Today, we’re diving into the gritty, world of Lancashire Bombers. Formed in 2019 by two audacious souls, Lancashire Bombers emerged from the fertile grounds of Manchester, carrying with them a burning passion for the raw, unfiltered sounds of the Medway Delta. Enjoy our chat with Bret Bolton vocalist/ guitarist and co-founder of the band!
Can you share the story behind the formation of Lancashire Bombers and how each of you brought your musical influences into the band’s unique sound?
“Lancashire Bombers was started in 2019 by myself and Pete Lay who are a massive fans of the Milkshakes and we wanted to tap into that Medway delta sound and see where it got us.
Can you share a bit about your individual musical backgrounds and how your early experiences with music led you to become part of Lancashire Bombers?
“Well, I started out in a pistols cover band playing bass but they wanted me to go shirtless and wear the Sid padlock, and I’m not having that. Pete’s (lead guitar) background is classic pub rock/garage. Rudi the drummer is the son of Johnny Maben (The Kaisers)so practically beat royalty. And Parsley needs no introduction really as he’s a legend and plays Hammond organ with The Solarflares who are also legends.”
In the eclectic mix of Rhythm&Beat and PowerPop that defines your sound, there’s a palpable sense of homage to the greats of the past while forging a distinct path forward. Could you share with us the main influences that ignite the creative spark within Lancashire Bombers and how these inspirations are reflected in your explosive tracks?
“I mean it’s easy to see where our influences lie in terms of sound/songwriting I was really inspired by an interview I read where wolf Howard talks about apathetic groups and posers and referred to them as bedroom boys, which gave me a chuckle and a kick up the arse.”
Recording an entire album in one eight-hour session is quite an achievement. Could you walk us through the creative and recording process of ‘No Fun No Sun’?
well, it’s definitely not a good idea to do 12 songs in 8 hrs when you’ve had 1 practice in months and sat up till 3 the night before getting pissed up. My voice went halfway through the session but Jon the engineer sorted me out with the classic lemon/honey/ginger combo, and thankfully we got through it. we just basically had a practice in the recording studio and just about got away with it.
The opening track ‘No Fun No Sun’ pays homage to Medway’s sound. How does the Medway Sound influence your music, and what does it mean to you personally and as a band?
There are a lot of brilliant people up in that Medway. i was completely inspired by Billy Childish in terms of not overthinking and just cracking on and writing what comes and making it fun and don’t stray from what rock n roll is about. which is to have fun/dance/drink/live. there must be something in the water up there, as it’s just crammed with legends.
“In your tracks ‘No Fun No Sun’ and ‘Georgina’, you’ve summarised the essence of the Lancashire Bombers’ sound with compelling narratives. Could you discuss the lyrical inspiration behind these songs and how they each contribute to the story arc of the album?”
“No fun no sun, that’s me observing how terrified people were during that whole lockdown wank and how miserable the world was being made by heartless psycho’s. Georgina is about this bird that used to stalk me at gigs back in the day. but, I was good-looking and skinny which is a devastating combo, so I can’t blame her, and she got a song out of it, which she likes, so, all sweet on the northern front.”
“Reflecting on the rich tapestry of the UK’s music scene, both past and present, how do you compare the current landscape with the golden eras that have influenced your sound? In what ways do you think today’s scene is thriving, and are there elements from the past that you wish were more prominent today?”
“It’s what you make it isn’t it. when you look back it’s all rosy, but at the time was probably shit. good groups are the only thing that makes any era worthy of interest.”
Are there any contemporary artists or bands that have caught your attention and you believe are making a significant impact on today’s music scene?”
“There’s a really cool young band from Oldham called The Onset, all teenagers who love Buddy Holly and they are really fucking good, and gigging every week. it warms my heart to see young lads into rock n roll as today’s climate is mainly braindead rap and tik tok shite. The Baron Four are one of my favourite bands(I was the original guitarist) i think Mike Whittaker has been consistently brilliant since he was a spotty kid with a snotty nose. and I have to mention The Roves from London who are just leaps ahead of in terms of songwriting/productivity, plus it’s 2 brothers in the band, so you get fireworks now and then.”
Live performances are the heartbeat of any band, bringing music directly to the fans. For Lancashire Bombers, what’s the most challenging aspect of performing live, and how do you overcome it to deliver the electrifying shows you’re known for?”
“The most challenging aspect is getting gigs and it’s been harder as I moved back to Manchester, but, we love playing and have had some good ones. fuelled by lots of Guinness and loud amps! we’ll be announcing shows soon.”
With two successful albums under your belt, what’s next for Lancashire Bombers? Are there any new projects or collaborations on the horizon?
“Well, I’m pretty sure we have another LP in us as you can’t just do 2 you might as well go for the hat trick.
Myself and Pete are co-writing now, so it should be easier than just waiting for me to get off my arse and come up with something. I always work better when collaborating anyway, we co-wrote three songs on the 2nd LP so we’ll continue with that till we hate each other and dissolve into a pool of tepid oil.”
As our interview draws to a close a huge thanks to Bret for this chat! it’s clear that Lancashire Bombers are fuelled by raw talent, unbridled passion, and a relentless drive to keep rock ‘n’ roll alive and kicking. With their eyes set on the horizon and their fingers itching to strum, the future looks bright for these musical mavericks. So, dear Beaters, keep your ears to the ground and your hearts wide open, because wherever Lancashire Bombers go next, you can bet it’ll be one hell of a ride.
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