Recently completing a Sold Out UK tour with MURDER FM / THE DEFILED / REVOKER, I was asked by Black Velvet Magazine (UK) to write an article about our journey across the pond. So Here it is, but don’t just read it, Buy a Copy, Support the Magazine, they support us and have featured Murder FM many times, and for that I’m grateful -
I’ve been fortunate in my travels & in music. I’ve seen S.Korea,South America & toured the US with rock lumaries KORN,THE USED,EVANESCENCE,WARPED TOUR, but nothing could’ve prepared me & MURDER FM for our first UK Tour. We scored heavy rotation on SCUZZ TV & built quite a following, no comparison to the tangible nature of actually SEEING people singing our songs, chanting “Machine Gun Kisses” in Nottingham on Halloween on the 1st night of the tour, we knew this was going to be a special tour, capping off with a Sold Out show in London.
3:30am, shuttle picks us up in Dallas. This time of night there is always a strange aestethic to the night air. Tonight you could feel we were about to begin a cherishable journey. Everything was running smooth. We land in Chicago at 8am to a voicemail that our flight has been cancelled, rescheduled to 6pm, cancel that “running smooth” comment i made. We slept at our terminal most of the day. A fan recognized us as we were passed out on the floor, couldn’t tell if this was a symptom of Murder FM blowing up…or in fact sleeping on too many floors. Either way, we were stoked.
FINALLY on the plane..time to pass out, nyquil, take me home. Slept through the in flight meals (considering my flight from Seoul,Korea) this was probably a GOOD idea. Our first stop, Paris,France…and it all begins…
The most confusing airport i’ve been in. Machine Guns strapped to their security while smiles adorn the flight personnel gave a huge feeling of confusion. The mountains we flew over were amazing, I told myself I saw the French Alps, Home of Andre The Giant, nuff said.
Bumped to “business class” to London, the tension shed itself…As we flew in, I saw the most beautiful landscape & architecture I Have ever seen. From castles to cobblestone streets, clouds hovering til the day we left, I couldnt have been more overjoyed, that is until I found out our Guitars made it…but our luggage would hopefully turn up “sometime soon”.
We arrive at our Hostel, apparently infamous, Swan Inn,Steins. First piece of advice - “Whatever you do…DON’T go into the Gypsy bar,they’ll kill you, enjoy your dinner”.
Awakend at 7am to rattling of the hostel, our tour bus had arrived! All black,quickly named “the devil’s lounge”.Off to pickup The Defiled, our rental gear and “kick out the jams muthaF@#ka”.
Nottingham, one technical issue after another,AvD from the Defiled saved the day, 20min to showtime, fans crushed against the barricade. Walking from backstage, Matt X3r0 stops & says “holy shit,there’s tons of people out there!”..here we go. Nottingam was off the hook on Halloween! Singing our songs, screaming with fury. Finally,it was all ok…until the bus breaks down.
Our replacement taking us to Cardiff,Wales arrives..Its pop star Rhianna’s bus..literally,with Rhianna’s face plastered on it! We arrive in Wales, staring at the Beautiful castle across from the venue, i head upstairs to interview with BRFM. I was not prepared for the amazingness that was Cardiff! Def one of the best shows.
Manchester, back in original all black bus,couldn’t have been happier ,until we saw the signs ”criminals operate in the area,please secure valuable items”..i remember now the stories of the Roadouse. Oddest show of the tour. Cruise offstage to do press with Grave Concerns magazine,puzzled by Manchester, only to see our Facebook light up with tons of love…next time Manchester,give love WHILE we are onstage haha \m/
Glasgow Scotland, SOLD OUT,RULED! Home of wrestler “Rowdy Roddy Piper”. I get a chance to cruise the streets looking for souveniers & mountain dew. We had heard it was going to be amazing, but couldn’t believe it til we felt it…and HEARD it,wow. Highest point thus far, it was clear MURDER FM had it share of fans. Fyi,FRIED Sausage,meal of the evening was amazing!
Roll up to Birmingam,England, looking out the window of the tour bus at 10am fans are already lined up, holy hell, this is getting good! We were on fire at this point, hit the stage & fans tore it up.Black Velvet Magazine was in the photo pit. O2 Academy,i’d only heard of it, now I’ve PLAYED it. Check that off the list of “to do’s”
London,England. Breathtaking. Had 90 minutes of press with Metal Massacre,New Music Plus TV & another that is now a blur.I run backstage to prep,speak with our booking agent trying to slam some food. Every few minutes someone runs in “theres 100 people”, “200 people”, “300 people”, “kids are smashed against the front barricades”..The butterflies kick in. When we hit the stage with “Machine Gun Kisses”, it was clear, London had indeed HEARD & KNEW of MURDER FM. Such an amazing way to end the tour,hearing everyone sing EVERY song,crowd surfing on a fans shoulders, our press agent says to us “London is a hard town to win over and you did it”..
UK is now our home away from home. We can’t wait to return in 2012! Both an honor & pleasure. I personally cannot thank you all enough for welcoming MURDER FM with open arms. Three tour lessons we left THE DEFILED & REVOKER with : 1.) Never leave your laptop on in dressing room,bad things happen 2.)Black paint makes ANYthing cooler 3.)CULO is spanish for “friend”.
