Chris Murphy and The Greenlovers
Chris Murphy and The Greenlovers are based in Sheffield, UK and formed when Chris decided to 'do a Dylan' and take a break from the acoustic scene. The line-up is himself on vocals, guitar and piano, Jav on bass and backing vocals, Richard Klonowski on lead guitar and Dave Webb on drums and backing vocals.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
I have been in bands or doing my own thing for 10 years, writing and co-writing with bands and other musicians in Leeds, Reading and South Wales as well as Sheffield.
After about a year of playing acoustic sets around Yorkshire, I knew I wanted others invloved in gigging especially, but frankly it just fell into place without much effort... Being friends already with two of the band members it seemed a logical progression to form a band.
Jav and Rich were the engineers and co-producers on my debut album Passions of the Wise, Dave advertised his services in the same studios that the album was recorded. Redtape in Sheffield.
It's all very straightforward really! There was no messing about with auditioning people. We're all buddies. No drama. It's a co-operative, caring world we inhabit. Rehearsals are like therapy sessions. We could get a decent record deal by selling self-help manuals on CD format with the things we talk about.
Well, perhaps not.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Yes, all the time, love it. As well as Sheffield, we're also visiting Leeds, London and Manchester this Summer.
Your musical influences
Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Radiohead, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Led Zepplin. If you like some or any of the above there will be something of ours that you like.
What equipment do you use?
Guitar, piano, bass and drums. Nice and simple.
Anything else?
One day we'd like to play a gig on a spaceship. Everything we do is geared to that. I am also currently trying to persuade the band to save up to by a horse each so we can travel to venues in style. We live in hope. You have to admit though, it would look pretty cool.
