Described as A fusion of Hard Rock, Classic Metal and a healthy dose of Fun BPP are a band not to miss. The band made a storming début appearance at the 2007 Greenbelt Meltdown stage and are tipped for a great future. 2008 sees the boys beginning work on their second EP and with gigs already lined up for Greenbelt and Meltdown and first time visits to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Green Light District Festival in Denmark. Adam (guitar and vocals) takes time out of their busy schedule to chat with Brian Bassingthwaighte from Steel Cross

For those people who are reading about you for the first time it may be a good idea to give us a brief history of your band:

We began in around late 2003, It started of with Vic and Adam playing together in Adam's bedroom (much to his parents disgust lol) from there we started jamming together and trying to find a sound that we liked and also a feel. We then decided that we needed a separate vocalist, which coincided with Phil coming back into the area. We then had a long search for a drummer where after Phil and Vic met Tom at Download festival and started talking. Tom came along to a couple of practices and the rest they say is history. We practised together a while decided it was time to start gigging. We tried a few gigs and then we had a break for a few months due to family and personal responsibilities and then restarted in February 2007. We practised a few weeks and then started a years worth of gigs. The year filled up with lots of exciting first time gigs and some revisits. We somehow managed to get a slot at greenbelt, which would turn out to be a great show, weekend and also the last time Phil sang and shared a stage with us. Adam took over the vocals and that they say is history.

There are so many different genres of music and even genres within genres. So how would you describe your music and what type of band are you?

We have transformed over the last year really and would probably now sum ourselves up as a thrash trio probably with ties in Metal core as well. In terms of what type of band we are we would probably say we are a live band with a preference to being out on the road meeting people. Despite our look and appearance we are quite a friendly bunch really and enjoy meeting everyone we have the privilege to.

The past 12 months have seen a lot of excitement and changes for you what have been some of the highs and lows for you

Greenbelt was a particular high and also playing at Meltdown festival as well. Just being part of a growing scene is a particular high for us and spending and meeting some great people. Phil leaving was a pretty low time although we discussed this greatly and felt that ass a band it was time to try something different and it was all God's timing and his calling on Phil's life that brought it about.

With a new E.P coming soon and a whole load of gigs through out 2008 what is it that keeps you going and inspires you.

Meeting new people, finding our voices in terms of what God has called us to and being part of a growing scene that is only getting bigger. God is our main influence and inspiration. He moves into new things every day and has blessed us so much in terms of gigs and the support that he has given us through our church. Influencing people with our music and reaching people where they are instead of dragging them into a church building is a major influence as well. Also playing music together and playing stuff that we enjoy is a great influence.

Everyone likes to see a band perform a great gig with a cool stage show. Describe one of your typical gigs for us. What would we expect to see at one of your shows?

Lots of hair flicking, double kicking, and testifying. We try to be raw, aggressive and energetic even though we are all getting on a bit now.

There are a number of quality bands coming through the Christian scene at the moment do you have any favourites/recommendations and what puts them above the rest.

There are a number of bands who are on the verge for making a breakthrough at the moment My Spoon and Though Solace are two name that spring to mind. There is a excellent band called More than Dust from London who are pretty new on the scene but have great tunes coupled with a really cool attitude both on and off stage.

What advice would you give to fellow bands that are starting out?

Ensuring that you pray on a regular basis together and have accountability with each other, which is just a fancy way of saying that you have each other's backs and that you are able to bring issues up with each other without someone taking offence but growing from it. I think establishing what it is you want to achieve with the band and at what level before becoming to serious is important so you are aware of how each band member is feeling. Remember to write and create songs that you like and not just making a sound because it is popular at the time. It can sometimes come across through the music if a band are playing and writing songs just to fit in. As Christians we are not called to do that.

How does music affect you and the world around you?

Music is the universal language and therefore is a major part of life. Music affects us in loads of different ways. It makes the soul happy if it good music. It doesn't matter what form or genre of music it is along as it communicates something to you then it has done its job. Music has played a part in every major event in the world and is seen in every major incident in world history. So don't underestimate the effect is has on the environment around you.

Do you find song writing easy or do you struggle to complete a song? Is song writing a joint effort in your band or do you have a key songwriter?

It's a total joy writing music together. We have some bad ideas and some very good ones. They have all come out of a member a having a spark for a song and then the rest is jammed out together in practice. From that we move the song around and see how it fits with us. We have recently purchased equipment for recording practices and song writing sessions which have helped us no end and we now wish we'd had this at the beginning. But generally song writing is done together.

Lots of people consider Christian bands to be second rate and not really worthy of competing in the “real world” of mainstream music. How aware are you of this in relation to your band and what do you do to make sure that your band is taken seriously by both your Christian and non Christian audiences? Or do you limit your audiences to mainstream or Christian venues.

We have never come across this yet and pray that we never will. The Christian music scene is now changing. We only have to look to America to see this happening as Christian rock is on its way up. Probably 90% of our gigs are secular in clubs and pubs and always are received well and are treated exactly the same and actually it separates you out from the other bands a bit and gives you an edge in a very crowded market place.

Tell us a story about a day in your life.

I get up eat sleep and drink rock and then go to bed. (Typical day honest).

Who are your musical and non-musical influences and are they Christian, Mainstream or maybe a little of both?

We have a massive range of music we listen to from mainstream Metal to Jazz and Blues. Iron Maiden, Pantera and Metallica are huge influences on us musically. We also jam a lot of worship songs by everyone from Matt Redman to Hill Song (but we do like to heavy it up a little). Lyrically our influences are much more from our own experiences, a lot of the songs we write are personal testimony about what we have been though on our journey to and with God. Also the bible is a direct influence with a number of songs about passages or storeys from both the Old and the New Testament.

Do you have a favourite passage of Scripture to share with readers of this webzine and why is that passage so important to you?

Romans 6 v 1 – 14 are a big part of what Back Pocket Prophet are about, it talks about being dead to sin but alive in Christ. We included part of the chapter in the cover notes to Dead Men Walking. It brings so much hope about being freed from the burden of sin and the promise of everlasting life. All it asks you to do is to turn away from your old life and follow Christ.


As a Christian band, do you care more about the craftsmanship and quality of the work to which you put your hand and your name, or do you care more about your example as an honest and fair group of people with integrity representing Christ? Please explain why you have answered the way you have.

We think it should be a combination of them both, because the bible says to do everything as though you are doing them for God. This means to us that the craftsmanship and the example are entwined and linked to each other. We declared over ourselves early on that we wanted to be a band for bands and support the music scene in whatever sense we are involved in. So this means that our example is paramount but we recognise that the craftsmanship is what first attracts you to bands.

So what can we expect from BPP over the next 12 months are there any dreams/goals that you are working towards.

We are back at Greenbelt on the meltdown stage again this year and also at the meltdown festival in November, which we count as a privilege to be part of and also lots of gigging. We will have been in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England by April and we are playing a heavy metal festival called the green light festival in Denmark in May. We are currently in the process of recording four tracks for an E.P called Transposition which should be ready in the next few months and we feel the tracks on there sum up our sound and feeling at the moment. It will be heavy, intense and professional so watch this space. We are very busy already and very involved in the secular music scene which we love and feel honoured to be accepted, which we are gonna rock as hard as possible as if it was in front of Jesus at every gig.


Finally if you could share just one message to everyone in the world, what would that message be and why?

Remember to surrender to God in everything and you will see amazing things in what you do. God is for music of all kinds, just remember the lyrics that are sung in songs are powerful and emotions are conveyed in songs, so love heavy music but be aware of what you are listening to.

And just for our drummer's sake if you eat something with an exo skeleton you absorb their power.

ROCK OUT IN WORSHIP AND SEE THE FREEDOM THAT COMES FROM CHRIST

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