Amsterdam
By Victoria HoldsworthOn the 17th December '05, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the hardest working front men in the music industry, Ian Prowse (no relation to the bloke that played Darth Vader). He is the lead singer with the band Amsterdam.
The support slot they were in that evening, at a packed out Corporation in Sheffield, was none other than the Stranglers. Some may say a tough crowd to work, but by the end of a raucous set they managed to get these set in stone, die hard fans animated.
I caught up with a rather exhausted and sweaty looking Ian just before the Stranglers went on, to ask him of stuff and things about one of the next best things to happen on the music scene, and not just in my opinion, but a few other more qualified peoples too.
He thought the gig went very well tonight: "Stranglers fans are a hardcore lot. We've been on tour for about 3 wks, just a short tour this time, I'm glad it's over 'cause I'm bloody knackered!"
For those of you who don't know, in formative years, Amsterdam were a little known band from the Wirral called PELE. Sadly, they only made a few dents on the music scene with 'Raid The Palace', 'Fat Black Heart' and probably one of my favourites 'Megalomania', I asked him what influences, if any, they have brought with them from these times to present day with Amsterdam.
Ian: "Well I wrote all the songs and it was my band, we do actually play a couple of PELE songs in the Amsterdam set, it's only what I feel PELE would have evolved to had we stayed together as the group of people back then, it's an on going piece of art."
Which lead me to ask what had they learnt from those previous years experience?
Ian: "Don't trust anybody in the music business! (Replied as quick as a flash with a sarcastic tone followed by a hearty laugh.) The music business is a nightmare, but it's about keeping the vibe going and just continue to keep writing songs, it's about the people that come and see us play and the people in the band, that's what really counts."
They were voted the best unsigned band, back in the days of PELE, by NME and have once more had the same title bestowed on them again now they are Amsterdam.
I asked Ian how he felt about this, being what seems nearly, but not quite there.
Ian: "I don't give a fuck! I think the NME is a joke, it's a bit like Kerrang with a wig on and it has no bearing on my life what so ever, so fuck em!"
Glad we cleared that one up!
In relation to the last question I dared to ask if they thought previously, people didn't like them, didn't get them or just didn't think the music scene was ready for them.
Ian: "I think Joe Public liked us, but the 'cool' set in Camden all sat on the back of the good ship heroin are never gonna like us."
Could they now be getting a bit weary of it all after 14 years in the business and just want to give up when so many have tried and failed, I ask?
Ian: "NO! I can't give up, it's what God put me on the earth to do, not that I'm a Christian or anything, I really, really love playing rock n roll music."
I cheekily ask if he ever regretted turning down the gig of being The Lightening Seeds front man, which is met with another whiplash response. "NO! NEVER! [laughs]"
I enquire why and Ian just jokes: "It's because they're shit... No... Ian is a really good guy and the stuff he does suits them, the things that I write reflect me and my thoughts and feelings, he's just completely different to me that's all."
Amsterdam were nominated for a 'Scousology' award in November, for best music act. I wanted to know if that meant more to Ian and the band because it came from Liverpool.
Ian: "In a way yeah because it was recognition from local support, and people gave us good feedback [They lost out to China Crisis] and mostly for that one song." [ He refers to 'Does This Train Stop At Merseyside']
At John Peels Festive Fifty, not only did the great man request that they play, but also proclaimed his love for 'Does This Train Stop At Merseyside' which reduced him to tears and was heard being played over, and over again across the airwaves all day I might add. Sheila Peel, later asked for this to be played as Johns favourite song at an interview she gave about the late presenter on BBC Radio 1, a short time after his death.
Ian: "It reduced me to tears, I don't know about him, it was just beautiful. I met Sheila at John Peel day and she just gave me a great big hug and told me John really loved the song. As a songwriter you don't get any higher accolade than that. When people like Paul Weller and Elvis Costello say they really love the group and the music - you kinda think... Yeah!" He smiles.
Having had major airplay from Jonathan Ross, the attention has created a massive rumbling in the musical bushes. Do Amsterdam think it's now time as a music loving nation to revolt against the safe, conservative music that still saturates our charts today and, has the involvement of the internet market helped or hindered in their opinion.
Ian: " I suppose so, but people can make up their own minds, since music became available on websites etc, a lot of it has to do with word of mouth and people can look more at the music on albums. It's a very exciting time."
Speaking of downloading tunes, I am told that the new single 'Feels Like Growing Up' [Which incidentally didn't make the albums final cut] will be released in March, previously only available on the deleted 'Attitunes' album.
Ian: "Its more of a ballad then any of the other stuff" So watch this space!
Amsterdam have toured with some pretty big and diverse names in the past, I wanted to know if they ever got phased by working with such big names and why they think they've been so privileged to get such good support slots.
Ian: "It doesn't really phase us, as a band. Anything that anyone does, people just respond to good music. God bless Miles Hunt, from the Wonderstuff! He told me that we revamped his view on music and he called me up to tell me he loves the band, he loves the music, and the way I sing really affected him. But I don't ever get phased by things like that."
One of Ian's most famous influences has to be Joe Strummer from The Clash, of whom he has spoken about quite a lot in previous interviews and Amsterdam have even penned a tune entitled 'Joe's Kiss' - would he say that they are the main influence to draw on as a band?
Ian: "Maybe just one of them, or it could also just as easily be The Jam, REM, The Stranglers, just classic good bands really. There is an Irish singer called Damien Dempsey, and he's one of my bestest fucking heroes at the moment, I've really been moved by his music, so it's an on-going process, it's stuff that's not being sold everyday like Kaiser Chiefs or other bands like them.
So... What next for Amsterdam?
Ian: "Having Christmas and New Year off then back out on the road in March with the first gig in Liverpool, and we will be playing The Cockpit on 12th March supporting The Wonderstuff. We want as many people to come along as possible."
So get your backsides down to The Cockpit in March to see one of the best live bands on the scene at the moment and The Wonderstuff aren't too bad either. Two great bands for the price of one.
Amsterdam's album 'The Journey' is available from all good self respecting record shops and from their website and there are plenty of tunes to download, so take a listen on their website.
