An Interview with Chris Helme (2/2) By Steve Rudd

(1/2), (2/2).

What do you think of the current music scene in York, and does the opening of the venue, The Duchess - that's set to open its doors right next door to Fibbers - excite you? The current music scene in York is fantastic, and incredibly positive. Everyone is for each other as opposed to everyone being out for themselves. I'm taking anyone who's any cop from our fine City on a tour of the UK next summer, just you watch. We'll be like the Ken Keseys Merry Pranksters from the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests, only with 'even further' written on the front. It'll be a gas, man.

As far as the Duchess versus The Barfly is concerned, I think the more venues per square inch the better. Turn off the fucking X Factor and yer telly and go and see some real talent. Support your local music venue. It's where great things are born.

Is it true you were recognised whilst you were busking on the streets of York? If I had a penny for all the times I've been asked that! No. My talent was first discovered in 1992 in a basement of a warehouse in York called The Hideaway Club when I was in a band called Chutzpah. Cider and weed and a dodgy PA system. I know where you're coming from though. Mr Squire's associate saw me busking outside of Wooly's and I passed him a tape. John came to 3 gigs and asked me to join a band. So I joined a band. Which was nice.

A song of yours, Moonbeams, inspired Leila Slater to organise and promote acoustic gigs in Driffield by the same name. How does that make you feel? It makes me feel.... Very Important. Only joking.... It's great that Leila's doing that. Britain has got talent, and people like Leila are the catalysts for the truthful, the righteous and the noble.... Or something like that...

You are heavily involved in music promotion, too. What exactly does your involvement with York's Num Num Club constitute Andy Gaines, my partner in crime and myself are also catalysts for the truthful, the noble, blah de blah etc... We love live music and we love pure talent. There's alot of that to go around in York so we built a platform for it. Andy books the artists and DJs and gets drunk and I do the sound and get drunk. Only to be at one with the audience though.

You should come down, it's a great night. We sell out pretty quick so get your tickets early. It's not just Yorkies that play though. We have people from all over the country and even Canada and the States come and play. That makes us feel good. That's why we want to take it on a big hippy bus around the country. Just try and stop us...

What does the rest of the year hold in store for both you as a solo artist and The Yards? Lots of gigs and recording and mixing and meeting lovely folk at the gigs and keeping things as happy as they are now. I don't think that's too much to ask. Finally, for those interested, how can folk stay abreast of future releases and gigs?

Check out www.chrishelmesmusic.co.uk or www.myspace.com/theyardsband for updates, news and stuff. You can also order my CD from the solo site so get yer orders in and put a smile on mine and Postman Pat's face.

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