We caught up with drummer Adam Perry, also known as “The Yin” (for reasons known only to himself and his psychiatrist) to throw at him some hyper intelligent questions…

Why are we talking to you?

Our first UK tour in 5 years...Starting again!

What has been your most embarrassing tour moment?

Too many really, I once froze in Dortmund arena, 9000 people! My left arm went up to hit the snare and never came down again. I had to stop playing and pull it down with my right hand. The song we were playing was (aptly)
called '40', we never played it again, though we might play it on this tour as its called the A40 tour.

We know that every town is "The best EVER", but what town is really the best for you?

Manchester UK, Berlin Germany, London has always been great too!

What's your favourite pre 1990 album?

They’re all pre 1990! Power Windows (Rush), 2112 (Rush), Liquidizer (Jesus Jones), Paul’s Boutique (Beastie Boys), anything the Police and The Jam ever did!

You are in a balloon with Axl Rose, Gene Simmons, and Sebastian Bach - who would you throw out as ballast and why?

Gene Simmons, fat Bastard!, plus Axl is ginger and they have powers

What is your guilty secret?

I sold sweets from the school tuck shop outside the school gates, from my violin case at a lower price than inside, making a profit...I sold on 'the in' too, never allow that at shows!

Who do you think is the most overrated band/solo artist ever and why?

I really cant say, as we will bump into them.

Do you ever want to snatch people's mobiles or cameras at gigs and smash them?

Nope!, Youtube make the world go round, don’t know where my digital day would be without it!

Who is the sexiest person in Rock?

Not Lily Allen...Actually, I’ve just answered the 'overrated' question!, two birds with one stone!

What's the best thing about being a musician?

Playing your rock around the world, making records and knowing that it’s made peoples day etc...there’s a lot of satisfaction when things go well

What's the worst thing about being a musician?

Being away from the family (wife and kids)

What's the worst shithole you've ever played and why?

A massive venue in Russia (with Bloodhound Gang, for whom I play drums), it was cool in the end, but they were literally building it, toilets, walls, stage, roof the lot throughout the day, and still didn’t finish it when we went on.

What song do you want played at your funeral?

The theme from childrens TV smash 'Sooty' and anything by the beach Boys, to get the tears flowing.

What is the best TV theme tune ever?

See above

Where are you from originally?

Leeds, Leeds, Leeds

How did you get your band name?

Couldn’t think of one, so (pre Google searches) thought it would be cool to call ourselves a letter, mental idea that has gone on to cost us in the digital age.

How did you get involved in music:

Ran a recording studio in Hoxton, and started a company producing TV commercial music, then when we started making a living from it anyhow. Starting hitting dustbin lids at 8, so it could have been then.

What/whom are your influences and heroes?

Rush, Paul Weller, Ad Rock, Mike D, MCA, The Police, Perry Farrell

Three words that describes yourself perfectly:

Old, busy, happy

3 Desert island albums:

The best of the Beatles, the best of the Police, the best of Rush

What song do you identify with the most?

Tom Sawyer by Rush

What are your plans for the future?

What Future, haven’t you seen 2012!

interview by Alan Holloway, alan "at" rockunited.com
Photos from A's MySpace
14 Dec 2009
(c) 2009 RockUnited.Com