Exclusive interview with Stu West!

How old were you when you started playing bass?

I'm sure it was Xmas 1983 that I got my first bass which was a short scale Satellite so I was like 18 or 19. I knew it was a terrible bass guitar but there wasn't much money to sling around in those days for such luxuries. My Dad made an amplifier for me which was awesome. It looked likean electricians kit with 4 valves glowing brightly with no cover on or switches.You just plugged it in. Pretty dangerous but totally DIY punk rock and it sounded great................ before I blew it up.

Did you learn by ear or did you take lessons, learn scales etc...?

By ear. I just played all my records and picked out all the lines. I wish I had learned more music stuff in school but I had a wandering mind by the age of 14 and hated school teachings with a vengeance. I couldn't wait to leave and avoid playing by the rules.

What inspired you to learn an instrument?

I had no inclination to be a musician at all. I think I just woke up one morning thinking i'll give it a go and see what the fuss is all about. I got addicted quite easily and it wasn't long before I joined up with like minded people. Punk was and still is a community to me. Back in the early eighties there was a recession, no money and lots of boredom. The classic scenario for a musician to be born. So it was a natural step to me. I do remember being inspired by SLF "Alternative Ulster" song. The raw sound of that single with it's punchy riffs definitely stirred something in me. Still sends a shiver down my spine when I hear it now.

Who, if anyone, did you look up to or respect, as a bass guitarist (or musician if bass was not your first choice) at the time you first decided you wanted to play an instrument yourself? Do you still think the same about that person today?

I've never looked up to anyone. I don't believe in heroes and false worship. I do respect peoples talents and acknowledge them but I never idolise people, that's where society fails. It creates barriers where there shouldn't be. Everyone has the ability to be successful but the belief is strangled from them from an early age. I had a family member laugh in my face when i picked up my first bass. Never let anyone tell you that something is impossible. Just go do it.

But as musicians styles go, I recognised JJ Burnels early work to be influential on me. The sound of his bass and the unusual timings intrigued me. Plus i am into UFO stuff and sinister happenings which his band presented as a concept with the MENINBLACK album.

What are some of your favourite basslines? (any song/artist) and are there any that as a bass player you hate?

Too many to mention. Bass lines can be very basic but clever structures within a song make them powerful. Two that spring to my mind right now are Pump It Up by Elvis Costello with it's forceful driving and then Atmosphere by Joy Division for it's haunting hypnotic feel to it. Totally different but effective. There's plenty of stuff out there I don't like but who wants to remember that?

What pick size and material (plastic or metal) do you use? Do you ever play fingerstyle or slap?

Plastic .88mm picks. I do play fingerstyle but it's not driving enough for the style i play. Never got into slap. Don't really like the sound and it just reminds me of awful eighties bands.

Any string preferences?

I totally prefer Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Stainless Steel. 100 80 60 40 gauge

What has been your favourite stage amp/combo you have used and why or do you prefer the line 6?

I chop and change all the time. I won't be using the Line 6 bass pod for live anymore only studio. It's awesome for getting the live sounds in a studio but I want the traditional backline feel to a gig. The last tour I had a Marshall 4x10 cab with their 450 amp. It produced some great mid range tones with not too much of a low end rumble. I want to experiment with Ampeg again so that might turn up for this years shows. Getting back to an 8x10 with an SVT2-PRO is very appealing and has always delivered the goods in the past. I want to get a decent "clank" sound and get some bite back in the songs.

What Damned songs do you enjoy playing most?

History Of The World , Absinthe , Nasty , Dr Jekyll, Sanity Clause.............well this week anyway.

How did you go about learning all the songs for the first time? Did you pull out the records and work them out or were there rehearsals where you worked them out?

I got an initial list of 40-50 songs to learn so I listened to those and that was that. I'll be honest and say I knew most of them anyway, I'd seen the band play since 1981 so I knew the score. I would say it was a get together but not a rehearsal when I met the guys before my first shows in Italy in 2004. The audition was the first show I guess. hahahaha how many bands do that?

What Damned songs contain your favourite bass lines and what songs are the trickiest to play?

I like Limit Club and is the song i have always longed to play at a show. It's a great band for basslines and they all appeal to me but Dr Jekyll has always been the top tune for me.

If I Fall is too near the top of the set it is very tricky to play. I need to be warmed up for that one. I walked on stage one night to see it as the opening song and I just freaked. I play it all on downstrokes and my hand has seized up many a time half way through the damn thing.

You add a lot of interesting runs to songs. Do you improvise those or do you have them worked out beforehand?

I just see where my hands take me. Each tour I find myself incorporating different ideas into the songs. You gotta keep it fresh or it can become stagnant and I don't do negative. Playing drunk often throws up different shapes as well but usually the wrong ones!

Any songs you'd like to see in the set?

Yeah I'd like to take a stab at Limit Club, White Rabbit, I Think I'm Wonderful & There'll Come A Day. That is apart from new stuff which should be getting aired this year. I like to hear all the pub talk between fans who argue over what should be played and what shouldn't. It gets quite heated but that can only be testament to a band who has recorded many terrific albums in it's history. Not many bands of 1976 can boast that.

Taking into account what Dave did to the last bass player, are you ever worried that Dave will make you pregnant?

Well he would make me a millionaire if he did.

What can we expect from the Damned in 2008?

Well I would like to expect the new album to be out like everybody else. It's the right time to hit the streets I think. It's long overdue in many peoples eyes. The Damned is a different beast to any other and I have known that from back in the day. They have always made decisions on their own terms I respect that. On the back of the album will come the world tours which will keep us from playing Bilston every 6 months. America, Australia, New Zealand , Japan will all be taken in I'm sure once the Damned wagon starts rolling in earnest.

Lastly, any advice for someone just starting out to play? Do you think it's important to learn theory or just wing it?

Well in this day and age you can access more information than I ever did back in the eighties. The internet can provide everything you need for schooling in music and much more. Captain has always maintained that practice is everything and to increase your standards you need to at least double the committment involved every day. I totally agree. It doesn't stop either just because you are in a band. If you have the drive then you will be successful and happy in your chosen career, I mean who wants to clean toilets or work at Aldis?

Thank you Stu for taking the time to answer all the questions!