Interview with John Hassall By JG Photos by Michelle Dee

I'd rather listen to Beethoven, Bach or The Smiths.

Surely everyone's heard of The Libertines, but it seems like so far, only a fortunate few have heard about Yeti. With their debut single Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder receiving very little radio airplay, there are bound to be a lot of people left wondering who they are and what they sound like. John Hassall may be better known as being the bass player in one of the most influential bands of the past few years, The Libertines, but now he's taking on the role of front man in his new band, Yeti.

So how does it feel to go from being bass player to the main man in the band?

It's not the easiest transition. It's a very difficult role. I didn't appreciate how difficult it can be to lead a band and I think I'd always take it for granted as a bass player. It's a lot more emotional to have that responsibility placed on your shoulders. I suppose it's proof to myself of what I'm capable of doing.

How long have Yeti been around? About a year and a half, but every opportunity I got for song writing was in my spare hours from The Libertines. It's taken a while for it to sink in that there'll be no more Libertines, which is hard to distance myself from, so now this is closure from that. I formed loads of bands trying to get the right one. You need to make the band your own. It's not easy living up to your own expectations. We want to get respect for what we're doing.

What words would you use to describe your music to all those people out there who haven't heard it yet? Melodic. Intense. A bit Beatles-ish.

Have Yeti taken their influences from the same types of bands as The Libertines did? There are very similar aspects. Being in the Libertines had an influence on my song writing, although, at the same time it's nothing like it. It's a new band and different people are bringing different influences to it, creating a sort of chemical reaction. And what was the last record you bought? The Dukes Of Stratosphere.

They were an XTC alter ego band. I liked how they were just going out and doing what they want. A lot of bands feel the need to be contemporary. They had that opportunity to do exactly what they wanted to do. I'm very conservative with music buying. I have to really love the album to want to fork out for it. What new bands have you been listening to? I'd rather listen to Beethoven, Bach or The Smiths. I have very particular music tastes.

Does that mean The Smiths are your favourite band then? No, I'd just rather listen to them than any of the music around at the moment. My favourite band is The Beatles. Everyone else just comes second to them. I like things like Dylan, Floyd, Walker Brothers, Crowded House, XTC. Are there any bands out there that you think deserve a lot more recognition than they're currently getting? The 747's. They were touring with us.

We then left John to go and get a bite to eat, although not before he'd given us a good run through of what had happened in Dr Who. I can't believe we missed the last one!

People - An Interview with Joesolo by Nick Quantrill
	Joesolo is the alter ego of Paul Thompson, formerly of Hull guitar-pop outfit Lithium Joe. As the band's songwriter and vocalist, Paul played in excess of 350 gigs as the group released a string of self-funded records through their own label, Resolve Records. After a musical hiatus, 2004 saw Paul commence recording as a solo artist with his Read more...

People - An Interview with Jeff Caudill By Nick Quantrill
	After reviewing Jeff Caudill's latest album, Album Reviews - Jeff Caudill - Here's What You Should Do (Fortunate Son Records) By Nick Quantrill (Fortunate Son Records) Nick Quantrill also interviewed Jeff via email. Thanks to Jeff for kindly agreeing to take part. Nick: You're probably best known for your work with American punk-pop band Gameface. What has been Read more...

People - An Interview With Carol Ann Kerry-Green (Arthur C. Clarke Judge) By Lynne Taylor
	By day Carol Ann Kerry-Green works for the local authority writing up reports and having meetings but by night she can be time travelling to the distant future or experiencing life in a colony on another planet - all because of her passion for science fiction novels. Carol, who has been fascinated by the what if' from her teens, began her career in British Science Fiction more than Read more...

People - An Interview with Neils Children By Caroline Murphy
	Ok, so it's official, Neils Children rocked Cari's World! Yup, the Earth moved, and all that stuff... and that was just the sound check. I caught up with John, James and Brandon on their first visit to Wolverhampton from the Big Smoke, as they headlined at the Little Civic (All those of you who went to see Papa Roach Read more...

People - Jim Muir Slideshow By Michelle Dee
	It's the packaging that catches the eye first that and the fact you have to slice open the CD envelope with a sharp implement. Due to the popularity of the first EP, I have only the second two before me. The Slideshow are storytellers first and foremost. Jim Muir began writing the songs during 2000 and 2001. He says that he writes to Read more...

People - Short Back and Sides - The Life and Times of Walter Oglesby, Gentlemen's Hairdresser By Jane Foster
	Walter Oglesby is a local character with a rich stock of experiences and memories. Now 82, Walter only retired from his trade as a barber six years ago. During his time he worked for 40 years on Hull's docks, being not only a hairdresser to the local docker population, but a friend and confidante too. When the docker's trade started to wane, he began collecting their tools of the trade and exhibiting them Read more...

People, Interviews - Interview with Tokyo Dragons By Michelle Dee
	Tokyo dragons are definitely not like The Smiths, lets just clear that one up. They play a brand of loud ballsy U.S. rock circa 1995, maybe like G.n'R. or Aerosmith with a bit of Kiss thrown in. It's been a while since I checked out the mainstream rock scene. These guys have been going for four years and hail from N.W. London Read more...

People, Interviews - Interview With The Paddingtons By John-Paul Nicholas. Photographs - The Paddingtons at The Adelphi By Darren Rogers
	They look like The Clash used to. They look like The Stone Roses' evil twins. They look like a gang. And they are as tight as a gang, finishing each other's sentences and putting across their points individually, knowing that they speak for the band as a whole. Acting as spokesman Lloyd says What I fuckin' hate about music magazines is Read more...

People - Ellie Beill - Move In Direct
	My name is Ellie Beill. When asked by thisisUll.com to write an article on myself I was unsure. But here goes ... The property market has always fascinated me. I think it comes from moving house eight times before I was 18 (that averages a move every 2.25 years!). So I guess Read more...

People - Sleaze Queens - Inside Story, Outside World at Dukes March 3rd 05.By Michelle Dee
	Two bright, young, rock n roll girls, are bidding to become the best Djs in town. They have been making a name for themselves at the Sweet n Sour night, on alternate Saturdays at Silhouette for a number of months. Sparkly Mel and Sultry Kat bring a selection of tantalizing tunes Read more...

People - Interview with John Robb By Steve Rudd
	John Robb: is a legendary figure in punk-rock circles, having been at the forefront of making some fantastic music since the age of sixteen, when he co-founded The Membranes in Blackpool. Since then John has been involved in allsorts of interesting projects Read more...

People, Interviews - Fifty Nine Violets at the New Adelphi By Michelle Dee
	Their Christmas card lists run to half a dozen names, they have a penchant for blowing up amps; they are a thrilling live experience; they are of course the Fifty Nine Violets: from Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire. For the majority of Read more...

People - DJ Chris Plant
	DJ Chris Plant started his professional musical career back in 1996, although his passion for music began when he was just seven years old. The 22 year old from Kirkella has wanted to be a DJ for as long as he can remember and has travelled the globe Read more...

People - Interview with The Ga*Ga*s at Asylum By Andy Dykes
	I walk into Asylum in the middle of a soundcheck. There are people all over the place, any number of whom look like they could be a roadie, or the member of a band, or a vagrant. Never before having met any of the people I am about to interview, figure a bit of Read more...

People, Interviews - The Johnsons - A Band Is Born By Michelle Dee
	Once upon a time, in a garage not far away, four young men came together and began to play rock and roll music. In eight days they had a show to do. Time was of the essence and if they could only withstand the pressure, the ambitious Read more...