King Salami and the Cumberland 3 Interview

By RingMaster Review on May 28, 2012 • ( 0 )

It does not matter which form of music floats your boat there are certain bands that transcend barriers to infect and ignite the fullest and naughtiest fun in everyone. One such band is King Salami And The Cumberland 3. Since their formation in 2006 the band has brought song after song of their irresistible and excitable sounds seeded in the fifties and sixties as well as leaving multitudes eagerly dripping at their live shows. Their current album Fourteen Blazin’ Bangers is an infectious explosion of punky R&B and rockabilly with more besides, a sure fire party for the senses each and every time. The RingMaster Review had the fortune to be able to find out more about the band before they left on a tour on distant shores.

Hello and a warm welcome to The RingMaster Review.

Would you please start by simply introducing King Salami and the Cumberland 3?

KING SALAMI – oral scintillation and maracas

PEPE RONNIE – guitar and vegetables

ERIC BACONSTRIP – drums and cholesterol

KAMIKAZE U.T. VINCENT – bass and karate

CHUCHI SOBRESADA – saxophone

I have to ask about the name, is there a bit of boasting going on hehe?

We just love sausages.

How did the band begin, when and where did you all meet up?

KAMIKAZE UT & ERIC BACONSTRIP were together in a punk rock band called the Chinese Lungs, when it fell apart they decided to do a fun wild rock and roll party band; they recruited King Salami (who was only called Prince Chipolata at the time) and DIRTY SANCHEZ on guitar, who later got replaced by PEPE RONNIE. We all met at the Frat Shack & Wild Weekend gigs in London.

You all come from different parts of the globe, where is home for King Salami and the Cumberland 3?

North London.

What are the individual musical histories for the band members?

PEPE RONNIE’s one is too long & full of unknown bands.

KAMIKAZE UT VINCENT was in the Chinese Lungs and Speedstars before that.

ERIC BACONSTRIP was in many punk rock bands: the Ulcers, the Parkinsons, the UK SUBS, the Nipple Erectors (with Shane Mc Gowan), the Chinese Lungs…and many other even more unknown bands.

KING SALAMI never was in a band but was known as the best dancers at parties.

CHUCHI was a ‘fandango’ and ‘pasodoble’ sax player in bullfights.

With a wonderfully varied sound what are the major influences for you personally and musically?

50’s R&B, wild soul, rockabilly, and 70’s punk

How would you describe your music to newcomers to the band?

Party time!

Listening to your music the prime essence which oozes out from every note is fun, for us and for you. Is this the most essential element for you?

That and being as together as we can.

Could we ever get a political or deeply reflective song from you or would that not work with your style or for you personally?

Not obviously, but you never know. Sometimes inspiration can surprise you. As long as it was still Salami style why not? ‘Til then, the party rolls on.

Though not having seen you guys live yet watching videos of your shows you have a party as much as the audience. It is refreshing with still so many bands playing as if it is a job and looking as if it is a painful or unpleasant thing to do.

We smile through the pain!

Since its beginning in 2006 how has the band changed?

PEPE RONNIE replaced Dirty Sanchez on guitar who moved to Spain in 2009, and recently we have a young new member the talented CHUCHI on saxophone.

Music wise we are doing exactly the same thing as in 2006, and will probably always will as it’s the only thing we can do.

After a series of great singles you released you outstanding debut album Fourteen Blazing Bangers at the tail end of last year, a raucous and rampant festival of great sounds, refreshing energy, and infectious uplifting rock n roll. There must have been a great buzz releasing a fill length into the world?

Yes, a feeling of achievement!

Was there any intention with the album other than like the preceding singles just to give people a great time?

Just more of it in one go, to work everyone into a froth. One thing is that a lot of people were asking for a CD, so even though the band are more interested in vinyl we realised that not everyone is. It is the 21st century!

Where do songs start, music or lyrics?

Usually it starts with a cool title or theme, and then would come a guitar riff, and the rest just happens naturally.

I think it is fair to say your lyrics do not exactly put the world to rights but with their contagious invitation to join in and become one with them they probably do a more effective job than those pointing out all the woes going on?

We don’t aim to change the world, we just want to have some fun together and have a party.

With songs like Mojo Workout, Do The Climb, Pawnee Stomp, and Do The Wurst on the album do you guys have problems keeping still that the songs help alleviate? 😉

We all itch.

Going back to the live shows it is hard to imagine any one song that fans might clamour for out of all your great tracks. What are the ones that the audience calls for most regularly?

I Smell A Rat, Do the Climb, Pawnee Stomp are probably the most requested ones.

One imagines those attending your shows are a full array of people, punks, rockabillys, R&B fans etc?

There is all sorts of people, even people who aren’t really bothered about seeing bands like it. We haven’t seen many hardcore metal, dance or hip hop fans yet, but you never know.

You are obviously a hard working band and continually gigging it seems.

Yeah we are very lucky to have many gig offers at the moment, more offers than we can accept, let’s hope it lasts.

Who is Mum on tour, making sure you go to bed on time, get to shows etc hehe?

A bit of everybody, PEPE usually rouses The King, KAMIKAZE UT doesn’t sleep anyway.

It is hard to miss the wonderful record sleeves and gig flyers that surround your events; they just shine with a modern vibrancy and nostalgic feel and represent your sound perfectly. Is there a particular and regular person or company that creates them?

Thanx,

ERIC BACONSTRIP does the artworks.

June sees you off to Japan and China for a tour. One can see they will go wild for you guys, is this a first time over there for you?

Japan – for the whole band, yes, although KAMIKAZE UT spent 30 years there. Eric has toured Japan with The Parkinsons. None of us has been to China.

Where do you get the biggest response and enthused crowds around the globe?

It’s been equally great in every country we’ve played so far.

What have been your biggest and most enjoyable shows?

The biggest show was probably in Italy, when we played a massive stage in front of a huge empty field! Enjoyable: we played on the side of a mountain under the stars in front of the sea in Sardinia, that was cool. Most enjoyable Ð too many, but our favourites were probably the Funtastic Dracula Carnival in Spain, the Cosmic Trip in France, & recently the Munster Raving Looney Party in Spain was great, we had such an amazing crowd that went totally nuts. Wild & sweaty, that’s the way we like it.

Any fun but maybe less successful moments you could tell us about?

While on tour in Italy we got pulled over by cops for a serious check, and they ended up buying our CDs.

Any places you have yet to go to and would love to have toes a tappin’ in?

America, North and South; somewhere tropical not typical; Istanbul; Morocco; Mars; Russia; Croydon.

After you return from the tour what has the rest of 2012 got to look forward to from King Salami and the Cumberland 3?