Jan 07 2010
A ForeWord with NATHAN PERSAD
From the offices high atop the RockNest in downtown Ashland, KY., we’re pre-empting our regular post to bring you this very special report:
It’s a warm 21 degrees in Happy Valley tonight and … can ya believe it? They’re calling for more snow tomorrow! Geez …
Anyway …
Awhile back, I asked ya to send in yer ???’s for an upclose-and-personal interview with the one and only Nathan Persad, who not only mans the rhythm guitar and vocals for the wildly popular band, The Fore but has also penned their upcoming single, I Think You’re Pretty (to be released on the Beatnik Geek label in March!).
Well, today’s the day, campers … so call yer friends and get ‘em linked in, check Linked In and invite yer friends, link in everybody ya know on the great Book of Face (yeh, yeh … Facebook), and Twitter like a parakeet in heat! ‘Cause this is an interview that no rock fan will wanna miss!
Now, remember: The Relic prints the questions just as they were received, with Nathan’s answers in bold print. (We’re also honoured to have the band’s founder/bass guitarist, Spencer Hannabuss, a man who’s written many of the band’s tremendous hits, sitting in on this session!)
OOO-kayyyyyy … ya ready? Let’s do it:
First, Nathan, many thanks for takin’ the time from your hectic schedule to chat with us! Let’s start with the fore questions most often asked by the ladies: where are you from, how tall are you, what type of instruments do you play, and are you single?
“I was born in Streatham in South London and am a genetic mixture of the Caribbean, White, Hindu and possibly even a tiny trace of Jewish…, I’m 6 foot, I play drums and guitar and YES YES YES!!!”
This one’s from a reader named Jeri: When did you join The Fore and how did you all meet?
“Hi Jeri! Matt was in the covers version of the band years ago, Simon came to watch us when I was the drummer and I found Spencer’s advert completely by accident! Call it destiny!”
Spencer - Nathan’s joining of the band was truly one of those weird things. I’m not sure whether I believe in fate and all that stuff, but what are the chances that Nathan would happen to take THAT detour, past THAT noticeboard, on THAT week are pretty unlikely.
Another, from Lynne in Calgary, Canada: Who were or are your major influences?
“Hi Lynne! I have Canadian cousins and me and a pal from Toronto have this joke where we go ‘Hi, I’m Cal Gary and this is my buddy Ed Munton!’ I can’t speak for the others but I like this band called The Hollies and this other band called The Searchers who were the Beatles’ favourite band for a short time (I have George Harrison saying this on tape from ‘64). I also like Freddie And The Dreamers, The Beach Boys, Dave Clark 5, Gerry And The Pacemakers and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. We all 4 of us like all different kinds of music, but this is the stuff that inspires Spencer’s and my writing style.”
I’ve heard your hit, I Think You’re Pretty (courtesy your manager, Neil White) and … well, it’s gonna be gigantic when you guys release it as a band. The vocals are so full of life — you can actually feel the jumpy adrenalin rush a guy has when he sees a great-looking girl! When did you write the song? And how long does it take for you to write something this good?
“Neil is an absolute gem of a guy and whoever you are I thank you for your kind words. I wrote it back in 2004 when I almost-kind-of-nearly-but-couldn’t-quite-bring-myself-to ask a beautiful female folk singer I’m too embarrassed to name out on a date. Every day she wore different earrings (just like it says in Verse 2) and the tragic “Monday: this happened, Tuesday: that happened” stuff in the middle of the song really did happen! So it didn’t take too long to write…”
Spencer - I seem to recall Nathan actually playing to me what-would-become I Think You’re Pretty back in roughly 2005. I had just brought Love For Sale to the band, which happens to be in the same key and is probably why it stuck out at the time. We were looking to bring new material to the band at the time but for some reason ‘Pretty never got demoed along with the others. It was a great song, even when played just on acoustic, so it’s amazing we didn’t do it back then.
Do you arrange your own music and vocals as well?
“Yes. What would happen is one of us would have an idea for a song and the rest of the band would go “It’s too long” and we’d all have a go at “Mersey”ing it all up beyond recognition, heh heh! I remember one time Matt writing this gorgeous, sensitive waltz-ballad and Spencer and I taking his demo tape home and going “yeah yeah yeeeeeaaaaah!” all over it. You should’ve seen his face! Then there was the time when Simon found “Man Of Few Words” on an old tape of unused Tony Hatch compositions and as he sang it to us as a guide, the engineer sneakily turned the tape recorder on and we used his flawless vocal and the rest is history.”
Have you and Spencer (Hannabuss, bass player, vocals and composer) ever collaborated on any of The Fore’s material? With your combined songwriting talents, you’d rival Lennon and McCartney!
“This is a sensitive subject with everyone remembering it differently. Remember, I’m the oldest in the band so please don’t trust my version as gospel, ha ha! I seem to remember the “bops” on We Were Meant To Be as being Spencer’s idea and not mine. Also there is a ballad on an old Fore album called “Rumours And Lies”, remember that one? That is Spencer’s song but I helped him write the middle. Things like that really. “That’s A Lie”, “We Were Meant To Be” and “I Got A Girl” are the only true, genuine Hannabuss-Persad collaborations I think. We both got together and we both wrote those round my house but Spencer had the original idea for both.”
Spencer - Nathan and I have collaborated on quite a few songs actually. It usually takes place in the form of one of us bringing a song in and the other then suggesting bits. For example, without Nathan there wouldn’t have been any ‘bops’ on ‘We Were Meant To Be’, ‘I Got A Girl’ wouldn’t have had all its memorable verses, ‘That’s A Lie’ wouldn’t have had it’s killer lead guitar break or it’s ‘wellllllllll…’ intro. That’s just a few examples, I enjoy bouncing ideas off of Nathan, it makes writing more fun!
You guys have your third album coming up in a few months. Can we expect to see some of your songs on there alongside Spencer’s?
“I hope so! I have a few which I wrote on holiday when I was away from the band but all the while kept thinking “gosh, this would make a GREAT Fore song”. They are contemporary, lyrics-wise but very much in the old Fore style musically. Make a note of this next bit: They are called “We’re Back On”, “Hey Mark” and “That’s Just Us”. If in a few months time you’re listening to a new Fore album and I was successful in getting those songs on it then you can say you heard the news first!”
From Gary in Washington state comes these two questions: I saw u on the cavern video and u rock. But relic says u also made a band with spencer the bass player the 286. What is the 286 and why did u call it that.
“Hi Gary! Do they still have Marvin Gaye Day in Washington mate? Yes, The 286 is kind of like The Fore but with Cellos!!! If you are a fan of all 60’s bands and The British Invasion then you might’ve heard of the Move? They were a sccessful 60’s pop band who decided to experiment by adding cellos and calling themselves ELO. Spencer
decided to try a similar thing and I had a lot of time on my hands back then so joined him, that’s all. There was no great plan or anything. It’s fun coz we get to play different instruments then Fore fans are used to seeing us on, which I like. The funny thing is we only recently realized this but the number 286 has connected (even haunted!) us for years, so that’s why we chose that name. It was the bus I used to get to his old house and when I joined The Fore, I was replacing a guy who left to become a bus driver… of the 286 route!!! Then years later when he bought a new house and I also moved, we would meet on top of a South London hill that was exactly half way between mine and his homes. And what landmark would distinguish this chance meeting point? By sheer coincidence, the 286 Bus Stop! Spooky! I swear I’m not making this up!”
Lastly, from a definite Persadian with Fore Fever, Alexis: U r sooooooooo cool. I cant belive you & the fore r so good. Hv u ever been to the US b4 & if u do can I get 2 meet u? ps my mother thinx u r like a tall leprecan lol xx (NOTE: Nathan, I think she means “leprechaun”)
“Hi Alexis, how are ya? And hi Mother of Alexis! What’s a tall leprechaun? Is it coz I was wearing that green shirt in the Cavern footage? Ho ho! Yes, I have been to your fabulous country twice: the East Coast in ‘81 and the West Coast in ‘87. It is an amazing place and still seems so grand and so magical to me, an old-fashioned English guy obsessed with American culture. The sitcoms, the cartoons, the Jelly Belly beans, the breakfast cereals, the wide roads, the LOT. I inherit this from my dad. He is from Trinidad and he used to sneak away and watch American movies and listen to American music. I cannot wait to go back! What part are you from? I’ll make sure we go there when we tour!”‘
Is there anything you’d like to tell your fans that hasn’t been covered here?
“I just thought of something. I’m sick of lame music videos that all look the same on TV. When we do our next single, I just want somebody to film us in the studio and edit it together. Or a simple video of the four of us miming in a garden or a runway or somewhere like bands in the 60’s used to do before videos got too involved and distracted fans away from the lyrics and music. We’ll probably just do that. But if any of Relic’s followers have any ideas or requests I would love to hear ‘em!”
It’s been a blast sharing these questions with you, Nathan. And, Spencer, thanks for your input, mate! I know the band’s popularity is growing like wildfire, and your music reflects the best in rock. And now, with both of you sharing the writing/arranging responsibilities, it’s bound to get even better (if that’s possible)!
And for you fans who wanna learn more about Nathan and his amazing talent, you can tune in to his site — and hear some of the hits mentioned earlier — at NathanPersad.com or check him out with the rest of the band at their site, TheForeBand.com. Of course, I’ll keep ya updated on all the band’s happenings — including Nathan’s newest songs — the moment I get ‘em.
So keep your eyes on The Fore because (and I’m not alone in this!) these lads (including drummer Simon Thompson and lead guitarist Matt Hardy) are about to take the rock world by storm!
See ya on the flip side!

Hmmm … vedddy interrresting idea:
Now, I don’t know Billy and Christie’s daughter, but, campers, this is one lady I’d really like to meet someday!
Hey … who says Muslims and Hindus can’t rock??
And the Guess Who’s Burton Cummings along with Neil Young were both announced as recipient of the Officers of the Order of Canada in honors also announced on Wednesday.
Yeah, I thought it was a little weird myself …
Shadows bassist Jet Harris gets an MBE (Member of the British Empire).
It was December, 1970.
Little did he know that, silently stationed at the right front corner of the house, was his favorite son-in-law (okay, only son-in-law …) with a rubber chicken in hand.
At midnight, we toasted the New Year and got ready for bed. After about an hour or so of sleep, there was a humongous explosion (or so it felt) directly under the bed!! It took me a few minutes to let go of the ceiling light and drop to the floor, my heart pounding faster than a hummingbird’s!
Unbelievable.
WILL GENE KISS HIS CASH GOODBYE??
Contrary to popular belief, the old geezer ya see on yer right is not me (wait … lemme look in the mirror … HOLY SHInaaah, it ain’t me …).
So, what’s in store for the 
Man, this year has not been good to a number of our rock legends! We started off with the passing of Billy Powell and Ean Eanes of Lynyrd-Skynyrd, and, amongst the Dave Dee, Dicky Petersons (Blue Cheer) and a host of others, was some kid from Indiana … a guy named Michael Jackson.
BUDDY HOLLY Some rockologists theorize that, if the Clear Lake incident hadn’t occurred in February, 1959, the legendary Buddy Holly would’ve possibly tried his hand with the new, Invasion-influenced rock by 1964. But, after a short run that would’ve undoubtedly brought a few hits, he would return to his country roots — and, later, become a popular DJ around the Houston or Dallas area.