FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1999. All Rights Reserved
| Music by Martin Kemp Fear of Drinking On the surface, there’s something a little odd about a Celtic/British Isles band going under the name Fear of Drinking. Fear of Drinking Anything You Can See Through, sure. Fear of Drinking Lite Beer, definitely. But just Fear of Drinking, why that’s a little blasphemous for a Celtic group, don’t ya think? According to Tim Readman, one half of the band’s core membership, the group’s name originated partly as a catchphrase between Readman and group cofounder Gerard Kerr. It was used to tease each other whenever one of them wanted to end a rehearsal session early (keeping in mind that rehearsal often equals beer) in a "oh, you’ve got fear of drinking do you?" kind of way. Readman relates it to the exploits of former Pogues frontman Shane McGowan. "At the time he was basically stumbling around London going from bar to bar making a fool of himself. I remember thinking, ‘God, that’s enough to give you the fear of drinking.’ If you ever wanted to be put off a career of boozing then Shane McGowan would do it for you." The name Fear of Drinking also appeals to Readman because it pokes a bit of fun at musical stereotypes. "I think a lot of Celtic bands use (drinking) as an excuse for being crap, not being properly rehearsed, and not really sounding very good," he asserts. "I’ve gone to see bands like The Real McKenzies, and I get the joke, but I don’t think they are very good, because I think there is a little more to it than having 20 pints of Guinness and banging your head on the floor." Originally from Northern England, Readman began performing in a Vancouver-based duo with former New Zealander Kerr in 1992, soon after arriving in Canada. Because Readman and Kerr both came from a strong traditional music background, Fear of Drinking quickly became a tool through which the two could explore various British Isle musical traditions, while also writing their own material. Readman maintains a strong respect for the integrity of music, and draws a definite line between bands such as Fear of Drinking and the mass of Celtic "party bands" that have come and gone over the years. "Some bands have taken an aspect of the Celtic or Celtic-rock thing, and just milked it to death," he says. "It is a really good thing for a party, but it’s not the kind of music I’d like to have a long-term relationship with because it grows thin pretty easily. "A lot of people only seem to get as far as learning a fairly hackneyed selection of tunes, playing them faster than usual, adding a drum kit and getting everybody drunk. I just think that is lazy and you have to get beyond that to do something that’s going to last." Seven years is a very long time in band-years. Fear of Drinking’s longevity owes a lot to the fact that the band maintains a flexible repertoire, and that the group’s motto is "Fear of Drinking – Scared of Nothing." "I’ve always been proud of the fact that we will take our music into all sorts of different areas," says Readman. "I know a lot of people who will play folk clubs and folk festivals, but who stay away from the smoky bars. I think it is okay to preach to the converted, but you also have to get the so-called man on the street into your stuff. ‘Scared of nothing’ is about being able to play a song that you’ve written in a bar full of people who are not necessarily interested." |
| Back To This Issue Table of Contents | Back To Main Index |