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 Brighton might be a long way from the Sunset Strip, but don't let Skull Spark hear you say that.
The South Coast 5 piece, reek of the 80's strip, decked out in enough leopard print to make the WWF look on with worried glances, the sleazy trash n rollers wear their influences on their sleeves with not a care in the world. Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue and Def Leppard from the 80's while warming to the new Scandanavian scene of Crashdiet, Hardcore Superstar and the Backyard Babies.
We wanted to know more about them, so caught up with frontman Alvin and Guitarist JJ to get the lowdown.
Komodo Rock: For those people that are new to Skull Spark can you give us a bit of background to the band and how you got together?
JJ (Lead Guitar): Well i met up with a dude called Spider (Guitars) about 5/6 months ago and we got talkin about making a real rock n roll band and took it from there really. We had a jam around spiders place, had few beers n stuff, made shit loads of cool riffs and and decided to take this thing thing futher. We had heard of a shit hot drummer called Bam who was playing with a band called Pretty Tied Up at the time, asked him to come down to scream studios to play a few songs and afterthat we just kinda stole him haha!!
Alvin (Vocals): I had just moved over to Brighton from Sweden when JJ contacted me on myspace. He said that him and a friend were starting up a band and wondered if I wanted to come out for a few beers. We met up about a week later and went for a real piss up, haha. And after that I was pretty much a part of the band. A short while later we got in contact with Liz on myspace and asked him to come down for a jam, he was perfect and that was pretty much it!
JJ - It's kinda like a Frankenstein band. We got everyone from different bands, like Alvin is from Midnight Cowboys, Liz was from a band called X - Rated Vision, Bams was from Pretty Tied Up, Spider was from Bullets n' Babies and i was from a band called Dirty Vendetta.
How did the name come about?
JJ: We got it from the Zodiac Mindwarp song Skull Spark Joker and thought Skull Spark sounded cool. It's a great song as well!! check it out!!
 As a band who are your main influences as a band and why?
Alvin: We all love 80s rock! That's pretty much why we got together. But apart from that we all have very different influences. Some of us are really into metal, and others are into punk or garage rock. We're all really open and I think you can tell that in our sound.
Any news you can share on a debut release?
JJ: Yeah we have a single coming out called Gotcha Now. Its just a big balls out, in your face rock n roll track. We're just waiting for it to get mixed, then it should be out!! We recorded it in Sweden, in Alvin's home town Skovde. It was great! Everything coming out from Sweden at the moment is sounding great!
Alvin: We recorded the single and a song called I Touch Myself in one of my childhood friend's studio. It was great recording with someone that you really know. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and you're not afraid to try stuff.We had a great time recording those songs, and you should be able to hear that!
How hard has it been for you to get the band off the ground and get your name out there to people?
Alvin: Getting the band of the ground was really easy. In a few months we've already been gigging all over the place. Both in England and in Sweden, and we're constantly writing new songs. We're all really dedicated and believe in this band. It feels really good!
JJ: Yeah its been fuckin crazy!! for the few months we've been together and all the stuff we've done,playin festivals and recording in Sweden, and selling some shows out here in the U.K, it's been great!We seem to be getting a good reception wherever we go, i love it haha! i think people can see that this is what we want to do all our lives and they like to see a real rock band out there!
Has Myspace been a big help to the band? What about other online sources?
JJ: It's been great for us!! We wouldn't have Alvin and Liz if it wasn't for Myspace haha! It's also great cause you get to show so many people your music all around the world and get to talk to the guys who love your music. It's also great for getting gigs and reviews and stuff, and its free!! haha
If you could put together your dream 3 band tour, who'd you pick?
Alvin & JJ: Aw,that's a fucking hard question! Skull Spark, Rolling Stones & Aerosmith. But we could think of at least 100 bands, haha.
What's the biggest gig you've ever played?
Alvin: It wasn't the biggest venue we've ever played, but the biggest gig must be at The Greenhouse Effect in Brighton. It was completely packed out and the crowd was going crazy!
JJ: Yeah! that was a great gig, it was a sell out which was fuckin crazy for our 2nd or 3rd gig or something, about 200 people there in this tiny place. The atmosphere at that gig was wicked! Everyone was up for having a great time.
 In 12 months time, where do you see the band being, and what will you be doing?
JJ: Touring or recording or something ..or in my mansion haha!!
Alvin: On a beach in California, with a beer in our hands, haha. And probably in the hall of fame.
Other than yourselves, who do you rate as the best up and coming rock band out there?
Alvin: Well, I would have said Wendy Icon! A really cool band from Australia, but they broke up the other week.
God knows why, they were a fucking great band!
JJ: Junction 13 are great, they have a real rock n roll sound check em out! Another band called Electric Soul from Sweden, they are cool we partied with them guys allot in Sweden, another Brighton band called Mama Hoochie Bang they are great guys. Theres a real glam/sleaze, whatever you wanna call it, underground thing going on at the moment. There are some really cool bands out there you just gotta find em!
Let us know any important web links and where we can buy your stuff.
JJ: Well you can get free shit at our gigs if you come down, like c.d's, badges stuff like that or you can just get in contact via myspace (WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SKULLSPARK ) We're gonna make some t-shirts to so they should be out real soon!!
Alvin: We love people showing their support! And we love to look after our fans! If you just get your ass down to a show, we'll make it worth your while!
JJ: Yeah!! We love it! Come say hey as well we don't bite ... well bam does sometimes haha!!
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SKULLSPARK
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us!
JJ & Alvin: Thanks for having us!
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