Page 9 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 112

BV112 pg 04-09 Those Damn Crows Interview.qxp_BV112 pg09 08/05/2025 20:18 Page 6

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 9
et’s Go Psycho!’ includes the lyric, ’Old cessible and easy to get to if we just ask that in- love, and it's all good, but, yeah, at that time, I
‘Lman looking down, what does he see?’ ternal question that we started this interview did feel that way."
Shane tells us, "I wrote that lyric because my fa- with. I know it sounds daft, right, but I always re-
ther is no longer with us. He passed away 13/14 member my dad talking to himself, and, if you elving into spirituality can definitely help
years ago and he never saw the band take off. I caught him doing it, he looked like a madman. Dwhen it comes to achieving a healthy
always called my father ‘the old man’ and he al- My uncle did the exact same, and I do as well. mental attitude. Mindfulness can help calm neg-
ways called his father ‘the old man’, so it was "But, I ask myself the question, I talk to my- ative emotions and bring about more peace.
one of those salutes to him, but, at the same self how I would talk to a friend, and I think it is "I love peace," Shane tells us. "I love what
time, I'm talking about the old man being God. important to do that, so I'm just fighting to be the band do when it's all 100mph and you're
"The whole song is about myself, AI and happy doing what I'm doing and to feel OK in my sharing the bus with 16 boys, the band and the
God having a conversation and asking God ‘Is own skin, you know? crew, I love all of that. But I do love peace, it's
this what you wanted? Was this the idea? Is this "And I'm working hard with the boys to be why I love living in Wales, because I crave
what you were looking for?’ And, I'm also asking, happy doing the thing we love, performing in peace. The ocean, the beach, the coast, woods,
at the same time, my father, ‘Is this what you front of people on stage, different cities and forests, nature, I love all that, man. It just resets
imagined for your son? Is this what you imag- being honest and open and connecting with me.
ined when you used to play guitar and we'd sing people. I think that is the most humane and won- "So yes, there are times when I love being
in the living room together when I was a kid?’ derful thing we all can do, is just try to connect still and being peaceful, but that's just to
Could he have foreseen all of this? So, it's a with each other… So, that's what I strive for." recharge the batteries so you are ready to go
double-edged sword, man. The lyric means two Also in the song, he sings, ‘I swear that no again. Because you can't stay still in this indus-
things for me, but the question is exactly the one will know if I disappear’. We ask the front- try. If you want to show these wonderful people
same to two people, my dad and God, ‘What's man whether he has felt this way about himself who follow our music, then you have to go and
your views on this, could you have seen this and does the success of the band help take feel- see them and visit them.
happening?’” ings like that away? "So, it's a balance. It's like everything in life,
"I definitely wrote that thinking that at that man, it's a balance. If you can get that right, you
he final song of the album is the abso- point. When you feel that low," he tells us, hon- are on a winner. Right now, we are balancing
Tlutely beautiful 'Still'. It’s not the first time estly. "I think it's what most of us want, just to be well. Towards the end of the tour, it will be a little
Shane and the band's softer side has shone loved and to be happy, so, yeah, when I was more difficult, so I'll need the reset place, so I
through so brightly, as it has done in the past there, I stupidly thought that no one would give can be ready to go again."
with songs such as 'Blink Of An Eye', 'Never a shit, to be fair. It's a strange one, because I And, with that, he is ready to go again, soon
Win' and, to a lesser degree, 'This Time I'm wasn't thinking right then, and, sometimes, you to be back on stage and entertaining fans as
Ready'. 'Still' ranks up with each of these sub- need to go through those things and have the they love to, and, with 'God Shaped Hole' now
lime songs. time after it to reflect and look back and then re- in the world, and more tour dates announced,
He sings, ‘Someone tell me how to alise, ‘It's not quite how I thought.’ there is much to be excited for and no possibility
live when what I'm fighting for is no "The mind can be such a dangerous place, of them, or us, staying still for very long.
more’, so we ask what things in life because you think you have it worked out and Visit www.thosedamncrows.com for more
he is fighting for. you haven't. Nine times out of 10, you haven't. info.
He offers us a simple an- But I'm glad I went there and got through it.
swer. "Happiness. Something Some people do and they don't. Again, man, I've Words by Michael Coventry
we all strive for and something nothing but gratitude. I've got
we all take for granted. But, I amazing family, amazing Photos By Rob Blackham
think it is a lot more ac- friends, nothing but

THOSE DAMN CROWS