca.
