Randy Harris Interview.
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Randy has been confirmed as one of the biggest guitar collectors, owning up to nearly six - hundred guitars according to Ultimate Guitar Magazine. "I usually take about twelve on tour with me" he tells. One of which he claims to have stolen back=stage from a Slash gig when he was seventeen. "Mostly I use Gibson SG's but recently I've brought a new telecaster and a Gibson ES 335, a cherry red one like the ones Chuck Berry used" he declares proudly, with a large grin on his face. "It's like an addiction, every guitar has its own life and stories and I think that's what it's all about really, just hoping as much life out of the plank of would you can". Then Randy recalls the groups beginnings. The band Mojo Pin formed in Leeds when lead vocalist and main songwriter Dave Richards put out an advertisement in the local music magazine that read:
Singer looking for shit hot musicians into Queen, Led Zep, Todd Rundgren, Genesis and Dr Feelgood. NO TIME WASTERS!.
Soon enough drummer Roger May and bassist Mark Evans answered the advertisement seeking greener grass after having spent a year in a covers only band. Then fate entered when original lead guitarist Bill Robson answered and they set off on the road of fortune. But after releasing a hit number one album, the band went into hiding for nearly four years, through this time Robson became a heavy drug addict and died after suffering a major overdose. After a year of despair Randy Harris stepped in to fill the shoes of their much missed old band mate, who many believe died too soon. "They put an anonymous ad out for a guitarist, someone before me did his audition but when I showed up they were still having a little discussion with him and after a few minutes of standing there with my thumb up my arse, I just plugged in and played, I rang through a few licks and riffs until Mark tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned around all I saw were these big, gaping eyes, he wasn't happy, they thought I was acting pompous and we sort of started bickering with one another, but we soon patched things up and would you know it, I was in the band! Dave still says to me this day, that if I hadn't of played so well then they would have kicked my arse and thrown me outta the door"
The band have succeeded in making sure that the public doesn't sweep them under the carpet just yet, and this year shows a lot of promise for them. So how does Randy view the year ahead?
"Fuck knows what will happen, but I reckon it's gonna be a lotta fun".
Photo by Zephyrance Lou