Albums of Purgatory Interview Ligature

Albums of Purgatory: Firstly, what’s the band up to?

Alan: We just recruited Andy so we are showing him the songs, we have a few gigs lined up and preparing to
record our debut album. Laurent: We have recently been doing some pre-recording with Irruminator at Necrodeath. The response has been so good that we might consider releasing a song from it as an appetiser!

AoP: You’ve just filled the vacant guitar spot with Andy Galloway. What kind of an influence will he have on
the band?

Andy: Brutality, integrity and old school Florida scene madness!!

Laurent: Andy came highly recommended by Paul from Thus Defiled. When he came down for the audition, we
all knew we wanted him in the band.

AoP: Was it difficult to see Martin leave the band?

Mark: To be honest no. It wasn’t that bad. It happened all of a sudden. We had a couple of gigs lined up. We
thought it would be difficult but we played as a 4 piece and it went better than we thought it would. Then Andy filled in the job within 2 weeks so no, not really.

AoP: How did Ligature begin in ’96?

Mark: I wanted to form a band with my mate Phil. Put an add and Martin replied. Phil decided it wasn’t for
him after all so he left before we found any new member. Steve joined in ’97, followed by his brother Alan. Laurent completed the line up toward the end of ’97.

Steve: From there it was all hard work getting the songs perfect and tight.

AoP: Can you remember your first gig (how did it go)?

Steve: Yeah. The Red Eye in King’s Cross. We thought we did well and got a great response. When we look at
it now on video, it’s just really bad, hahahah. But good for a first gig. Laurent: As Steve was saying, we worked hard to get the songs right and really tight. I remember this being one of the comments we received after that gig.

AoP: Do you have any tours planned at the moment?

Alan: yeah we have a few gigs lined up like the one with the Yattering (mentioned before) and also The
Rifleman on 29th June, then some more dates in August to be confirmed. Mark: we are in a delicate situation where we want to do gigs but we also need to focus on the song writing. But so far, we haven’t turned down any offer for gig.

AoP: What do you think of the position of metal and music in general today?

Alan: Safe as f**k!

Laurent: There is a positive attitude toward metal. Whether this is a trend or anything else doesn’t really matter.

AoP: What are your favourite Ligature tracks?

Alan: Beaten to a pulp and Dead in the blink of an eye

Andy: Beaten to a pulp and Cut to Pieces

Laurent: Pain is my shadow and Cut to Pieces

Mark: Beaten to a pulp and Dead in the blink of an eye

Steve: Beaten to a pulp and Cut to Pieces

(Beaten to a pulp, Cut to Pieces and Dead in the blink of an eye are the tracks we have just recorded
at Necrodeath and are therefore not released. People might know them from gigs though)



AoP: What are your favourite all time songs?

Alan:     “Clerical Conspiracy” by Sabbath

Andy:     “Unfair Earth” by Napalm Death

Laurent: “Can’t bring me down” by Suicidal Tendencies

Mark:     “Devoured by vermin” by Cannibal Corpse

Steve:    “Symbolic” by Death

AoP: What was the first record you bought?

All: To avoid embarrassment for everyone we will only talk about the first metal record bought!!

Alan:     “Appetite for Destruction” by Gun’s & Roses

Andy:    “Real live one” by Iron Maiden

Laurent: “Lights…. Camera….. Revolution” by Suicidal Tendencies

Mark:    “England” by Motorhead

Steve:    “The Great Southern Trendkill” by Pantera

AoP: What would be your dream band line up?

Alan: Mean Gene Hoglan (drums), Steve Digorgio (bass), James Murphy (lead guitar), Eric Peterson (rhythm
guitar), Dimebag (rhythm guitar), John Tardy (Vox) and Martin Walkyer (vox)

Andy: John Tardy (Vox), Chris Barnes (backing vocals), Alex Webster (Bass), Hell Hammer –Mayhem (drums),
Clark Schuldiner (guitar), Kerry King (guitar) and Jeff Hennemann (guitar)

Laurent: Adrian Erlandsson (drums), Robert Trujillo (bass), Mustis (keyboard), Kerry King (guitar), Mike
Clarke (guitar), Glen Benton (vox), Dani Filth (backing vox)

Mark: Dave Lombardo (drums), Shane Embury (bass), Kerry King (guitar), Dimebag (guitar), Corpsegrinder (Vox)

Steve: Nick Barker (drums), Lemmy (bass), Kerry King (guitar), Dimebag  (guitar), John Tardy (vox)


AoP: Do you have any funny stories about the band you
can share with us?

Mark: There is that one time we were playing down at the Peel. It has a strip club at the back. We went in
and obliviously it was our ex-guitarist first time in one of these. When the stripper came around with her
glass full of coins asking for people to chip in, he reached for his money, handed her a £5 note and asked
her for some change… The funniest part is that we were joking about it before he turned up, saying that he
would probably ask for change or ask how much. And he did!! Hilarious as f**k!!

Steve: There is also that time we played in Wigan and we were staying at one of the guys from Narcosis
house. We were really plastered and Mark collapsed in their bathroom. Having locked the door before
collapsing on the floor, no one could use the toilets. The boys from Narcosis were not best pleased, hahahaha

AoP: and finally, what do you see in the future for Ligature?

Alan: more gigs, more tunes, more recording!