Introducing #27 - Rocket Propelled Gorillas

Name: Rocket Propelled Gorillas
Formed: March 2012
Hometown: Belfast via Derry/Draperstown/Clady/Strabane/Banbridge
Genre: Electroscuzz Rock
Line-Up: Jordan Catterson (Vocals), David Lavelle (Guitar & Vocals), Ryan Bentley (Guitar), Kevin McLaughlin (Bass & Vocals), David Donnelly (Drums)
Similar To: Audioslave, Wolfmother
What They Say: As aggressive as the name suggests and twice as mad to boot!
What We Say: Scuzzy rock with a tasty selection of grungy rock riffs.

◀ Q & A ▶

▶ Tell us about your stage name?

There was this one time Godzilla turned up outside Audio Kitchen in this mahousive Apache helicopter and this guy just started tearin’ the place up with his chicken cannon jimmied in place with some gum and twine. Now, when a situation such as this does arise (and it does every so often) you have to retaliate. At this point we looked around the place and all there was to hand were some stuffed gorilla toys, a ball of string, some ductape a long plastic pipe. The weapon conceived and utilised in our (successful) manoeuvres against Godzilla is the origin of our stage name.

▶ When did you start playing music and how long did it take to find your own sound?

The music started 9 months before the band, there was an original lineup which didn’t work out and Dave (Lavelle) had to relocate to Belfast (for undisclosed reasons) where he set about getting another iteration of RPG on the go. From September 2012 through January 2013 the lineup was ever so slowly put together with the first 4 tracks (three of which are on “Killing Dr. Zaius” and the other released on it’s lonesome beforehand) being worked on during that period. The sound was there in Dave L’s guitar style before any of us joined the band and it’s been luck thus far that we as a group seem to compliment one another despite having varied musical backgrounds. Despite this we’re developing the sound of the band as we go and it may be the same or it could be a different beast entirely in a few months time. Time will tell.

▶ What releases have you put out so far?

So far we have released a single track titled “Clutch” in February, 2013 and a three track EP titled “Killing Dr. Zaius” in April 2013. We’re planning on releasing something new for the end of the summer…maybe.

▶ Is there a particular live show that stands out amongst all the rest?

Voodoo on 26th June was probably our stand out one to date. Crowd was good, sound was good, we were relatively happy with the way we played and didn’t immediately walk off stage and mumble apologies at each other for screwing up a particular bit in one of the songs.

▶ Can you talk about a Highlight and a Lowlight of the journey so far?

Highlight – That guy from Argentina who bought each of our songs separately and then the EP (containing previously bought songs) on the same day…twice.

Lowlight – Voodoo, 26th June, 2013…There was a point near the end of our set where the lights went off completely for about 3 seconds. I think that is lowest level of light we have performed in to date.

▶ You are in control of forming a 4 piece ‘super group’ – who is in it and what do they do?

Terry Crews (Drums, Flame Sax, Danger)

Bill Murray – (Keys)

Spider Man – (Guitar)

Christopher Walken (Wordsmith with bass guitar duties)

▶ If you and 3 bands of your choosing were to do a world tour, who would the other 3 bands be?

Gogol Bordello, Eagles of Death Metal and The Terry Crews Experience (all Terry, all danger).

▶ What will be the 3 strangest things on your rider when you’re able to make any demand?

An aged mountain goat, 17 eggs, 14 Litres of Orange soda and meet us under the Broadway bridge in 25 minutes.

▶ Who has been your biggest inspiration as a musician?

Individually that would be a fair question but collectively it’s an impossible one. We all agree that none of us are particularly fond of Billy Piper’s solo career but not much beyond that.

▶ What does ‘success’ mean to you?

Our definition of success is getting out alive.