© 2008 The Honest Johns

Made by Serif

Richard Corbishley - Lead Guitar, Vocals

An original member of the band Richy played bass guitar in the early days of The Honest Johns.  Thankfully he’s now back to playing lead guitar in his own distinctive and unique style.

 

Interview

 

1. Rich, you were in the original line-up. What's your recollection of how The Honest Johns started?

I remember starting/helping to start a band in 6th form, 'cos we reckoned we could do better than the Upper 6th band.  Mark and Jon were in the original line-up, but Mark soon realised that he was never going to earn any respect as a musician if he stuck with terrible covers being murdered within an inch of their lives, so he started a 'proper' band. It's all a bit hazy, but sometime during '85 we amalgamated our two bands and out of the ashes rose The Honest Johns.

 

2. Can you remember your first live performance?

My first live performance was at school doing 'Anarchy', 'Pretty Vacant' and the like.  I cut my finger, which bled all over my white imitation of an imitation, of a fake Les Paul. Rock and Roll indeed!  However, any kudos gained by the photos, showing said injury and blood-spattered guitar, was soon shattered by other photos in which the shadow of my hair on the curtain behind me made me look like I had an enormous afro-definitely not cool at the time!!!

3. What type of music did you listen to as a teenager?

As a teenager, my first love was Punk, particularly the Pistols and SLF. As I became a lovesick and, indeed, a lovelorn older teen, Donovan, Simon and Garfunkel, the Stones and the Byrds all made their entrance.  All of the above are obvious influences on my style-aren't they???

4. How old were you when you first picked up the guitar?

I was fifteen.  Mind you, I could only claim to have 'picked up' a guitar then, certainly not 'played' one!

5. What motivated you to learn to play?

I went to a couple of summer christian conferences and all the cool people i.e. the ones the girls liked, played the guitar. So there you have it, not Hendrix, Clapton, Keith Richards or Angus Young. Simply a shameless attempt to ingratiate myself with the fairer sex!

6. How would you describe The Honest Johns music style?

Yikes!!  I haven't got a clue.  The newest one is pure Teenage Fanclub and, to be honest, I try to get as many Teenage Fanclub references into my guitar parts as possible.  Other than that, I can definitely hear Ocean Colour Scene, Embrace, the Beautiful South and The Levellers.  But as for a genre.....how about Knacker Indie?

7. Has the style changed over the years?

It's definitely got better.  Just around about the time I rejoined, I reckon!  As the life of the band has such a long span, the sound has naturally changed anyway, but I've got to say I prefer the new sound to the old!!

8. What is the attraction in being a member of a band that plays their own music?

If you play covers, then you're always going to suffer by comparison to the originals, unless you've got a totally unique take on them.  It would also make us a typical 'pub' band.  Whilst I'm not at all sure what we are, I do know that we're not a pub band!

9. Can you see yourself getting more involved in the song-writing?

Yeah, I've got a load of tunes and riffs that I've had kicking around for a while and the couple we've used so far seem to have worked quite well.  It's nice to hear something you've come up with being played by the whole band.

As for writing lyrics, my school class could come up with something more meaningful than the utter cheese and tripe I come up with, the sort of stuff that makes me embarrassed to know me!!!

10. Rich, finally, a very important question of interest to all guitar fans.  Gibson or Strat?

I'm afraid it has to be the Strat.  I love my Gibson, but the strat is more versatile, or is it that I'm not good enough to make the most of the Gibson?

 

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