Having toured across Europe playing hundreds upon hundreds of shows alongside bands such as Papa Roach, Shinedown, Buckcherry, Black Stone Cherry and appearing at festivals such as Sonisphere and Download, Heaven’s Basement are a band who’ve built their reputation on setting Britain’s underground alight and then taking that energy to bigger stages across Europe and this year will be the year it all kicks off for the band.
Having released their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Filthy Empire’ on February 4th and being confirmed for this year’s Download festival they are cementing their reputation as one the UK’s most exciting bands.
Heaven’s Basement are Aaron Buchanan – Vocals, Sid Glover – Guitar. Rob Ellershaw – Bass and Chris Rivers – Drums and we spoke to Aaron to give us the lowdown on the band.
Please introduce yourself? Aaron – Vocals in Heaven’s Basement.
Where did the bands name come from? I believe legend has it that it came from an off the cuff remark made about a particular underground studio in one of the band members house…
How did the you get started? My time in this band started in early September 2010 when I ended up in a room auditioning songs I had never actually even rehearsed – I literally listened to them ’till I knew all the parts and hoped for the best!
What have you got going on at the moment? Our debut album, ‘FILTHY EMPIRE’ has just been released worldwide, we’ve just come off tour from a month on the road with Buckcherry in Canada, a headline run and now we’re on the road with Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge, Creed)
Favourite music and why? Music that satisfies the thing that I’m missing. It varies from Imogen Heap to Slipknot.
Favourite book and why? I’m not much of a reader, hence I rarely question anybody else’s intelligence… I know I really should jump on the book-wagon but… It’s just hasn’t appealed to me over the past few years…
Favourite film and why? I’m not a huge Batman fan, but I made the effort to watch all of them and The Dark Knight with Heath Ledger was INSANELY good. – Couldn’t go through life without Morgan Freeman though – Shawshank Redemption? – Oosh!
Best experience in the business so far? I am one of the few privileged musicians that have been allowed to play Download Festival. That festival is a huge deal to me. I will always support it!
Why should Soundscape readers care? We’re a band that cut the bullshit and just want our audiences to have a good time. No pretentious crap – lets just play music and hope for the best.
Tell our readers an interesting fact about the band? None of us have any tatoos! How or why none of us have a clue!
What’s the best and worst things about touring? Best thing is watching the band grow and progress. Worst thing is personal space, bad smells and trying to piss when the bus is hurtling down a rocky road!
Most embarrassing thing to happen to you while in the band? I fell over infront of six thousand people at Download Festival – I wasn’t too fussed about it, I was really happy with our performance, but it is quite funny to look back on…
What’s your writing and recording process like? Write a riff, or a hook and go into battle with it!
What inspires you? Great music and musicians that have crafted their skill well. They’re a rare breed these days and I appreciate their company.
Best thing about coming from or playing in Wales? We are not welsh! But I guess the best thing for anybody who ‘does’ live there is the fact that they have a dragon on their flag!
Who are your role models or idols?Freddie Mercury, Steven Tyler, Robert Plant, Dallas Green, Cory Taylor, Howard Jones (KsE) – a weird mix I know but they all certainly chipped towards what I am.
Hardest thing about the current business? People who think they know everything. With the current climate – nobody bloody knows what they’re doing. So stop pretending and just do your best.
What are your future plans? Get my self physically fit. Get my head space prepared and play like it’s my last night on earth every single night.
Final question, one we ask everyone, who is your favourite Batman actor? Heath Ledger (The Joker)
Heavens Basement have just finished a short UK run with Mark Tremonti and have a gig filled few months with lots of European dates, US dates and festival appearances, and have a new single ‘I Am Electric’ out soon.
