Shotgun Wedding

(First Music Press Interview - Sounds, 23 June 1984)

THE JUNE BRIDES: a marriage of Optimism.

Interview by Robin Gibson
Pic by Alistair Indge

Bees, Chris and and me played logether about two years ago, in a jolly, inane pop group called Rescue. But we split up, 'cos it was silly in the end, being jolly every time we played. It got a bit dull. This seems so much better.

This is the June Brides: that was Phil talking. It all came together in June of last year, with Phil (vocals, guitar), Bees (guitar, vocals) and Ace (bass, of course), and they were joined by drummer Chris and by Frank, who plays viola (in the June Brides and several other disparate outfits).

I first caught them supporting the revitalised ATV in South-East London, where they're based. And then again at the Living Room. And found a group of youths in 77-style homemade shirts concocting a vibrant, scratchy '84-styled pop.

Those choppy, jangling guitars. That piercing viola edge. That solid, repetitive backbeat. Obviously talents were at work. When we meet, I throw in some names that flit across my mind.

(Very) early Subway Sect, a glimmer of tender Postcard melody minus the twee overtones, and the cunning repetitions in rhythms that recall the Velvet Underground or a hint of the Fall.

They kind of agree (they're all fans) and a debate on pop ensues. But it's a broad term: if the June Brides are pop, then they certainly instill it with the knowing, dark subversion of (say) the Sect's 'Don't Split It' or the Velvets' second album.

Or simply: " When you think of pop, you think of like ... tunes. We deal in tunes a lot, you know, " says Bees, modestly. I know. Perhaps more pertinent than their still patchy live shows is the excellent pair of tunes on their debut single - on the Pink label - 'In The Rain' and 'Sunday To Saturday'.

"In The Rain' is the classic: a melancholy, yet spirited gallop, whipped along by the viola, driven on a deceptively simple rhythm and shifting subtly from an opening mood of depression on to a conclusion of optimism. (And a clue: the other side is nearly as good).

Not sufficiently polished to set the big charts afire, but live enough to set my heart abeating. Tell me more.
"Well, it's supposed to be a vague feeling, " muses Phil (the writer, in this case), "just getting depressed and moaning about the world, and then the idea that you can rise above it, that you can change things a bit. It's supposed to be uplifting and inspiring as it ends, hopefulness out of the weariness at the beginning..

Chris "As a generalisation, we all think a lot of shitty things are going on around us. We're all starting from that viewpoint, and so, to create jolly music would be a basic lie. We're inevitably going to create things that are, on the one hand slightly depressed and also slightly rebellious, Or at least angry...passionate".

But don't expect polemic or political Clash-thrash. "I just don't agree with the idea that if you're saying something, and you're taking it seriously, you've got to be threatening, menacing or whatever" says Phil. You can be poppy and have strength with it as well. 'In The Rain' has that power, but it doesn't resort to the old cliches of what is powerful ... powerchords, or whatever.

LISTENING to them argue the merits of communism and anarchy, it seems that another reason for the staggered run of emotions in their music is their good- natured inability to agree on matters aside from their own songs. Which is an asset really, "We don't pretend to have all the answers, or any grand plans, " admits Phil, happily, "So many groups seem to think that if they take themselves seriously, they've got to portray this one thing, one emotion, There's room for doubt in us. "

Bees: -Yeah, a lot of the songs are, in a way, about self-doubt. Things we're not sure about. Live,it depends on what sort of mood we're in. We want the music to reflect our different personalities. So sometimes you're up. . . and sometimes you're down! That's what's good about it. It does reflect: it is quite pliable. "

It's also more than quite enjoyable. I'm glad the June Brides don't just want to make jolly music. That word jolly just keeps cropping up: let's dump it. Frank: "We like to think that our stuff is optimistic, but not jolly - that suggests rose-coloured spectacles, but optimistic means that you're aware of what's going on".

And the June Brides on their own future? Well, they're optimistic. So am I.