Thanks so much to Andy Barcoe for the interview! I wrote about the Manchester 90s band The Finest some time ago. As it happens sometimes, one of the members, in this case Andy, got in touch. I had to take the opportunity! I asked him if he was up for an interview as I wanted to learn more details about the band and he said yes! After visiting Manchester last February this interview was great for me, took me back to that wonderful city. Now sit back and enjoy the interview, wonder if we’ll ever hear their unreleased album one day!
++ Hi Andy! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?
I am fine thank you very much, hope you are as well. I am not involved in music in an active sense but still listen to it.
++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?
In the 70s coming from a household that didn’t have much in Manchester, a great outlet after school and at the weekends was a transistor radio. I didn’t actively pick up an instrument but found that I had a talent for singing. Around the ages of 8 and 9, my hero who was my eldest brother was into punk music such as the The Clash, The Stranglers and The Sex Pistols. This era of music kind of moulded me into this genre.
++ Had you been in other bands before The Finest? What about the other band members? Are there any songs recorded by these bands?
No other bands before The Finest.
++ Where were you from originally?
I was raised by Irish parents who settled in Manchester.
++ How was Ancoats/Manchester at the time of The Finest? Were there any bands that you liked? Were there any good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?
In the 80s, it was a great time for Manchester bands. Around at the time were The Stone Roses, The Fall, James and of course The Smiths who were one of my favourites. Picadilly Records, HMV and Virgin were all good record stores in Manchester. As for the pubs and venues, the students unions and pubs around the universities were a great place to see indie bands. My favourites were The Board Walk and The Internationals I and II.
++ There have been so many great bands from the Manchester area, wondering who were your favourite while The Finest were active?
Absolutely, my favourite band were The Smiths by a mile.
++ How was the band put together? How was the recruiting process? Were Stephen and Bernard brothers perhaps?
Stephen and Bernard were not brothers but cousins. The band was started by myself and Rob the guitarist in junior school who came from the same humble background as I.
++ Was there any lineup changes?
No changes to the lineup as Steph who was the drummer was also the bouncer and would not allow anyone else to join. However, we tried a few rhythm guitarists who were promptly shown to the back door haha!
++ What instruments did each of you play in the band?
Rob – Guitar | Bern – Bass | Steve – Drums | Myself – Singer and occasionally the tambourine to settle the nerves.
++ You were active in the late 80s and early 90s, I read. Can you be a bit more specific in which years The Finest was active?
1992 – 1997
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
We usually practiced at St George’s Hall in Ancoats. The Fall also practiced here in the mid 70s. The creative process involved meeting Rob in my house with an acoustic guitar. Rob would play some chords to which I would compose the melody and lyrics for. We would take this to St George’s Hall and meet with Bern and Steve to gel the song together.
++ And what would you say inspired your music?
Being in nature and relationships such as loves, families and friends.
++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?
Simple, the Finest Worksong from the album document by R.E.M.
++ I found a trove of your music on Soundcloud. And I wonder where they come from? Are they from different demo tapes? Different periods?
Yes they are from different periods, studios and producers. It was better in the earlier studio demos when we were in control. Then we got signed and this autonomy was taken away from us. We got signed to Black Market Records which was a subsidiary for MCA Records.
++ There is also a mention of a “Death of Green” release. Was this an album? an EP? What was it? I couldn’t find much information about it.
It was an album about nature. Unfortunately it was shelved by the head of the British sector of MCA Records (big guy with the cigar).
++ “Death of Green” was recorded at Abbey Road, right? How did that happen? And how was that experience?
Cannot really remember how this came to be but it was a great experience that I will never forget. Singing in the same place as the greats… Wow!
++ Then on Youtube there were gigs. I believe there is a complete set of you playing at The Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne and another at Manchester University. Did you upload these? Did you normally record your gigs? Was also wondering about a tracklist for the Manchester University gig, there wasn’t one…
I got to know an amateur videographer just by chance who come to the gigs and wanted to film us. In terms of the track list, it was a flimsy piece of paper we put together half an hour before we went on.
++ How come there were no releases by the band? Was there any interest from labels to put out your music?
Yes there was interest from some indie labels of which I cannot recall right now. However, I can remember that Parlophone (a major label in the UK) was interested in signing us but we decided on BlackMarket Records.
++ Did you consider self-releasing? If you had the choice back then, what would you have liked to release, an album? a single?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing as everybody knows. I would have liked to release an EP consisting of four of our strongest tracks and in my opinion these were Death of Green, Send and two unreleased tracks. P.S we would have absolutely produced it in a different way.
++ My favourite song of yours is “Send”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?
The inspiration behind this was the destruction of rainforests and nature in general and the state of being unconscious (humanity).
++ If you were to choose your favorite The Finest song, which one would that be and why?
No favourites, however, I do regret letting the powers that be transform our songs in the way that they did.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many?
Yes we played many in and around Manchester and specifically the north which was a great place for indie gigs. Our most memorable one was when we opened for The Fall.
++ And what were the best gigs that you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?
Elaborating on the previous answer, after the gig, Mark. E. Smith, The Fall’s lead singer came into our changing room and was carrying a white plastic bag which pricked curiosity from all angles. After a few beers from the ryder, we finally found out what was in it, it was from advice he took from his uncle which was always carry a bag of five pound notes and you’ll never go wrong which I can attest to be true.
++ And were there any bad ones?
Too many to mention having lived around Manchester in the 80s.
++ When and why did The Finest stop making music? Were any of you involved in any other projects afterwards?
When they decided not to release the album, I then decided to travel the world.
++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?
Yes there was, one I can remember was when we done a live acoustic set at Manchester Picadilly Radio Station for a DJ named Pete Mitchell. On the same set was an upcoming band called The M People that you might know of.
++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?
Yes we were in papers named The NME, Sounds and The Melody Maker (All good reviews).
++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for The Finest?
I would have to say that the biggest highlight for The Finest in my opinion was the making of the Death of Green album. This took place at a studio where a lot of my favourite bands recorded their songs known as Jacobs Studios including The Smiths who recorded The Queen Is Dead album here. We spent a month here in the beautiful surroundings of Farnham/Surrey.
++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
I’m now into the arts of astrology and traditional medicines.
++ I was in Manchester not too long ago but I still would love to ask a local. What do you suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?
Much gentrification going on around here at the moment so all the old haunts are being demolished or revamped. Not being up on the times anymore, I like the old pub and club scene which is no longer around. There are still a few good ones around Oldham Street.
++ Anything else you’d like to add?
I want to thank you for expressing your interest in The Finest. You have brought back times to remember and times to forget though the experience was invaluable.
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Listen
The Finest – Send
