T
rying to nail down an esoteric multi limbed entity like the Mighty Bossmags to something that isn’t actually a gig is the equivalent of herding bee’s. Eventually we get to chat and an interview takes place thanks to the wonder of t’internet.
RBY: What s the history of the band, how long ago did it form, what was the aim at the time, and its musical influences?
Bobby: I was actually in a band in Dundee and played with Kieron’s old band Hated Til Proven a few times in Scotland and England. Never thought we’d play in a band together, or I’d live down here in a matter of years!
Kieron: And Tims old band, the singer was also the singer in mine and old band. Quite a tight, although widespread group.
Kieron: For me I joined as a project to do something a bit less punk but still with the same punk vibe. It was at a point where other bands I was in were slowing down and bobby asked if I wanna try this thing he’s working on with Francis.
Bobby: The Dundee based band I played for also played with an old band Francis played for a few times . One of those times was the very first time Francis played a gig in the UK, him being from Hungary. I played that gig. I never even met him. We even played together in Scotland never met each other
Francis: Five times in the same place in two years, then got introduced.
RBY: Dundee, Hungary, how come it starts up in North West England?
Bobby: I got a call about coming and playing bass for a few shows Francis booked in Hungary. Not from him, but the guy in the band I knew at the time. I had left a band at this time and was really doing nothing so I jumped aboard that. That’s when we really met.You know when you just look at someone and think’Oh fuck here we go’. I came back from that weekend and basically talked about doing a band together. I also met my wife on that trip. She was talking about going to Warrington. I was pretty excited and easily swayed at that time so decided to move down a few months later into Francis’s old room in this rat hole on Lovely Lane and we quickly got to work.
Francis: at that time I was looking for something more suitable both musically and personally, and it became obvious during those couple shows that We gotta do something together
Kieron: This was all around five years ago.
RBY: So this punk vibe but less punk idea, how did it manifest itself?
Bobby: I did an acoustic show at a pub called The Lounge that month, Kieron was at that gig, me and him were already friends through the touring and what not, he as much as said “when are we doing something together then” And me and Francis already had this idea so he jumped onboard. Tim was recruited at a party
Kieron: I think for me it was other influences outside of the punk genre. the likes of Queen, Tom Waits, Yes etc.
RBY: Did you have a clue what sound you were after? (Editor: Though if one punk band were going to bring up Yes).
Kieron: I still don’t think we do to be honest. I don’t think we ever will, we like to mix it up. We’ve got songs that are more punky, more ska/reggae, we try and dabble in metal/prog/techno/ragtime
Bobby: We all got into punk rock early on and that has been the compass of our musical adventures. We’ve all grown musically and took in a lot of influences and so we didn’t want to scrimp and so just bring it all in. We didn’t want to pigeon hole ourselves and be another carbon copy. We didn’t really want to be like anything either. We just knew we wanted to have fun and make a fun time for other people. Our interests just got mangled together. We want to keep people guessing.
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RBY: There appears to be a big performance element too?
Bobby: Yes of course, that primarily comes deep from within me and my interests in the theatrical, strange and spooky.
Kieron: Aye, I was going to bring up PYROTECHNICS!!! But our budget won’t allow just yet. Our stage show is a big part of what we do.
Bobby: We have an extended family with our live shows. Like a collective. You may see us with extra synths. Glockenspiels. Dancers. Magazine eaters. And other bits and bobs. It’s how we keep it exciting. That’s how we found our new full time member, Marcus. Now full time on trumpet for us.
RBY: I’ve got to ask, what is a magazine eater?
Bobby: Someone who eats magazines! At this point the band furnish a video of someone ‘weird’ (hint) standing on stage and eating copies of a magazine.
RBY: What gigs and where have you played? What does the band think of gigging?
Francis: As I’m not local, all shows seemed to be a string of adventures. I especially enjoyed the ones we did in Scotland and (the now sadly shut) Old Town House in Warrington.
Bobby: I honestly can’t see how there is a better way to get about. Cramped into Kieron’s car. When we get to show we’re all bursting out and gasping for air, instruments pinging out like those condensed joke tins full of worms. We don’t even have our own van. We do tend to hire one for longer stints on the road. Slightly more luxurious. It’s all worth it.
Kieron: Yeah we’ve done two tours around mainland Europe as well as three trips to play a festival in Francis’ home town in Hungary
Bobby: One venue that deserves a special mention is the Fulford Arms in York. Great vibes. Always look forward to a trip up there. Great excuse to visit York and pretend we’re in a Harry Potter film
RBY: How has the band coped with Covid and lockdown?
Kieron: It’s been shit in terms of practicing as we’ve not actually been able to jam since the start of lockdown. We’ve all had bits of recording and stuff to be getting on with but I’ve been working solidly throughout lockdown so not had much time for that either myself
Bobby: We like to keep it light with Bossmags. Our lyrics in our songs and general aesthetic, if you like, for the most part is comedic and occult. We are angry people, and have lot’s to say, but we are for most part trying to create more of an escapism. But yeah Nazi punks can fuck off.
Tim: It’s been strange. Probably the longest I've gone with out a band practice in over a decade. But we were just starting to work on demos when lock down started so there's at least been something we've been able to do as a band.
Bobby: We’ve got some exciting demo’s that are really coming together. We’re talking about recording our next full release proper in the next few months and fixing the date. We’re all very excited and impatient. Something that encapsulates and reflects where we are and what we’re doing today and what you can really expect to see at our shows. With added Marcus as well. So you can count your bottom dollar it’s going to be brassy, skanky, and, you know, a bit heavier than what you’ve heard on our releases before.
RBY: Ok the big one, whats a Bossmag and why is it mighty?
Bobby: Are we gonna let that cat out of the bag here?
Francis: From the Hungarian Baszd Meg.
Bobby: yeah so in Hungary, however you say that can mean numerous timeless phrases such as
‘fuck off’, ‘fuck it; ‘fuck you’!
Bobby: and it sounds like Bossmag so there you have it.
Bobby: A guy in London once said to me ‘Man, I thought the Bosstones were playing’.
RBY: What question would you ask yourselves?
Bobby: A guy asked us a brilliant question he just asked us ‘why are you doing that?’
RBY: It's a good question, why are you doing what you do really. What drives you on?
Bobby: You know Richie, I don’t have any fucking idea it’s definitely not money and health.
Kieron: I think it’s a mutual passion to make noise and make people feel weird.
Tim: It’s a lot of fun to be in a band were you know everyone's answer to ‘should we try this weird idea’ is going to be ‘yes’.
Words and Photos; RBY
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bossmags/
Bandcamp: https://themightybossmags.bandcamp.com/
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