Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (https://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?
DM: We’re a blended fusion of classic and modern rock that have a live act that we feel is truly second to none. In short, we’re the greatest band you’ve never heard of…but you will 😉
PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.
DM: We’re an originals rock band from south Oxfordshire consisting of John Hudson (Spud) on vocals, Mark Walker on guitar, Ross Hutton on bass and Luis Silver on drums. Mark and Ross had a band together for a lot of years and around that time Ross also was a pub landlord. I (John), lived in LA at the time and had come home for Christmas and was staying with my mum who lived in the same village as Ross’ pub. So being a grown man staying with parents I did the only sensible thing and went to check out the locals and happened to walk into the Cherry Tree, (Ross’ pub) which had various guitars and bass’ adorning the walls and met them both. We all just hit it off and I think I didn’t leave for about 3 days. Anyway I went back to the states but we kept in touch and when I moved back 3 years later my wife and I stayed with Ross and his wife while we were looking for a place to live. Mark lived down the street so we just picked up where we left off. Then when their band broke up just before lockdown Mark called me and said they were looking to put another band together, would I like to be the vocalist and I jumped at the chance. I’d got up with their old band a couple of times and we’d gelled and we’d talked about putting something together before but it took a while. Trying to find a drummer was a different story altogether. I think we had about 5 sit in with us that either we didn’t feel fitted or they just disappeared off the face of the earth so we really struggled and it was like trying to find rocking horse shit if you’ll excuse the expression. Then Ross, being the salesman that he is, struck upon the ingenious idea that he’d look through the classifieds for people looking to sell their drums and that was how we happened to find Silver, (or hiho as we affectionately call him) . Poor guy was trying to sell his drums and instead Ross convinced him to keep them and join the band
PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?
DM: Life. I don’t think any music has the ability to resonate with a listener unless there’s the truth behind it that they can connect with. So it really does depend on what we’re feeling at the time. Themes and topics are almost always too contrived and an audience will always pick up on that. You really need to be able to make yourself vulnerable and expose that element of your own emotions in your music for people to connect with. That’s the beautiful thing about music, it has an honesty you don’t get in every day life.
PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?
DM: We’ve always set our sights on the next step and then the next step once we reach that one so we just take it as it comes. Of course we’d love to tour across America and Europe but honestly we just love to play, whether it be a rehearsal room or a bar or wherever and if there happens to be a few people there enjoying it, then all the better
PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?
DM: We played with The Foxies, (who are fantastic), which was really cool but I think the proudest moment so far has to be the first radio play. There’s nothing quite like it.
PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?
DM: I honestly believe there’s an audience out there for every type of music, its just about continually pushing and getting your stuff out there. Sooner or later you’ll find your tribe. Its cliché but its true, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life
PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?
DM: Yeah we’re playing MK11 in Milton Keynes on July 16th, we’re supporting The Meteors in Manchester at Retro on July 17th, we’re at The Stag’s Head in Hoxton on August 4th and the The Phoenix in High Wycombe on September 16th so lots of cool stuff happening. It’s been a busy summer.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?
DM: It’s a double edged sword. On the one hand I think it’s a phenomenal tool for getting artists exposure that they wouldn’t have had 25 years ago but on the other, it’s really made it a lot harder to make a living in music. The business has the same amount of money in it that it always has but its just that sadly less seems to find its way to the artists that create it in the first place
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
DM: Oooh good question. I’m sure we’ve all got different answers to this one but for me, (Spud), personally, probably Quicksand by David Bowie. He really was a genius and the lyrics especially are poetic but still accessible. They have a refinement and yet still have a 
raw emotion to them. He was an amazing arranger and producer as well. I always loved the stuff he did with The Stooges and Lou Reed.
PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?
DM: Ha! I think I would like to make it more open minded and less corporate again. Back in 70’s you had a lot of record execs that said “shit, I don’t get it but put it out and we’ll see what it does” where as now everyone thinks their taste is what’s most important and you miss out on some truly great stuff.
PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?
DM: We’re about to record our EP and we’re finishing writing the album so very exciting times and we cant wait to share it with everyone
PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?
DM: You can find us at:
www.dirtymoneyband.com
https://www.facebook.com/dirtymoneybanduk/
https://www.instagram.com/dirty_money_uk/
and you can buy our music through Itunes, Amazon and all those other sellers of wonderful tunes
Dirty Money links:
Band/Artist location – South Oxfordshire UK
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Spotify – Amazon –
Check our page for Dirty Money
