INTERVIEW – BIS

For about four years, there were only three bands that I really cared about. By complete coincidence all their names began with the letter B – The Beatles, Blur and Bis. That pre-teen to early teen period is a really important one too. It holds weight in later years…

So when I heard that Bis were planning three reunion gigs, celebrating ten years since the release of their first album, I jumped at the chance to interview my pubescent idols…

Vice: Was everyone up for the anniversary shows then?
Steven: John was pretty reluctant about the idea of more shows at first. He took some persuading.

Why?
Steven: I don’t know. I think he’s probably marginally ashamed… I was going to elaborate on that, but I think that actually covers it.

Are you guys aware of the Bis renaissance that seems to be happening?
John: Well at the moment it’s cooler to like Bis than it has ever been.

Exactly, why is that?
John: I think musically it’s so different now. There’s bands that are around at the moment, that because of their look and sound have meant it’s much less work for us this time out. People who were into us at the time are now of the age that they are making a go of it, so you’ve got bands like CSS and The Automatic who we were amazed to find out were Bis fans.

You weren’t really part of any scene really, were you?
John: No, not at all. I think that was an issue for us too. We put together a sound with no explicit reference points. I mean there was elements of the riot grrl thing, elements of Blur, elements of 2-tone and elements of dance music, but we never considered what was working in the charts. We didn’t make a great deal of sense at the time, but weirdly we do now.

Maybe you should make another go of it?
Steven: We’re too old. We were thinking of maybe getting an S-Club Juniors-esque franchise band.
Manda: Timing was always our problem.
Steven: Aye, we were ten years too early, or fifteen years too late. But if a label offers us proper money, you never know.

What do you hope the band’s legacy will be?
Manda: I think it’s just nice to be remembered fondly. In the months running up to these gigs we received so many emails from people saying what we meant to people growing up, and that to me is amazing. Bands that stay with you through your life are very rare.

JAIMIE HODGSON