SHELTON WOOLRIGHT of BLINDSPOTT: The Bonds Of Friendship
An interview by Sarah Kidd.
They are an icon. A New Zealand band that rose above the noise of the late 90’s and made a nation sit up and pay attention to what they had to say.
Ten years and two albums later and Blindspott were no more, but the body of work they left behind burned strong in the hearts of their fans; tracks such as ‘Phlex’ going on to signify some of the most memorable events in people’s lives, both good and bad.
Now in 2018, Blindspott have reformed for a tour that will not soon be forgotten by either the band or their fans. I recently caught up with drummer Shelton Woolright to discuss not only the tour, but what the future may possibly hold for Blindspott now that they are back on the road – even if only for a short period of time…
Blindspott was first formed in 1997, that must seem in many ways like an absolute lifetime ago now?
“Honestly, it is crazy because so much has happened between from then ’til where I am and what I am doing personally as well as with the other guys it’s like insane! It’s been over a ten-year break since we all played together so even just in that gap alone it’s a life changing amount of time. I’d gone on to be in a different band and everything, so it’s pretty out of it. It’s also really cool because we look back at it and we kinda realise that we’ve obviously done something pretty special for it to still have the attention and traction.
We only recorded two albums, so to have a career that has almost spanned twenty years with that band with only two albums, we obviously did something that resonated with people.”
Most definitely! So how does it feel to not only be re-united but to be going on tour? Blindspott performed at this year’s Rock 1500 party at the Powerstation and everyone was losing their mind trying to get tickets! Especially as many thought it was just a one-off show…
“To be honest, that was sort of the plan, we knew that we were going to do more than one show, but it just took someone else coming to us and putting it together for us. So once that kind of all happened, we were like ‘Ok let’s do it.’ And to be honest it’s an out of it feeling because I had almost forgotten what it was like to be out on the road with those guys because I have been touring so much myself it’s like – I’m just really excited.
I have got all sorts of different feelings, different mixed feelings and stuff and it’s cool. The Rock 1500 thing happened really quickly; by the time we said we were gonna do it and it happened I was like… you know I’m up in London so I jumped on the plane and came down and we had like four rehearsals and it was like… it all happened so fast it was almost too quick to sink in what was going on!
So, this time it’s a bit more like ‘Cool, we’re going to get up and down and see the country and our fans and re-unite with our fans and just see what it’s like’. It’s going to be really, really cool but I don’t actually know what to expect, because it has been such a long time. All I know is that I am having fun playing these songs again and having fun being mates with the guys again.”
So, I must ask, why now? What was the catalyst for you guys to get back together and do this tour?
“It was just a timing thing I think for all of us; like myself, I was really focussed on I Am Giant for quite some time, and also our relationships within the band were a bit skewed so that was something that needed to be sorted out and that wasn’t easy with me being based in London.
I have been speaking to Damian for a few years – he was probably the guy who was spearheading it the most I guess, like really, really keen to get it done. I started warming to the idea a few years ago; I Am Giant started slowing down as well – that’s what I mean like timing wise for me I was all ‘Well I want to keep on playing drums in a rock band even though I have got other things going on like you know I’ll have the chat’ and then some opportunities popped up.
It wasn’t just about playing, it was about making sure we were gonna play at the right time and stuff like that. The Rock thing got presented to us and we have had a really good relationship with those guys for so long that it was a cool way to celebrate coming back with them, so that’s kind of in a nutshell how it happened you know?”
Speaking of the tour, the line-up is a bit of triple threat; you have Blindspott, then Devilskin and Written By Wolves. That’s one hell of a combo to put in one show!
“Yeah I think it’s going to be a good tour! I am looking forward to seeing those guys in Devilskin, I’ve never actually played with them except for Homegrown with I am Giant; but I’ve known Paul Martin for years when he was on the Axe Attack and he has always been a really supportive, awesome dude. So, I am looking forward to getting to know them better on the road.
Also Written by Wolves, I don’t know too much about them but I know a couple of guys in the band, so I am looking forward to having some beers and seeing them. That’s what’s cool about getting out on the road with these bands is that after soundcheck and stuff you end up hanging out and getting together and having a few beers and having a few after the show a well, and then you become lifelong friends you know?”
Absolutely!
“So, I am just looking forward to that and definitely these shows are going to be huge because of all the bands playing with us. It’s so exciting, I just feel incredibly blessed in this part of my life to be playing shows to like two thousand people plus up and down the country, it’s really cool. It’s something I guess I took for granted when I was younger but I had no idea what Blindspott was – as weird as that sounds – because we were in the pocket… in the bubble, we had no idea what it was doing outside that bubble and how it was affecting people and how much people really, really loved the band and that’s why when we did break up a lot of people were really gutted.
So, it’s just nice to come back and have the reaction and have people be excited to want to come to our shows. I guess since the songs have been around for so long you keep hearing the connection that people have to them, songs like ‘Phlex’ and stuff, it’s really nice.”
Now a question that I am sure is on the lips of many of your fans; is this the start of something? Is new material on the cards for Blindspott?
“Oh man, it’s not something that’s in the immediate future, and it’s not something that we have had a great… we haven’t had a big chat about it but there are little comments that will get flicked around; like the other day Damian said something to me when we were in the elevator and I was like talking about going back to London and he was like ‘Oh Man, come back so that we can write’ and stuff like that.
So, I know that everyone is interested in it but it’s just timing and fitting it in with our schedules and I think at the moment and what it is is we are just getting used to each other again and we need to do a tour. We are spending a lot of time in the rehearsal room but… it’s hard to explain but when you start writing with people there is a connection that you have and it needs to be a really full on connection to be able to write songs.
I think we just need to work at getting our friendship back on track – which it is – but as in really gelling and bonding and then I think we’ll open up a bit more into that. I’m definitely up for it but it’s not something that I’ve gone ‘Ok after the tour we’re going to lock ourselves up in a room for a couple of months and write some tracks.’
I don’t know I think we just have to get that passion back, and it feels pretty good at the moment, it feels good sharing the stage. We have been having a go over the old songs and once we have those completely under our belt someone might jam a riff at a soundcheck or something and that could be the start of it. So, it’s definitely not a no, and it’s not a one hundred percent yes. We kinda haven’t got the answers ourselves you know?”
And that’s completely fair enough, as you said you have got to build those bonds up again; it’s one thing to go on tour and perform songs that have already been created but something else entirely to create new material.
“Yeah it totally is and we have all been writing with different people over the years for a while now so we all just have to get back into that kind of sync I guess, which is a hard thing to explain but you have to sync up, and be on the same wavelength, be on the same vision.
We took our song writing seriously and it’s a testament to how our songs have been around so long, so I think the way we roll we wouldn’t want to put something out for arguments sake. We would want to do something that is better and bigger!”
It’s funny that you say that about being ‘bigger and better’ because after the break-up of the band, you obviously went on to create I Am Giant and you’ve got your amazing current act of Deadbeat…
“Aw thank you!”
Saw you at Bay Dreams – you killed it.
“Oh awesome! Cheers! Yeah, I’ve got a bunch of shows booked like I’m really busy this summer; I’m playing a Blindspott concert, then a Deadbeat concert, then a Blindspott concert, a Blindspott concert then a Deadbeat concert … it’s like … it’s mental!
But it’s fucking cool, I love it you know, it’s my life.”
It must be interesting sitting down at the kit each night and having to remind yourself which act you are playing for!
“Oh fuck yeah at the moment it is, and that’s why – in particular with Deadbeat – I have this kind of alter-ego; I have to wear the mask to get into character in a sense which is a good thing.”
Well as I was saying before about ‘bigger and better’ – you yourself have got all the experience from the years of working on your other acts, and in many ways so do the other members – each member a musician who has honed their craft over time. So in many ways do you feel that it is a bigger and more badass version of Blindspott that is currently on tour?
“One hundred percent. Definitely. The shows have got visuals, and a very good light show… we had all that stuff in the past, but I guess we were young, and it was more like people sorting that stuff out for us. But this time round we’re hands on with everything, like we don’t have management or anything, we’re sorting this out so it’s really real.
And Blindspott has always been about that, it’s not manufactured, everything is real with us and now we’re really doing it all ourselves. So it’s really cool, the shows are going to be great, the bands tighter than it’s ever been… we’re rehearsing our asses off!
Because we had been talking about it for a few years, we decided if we were going to do it, we were going to do it properly. So if you are coming to a show it’s going to be a fucking show. We’re playing every single big hit that we’ve ever written.”
Yes, speaking of Blindspott tracks you have indeed got some massive ones: ‘Nil by Mouth’, ‘Phlex’ of course and ‘Suit’ etc. Out of interest – and I know this is never an easy question – but which is your favourite? Either just as a track or as a song to physically play?
“I mean ‘Phlex’ is definitely a great song, for what it means and for what it’s done for people. It’s become like an anthem – and it may sound a bit morbid – but a lot of people have had that played at their funeral and things like that.
It’s helped a lot of people get through depression and a lot of people get through losing their friends through suicide, or car accidents and things like that.
My friend committed suicide just a little bit over a year ago and that song was played as his coffin was being lowered and it was the first time I had listened to that song from the other side of it if that makes sense?”
Yes, I hear you…
“And that’s when it actually hit me; after that long that’s when ‘Phlex’ actually hit me and I was like ‘Oh that’s what people are going on about!’ I didn’t get it, I was like ‘Why the fuck are they into this song so much? Ok, like I get the lyrics and stuff but what the fuck?’
But it wasn’t until I was in that moment, feeling those emotions, listening to that song and those lyrics that I connected to it, like ten, fifteen years later.
‘Nil by Mouth’ is a really energetic song, the crowd just thrive on that, they go fuckin mental so that’s really cool to play. Actually, in terms of enjoyment that I get playing as a drummer I love playing songs like ‘Yours Truly’, ‘Coma’, ‘Drown’ and ‘1975’.
It’s cool because it’s all fresh for me again which is really rad, I hadn’t played the songs in so long that I had to re-learn some of them and it was like ‘What the fuck was I doing there..? Oh, ok, right, right’ [mutual laughter] and then it all just kinda clicks!”
Now the tour will cover a fair chunk of the country; which city are you looking forward to playing the most?
“I’m looking forward to playing The Mount just because I have got a few friends down there and I’m actually moving down there – I bought some property – so we’re moving in a couple of weeks actually and I’ve got some family down there which is cool; I’ve always loved The Mount – so looking forward to that.
Looking forward to heading down to Christchurch, we always have the best shows in Christchurch and that was the same even with I Am Giant and even now with Deadbeat! They’re just really into their live music down there!”
So, any message for the Blindspott fans out there who are coming to one (or more!) of your shows?
“Just come and celebrate what Blindspott means to you as a person and celebrate it with us. This is really cool for us, it’s almost like a thank you to everyone. We’ve come back for the fans as well you know what I mean? It’s not just for us, but we’ve come back for the people because a lot of people have been looking forward to this for quite some time.
We’re just going to leave it all on that stage – so come check it out!”
Blindspott have two more shows on this tour alongside Devilskin and Written By Wolves – tonight (27th December 2018) at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson, and on the 30th December at The Mount Park in Mount Maunganui. Tickets are still available to both shows from TheTicketFairy.com but get in quick as they’re sure to sell out!
This interview broaches the subject of suicide. If you or anyone you know is looking for help you can contact these places with confidentiality and without judgement:
WHERE TO GET HELP:
- Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans – 0800 726 666
- Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- What’s Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.
- Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age. Open 24/7.
- thelowdown.co.nz – or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626
- Anxiety New Zealand – 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
- Supporting Families in Mental Illness – 0800 732 825
- 1737 – Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
If you enjoyed this content, please consider donating towards the running of Ambient Light, covering expenses and allowing us to expand the coverage you love by clicking the red button below (Desktop) or visiting our PressPatron page (Mobile).