Page 7 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 112

BV112 pg 04-09 Those Damn Crows Interview.qxp_BV112 pg07 08/05/2025 20:00 Page 4

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so far, Shane Greenhall tells Black Velvet, "It's the title; it's asking those questions. Because no anything he has always been unable to do.
not until you do these interviews where people one can answer that question for you. It's some- "It's quite difficult to turn the camera on your-
start listing the things you've done that you stop thing you have to answer for yourself. The self and be honest," he starts. "Songwriting is an
and think, ‘Holy shit!’ You mention things like thought-provoking idea behind it is, I think we, amazing way of doing that; you get things down
when we played The Fiddler’s Elbow and stuff. as a society, have grown up thinking ‘My life on a piece of paper and it's almost like cheap
That was a long time ago. It feels like a lifetime would be better if I have this in my life.’ Whether therapy. You can be your own counsellor and it
ago. But it's the journey, man, and we don't tend it be a loved one, faith, God, the right job, what- can be very therapeutic. What I have found is
to stop. You just keep on looking forward. ever it is you think you are missing. that people have this perception of me that I've
"So, until we have these interviews, you "But, ultimately, it's just the process, and, if got my act together, I've got my shit together, I'm
don't realise what you've done. I don't tend to you use that as a focus to get something you a level-headed kinda guy, positive, dedicated.
look back. It's always about what can we do want, it can be incredibly positive. But, if you are But there is this other side, you know, that I think
next, for me... I'll look back when I've retired, and looking at yourself in a negative way, thinking everyone has got. You have the side I've just de-
I know it will be with fond memories, but, right my life would be better if I had this, then that is scribed, but there's another side where doubt,
now, I feel like we need to work harder than ever a complete negative. And that hole, that missing fear creeps in and that's where the opening line
on the next tour, the next album cycle and get to whatever it is, becomes a problem. comes in, ‘I've always been unstable’. It's about
meet as many people as possible while doing it, "I think it is more important to focus on what controlling those thoughts, that internal fear, so
hopefully making a new fan base and making you do have and be grateful for that and to try you can go and achieve what you want.
the Crow family even bigger. So, it's always that and achieve what you want. There is a big dif- "I guess I've always been unstable and I
in my head. ference between want and need, and I think found that quite therapeutic admitting that, com-
"It's never ‘We've done this,’ or ‘we've done some people, they think they need something to pared to some people's perception of me and
that,’ and maybe we should, to a degree, but fulfil themselves. But, ultimately, that's the goal, thinking I've got my act together. You've got to
we've never done it. It feels really unnatural for isn't it? You have to focus on yourself to achieve work at that. You don't just wake up and think,
me to talk about it. The fact the Crows got to what you want, or desire, or think you need. ‘Yes, I know everything.’ No one does. No one
play with ZZ Top at Wembley Arena, that was a "I'm not into God or religion, but, I do con- on this planet knows everything, and, while I
first for us. So, all the firsts, I do. The first Down- sider myself a spiritual person more than reli- strive for perfection, there is no such thing.
load main stage was incredible, that's not to say gious, but the thought-provoking question is, we "And I find that quite pleasing to see the
the second one wasn't just as good, but it's the don't know what is there after our life on Earth, other side of it and say it. I haven't got all the an-
bucket list moments, you know, where it's a first but those three questions you asked are literally swers. I'm not right 100% of the time. Maybe 98,
for the band; they are the ones which stick. the reason why we called the album 'God but not 100! So, that interested me from a song-
"And it's exciting man, because, the minute Shaped Hole'. writing perspective, where you can be really
you do that, the bar, the threshold, has gone up "You've got to look inward. Don't look out harsh and honest with yourself, and, when I first
even more, so you're looking at what else you there. You won't find nothing out there. You'll find sang it live, or when the song first came out, ev-
can do and, man, there's loads of stuff. Some is it all here. In here,” Shane points to his head. eryone was like, ‘Yeah, I'm unstable too.’ I have
pencilled in and we've got plans and there is al- “And here.” He points to his heart. ‘And focus on these moments, and everyone does. That's nor-
ways somewhere to go; a bigger venue, a big- that to go and achieve and get what you want. mal.
ger band you'd love to support... We are always That's the only way you'll get happiness and ful- "So, it's like taking a taboo subject, calling it
striving to go forward." filment, is internal. a weakness, or whatever you want to call it, and
"I find it fascinating that there is something being open and saying, ‘Yeah, I'm like that too.’
alking about 'God Shaped Hole', Shane out of reach, which people are trying to grab and And a lot of people have picked up on that and
Ttells us, "We wrote and finished that that's not the important part of it. It's looking in- resonated with that. And again, if people are
album a while ago and it's now getting to the ternally and trying to be happy." talking about it, that's got to be a good thing."
stage where people are being able to listen to it Picking up on the difference between want-
and share how they feel about it, which is amaz- ing to do or have something and needing to, we hane sings ‘Without hope, nothing stops
ing to talk about it in that way now. And people ask Shane if this is something he has ever been Sus falling apart’. On the subject of hope,
are saying some really good things. So, who guilty of. he says, "We all hope. Whether you sit down
knows where the album goes. Hesitating for the first time since we starting and think about it or not, we never know what
“We're not saying it’s our best work, that's speaking, Shane answers, "Not really. Although tomorrow is going to bring. I don't think many
for the people to decide, and yes, there will be a I find it fascinating to consider that, when we people sit there and think ‘I hope I'm going to live
few firsts. We've already pencilled some in, but started the band, maybe you do want fame, tomorrow’, they just take it for granted and think
I cannot talk about them yet, but it's amazing. money, to be recognised, to be a rock star and it's going to happen. But, without hope of a bet-
For us, the band, a touring, hard-working, tour- all that kind of stuff. But we've been doing it a ter life or ‘it's going to be better tomorrow’,
ing band, seeing your hard work paying off is while now and I've realised it's, more or less, we whether you are trying to achieve the kind of
very cool." are living the dream right now. things I mentioned earlier like I do, where I want
Mentioning the graft, which cannot be de- "It costs money to do these things. People to be in my journey as a professional musician
nied, we ask Shane what the workload is like are coming to the shows, so they are buying a or as a father, there are always these levels of
now they are on album number four and that ticket, so that's the dream we are living right looking at yourself and trying to be better. So, I
their reputation is more established. now. We've played with ZZ Top. We've played think it's really, really important to strive to be
Shane replies, "It's different. But it's more... with the Goo Goo Dolls, some incredible bands better, but, without hope, what else would you
There's more interviews, and I'm not just talking already, and we've travelled the world doing be living for?
about the UK now, I've done well over double what we love doing, so therefore, I'm actually liv- "If you are really content with your life, then
figures in Germany and across Europe now, so ing and doing what I've always wanted. you are just going through the motions, and
it's where the band has grown in those territories "There's all different levels of what success there is nothing to strive for. You hope that the
which is really exciting for us. The idea of us is. Where you see yourself in that success is next day will be better. You hope that the next
being a global band rather than a UK band is much more important than someone else's opin- job will be better. But, there's a destination, there
something we have always strived for and it ion of what success is. Again, it comes back to is a place where you are going to be happy, and
seems more apparent on this run. People are that internal, what is going to make me happy. I think it is important to have that."
more interested in the band, and this album I'm actually happy right now, doing what I love,
cycle, in particular. so whatever comes after that is a bonus. And I et's Go Psycho!', as mentioned, was
"So, it's different but the workload is cer- think that is a safe place to be, mentally. 'Lthe first taste of the new album, intro-
tainly more as in there are more people inter- "It doesn't stop me from wanting more. It duced to the world last summer, but also one of
ested in the band, so, hopefully, this means we doesn't stop me from knowing what the journey the heavier songs in Those Damn Crows’ grow-
are doing something right, touch wood! And long we are on is and what we can get from it, but, ing catalogue, and a highlight of the new record.
may it continue!" ultimately, we’re living our dream right now, and Among the words it leaves ringing in your
long may it continue." ears are, ‘All now out of hand, we don't even un-
ith the album title of 'God Shaped derstand. Power. The risk. Technology. Oh no.’
WHole', we ask where does Shane feel ne of the first songs to be released as We ask Shane what he thinks has got out of
there is a god shaped hole, what created the Oa single from the album was 'Glass hand in the world the most?
hole and how can and should the hole be filled? Heart', and one of the first lyrics of the song is "I think we are on a seesaw, where it could
"Exactly, exactly!" is his immediate response ‘I've always been unable’. We ask if this is some- be amazing, or it could be disastrous and we
to us. "All those things. It's why we came up with thing he considers about himself and if there is ain't going to know until one of those things hap-
THOSE DAMN CROWS