Don's list of Funky Links

Guitarist Don Stick joined GRIEF SOCIETY in the Summer of 1999 replacing the much-loved Nick Slater. In a relatively short period of time, Don has made his mark within the GRIEF ranks. His expression of bemused confidence has become a regular feature at the band's live shows and he brings a youthful enthusiasm to possibly the most cynical rock band in the world.

Alex Foster caught up with GRIEF's newest member just before the band's October 2000 mini-tour of the UK. As you'll see, Don answered all his impertinent questions...

ALEX FOSTER - Tell me about your musical history. How did you come to be in GRIEF SOCIETY.

DON STICK - I started classical guitar lessons aged 12, and picked up rock guitar on my own a year later. I ended up in a funk covers band (Strut)from 1996 to 1998. This taught me a lot about playing and singing live, and got me out of my terrible habit of playing fast all the time! I was bandless for a year before finding GRIEF through Loot.

ALEX FOSTER - What are your musical influences?

DON STICK - The reason I picked up the guitar was Slash, but he didn't end up being a big influence on my playing. My main influence has always been the Beatles, I still believe they define everything that a band needs to be. Eddie Van Halen completely changed the way I approach the guitar, and made me think about tone, phrasing and melody. Right now I'm still recovering from hearing Stevie Ray vaughan for the first time. Funk had a big influence on my playing, and I use a few jazz chords, most of which I don't understand!

ALEX FOSTER - What's it like being in GRIEF SOCIETY then?

DON STICK - Equal parts liberating experience and scary nightmare!! t's nice to be in a band that can genuinely turn its hand to just about anything, but its incredibly hard work. When I first heard tapes of the new material I was blown away! It was much better than I was expecting. Then when I got into rehearsals I realised just how tight the band was. The rhythm section is like a machine, Angus and Steve are just so tight, and they're doing it while singing. They work so hard it makes you raise your game, but it's also great fun!

ALEX FOSTER - WHat's the new material like?

DON STICK - It's a lot of fun to play and a lot of fun to listen to. Audiences seem to enjoy it much mor as well. There's a song called 'Blind To the World' that's on the new album and I think it sums up the 'GRIEF' experience. It's funky, it's melodic, it grooves and it rocks. There's a few songs with that kind of feel in the new set and every now and again Steve and Angus throw in a reggae or funk riff to keep me on my toes.

ALEX FOSTER - What are things like in the band at the moment?

DON STICK - There's a nice atmosphere and an almost family kind of spirit. There's a nice feeling of optimism about the band as well. In rehearsals we talk about things that interest us and I think we've all got some interests in common. Angus and Steve will sometimes slink off to the cinema together and give us their film reviews in rehearsals. We swop books and insult each other a lot as well.

ALEX FOSTER - What are your favourite books then?

DON STICK - Dave Lee Roth's 'Crazy from the Heat', Tolkein's 'The Hobbit', John Grisham's 'The Firm' (It's so much better than the film), Orwell's 1984 and all of the Narnia books.

ALEX FOSTER - The Narnia books? You're a bit of a hippy then?

DON STICK - Well I loved them as a kid and they're still appealing now. My favourite is 'A Horse and his boy'.

ALEX FOSTER - What are your favourite films?

DON STICK - I'm a total sci-fi freak. I love Total Recall, it's got a crazy plot and it shows Arnie at the peak of his powers. I also like The Fly, The Firm, The Exorcist, which I thought was quite subtle, and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Dracula's not faultless but its beatifully made and Winona's a goddess. I also liked The Postman, I know its sentimental, but it's so powerful it even made me like Kevin Costner for a moment.

ALEX FOSTER - What music do you like? What are your favourite albums?

DON STICK - I thought that The Beatles 'Rubber Soul' was simply incredible. Pop at its best. I also liked Dream Theater's 'Images and Words'. They spend an hour proving how fast and confusingly they can play, wrap it all in pretentious lyrics and overblown production and get away with it!! I'm also quite a big Rush fan, Angus is too. The best one for me is 'Hemispheres', it shows how imaginative you can be within a rock structure.

ALEX FOSTER - For a guitarist in a funk rock band, you don't listen to the stuff I'd expect.

DON STICK - Well I like the Chill Peppers' 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik', it's just an awesome funk rock album. I also enjoyed Pearl Jam's 'Ten', it's just an immensely appealing rock album. There's a band called Moke and I liked their album 'Superdrag'. It's rock of the future really, smart, melodic and packed full of hard-hitting bluesy grooves.

ALEX FOSTER - What's your favourite non-musical entertainment?

DON STICK - Asking tramps for change.

ALEX FOSTER - What's next for GRIEF then?

DON STICK - Well I gather that the technical problems are sorted and the new album will be released in February 2001. We'll be doing a short tour in February and March and a handful of gigs in May as well. Then in the Summer, Angus and I are hoping to do some acoustic shows (we'll sneak a few in throughout the spring as well). We're also hoping to take the band to Europe and America as well so if anybody reading this wants to invite us over we'd be delighted to come.