When Alex met Didz...

Didz Hammond,Alex Wookie

Our 3^rd Brand Ambassador instalment comes from Alex Wookie, our Reading brand ambassador.

Not content with just telling us his misdeeds as the drummer of the band Golden Hours, he also ventured to Shepherd's Bush to see Suede’s Brett Anderson accompanied by Dirty Pretty Thing's bass guitarist Didz Hammond at O2 Empire, London.

Alex managed to grab Didz for a quick chat on all things from influences, post Dirty Pretty Things and hanging out with Keith Allen in the Fuji mountains.

Check out the interview along with some pictures that feature all of the boys wearing yours truly!

Interview with Didz Hammond

Brett Anderson gig ,02 Empire, London

Brett Anderson,Didz Hammond,Alex Wookie

It was a shame that it wasn’t the full Suede band but I will take Brett Anderson’s solo stuff with backing from Didz Hammond playing Bass Guitar for him as a more than sufficient consolation. Didz Hammond has been in two big bands that I personally love. He made his name playing in Cooper Temple Clause who made one of my favourite albums ever, ‘See through this and leave’ and then cemented his music fame after Coopers broke up by joining Karl Barat from The Libertines to start Dirty Pretty Things. Also I live near his parents, so I have to be nice!

Cooper Temple Clause are one of my biggest musical influences. Who are your influences?

‘ Good question, my main influences band-wise growing up were Beach boys, The Beatles,  Led Zeppelin, Blur, Super Furry Animals and Radiohead’ album Kid A. I have been more influenced by the new electro and post punk genres. I love how electronic and guitar-based music is influencing each other.’

What is your favourite show?

 ‘Well that’s easy it would be Fuji festival (it’s up in the mountains!) in Japan. We were all really hung-over and as we were playing mist from the mountains flowed down across the audience. I also played there with Cooper Temple Clause and we wore stolen security outfits from the festival guards!’

Have you got any good stories?

‘Once again when I was at Fuji fest with Dirty Pretty Things me and the guys were looking around the camp site for a party and found a group of tents where they were blaring out reggae music so we sat down with them. What I didn’t realise was that I ended up sitting between Joe strummer and Keith Allen. I hung around listening to old reggae and 60’s music with Joe strummer in his tent. That was a pretty big moment for me especially as it was less than a year later that Joe Strummer passed away, I felt really privileged to have met him.’

What’s your favourite song you’ve been in the writing process for?

‘Hard question...mostly because I have done so many songs but ‘Same Mistakes’ with Cooper Temple Clause and  ‘Buzzards and Crows’ with Dirty Pretty Things have been stand-out tracks for me.’

What do you love about Ben Sherman?

 ‘I really respect their history, musicians have always worn Ben Sherman and the new plectrum logo is a great representation’

What you been up to since Dirty Pretty Things split up in 2008?

‘I have been DJing, helping produce the new Paddington’s album, radio presenting and making sure I am keeping the metaphorical pots on the boil. Obviously playing with Brett is a big thing!’

Is fashion important in music?

‘Yeh ‘course it is. It goes hand in hand; everything sonically and visually must be perfect.’

Ever got in a fight over the last beer in the rider?

‘No I’m a peaceful person and would never hurt anybody...’

What's the most random thing you have got from a fan?

I got a key ring from a fan in Hong Kong when Dirty Pretty Things played there that had Chinese writing saying ‘Gentle’, ‘Melody’ and ‘Didz’ it was a great gift. Well it was till I dropped it last week... (It is ok it will live on in this interview!)

If you have one golden rule for unsigned musicians what would it be?

‘It is a new game from when Cooper Temple Clause started. We sent demos to labels, promoters, played in London as much as possible. There are so many new outlets to use with the internet around now. Oh and playing live is important, even the biggest labels and agents want good live acts.’

How many gigs have done just as a side note?

‘I don’t keep a list but its well over 1000...’ (That’s a lot, I have done about 250 and I thought that was a lot!)

Have I asked I asked enough questions to do a fulfilling interview?

‘Yes you have.  The support act, Kid Harpoon is just about to be on and I need a beer’.

Written by Alex Wookie 26/1/10

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content with just telling us his misdeeds as the drummer of the band Golden Hours, he also ventured to Shepherd's Bush to see Suede’s Brett Anderson accompanied by Dirty Pretty Thing's bass guitarist Didz Hammond at O2 Empire, London.

Alex managed to grab Didz

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