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First On: Tribes

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A Camden-based band you don't want to overlook.

Posted 15th April 2011, 12:36pm in First On, by Harriet Jennings


The word 'Tribes' probably doesn't make you think so much about London. However, it's the moniker of a Camden-based group you don't want to ignore.

Half of the band met when one band member caught another trying to steal his wallet. As for the other half, one was arrested for fraud aged 12 years old and the other once managed to drink so much with Juliette Lewis, they woke up with a tattoo of the cosmos on their arm and no recollection of how it got there.

DIY caught up with Camden's favourite Tribe to find out a bit more about, well, their childhood lunch boxes.

Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you living now?
JI: I'm Jim, I'm originally from the midlands where i grew up with johnny, and now live in North London.
JO: I'm Johnny, originally from the midlands, and now also live in North London.

What part do you play in Tribes?
JI: I play bass and do a bit of singing. Johnny is the Singer and Guitarist.

A lot of your EP titles/tracks centre around being a child. What's your earliest childhood memory? 
JO: Being in Italy with my Dad in a pram.

What did you used to have on your lunchboxes?
JO: Teenage mutant hero turtles.

How did you meet?
JO: At school/in the pub.

Worst ever live performance?
JI: At Dot To Dot festival, on the bristol leg, at the Thekla. We were very loud, everyone walked out, and then all the kit broke.

Best band story?
JO: Being asked to support Pixies. Our 6th show

Biggest lie you ever told?
JO: 'I love you'.

First musical idol?
JO: Jimmy Page.

What was your best subject at school?
JO: English.

I hear one of you is writing a book?
JO: Yeah, I've finished it, it's called 'A Journey Through the Heart Of A Pig'. I'm trying to get it published at the moment.. Gonna be giving away free copies through our website at some point.

You've got quite a few festivals lined up, which are you most looking forward to?
JO: Japan 'Summer Sonic' ,if it goes ahead.

Best festival memory?
JI: Glastonbury, a few years ago. Nothing specific, the whole thing was awesome.

hear you supported The Pixies. Is this true?
JO/JI: YES! Frank got one of our demos and asked us to support them at one of their London dates. It was our sixth gig, so we felt very honoured/daunted.

If you weren't in the band, what would you be doing with your life?
JO: I really don't know - maybe writing books or drinking ourselves to death in Camden.

Favourite thing about your new EP?
JO: Couldn't be happier with it. 'We Were Children' is just how we imagined it. Mike Crossy our producer really understands where we are trying to go with our music.

Summarise each track in 3 words:
1. Regret, childhood, love (We Were Children)
2. Boredom,  girlfriends, friends
3. Drinking, not sleeping, relationships

What was the last piece of music you bought?
JO: Rolling Stones 'Exile on Main Street' original vinyl.

CDs vs Vinyl - discuss.
JO: Vinyl always. Better sound

How would you like people to listen to your stuff?
JO: Thats up to them, we just want people to hear it.



'We Were Children' EP will be released on 6th June 2011.

Photo by Martin Zahringer
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