Tatts Far From Beaten
You would think that at this stage of their career Rose Tattoo would be slowing down. If they are, you wouldn't know it given their recent activity.
Last year Rose Tattoo released their sixth album Blood Brothers and this year they toured Europe, which included major festivals like Download and Gods Of Metal. For bassist Geordie Leach this was not only a chance to play to huge audiences it was an opportunity to catch up with other bands.
Whilst on tour he hung out with members of Airbourne, Alchemist and Motorhead.
"I caught up with Phil (Campbell) from Motorhead who we also toured with in Australia last year. He is a classic guy, out there in a great sort of way," Leach says.
As much as he enjoyed the tour he admits that playing to big crowds has its disadvantages.
"It's not as simple as playing to 20,000 plus people, where you can't see them all compared to having the 1000 within your field of vision. The latter being a captive audience, that's obviously more intimate," he says.
Even though Rose Tattoo have been around over 30 years Leach hasn't noticed a lot of change in that time.
"It's the same as always, although the obligatory punch up in the audience within the first two songs doesn't seem to happen anymore," he says.
"I remember not to long ago when there wasn't a blew, we talked about it after the show and the consensus was we were lame."
"This of course isn't the case, it's just that everything in this country has become so bland."
Apart from Rose Tattoo, Leach also runs his own studio Padded Cell Productions. What started out in a spare room in 1986 evolved further as he progressed from Engineering to Producing. Leach downplays the significance of this role pointing out that bands have very different ideas of how involved he has been in their recording process.
"Producing is a funny term. I've had a couple of bands through since I've been back that are quite happy to put you down as producer when all you've done is track and mix them," he says.
"Having said that The Driving Conditions and I have been working on songs for at least 3 months prior to recording into the studio, whether it be arranging, changing sounds etc., so there is a bit more to it."
While Leach prefers to work with bands who have a sound he is familiar with he is open to all possibilities.
"Given my history, rock or blues bands are where I'm at, although since being in the northern rivers and Gold Coast there is a lot of folk/country that has been through, where I track and have other people mix," he says.
"So any band can contact me and we'll go from there."
As for Rose Tattoo they are set to hit the road with The Angels in November and they may tour Europe again next year.
What they will do after that remains unclear but Leach knows whatever happens he'll continue to do what he does best in some way.
"Music will always be a part of my life so inevitably it will always involve that."
Email paddcell@gmail.com if you're interested in having Geordie check out your band.
Rose Tattoo Support The Angels On The Following Dates:
November Saturday 1st Selinas, Sydney
November Friday 7th Forum, Melbourne
November Saturday 8th Forum, Melbourne
November Friday 28th Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Thanks to Brenda Vincent of Ice Management And Productions [http://www.myspace.com/nicemanagement] for making this happen.
