Getting Sassy with...The Whip

We here around THE CULTURE OF ME were once obsessed with all things relating to Sassy and Dirt magazines. And while those titles are long gone, the sentiment of how they covered the culture industries has indeed left its mark on writers and culture vultures everywhere. It is because of that influence that we are proud to present our features post, "Getting Sassy with...", wherein we bring you that much closer to your favorite bands by way of a simple Q&A session that's both painless and informative. Ha! Beat that, FOX News!

This time: The Whip.

We've straight been jocking The Whip's X Marks Destination for a bit now, we've met the band a few times (truly nice by the way), and we're super psyched that they love our city enough to be coming back to play the Electric Zoo Festival on September 5 and 6. We sent this little questionnaire of ours off to them and got probably the best interview out of the entire lot of "Getting Sassy..."'s yet. We've learned all too much about Bruce Carter's likes, dislikes and found his request to serve as backing band to Daft Punk a really remarkable idea to ponder.

Name?
Bruce Carter, my friends think it makes me sound like I’m some police guy from "CSI: Miami" but I look at it as a nod to my Scottish blood.

Hometown?
Oldham, Lancashire. It’s an old mill town about 5 miles outside of Manchester. We we're lucky growing up as there were a couple of wicked little clubs for us to beef it up at which was good for a small town. When we got older we could get a train for 2 quid into Manchester and see all our favorite bands passing through and shop in the cool record stores there, buy stupid garish clothes and herbal cigarettes, look at city girls, tough guy stuff. It was a nice setup.

I now live in:
Saddleworth, I've just retreated back to "the hills". In my hood that doesn't mean "Beverly Hills" but the pennine hills between Manchester and Leeds, the Lancashire/Yorkshire border. It's sweet meat, I lived in Manchester city center for the last 10 years which was amazing, the rest of the guys still kick it there but I’ve done the hippy thing and re-found my zen in the green pastures of the hills. Some folk find these hills a little bleak, covered in moss and fog, but I love it. It's a really inspirational place to live; I’ve come up with so many ideas and new songs since I moved up there. I keep staring in to space and taking deep breaths, which is always good. The city is just down the road and we're always traveling through cities so it's good to get back to the country and find head space when I can.

Number of states visited?
States, you mean counties, stars from the flag? I think we practically did the whole hog on our last trip over to you guys. We spent 5 weeks driving 9000 miles around your beautiful pastures. It was an amazing trip; we saw so many great things. We started at SXSW and headed east, did New Orleans (top place), WMC was bonkers, and then we did the whole east coast. I love New York!!!! Then all the way across to Seattle and saw everything in between, had a west coast adventure and lost our minds in the Joshua Tree National Park. My only disappointment from the trip was that they have knocked down the E.T. ride in California's Universal Studios, truly a criminal act. I worked my around the states towards the holy grail of movie rides to find out it's been upgraded to some Simpsons ride, I’m crushed. We went to some amazing parties on the tour though and we're up for some more action in New York.

My favorite place in my hometown is:
The Church Inn. It's a pub up in the hills, they make their own real ale there and it's £1.50 a pint, they name them things like "shaft bender" and "ex-moor hound dog" (dogs are welcome too). Stuff like this keeps you grounded after a weekend away at some cool parties. They also do an awesome beef sandwich with gravy on it. Food is moist in these climbs, you can get salad on it too but that’s a bit wrong.

Most recent phone bill total?
It used to be a lot but now you can call on truphone and Skype to send your kisses to loved ones for cheap. However, Hotdog our bass player doesn't adopt as much thrift to his dialing and last time we were in the states his bill was over £500 for the month. Wild times. Crazy lover.

Items found in my day-to-day bag (if applicable)?
My laptop is an extension of my mind and with me at all times. I record all my new songs on to it while we are on the road, I don't know what I did before this, and I guess I used to have a notebook and propelling pencil. I do like to travel light though, it's liberating if you’re only away a couple days to just have 2 t shirts and underwear. Some CD's and phones to DJ and that’s it.

First album bought on your own?
My first 7 inch single was Madonna, "Get Into The Groove" and had her with Rosanna Arquette on the front that looked much cooler than Madonna. My first album was Belinda Carlisle, Heaven On Earth, she was the first girl that I had pictures of on my wall, at the time she was a hottie or as we say in England, "well fit".

Favorite song memorized as a child?
"Agadoo" by Black Lace. It’s one of those stupid kids songs with a dance routine that people would act out at 80's discos while stood in a circle smiling at each other. Actually, people should do this kind of dancing more now, it's so uplifting.

When I sing in the shower, it’s usually:
Epic and ruins my voice for the rest of the day, karaoke is always good for ruining my voice too.

The one song that must be on every mix tape is:
"Raspberry Beret" by Prince, it's always good at the end of a night/tape/life/funeral.

After the jump, way way more with Bruce, including Zombie Nation, The Velvet Underground and his love for the "Daniel" video.

Last book read?
The Damned United by David Peace. It's a gritty book for soccer fans about a famous 70's and 80's football manager in the UK called Brian Clough who didn't take any shit. It’s brilliant and has just been made in to a film.

Favorite book ever?
On The Road by Jack Kerouac, I read it while Greyhounding it across the use of a few years ago and it filled beautifully with my trip.

Favorite thing you bought this year?
I don't really buy much stuff but I got some really nice Onitsuka Tigers which I really like and a nice new guitar which I covered in blood last week with a small flesh wound mid show.

Instruments played (chronologically)?
Recorder, trombone, piano, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, juno, micro Korg, Fender Rhodes, little Phatty Moog, and more recently the tambourine and chicken egg.

Least favorite day job before getting this gig?
I worked in a music shop for 5 years, selling guitars and keyboards. It’s where I met the rest of the guys in the band. We just played bass all day, really loud. I wrote loads of songs when I should have been busy flogging guitars to rock lords.

Favorite record this year?
The new Zombie Nation album is nice.

Favorite record ever?
It changes all the time, maybe Screamadelica this week by Primal Scream.

The one record I’d save from a house fire is:
The Velvet Underground, Loaded. It would need to be saved from a fire as it's vulnerable and needs looking after.

My favorite place to play on tour is:
Japan, it's such an interesting place and the food is great. Closely followed by the US, you can get good Japanese food here too, my agent took me to this amazing place on our last New York trip.

If I wasn’t doing music I would be:
Traveling with friends.

Last illegally downloaded song/album (be honest)?
"Fire and Space In The Woods", it's a mash up of Late Of The Pier and us.

Latest TV addictions?
I'm at a loss, I’m totally obsessed with "Arrested Development" but it's finished and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" but I’m waiting on fresh meat there too! I’m still waiting to see what happens on lost but I’m a bit bored of it.

Favorite music video this year?
I like the spinning boxes with faces on the Passion Pit video or the BMX rabbits on the Bat For Lashes "Daniel" video.

Who is in your dream band (must be living musicians)?
We would happily tour as Daft Punk's backing band if they played live instruments.

The best concert I went to this year was:
Glastonbury Festival was wicked this year, I saw loads of old school stuff too, Neil Young was amazing.

Recent song you can't get out of your head?
We keep singing the vast chorus of John Farnham, "You’re The Voice". It’s great for late night unity on the bus with the band. HUGE!

Press play on your iPod/media player and list the first three songs that come up.
The first 3 tracks of Aphrodite's Child, 666. The number of the beast, awesome.

(mp3)    The Whip - Dubsex

Godspeed!