Vas: vocals, guitars, Nick: Lead guitar, Pippa: Bass, Mike: Drums
Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?
Vas: The name of the band came a bit randomly. We had to choose a name to start gigging, so a night after a practice we were throwing out ideas, mainly words that we thought it would sound good and fit our style. We wanted something that would reflect power and control but at the same time some kind of limitation so the words ‘statue’ and ‘kings’ were perfect when combined.
As most bands we had ambitions since we started in 2017 but it was after the first 2 years when we realised we could push harder and aim higher. We started gigging outside Bournemouth and we were on a good roll till Covid happened and as everyone else we found ourselves restricted and unable to keep the good momentum. But we stuck together and we used that time to write new material and we came out of this better and stronger.
We were all in bands before we meet, different styles, different places but all experienced. I was involved with music and bands in Greece since I was young and when I moved to UK I had that dream to create a band, write songs, perform in front of large audiences and be a singer of the band everyone will remember. Nick was also in many bands before, recording, touring, lots of experience and ideas to bring in with his giant riffs. Mike was also in bands playing the drums previously and the energy and enthusiasm he brought from the very first day we met him was phenomenal. Pippa also was in bands for years and her ability to pick up things easily but always on her own style has given the band a real character. It think we’re all very different musicians in styles and approach which makes it a good mix.
Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?
Vas: We all live in Bournemouth. Being from the same area helps a lot when a band starts, mainly for practical reasons so you can easily meet and practice but also because you can plan better. The band first created by me and Nick in 2017 and it took about a year and a few member changes to end up with the current line up. I moved from Greece to South Uk and I was looking to form a band. So Nick responded to one of my ads on a forum. Same happened with Mike a few months later as he had recently moved to South UK from London. We knew Pippa as she helped us with the bass recordings on our first EP so when we started taking things more seriously we knew she was the one to complete the band.
Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?
Vas: Although I grew up with Black Sabbath and Metallica, the most influential band for me was Queens Of The Stone Age as I understood how important is to define your own sound in modern rock and how to be accessible to large audiences without being mainstream. Another big inspiration for me is Serj Tankian and the way he changed the perception of rock lead singers from the ‘bad@ss’ persona that was necessary to be successful till then.
Pippa: Influential bands from my early listening days would have been Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Mr Bungle, Incubus and Skunk Anansie, but a couple of my favourites these days are Zilf and Core of Io
Nick: My favourite bands growing up were AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Oasis but mostly Black Sabbath as I still listen to their stuff now. These days I’m really into Clutch and Orange Goblin.
Mike: Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie.
Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?
Vas: I realised at a young age that I wanted to be involved with music and knew that I would prefer to be part of a team and not solo. Never dreamed I would live in a touring van but you never know.
Pippa: I have a day job, being in a band doesn’t pay the bills.
Nick: All I ever wanted to do is just play a gig. It seemed so hard to even get people to play with in the beginning so when I did get to play a live gig it felt like I had made it. Everything after that has been a bonus.
Mike: I’ve always wanted to be in a band since I was 4yo
What songs or albums are on your current playlist?
Vas: A very mixed playlist with Sleep Token, Polyphia, Nothing But Thieves and Ghost
Pippa: I’m making an environmental playlist right now for my students, so it has Honeybee by High Shelf Remedy, Don’t be a Canute by Ant Henson, and Canvas Bags by Tim Minchin
Nick: Clutch and Blind River
Mike: 36 crazyfists, Behemoth, General Levy, M dot R
Do you sing in the shower?
Vas: No, shower is the place you can think and win every imaginary argument!
Pippa: Nope, no one needs to hear that!
Nick: No!
Mike: I sound like Enya when I sing in the shower.
Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?
This year so far has been great for us, obviously getting back onstage after Covid on some amazing shows and also with our latest track release. We are finishing this year strong with some great gigs.
We’ll be playing in BlackHeart Camden the 8th of December supporting the legendary Blind River and hitting Reading for the first time ever the following day 9th of December on an amazing line up with Morass Of Molasses, Trevor’s Head and StoneSoup. Last gig for this year will be on our home ground as we play on Prevail Skatehouse (Poole) for their 10years anniversary party which will be really cool!
We are lining up some really exciting stuff for 2023 that unfortunately we can’t share yet but will be really soon and big big news for us!
Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?
Our first priority was to release The Culprit song, along with the video for this year. We already started discussing about next recordings so we are working on the details but it will be very very soon.
If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?
Vas: Glastonbury is a dream I must admit, but Electric Ballroom is a venue I have on my list.
Pippa: I love Brixton Academy (O2) so probably there
Nick: Anywhere that there is a gig going
Mike: Wembley baby
Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?
Vas: Mer De Noms by A Perfect Circle
Pippa: I’ll go California by Mr Bungle
Nick: Big Country
Mike: Mechanical animals or The downward spiral.
Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?
Vas: Not guilt but I think Rainbow’s Surrender is the greatest song of all times! Also Electric Callboy’s Hypa-hypa is stuck in my head for 3 years now.
Pippa: Hoobastank’s debut album
Nick: Not really
Mike: There’s no such thing as guilty pleasures, I like what I like and don’t mind.
If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?
Vas: Halestorm, Rammstein, Rival Sons, System Of A Down and other great bands you’d never mix together.
Pippa: We just played with hed (PE) and they were awesome, they would definitely be involved!
Nick: Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Clutch, Blind River and my band
Mike: NIN, Marilyn Manson, Prodigy, Skindred and us!
Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?
Vas: it was Metallica’s ‘And Justice For All’ on a cassette. Still got the cassette somewhere but the cover always have it with me on a tattoo!
Pippa: There were a few at once – Pulp, Oasis, Blur and Soundgarden – it was one of those get a load of cds through the post deals. I still have Badmotorfinger
Nick: Best of the beast by Iron Maiden on cd from HMV Poole I still have it works perfectly it even still has the price label on. It was £15.99 can’t believe we used to pay that for music. I got it way before I had even heard of the internet.
Mike: Duff McKagan ‘Believe in me’
As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?
A massive thanks for all the love and support you give us! Hold tight because you haven’t seen anything from us yet and some great stuff coming!
Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!
People can find us on
facebook as Statue Kings Instagram as statue_kings_
and our music is on all major platforms to listen.
We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there anything further that you would like to add?
Thank you for having us, I hope everyone keeps supporting The Metal Asylum. Efforts like this really keeps the music going.
This interview is purely the property of The Metal Asylum